Some of the greatest piano players in history became known for
their proficiency in jazz. Technicality and a heavy reliance upon
the ability of the musician to improvise makes jazz piano one of
the hardest styles to learn. That does NOT mean, however, that it can’t be learned, but to get to the highest rungs a pianist must have lots of talent, a great ear, and the ability to improvise.
Continue reading →It seems as though pop music sometimes gets a bad rap. A glimpse at three of modern pop’s most famous pianists may dispel the myth that pop is an inferior genre. Their skill and level of musical expertise rivals that of pianists of other genres.
Continue reading →Every serious piano student eventually learns to play some of the most well-known classical pieces during his or her studies. Nary a pianist didn’t learn Palchabel’s Canon in D or Beethoven’s Fur Elise. Even non-musicians recognize names like Bach and Mozart. But what about modern classical pianists who have also made notable contributions to cultural history?
Continue reading →Building a piano arrangement of a song is very much like building a house. You have to have a foundation (music theory), the materials of the song (the melody, chords & rhythm), and you have to have a toolbox of techniques with which to “build the musical house”.
Continue reading →Nothing stirs the heart of a patriot in the United States like fireworks accompanied by a rousing rendition of God Bless America. The top songs of America are some of the most easily recognized pieces of music in the Western world. “America the Beautiful,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” are well-known and well-loved songs. They all have histories as rich and colorful as the nation they praise.
Continue reading →The joy of music comes in many ways, including playing the piano! There are lots of reasons to play the piano, but one of the most basic is simply that piano playing is fun! As Leonard Bernstein called it — … Continue reading →
In 1940, Woody Guthrie sat down and wrote his personal response to the song ‘God Bless America.’ He felt a different story of America needed telling. This story would celebrate the beauty of the American expanse. At the same time, it would also celebrate the average working citizen who labored across the land. The result of his creativity was ‘This Land is Your Land,’ a song that is still taught in school music classes.
Continue reading →George M. Cohan’s encounter with a Civil War veteran inspired a song that became a Broadway hit. Later it became a household name — “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.
Continue reading →What in the world is “naked music?” You know it when you hear it, but the words that describe it sound strange, don’t they? We’ve all heard of popular music and rock music and gospel music and jazz music, but … Continue reading →
What is it about The Yankee Doodle Boy, that puts a smile on one’s face and sets toes a-tapping’? It’s the verve and variety inherent in a great tunesmith’s song that gets pianos playing and people singing. Written by George … Continue reading →
