Piano Improvisation For Classical Pianists

In this Pianist Magazine masterclass, Tom Donald introduces piano improvisation for classical pianists, showing how daily creative exploration can transform the way you connect to the piano. This tutorial is designed to help you break free from the score, build confidence, and discover your own musical voice.

What you’ll learn in this piano tutorial:
1. Pulse-Based Improvisation (in multiple keys):
Use one hand as a metronome while freely improvising on piano in C major, D-flat major, and B-flat major.
Explore how each tonal centre changes the mood and sparks new ideas.

2. Chord Stacking & Modal Exploration:
Stack chords in C natural minor and improvise melodies over them.
Dive into the D Lydian mode (bright and dreamlike) and compare it with D major and D Mixolydian.
Learn how to improvise short motifs and patterns.

3. Left-Hand Classical Templates:
Chopin-style chord textures with broken chords and wide leaps.
Mozart’s Alberti bass — build new melodies with phrasing and articulation over a timeless classical pattern.

4. Recap & Improvisation Challenge:
Take on a 30 day challenge: spend just 5 minutes a day improvising in a key or mode.
Record yourself to track progress and creativity.

Why Improvisation Matters:
Improvisation isn’t separate from classical study — it’s a natural extension of it. With regular piano exercises, improvisation exercises, and piano techniques, you’ll strengthen your ear, expand your creativity, and bring your repertoire to life.

This video is part of a series of masterclasses in collaboration with Pianist Magazine — join in and take your playing further through the joy of improvised music.

If you would like another piano challenge, watch this video next - it’s a 30-day chords challenge with Tom Donald:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwqgLqgYkMg&list=PLDqNslPG6e1IbTdTGk5XsSC3v8_F9kdD1&index=83

Claim your FREE gift - Resources Pack - by getting in touch with the London Contemporary School of Piano team so that we can help you solve your challenges and accelerate you progress at the piano:
https://www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com/

Join the LCSP Flagship Course, THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN: Piano Essentials Online Course with Tom Donald:
https://lcsp.samcart.com/products/the-complete-musician-essentials-2025/

If you enjoyed this piano improvisation lesson on classical improvisation piano practice and would like to get more top tips on learning piano, make sure to subscribe to the LCSP YouTube channel right here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZWqaBf6VLuD0cSKF4cukPg?sub_confirmation=1

Credits:
Filmed by Josh Adams.
Edited by BUBI Productions & Charlie Coe.

#londoncontemporaryschoolofpiano #pianistmagazine #improvisation