Oscar Peterson question?

Question

Hello, i'm a pianist...somewhat..i started learning late but i'm a good musician just not in playing at least yet...god i hope...anyway, does anybody know what special methods and excises did Oscar Peterson used?? it would really help a lot, other pianists are also welcomed.

Answer 1

finally somebody asks a question about my favorite jazz pianist.

While i cannot tell you specific books that he may have used, i can give some observations based on listening to alot of his music.

1. he had short stubby fingers, so his reach was not that big (about an octave)

2. his playing reflects influeces or training in boogie, bebop, and swing

3. i recall reading that he did train with a classical piano teacher as a child

4. some books that may help;

patterns for jazz by jerry coker

boogie hanon

hanon

jamey aebersold book/cd packs (there may even be one for oscar's stuff)

Answer 2

One of my favorites also! I think the short answer would be the scales, preludes and fugues required in his early training.  These most likely contributed greatly to Peterson's unique use of  "every note in the book" that is the cornerstone of his style. Add to that, his incredible manual dexterity.

See this:

"...Peterson has also credited his sister Daisy Sweeney — a noted piano teacher in Montreal who also taught several other noted Canadian jazz musicians — with being an important teacher and influence on his career. Under his sister's tutelage, Peterson expanded into classical piano training and broadened his range while mastering the core classical pianism from rigorous scales to such staples of every pianist's repertoire as preludes and fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach."

from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Peter...

and these:

http://home.ica.net/~blooms/oscarhome.ht...

http://oscarpeterson.com/bio/

If you're not familiar with Erroll Garner, I suggest you check him out as well.

Happy listening and learning!

Kabum