|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Learn how to Improvise
Learning how to improvise is the key to playing in this style. Period. You must learn to experiment and take musical risks - within certain frameworks of course. You're not going to bang on the keys and expect to make music. This is not the kind of risk I'm talking about. Students thrive best when given a certain set of rules or guidelines to move around with.
For example, in the lesson "Reflections in Water" you are given a few chords and a specific scale to make music with. In other words, I give you a set of limits from which you play the game of improvisation. This will free you up from the thousand and one choices you could possibly have. In fact, if you didn't have a set of limitations, you probably would end up banging on the keyboard because while it is important to be free and spontaneous, it is equally important to understand how the game is played.
2. Develop the proper attitude
This one ties for first place. In my opinion, what stops most students from learning all they can from this style is the attitude that they either aren't good enough, or are not ready to learn how to improvise and play piano. Please don't think that. No one person will ever know all there is to know about any one subject let alone piano playing. You will always be growing but you must start somewhere and you must start from SIMPLE means.
Here's a quote that sums it up best: "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, but in the experts mind there are few." This means that you have an advantage over so called experienced piano players. Your attitude should always be one of receptivity. That is, never force anything to happen because when you force you are already setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.
3. Forget what you were taught
Perhaps you were taught that you must learn your scales first and that you must learn how to read music before you can do anything else. I'm here to tell you that I can't read music, yet somehow, I've been able to put out two CD's of original music! In fact, if anything, reading music will slow you down creatively! If you want to create your very own music, you must forget what you were taught about music in general and focus on learning how to improvise first and compose second. Both of which can be taught!
I think I read every book at the library on composition and improvisation and what helped me out the most was a very slim volume on chord changes using 8-bar patterns. By playing the chords in a set framework (8-bars) I was able to see how to use repetition and contrast to create with. And of course, I listened to the people I loved and learned a lot from just listening. So forget about what you were taught and start thinking about what you want to accomplish and you can do it!
4. Learn chords
You've heard it before. Learn chords and you can make music. Just learn the 144 chords and voila - you can do it all. Don't believe it! You need to learn chords, but you don't need to learn one hundred chords right away. No. You need to learn probably about 3 chords or less to begin improvising in the "new age" style. And if you think that you need to learn more than this at the beginning you are wrong.
Of course you can learn as many chords as you want but what's the point if you never use them? It's like learning a new vocabulary word each day for the sake of massaging your ego. Nice, but unnecessary.
5. Learn how to use Chords
Let's assume you've learned a few chords. Now what? What are you going to do with your new chords? You are going to use them to create music with and the best way to do that is to choose a key or mode to play in. This automatically limits your choices.
For example, let's say I sit down and start improvising and I start using a C Major 7 chord. I like what I hear but a problem arises - where do I go from here. Now this won't be a problem if you say to yourself. "OK. I started on C Major 7. Let's just stay in the Key of C Major and see what happens." Now, you are ready to go forward because you do not have a thousand and one confusing choices ahead of you. Do you see how this can free you up? You've limited yourself to using just 6 chords from the C Major scale.
Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lesson s.html for a FREE piano lesson!
Wind Chimes and more... You CAN do everything.Repeat.You CAN do everything. What you cannot... Read More It's all over the news these days. Download music from... Read More You have to find radio airplay time if you're going... Read More His lockjaw delivery makes him look as gangsta as Marlon... Read More So you want to be more creative when playing piano.... Read More Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More Rap music originated as a cross-cultural product. Most of its... Read More Are you a perfectionist? Does every note have to sound... Read More Piano playing doesn't have to be boring. There's no law... Read More Every searching artist wants to get there. It's that magical... Read More Many students ask me a question that goes something like... Read More If your band is in rehearsals, either preparing for gigging,... Read More In the late 1940's, the 45-RPM record replaced the 78-RPM... Read More A New Breed of Aspiring Songwriters Is In The Making.... Read More Not since the heyday of Dance/Pop Artists like Taylor Dayne... Read More This article takes a look at musicians' injuries. For an... Read More Why do you care about stringing your guitar you may... Read More I wish you could have seen me play the piano... Read More Guitar chords, (chords played specifically on a guitar,) differ only... Read More Learning fiddle tab is so intuitive and so easy that... Read More More so than any other music since the blues, hip-hop... Read More As an amateur songwriter, who struggles with a computer far... Read More Sometime during the 1930's electric guitars were introduced onto the... Read More About an entire local music industry that's rarely heard from,... Read More Learning how to improvise is confusing for most. The sheer... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
Managing Your Time, when Music isnt Your Day Job
Legal Free Music Downloads - Songs You Want at No Cost
5 Sure Fire Ways to Get Radio Play for Your ?Independent? Music!
50 Cent G Unit
How to be Creative at the Piano
Improvisation and Musical Form
Hip Hop History
Piano Lessons and Perfectionism
Piano Playing Your Way: How To Have More Fun Playing The Piano Than You Ever Have Before
Reaching For The Soul Zone
What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?
Effective Band Rehearsal
Why Do Music Lovers Still Prefer to Buy Records?
People are Turning to Meaningful Songs for Emotional and Spiritual Relief:
Is the Mainstream Ready Once Again for Dance Music?
Musicians Injuries: OUCH, It Hurts When I Play (But Please Dont Tell Me To Stop!)
The Secrets of Correctly Stringing Your Guitar
Killer Piano Playing Secrets of a Chord Addict!
How Many Guitar Chords Do I Need To Know?
Fiddle Tab Makes Learning Fiddle Fast and Easy
50 Cent
Your PC Is An Awesome Singer... If You Let It!
The Revolution of Electric Guitars
The Death-Defying Warehouse Party Life: An Interview by William of Orange
How to Stop Thinking and Start Playing
G-Units 50 Cent , was born 6th of July 1976... Read More
As a full-time guitar instructor, I am constantly faced with... Read More
There are basically two ways you can compose a piece... Read More
Rocket Piano is a very professionally done piano lesson package.... Read More
If you've been playing piano for some time, you may... Read More
Getting ready for any type of guitar performance can be... Read More
Virtually all of you have probably heard of the RIAA's... Read More
Was the request six months ago, a sixtieth birthday party,... Read More
In reflecting on the world of the Music Business in... Read More
Eminem's roots can be found in Scandinavia through his mother... Read More
Are you still playing your heart out to small audiences... Read More
Most people look forward to the summer months because they... Read More
You have to find radio airplay time if you're going... Read More
While many people think that the mixing of the separate... Read More
This months tip deals with micing kick drums.You wouldn't believe... Read More
The DJ industry is very competitive. There are many DJ's... Read More
Buying a digital piano could be a very delicate attempt,... Read More
Most people these days would associate singing with the popular... Read More
Most of the guitar lovers playing guitar for few years... Read More
Just because you're holding your guitar doesn't mean that you're... Read More
Piano lessons are a great activity for children. They encourage... Read More
When most people hear the word composer, they automatically think... Read More
Most new guitar players and even some experienced ones have... Read More
President Harry S. Truman, the man in the White House... Read More
A number of people have asked about my own methodology... Read More
Music & MP3 |