Order Up! Smooth Moves with Chord Inversions

Order Up! helps chord-savvy pianists move beyond identifying inversions and start using them fluently. Through keyboard work, staff recognition, common-tone matching, chord slides, and improvisation, players learn to choose nearby chord shapes and move smoothly from one harmony to the next.

You know your inversions. Now put them to work.

Many pianists can identify root position, first inversion, and second inversion—but still jump awkwardly from one root-position chord to the next when they play.

Order Up! helps bridge the gap between knowing inversions and using them.

Using a playful fast-food theme, pianists “reorder the combo” of root, 3rd, and 5th, then learn how those same chord tones appear on the keyboard and staff. From there, the focus shifts to what really matters: spotting common tones, choosing nearby chord shapes, moving smoothly between chords, and using those shapes in accompaniment and improvisation.

The guiding idea is simple:

Same combo. New order. Keep what you can. Move what you must.

This Senior Jumpstart is designed for pianists and teachers who already know how to build major and minor triads and understand basic inversion labels. It is not intended for beginners.

Inside you’ll find:

• Hands-on inversion activities for the keyboard

• Fingering practice for close-position triads

• Staff-reading and root-spotting shortcuts

• Notation practice in treble and bass clef

• Common-tone matching activities

• Chord-slide warmups and challenges

• Top-note voicing practice

• Guided improvisation ideas

• A final Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star application

• Five video tutorials/demonstrations accessed by QR code

Optional fast-food erasers add a fun, tactile element: choose a sandwich, side, and drink to represent the root, 3rd, and 5th, then physically reorder the “combo” to see how inversions work. No special props are required, though—any three small objects will do.

Best for: intermediate and advanced piano students, adult pianists, and piano teachers who want inversions to become a practical musical skill rather than another theory exercise.

This resource is especially effective for:

• Intermediate to advanced pianists who already understand major and minor triads

• Students who know inversion labels but need help using inversions fluently

• Teens and adults ready to connect theory with practical chord playing

• Teachers wanting to strengthen chord voicing, common-tone awareness, accompaniment, and improvisation skills naturally

Pianists learn how to use inversions to move smoothly, hear connections between chords, and make more musical choices at the keyboard.

Included:

• Printable Jumpstart PDF

• Tutorial videos

• Demo videos

• Backing tracks

• Studio license

Creativity isn’t an add-on. It’s often the bridge to stronger musicianship, deeper understanding, and students who stay inspired longer.

Want to keep the creativity going?

Check out a Space to Create Membership

• This Jumpstart + a growing library of creative resources

• Monthly Jumpstarts + live trainings

• Online labs and courses

• Starting at $20/month

If you’re excited about this resource…you’ll love what’s inside Space to Create.

This is a STUDIO LICENSE.  You may share this with your students, but not anyone outside your studio.

After your purchase, you will receive an email from Leila Viss via Squarespace.

This will include your exclusive link to the digital resource. 

Click on the link to download.

This link will expire 24 hours after the product is ordered.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me at hello@leilaviss.com