The idea of actually creating a complete piece of music to play frightens many students. They just don't understand how someone could come up with something, put it down on paper, and call it their own.
The good news is that you don't need to read music to compose. All you need is to understand a little about chords and musical phrases.
For example, in the lesson "Reflections in Water," we have 4 chords to create with. We have the order in which the chords are to be played - and then we play, creating an entire piece of music.
Now this piece is actually an improvisation. But if I wanted to "compose" this same piece, I would just draw bar lines, notate where the chords should be played, i.e. every 2-bars, every 4-bars, etc., and either pencil in the first 2-bars of melody, or record it so I could remember the melodic idea.
This is how I compose! I've been doing it for a very long time and it's a great method to quickly capture musical ideas. If I were to write out the same piece note for note, it would take hours! There's no need to do this because once you have your chord changes down and know the arrangement of the piece (Reflections in Water is a broken-chord arrangement) that's that!
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!
So, you think you'd like to learn to play guitar,... Read More
"Music isn't just learning notes and playing them, you learn... Read More
Before the internet, unsigned music artists couldnt make a living,... Read More
Rhapsody music, from RealNetworks is one of several reputable legal... Read More
ABA form is like a musical sandwich. You have the... Read More
Where music meets licensing, there's money to be made. How... Read More
Music downloads are highly compressed audio files transferred onto a... Read More
One of the reasons I picked up the violin was... Read More
One of the most intriguing aspects of music is how... Read More
The idea originated with singer Jon Bon Jovi. Jon kept... Read More
The music of Rush influences and inspires, at least that's... Read More
Propelled into fame as one of the Beatles, along with... Read More
This months tip deals with micing kick drums.You wouldn't believe... Read More
While it probably doesn't seem like this would help -... Read More
Betty Kresin, Eminem's grandmother from the maternal side... Read More
Every day musical instruments enrich the lives of people around... Read More
A number of people have asked about my own methodology... Read More
How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More
"For optimum amp tone onstage, plug your amp into your... Read More
Fan support for musicians is a two way street. You... Read More
For the Creative Artist -- Good Health Insurance is Truly... Read More
Some of you may remember a book titled "Drawing on... Read More
Controlling the images of the mind through image projection has... Read More
Most new guitar players and even some experienced ones have... Read More
A New Breed of Aspiring Songwriters Is In The Making.... Read More
John Lennon wasn't always my favorite Beatle; at first it... Read More
Learning to fiddle the Orange Blossom Special is not easy,... Read More
Finding a good teacher is not always easy, at any... Read More
This is counterintuitive, I know. Our natural response to seeing... Read More
Motorhead-"Inferno"-Review by Les Lewellyn When David Grohl... Read More
Here's the method I use every time I want to... Read More
As an amateur songwriter, who struggles with a computer far... Read More
A student once asked me; "How come sometimes the music... Read More
Facts about MC Big Proof"If I was you, suicide would... Read More
Every student realizes that guitar practice is important if they... Read More
In many years of arranging jazz bands for all sorts... Read More
Propelled into fame as one of the Beatles, along with... Read More
I Want To Grow Old With You (C)Chorus: I want... Read More
How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More
While composers had already begun to write music for the... Read More
Chopin used them extensively. So did Beethoven and Mozart. Arpeggios... Read More
In the world of music, many Jazz improvisers and Classical... Read More
Guitar chords, (chords played specifically on a guitar,) differ only... Read More
Members of LAMN (founded in 1988) and NARIP (founded in... Read More
We all know that music can be inspiring, entertaining, and... Read More
To most people, owning the "genuine article" is the only... Read More
What in the world is "naked music?"You know it when... Read More
Jealousy ? do you feel it? Do you sense it... Read More
Movie and record producers alike are saying file-sharing networks that... Read More
Michael Jackson was born Michael Joseph Jackson on August 29,... Read More
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for music students is... Read More
Disregard the popular image of rappers with their ghetto blasters,... Read More
There are roughly umpteen zillion reasons why you should learn... Read More
In the late 1940's, the 45-RPM record replaced the 78-RPM... Read More
"I don't like to go into the studio with all... Read More
Anyone who has recorded vocals to tape knows there is... Read More
Are you well past puberty and have always had a... Read More
We don't simply wear a theatrical costume; we wear the... Read More
(1) The BMG Music Service offers the best deal you'll... Read More
Remember when radio stations played great music?OK, before you accuse... Read More
I am not sure if anyone has been watching out... Read More
As you probably know, there are thousands and thousands of... Read More
Three battles at the end of the 8 Mile movie... Read More
There's a reason Apple Computer dominates the legal 99-cents-a-download digital... Read More
OK, say you've got one thousand of your favorite MP3... Read More
For the Creative Artist -- Good Health Insurance is Truly... Read More
Music & MP3 |