In my experience working with singer-songwriters, a topic that often emerges is how to use simple and strong instrumental techniques to express our songs.

Understanding the basics of piano voicings and the use of common tensions is a first step in creating effective orchestrations of reharmonized melodies.

Suzanna Sifter is author of Berklee Jazz Keyboard Harmony: Using Upper Structure Triads, an extraordinary book that helps pianists organize and understand tensions

Jonathan Feist explains the concept of imaginary barlines in music theory, a notation convention designed to help the music reader know what’s syncopated.