The first time I heard George Winston play back in the early 1980's I was blown away. I didn't know why I liked this music. All I knew was that it made me feel good and that was enough. I didn't even play piano back then but something about this music seeped into me almost haunting me. The way he let the notes ring out and wasn't concerned with pop flavorings. A new sound for the time.
When I began to play piano, I wanted to know how he did it. How did he create this music? I read somewhere that his method was to create the chords first, then improvise a melody over them. Great, but what chords and how do you know where and when to play them?
I then realized that George wasn't really doing anything radically different than most classical composers who think in sections. Composing is all about using the techniques of repetition and contrast. Now in most of Winston's music, there is a lot of repetition going on with the contrast coming from the melody. The chords are repeated in certain patterns, the melody played on top, but there still is a framework operating here.
For example, if we take 8 measures of music and call it a (A) section, we have composed. We have taken chords, put them into some kind of order (no matter how tightly or loosely) and have composed. It takes a certain skill to keep the music fresh after a certain number of repetitions. This skill has to be practiced. It can not be taught. This is a doing operation. You can listen to music, but to learn improvisation and composition, you must do it.
Now the secret is this: You may repeat a section as many times as your interest remains with the music. As soon as you become bored in your improvising, so will the listener. For most, having one section isn't enough therefore we bring in the (B) section. This could be anything from 4 to 8 bars of new material. This new material is also repeated and eventually we return to the (A) section. When you start to think in sections, you can unlock the mystery of most music.
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!
There are essentially two ways to learn piano - note... Read More
Are you confused by the various types of music file... Read More
Interested in making money while you're asleep, or making money... Read More
Stuck in a music rut?It happens. After listening to your... Read More
The music of Rush influences and inspires, at least that's... Read More
When I first started playing the piano I wanted to... Read More
What exactly is a Gong?The gong is a musical instrument... Read More
The Search for the Right MusicEver since Georgi Lozonav, the... Read More
Most of us like to use what we learn right... Read More
Frustrated in a gridlocked?Job got you stressed out?The children have... Read More
"For optimum amp tone onstage, plug your amp into your... Read More
When you first learn how to use a mixing console,... Read More
The first time I heard George Winston play back in... Read More
If you or anyone you know wants to learn to... Read More
You know your songs are great (and so does your... Read More
Pop/Rock Recording Artist Amber, who has scored seven #1 Billboard... Read More
Where music meets licensing, there's money to be made. How... Read More
The Open Position Chord (OPC) allows you to create a... Read More
About an entire local music industry that's rarely heard from,... Read More
Music is the art of arranging sounds in periodic time... Read More
Welcome to the wonderful world of music. As you begin... Read More
When I was 9 years old I played the Saxophone... Read More
Piano playing doesn't have to be boring. There's no law... Read More
Celebrating an endorsement between G-Man Music and the fiery axe-makers... Read More
"Turn it down!"How often have you heard that command in... Read More
Movie and record producers alike are saying file-sharing networks that... Read More
How many times have you turned to music to uplift... Read More
Why jazz piano improvisation?Why not gospel piano improvisation?Is it not... Read More
While many people think that the mixing of the separate... Read More
You've got your recording (or songwriting) contract in hand and... Read More
Controlling the images of the mind through image projection has... Read More
How do you begin a piece of music? That's a... Read More
To most people, owning the "genuine article" is the only... Read More
Rosemary Brown (1916-2001) was a middle-aged South London widow, making... Read More
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has launched a... Read More
Vision Music USA is a proactive and progressive music service... Read More
Many students want to create music that has a certain... Read More
Legend Vega is scheduled to release her newest CD this... Read More
Will listening to music make you smarter? Will learning to... Read More
Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More
The idea that studying music improves the social development of... Read More
In Northern Australia the Didjeridu is seen as a phallic... Read More
The Greg Koch Fender guitar began to take shape all... Read More
What is it with these performers and their politics? Do... Read More
Introduced in 1982, the compact disc was intended to provide... Read More
Once you know what your Unique Selling Proposition is as... Read More
Piano lessons are a great activity for children. They encourage... Read More
This article is designed to help anyone to enjoy karaoke... Read More
This lesson can open for you a secret of high-speed... Read More
"How do I buy a violin, (or fiddle)?"That question has... Read More
With the increased proliferation of online guitar and musical equipment... Read More
Like starting with any instrument, beginning clarinet is a process... Read More
Released in 2003, Pass the Flask turned this little quintet... Read More
When I first set out to write this article about... Read More
It is no secret that over the past couple decades... Read More
These practice tips were written for fiddlers. I've used them... Read More
To avoid any sort of injuries when playing guitar a... Read More
I'll never forget the first time I played the piano... Read More
There are essentially two ways to learn piano - note... Read More
There are a lot of independent labels out there waiting... Read More
Back in the 90's we had a local Southern Gospel... Read More
As an independent musician and/or recording artist, if you did... Read More
This article discusses 8 vital things to remember as improvisers... Read More
Following, is a list of alternative sources that may be... Read More
Everyone has a talent. For Miami, Okla.'s, Brian Beauchamp, it's... Read More
Virtually all of you have probably heard of the RIAA's... Read More
Music & MP3 |