Please enjoy my video of a stride piano version of “Laura” by David Raksin and a one-handed version of “Single Petal of a Rose” by Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn.

Click here to download the Powerpoint for “From Scales to Melodies”

I have a busy few weeks coming up here in SoCal! I hope you can join us for one of these upcoming performances:

August 30 – Housewarming Project at Blue Whale, ft. Christian Euman
August 31 – Housewarming Project In-Home Concert (Yorba Linda, CA)
September 1 – Housewarming Project @ Sensus Food + Music (Long Beach, CA)
September 2 – Housewarming Project @ Sensus Food + Music (Long Beach, CA)
September 5 – Housewarming Project In-Home Concert (Irvine, CA)
September 6 – Housewarming Project In-Home Concert (La Habra, CA)
September 7 – Housewarming Project In-Home Concert (San Diego, CA)
September 8 – Housewarming Project In-Home Concert (San Diego, CA)
September 12 – Solo Piano for LA Phil Affiliate (Private Event)
September 15 – Solo Piano In-Home Concert (Fountain Valley, CA)
September 21 – Piano Duo with Bill Cunliffe (Meng Hall, CSUF)
September 29 – Trio with Ryan Rost Trio (The Lighthouse, Long Beach)

I have the distinct honor of sharing the stage with the wonderful pianist Bill Cunliffe at Cal State Fullerton’s Meng Hall on September 21. I first encountered Bill when I was a student at the Vail Jazz Workshop and he’s continued to be a mentor and inspiration for many years.

Cunliffe’s resume is a “who’s who” of the jazz world ranging from Buddy Rich to Frank Sinatra to Ray Brown and Marian McPartland. He’s a Thelonious Monk Competition winner and a Grammy winner for “Best Instrumental Arrangement.”

More info at www.billcunliffe.com

Come see me play in California. I have the following upcoming performances:

June 30 – Anaheim (Music Teachers Association of California solo recital)
July 1 – Vibrato Grill (with Judy Wexler)
August 30 – Blue Whale (with Housewarming Project)
September 1-2 – Sensus Project (Long Beach)

Feel free to visit the gig page or contact me for more information.

I’ll be presenting two performances as part of the Gilmore Keyboard Festival – May 7 in Battle Creek and May 9 in Kalamazoo. I’m paired with the incredible pianist Justin Kauflin for some two piano performances. I can’t wait – Justin’s one of my favorite modern players! For more information, click here.

Every now and then people ask me if I’m playing “in town.” Well, I finally have a few performances in SoCal in April:
4/17 – Vibrato w/Jamie Shew
4/20 – Fullerton College Jazz Festival (vocal) closing concert
4/21 – Fullerton College Jazz Festival (instrumental) closing concert
4/22 – Blue Whale w/Nick Finzer

See the “Calendar” page for more info on any of these shows.

Related show

• Type: Performance
• Date: Apr 17
• Venue: Vibrato Grill
• City: Los Angeles , CA
• Address: 2930 Beverly Glen Cir
• Country: United States
• Notes: With great vocalist Jamie Shew, plus LA’s favorite rhythm section, Dave Robaire (bass) & Dan Schnelle (drums)

• Type: Performance
• Date: Apr 22
• Venue: Blue Whale
• City: Los Angeles , CA
• Address: 123 astronaut E S Onizuka St. Suite 301
• Country: United States
• Notes: with trombonist Nick Finzer and his great New York-based band.

View the lecture notes for my workshop at the Music Teachers National Association 2018 Conference in Orlando (Four Skills for Improvisation: Hands, Brain, Ear, and Heart) by clicking one of the links below:

Siskind Presentation Four Skills for Improv (with Visuals)

Siskind Presentation Four Skills for Improv (Text Only)

There was a very nice review of my book, “First Lessons in Piano Improv” in the February/March issue of “American Music Teacher” magazine! The reviewer writes that “the book provides teachers with thoughtful lesson plans for students or give the older student clear guidance for self-study…Very clear, concrete examples are included before every exercise.”

To read the full review, click here.

I’m excited to announce that the Housewarming Project is releasing a series of live performance videos over the next couple of weeks. The series is called “at_Home/at_Play” and will alternate between videos from a recent in-home concert and at the Blue Whale, a jazz club in downtown LA.

Starting January 10, I’ll be releasing two videos each week, one on Wednesdays and one on Saturdays. The best way to see the videos is to “subscribe” to my Youtube channel (click here) and/or follow my artist page on Facebook (click here).

For now, you can enjoy a preview video of our version of my song, “Kneel” below: