Form - Giving Shape to Your Music

Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so, good. This has its place in music making and in new age piano playing in particularly. Just listen to Michael Jones's music to hear an example of this kind of free-form improvisation.

Now, some of you want to create something that will give the listener a slightly more cohesive experience. How is this accomplished? By forming the music into a shape - an ABA shape for our purposes here. To give form to music does not require as much theory and technique as most people think. In fact, it is as simple as applying the principles of repetition and contrast.

In most new age piano music there is some kind of form that the composer uses whether it's extended "A" form ala Michael Jones, or extended "A" extended "B" and back to "A" again as in some of George Winston's music. Think in sections people. A section of music can last for as long as the person who created it is involved with it- that is, as long as the inspiration is fresh.

As soon as the music sounds dull it's time for a change - the next section of music. This is the point where a composer will add something-new (contrast) or, if she is smart, end the piece. If the music does not have that freshness, that touch of inspired in the moment fantasy, you'll be able to detect and hear it. Some composers are so in touch with their feeling that they can take you on a 20 or 30 minute journey using very little means - but by using the elements of repetition and contrast maintain listener interest.

First, get your "A" section. The first few bars (8 usually) is more than enough to propel you forward. You must adopt a listening attitude to hear what is coming next. You don't force nor will it into being. This will not give you what you want, which is, I'm assuming, inspired content. Listen, listen, listen and the music will come. If it doesn't just do what Beethoven did.

He worked on 3 or 4 pieces at a time. When the inspiration dried up on a particular piece he was working on, he just moved on to another and picked up on the others later on. You can do the same. Be bold and go forward. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Be afraid of not trying.

About the Author

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! Visit us now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

Here Are Some Tips On Form - Giving Shape to Your Music

Music Therapy: Can Music Really Soothe The Savage Beast?

In light of this, music therapy can and often is used in a wide variety of applications. With music therapy, individuals with high levels of anxiety can be helped to express suppressed emotions thereby discharging anger, or enabling the individual to express the joy they would not otherwise be able to express. Researchers tell us that the reason music therapy works is based on how we hear. In some cases its as simple as having the individual listen to particular music. And if it is, does this have any implication where humans are concerned?

Pianos Need Tender Loving Care Too

Then talk to your pianotechnician to decide what frequency to continue service at.Usually twice a year after the first year is recommended, butsometimes once a year is enough. Servicing includes having thepiano tuned, regulated as needed, voiced as needed, andeventually having worn parts repaired or replaced as needed ( About the author:. Pianos have several thousand parts (8,000-12,000) and many ofthose parts are moving parts.

Learn To Play Piano - Let The Train Station Teach You About Piano Playing

This is whenyour decision becomes a commitment. I tried to write nice sheets with music but it took a lot oftime and if I wanted to change something in my compositions,which I often wanted then and even now, it was difficult. The reason why I started to be very interested in computers wayback in the late 80's was because of what I believed thatcomputers could help me with. Learn to play piano on a train station?

Classical Music - How I Was Magically Mesmerized

Take delight in your performance. Whether youre seeing it, hearing it or reading it. If you dont relate to the people youre making music with, how on earth do you expect sparks to fly with your audience.

The Benefits of Music Education

He is an alumni of Yale University and UCLA. A Practical Guide for Band and Orchestra Parents assists parents in developing their musical children.

Does Music Impact Epilepsy For Bad Or For Good?

Piano Playing Secrets Of The Pros. Fortunately, thats not the end of the story. Researchers tell us that this form of epilepsy can appear as a result of many kinds of music. To my knowledge, music is not yet used as a formal treatment for epilepsy, but the sheer fact that music has shown a potential ability to be a treatment for epilepsy as well as its ability to induce epileptic seizures would seem to indicate that music just might play a more significant role in the human experience than we ever imagined.

Form - Giving Shape to Your Music

Some composers are so in touch with their feeling that they can take you on a 20 or 30 minute journey using very little means - but by using the elements of repetition and contrast maintain listener interest. How is this accomplished? About the Author Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations?

Play Piano - How to Play Piano By Ear

So if you want to start playing piano by ear, just practice andstudy very simple chord progressions. The operative wordis continually. For example, the first two notes of "Here Comes the Bride," is aperfect 4th. For example, if someone sat at your piano and kept playing majorchords without interruption for two straight days, you would nodoubt recognize a major chord any time one sounded during theremainder of your life!

Creating Your Own Unique Music

Once you can do this, your ability to capture musical ideas as they first came to you increase. And it's a dream I am fortunate enough to have realized. The idea of having a finished piece of music in front of you is exciting to say the least, but many students rush the process and end up with music that is less than what they originally thought of.

How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano

Piano Chords & Progressions! In fact, try adding a couple together, like a 6th and a 9th. Simply break up the chord that is in force at the moment, and run it up the keyboard as a broken chord one note at a time.