|
|
|
|
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_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!
 The Associated Press | American folk music legend Odetta dies at 77 The Associated Press - First coming to prominence in the 1950s, she influenced Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and other singers who had roots in the folk music boom. ... Odetta Holmes dies at 88; folk singer championed black history ... Civil rights beacon, folk singer Odetta, dead at 77 Odetta, folk artist and civil rights inspiration, dies at 77 |
 The Associated Press | The LA Times music blog Los Angeles Times, CA - The most prestigious category wasn't a snapshot of the important music of the past 12 months. It was a multi-genre rundown -- the result of Grammy voters ... Grammy nominations hit prime-time with TV special Grammy nominations get another chance to be hip Taylor Swift to Co-Host 2009 Grammy Awards Nominations Concert |
 ABC News | paidContent.org - Broadband Content Bits: YouTube Goes Classical ... Washington Post, United States - YouTube gets classical : When you think of YouTube, you may not think of classical music, but Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and a number of international orchestras ... Google sees a future in the fancy music of the past Classical musicians get shot at fame on YouTube YouTube's Got An Ear (And Eye) For Music |
 New York Times | In a Queens Coffeehouse, New Music From Composers Scattered Around ... New York Times, United States - The Lost Dog New Music Ensemble, from left, Miranda Cuckson, on violin; Laura Barger, on piano; and Emily Brausa, on cello. By STEVE SMITH Community is a ... |
 CNET News | Music and browsing take flight in Songbird CNET News, CA - Music and browsing mashup Songbird has kicked the remnants of its shell to the curb. With the release of version 1.0.0 for Windows, Mac, and Linux, ... |
 Calgary Herald | Blog: Music Beat Deseret News, UT - Take her much-publicized breakdown, child-custody battles, a dismal appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards and then reappearing on the VMAs the next year ... Britney Spears Bigger as a Trainwreck Britney reboot Britney Spears: Back On Track? |
 Hollywood Industry | As music sales slow, digital market offers hope Reuters - By Antony Bruno DENVER (Billboard) - Ever since Apple's iTunes store launched in 2003, the digital music market has received an annual Christmas gift in the ... Apple's iPod Problem New-look nano highlights Apple’s iPod changes |
Country Star Trace Adkins Sounds Off on Music's Political Divide FOXNews - BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Unresolved Problem" segment tonight: There's a definite split between the country music industry and the pop music world. ... Trace Adkins to Outspoken Celebrities: Don't 'Puke up Your Liberal ... |
Iowa to use trailers for music, theater students Chicago Tribune, United States - AP IOWA CITY, Iowa - The federal government is set to buy 22 trailers for the University of Iowa to be used for music and theater students as temporary ... |
 Los Angeles Times | 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello with . . . . ' Los Angeles Times, CA - Musicians often fare poorly in that venue, either because interviewers are insufficiently schooled in how music is made or because they are overcome by ... Elvis Costello and friends and music: What's not to like? Elvis Costello, making a 'Spectacle' of himself Review: 'Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...' |
| Top of Page home Bookmark Us Now ctrl+d 1st 4 Music, shopping via 1st4music cost no more than going direct and can often save you money with special offers. with questions or comments about this website |