Herbie Hancock Masterclass Review 2024 | Should You Go For It? (9 Stars)

Herbie Hancock Masterclass Summary

Herbie’s Hancock Masterclass Overview

Herbie Hancock comes with a piano Masterclass titled “Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz.”

This is a very extensive network for a course with 25 lessons of 10 to 15 minutes. Here, you can learn JAZZ in 25 relatively short video lessons.

Herbie is just amazing: not only is he a music legend, but he is also committed to the next generation of musicians, said David Rogier, CEO and co-founder of Masterclass.

“The depth and joy with which he shares his profession is a revelation.”

What can you expect from Herbie’s Masterclass?

So, what do you get? They get the best of Herbie for many different topics, mainly jazz, but also music in general. This includes:

• Much of Herbie’s philosophical approach to music.
• Herbie’s approach to improvisation.
• Herbie’s approach to writing and composition.
• Interesting voices of chords and pronunciation lessons.
• How he learns (and learns) new things and new tunes.
• Some exercises (not much) of piano and technical things.
• Herbie’s approach to navigating your music career.
• Your favorite music and inspirations during your career.

Herbie Hancock Piano Masterclass – LESSON PLAN!

Herbie Hancock’s jazz career started in his family’s living room, listening to his favorite records and trying to play along. Now, he’s one of the most renowned musicians in the world.

Join the Herbie course on Masterclass, where he shares his approach to improvising, composition, and harmony. Gain access to 10+ original piano transcriptions, including 5 exclusive solo performances.

Here is the outline of the course that you will learn over time.

How Herbie’s Masterclass Improved My Piano Skills

I have taken a lot from Herbie’s interpretation of music.

That means adding colorful jazz chords and interesting voicings to them, changing the tempo (6ths, 9ths, bass inversions, etc.), or even some whole parts from the song.

Breaking the pulse even from time to time by playing with a “human time” instead of a “metronome time.” Basically – the sensation of playing without constraints – just being true to my feelings. 

I also learned a lot from his approach to how you can fully alter a song when you’re playing it on a solo piano, and I got rid of the traditional “doing it just like the original” style.

My playing now sounds a lot more exciting and enjoyable, and as Herbie says – by using them, I seek to take songs and tell a story – not just technical delivery. This is an enormous step forward for me.

So I don’t think a course can come and “place your own sound in your hands,” – but I’m absolutely sure I made a huge leap forward in having a special sound that feels a lot more genuine and personal to me – and that everyone else can do that too.

Not just to translate popular songs but also to compose my music.

Don’t expect to get that, though, if you don’t work hard on what you’re learning – and spend significant amounts of time on the piano while taking the Masterclass.

Herbie is just amazing: not only is he a music legend, but he is also committed to the next generation of musicians, said David Rogier, CEO and co-founder of MasterClass.

“The depth and joy with which he shares his profession is a revelation.”

So, what do you get? They get the best of Herbie for many different topics, mainly jazz, but also music in general. This includes:

• Much of Herbie’s philosophical approach to music.
• Herbie’s approach to improvisation.
• Herbie’s approach to writing and composition.
• Interesting voices of chords and pronunciation lessons.
• How he learns (and learns) new things and new tunes.
• Some exercises (not much) of piano and technical things.
• Herbie’s approach to navigating your music career.
• Your favorite music and inspirations during your career.

Who Should Take Herbie Hancock’s Masterclass?

If you love to play music, play piano, play jazz piano, or love, you will definitely benefit from this masterclass. I do not know exactly where this class will take you on your musical journeys, but I think that those who are serious will appreciate “contact” about their potential.

Because? Since he is one of the best live musicians, he speaks with his heart and shares his knowledge and beautiful stories about a gaming experience with the best musicians in the world for over 60 years.

It is a truly amazing opportunity and a refreshing change to learn from random teachers on YouTube.

However, starting such a large thematic network has the price of making certain elements obvious to some people (experienced jazz pianists), such as an introduction to Rhythm Changes.

(But it’s probably good to know if Herbie is approaching that) while for others (like pianists who are only interested in jazz), a lot of things just “go berserk.” Like some of the live demonstrations. Complicated jazz melodies. (but you probably still love him)

Herbie’s Masterclass Workbook

I love the exercise book a lot; it’s an excellent accompaniment, and although it’s not written by Herbie himself, it’s a great way, to sum up the lessons and also offers exercises that some of them really did find useful and useful to me.  

Each lesson contains 1 to 3 pages that summarize it, and you can print everything as a book. Reading the summary before and after each lesson helped me a lot to integrate the new knowledge.

I really like the class PDF workbook – it’s a perfect accompaniment – and even though it’s not written by Herbie himself, it’s a nice overview of the lessons. It also offers some exercises, some of them very interesting and helpful.

