Mondays 6:30–8 pm, 9/21–11/30; No class 11/23
| Age | Adult |
| Event Type | Class |
| Department | Piano and Keys |
| Day | Mon |
| Instructor | Bob Karty |
| Status | online event |
Build the skills you need to play jazz standards and the 12-bar blues with confidence. This hands-on, interactive class focuses on essential chord voicings, comping patterns, and basic improvisation techniques.
Students explore practical approaches to both comping and soloing in a supportive group setting, with personalized coaching to help each participant strengthen harmonic fluency and time feel.
Mondays 6:30–8 pm
9/21–11/30
No class 11/23
Bob Karty, $450
(online)
Prerequisites
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Basic piano proficiency
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Knowledge of major scales
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Ability to play root-position major, minor, and dominant 7th chords in all keys
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Ability to read treble and bass clefs
Required Text
Jamey Aebersold Play-Along Vol. 54: Maiden Voyage
Please purchase the text from your preferred online retailer.
Format
This class meets online in real time via Zoom.
Student Testimonials
“Very well organized and very clearly structured, and yes, Bob was always prepared and could add new appropriate material on the fly without losing any student’s attention.”
“Bob’s organization and preparedness were key to making this class a success.”
About Bob Karty
Pianist and composer Bob Karty has performed with artists in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz and world music scenes, including GRAMMY-nominated Latin jazz artists Ray Obiedo and Pete Escovedo. He has collaborated with percussionists Karl Perazzo (Santana) and Michael Spiro on numerous projects, including the salsa band Conjunto Karabalí and, with Spiro, the world-jazz sextet Tanaóra.
With Orquesta La Moderna Tradición, Bob recorded three critically acclaimed albums featuring the Cuban danzón and performed at major festivals across the United States for nearly 16 years.
Bob’s current project is his first as a leader and composer, an album of contemporary jazz compositions featuring drummer Mark Walker (Oregon, Paquito D’Rivera), bassist Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group), reed player Paul McCandless (Oregon), guitarist Dean Parks (Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder), and others.
Bob teaches at the Jazzschool in Berkeley and at his home studio in Oakland.
bobkarty.com