George Gershwin was born on the 26th of September, 1986 in Brooklyn, New York. His roots were a mix of Ukrainian and Jewish roots, from Russia. The key to his interest was a violin recital by his childhood pal Max Rozen. He liked what he had heard. His parents bought a piano for his brother and future lyricist, Ira Gershwin. He took it from there and took to it more than his brother Ira.
Continue reading →Auld Lang Syne
Continue reading →By adding color tones to your chords you can create a much fuller sound in most any song: Color Tones in “Hark The Herald Angels Sing”
Continue reading →You have likely seen the US Army band “Pershing’s Own” at various occasions or playing taps, the beautiful and stirring music played as a final tribute to fallen soldiers. Started in 1922, the US Army Band has played a significant … Continue reading →
From amongst all the jazz legends and pop legendary pianists, Thelonious Monk is most known for what can be called ‘straight forward jazz’. He influenced the the bebop style of playing so much that he has arguably been referred to as the founder of bebop.
Continue reading →Music is simpler than most people make it out to be. There are only scales, scale fragments, intervals, chords, and rhythm. Look for the lowest possible denominator whenever you can. Ask yourself “Is this song made out of a scale? Out of a chord?”
Continue reading →You can pump some energy into a song by playing two chords instead of one, or 4 instead of 2. In other words, use a 2 to 1 ratio. Watch this short video and see how easy it is to do.
Continue reading →Alberti was a composer around 1730 or so, and used this style so much that it was eventually named after him. Mozart and many other composers use his style.
Continue reading →Passing tones are notes that are not in the chord, but “pass through” between chord notes. An ostinato is a sustained bass note — usually the 5th of the chord — that is held while different chords occur over the top of it. Watch this short video on O Come All Ye Faithful and you’ll understand quickly
Continue reading →Using parallel major 7th chords is a good way to create a rich sounding chord progression. Watch as I play “O Little Town of Bethelehem”, “White Christmas”, and “Joy To The World:
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