Each lesson is condensed into 1-3 lines, and you can print the whole thing out as a book. Before and after each lesson, reading the review helped me to understand the new information a lot.

You also get the sheet music for all that is played in the lesson in the workbook – transcribed note by note. (Including every little riff Herbie showed just for a second or two)

Interact With Other Musicians In The Masterclass Community!

The comment section (they call it “class hub”) on the lessons sometimes contained some really great things! A bunch of other musicians, all passing the same class and enjoying the knowledge of Herbie while sharing their thoughts, knowledge, and experience.

It’s much more elegant than a random YouTube comment section where people mostly just try to be funny.

The comment section about the class sometimes has really great things! A group of other musicians, all in the same class, enjoy Herbie’s knowledge as they share their thoughts, knowledge, and experiences.

It’s much more elegant than a random section on YouTube where people try to be funny.

Things I Like About Herbie’s Masterclass!

I must tell you first of all that Herbie soon was like a very good friend to me. That is the vibe that he is giving. He is always smiling and charming, and seeing him is a massive pleasure.

I totally love him. “You only learn from those you love.” – I once saw a talk about this saying from Ted – and this class proves that it is real.

1. Herbie, Your Musical Companion: Herbie’s warm and charming demeanor creates an atmosphere where learning feels like hanging out with a good friend. His smile and charisma make every moment a pleasure.
2. Learning from the Heart: “You only learn from those you love,” they say. Herbie’s class exemplifies this, as he imparts his vast knowledge with genuine passion and care.
3. Transform Your Playing: For those who love playing their favorite songs with a personal touch, this Masterclass is a game-changer. It’s a rare opportunity to discover and nurture your unique musical style.
4. Six Decades of Mastery: Herbie’s six-decade journey in the world of jazz piano sets him apart as an exceptional teacher. He not only instructs but also shares his invaluable experiences.
5. Joy of Learning: Herbie’s teaching style is not just informative; it’s joyful and down-to-earth—a true “joie d’apprendre.”
6. Compose and Create: This class isn’t just about playing; it’s about unleashing your inner composer. You’ll find inspiration to create and explore new musical horizons.
7. Production Excellence: The production quality is outstanding, from cinematography to the online platform. Plus, the inclusion of a $300,000 Fazioli piano adds a touch of luxury.
8. Perfect Lesson Balance: With 25 lessons, the course strikes the ideal balance—enough to dive deep but not overwhelming. You can focus on the lessons that resonate most with you.

Things I disliked about Herbie’s Masterclass!!

It took me over two months to get through the lessons slowly while taking stops of usually 2-4 days between each to think about what I’ve learned and let it come out on my piano.

This allowed me to explore many aspects of professional piano playing, covering several genres.

As a mediocre piano player who is here to learn and better the art of playing, some elements of Herbie’s Masterclass didn’t really entice me.

• Because they’re throwing a really large net here (“Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz”) – some musicians will find stuff they’ve learned years before, and some (jazz beginners) may find some of the lessons “out of control” – at least for the moment. But for such a wide net – I think it’s fairly balanced, and there’s a lot of good stuff for all audiences to get out of the Masterclass.
• In some cases, there were subjects on which Herbie might talk even more. For example, as in the voicing lesson – only 10 minutes on the subject for which Herbie is so famous? (The unique voicings he uses) I honestly think Herbie should be doing a bunch of Masterclasses on smaller topics – I will eventually get to them all. (Improvising. Writing music. Interesting chord voicings and reharmonizations, etc.
• I wish the playing roles in a group were broader – and he’d give us some of his insight and experience about it. He did a couple of cool live jam sessions in the studio, but they were with musicians he hadn’t known before, and those few lessons didn’t seem really well thought through.

Why Should You Take Jazz Lessons From Herbie Hancock?

You will learn with the expert if you pay attention to and replicate all of the techniques that he employed in his most successful records.

You will have the unique opportunity to hone your skills while listening to classic performances by Herbie Hancock, and you will meet brilliant guests who will assist you in better understanding the material.

Herbie does not stop at improvisations and mastering tunes. He guides you through his one-of-a-kind ways of transforming life events, such as feelings, memories, and struggles, into stunning pieces of music.

FAQs

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Conclusion: Herbie Hancock Masterclass 2024 

Herbie Hancock is the latest artist to join Masterclass. This online learning platform uses the expertise of celebrities, industry leaders, and news professionals to provide on-demand classes for busy professionals learning new skills or developing a new hobby.

In this Masterclass, you will see 25 video lessons where a 14-time Grammy winner shares his approach to improvisation, composition, and harmony and provides their students access to 10+ original piano transcriptions, including 5 exclusive solo performances.

A downloadable workbook is included in the course as well, and the cost is $90.

In my opinion, you must give Herbie Hancock Masterclass a try, and you will never be disappointed. In the comments section, let me know what you liked about this course and your experiences if you have already opted for it.