Parallelism with major 7ths and two-hand intervals
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:
Continue reading →Duane
Duane Shinn (that would be me) has good news for you if you want to play the piano. He (me) has little fat hands & stubby little fingers - not at all suited for playing the piano - more suited to making mud pies or some such. I am also fairly uncoordinated with just average musical ability - certainly not a great piano player. But I've learned a ton about music over the years and people tell me I'm pretty decent at explaining how music works & how to progress more rapidly on the piano. Over the years I have developed about 150 techniques for conquering the piano. Most professional pianists can do these techniques, but very few can explain them in a way people can understand. I specialize in making complex techniques simple. I invite you to watch a few of my free videos and see some of these for yourself before making any decision about taking any of my courses.
White Christmas: The Life and Music of Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin started making music long before he learned to play an instrument. Before rising to the heights of superstardom, Irving (then Israel Beilin) was just another son of an immigrant in the United States. Through stubborn determination to express his music, Irving eventually taught himself to play the piano and became one of the most prolific composers in music history.
Continue reading →Erroll Garner: One of a Kind Jazz Pianist & Composer of “Misty”
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 15, 1921, Erroll Louis Garner was destined to be an amazing jazz pianist and composer. By the age of three, Erroll was playing the piano successfully. Like many successful composers and musicians, he did not choose to follow traditional teaching methods to learn the piano. He was a self-taught musician who never learned to read music. He simply played by ear, not by the page.
Continue reading →“Silent Night” & The Case of the Broken Organ
It was possibly a king who prompted “Silent Night” to become a Christian standard. Twenty-two years after the Strasser children started performing it, King Frederick William IV of Prussia heard it and declared it should “be given first place in all future Christmas concerts” under his rule. The accuracy of the story has not been substantiated. What is clear, is that in spite of everything, “Silent Night” became a worldwide hit.
Continue reading →Playing Popular Piano Music
How many songs do you know on the piano? Would you like to have a larger repertoire at your command? How about entertaining friends and acquaintances at a party with a staggering knowledge of popular songs? From Chopin to Gershwin, from Thelonius Monk to Tori Amos, piano music in a variety of popular styles is increasingly available in music stores and online outlets.
Continue reading →What do key signatures tell about a song? (Sharps & flats)
What do those sharps or flats mean at the start of a song? They are known as “key signatures” and they announce what key a song is in. If there are no sharps or flats, a song is either in the key of C major or A minor. Every major key has a relative minor key. Watch this short video on key signatures.
Continue reading →The Laws of Music: Can You Answer These Questions?
Did you know that music is based on natural “laws” — like gravity — and by learning to understand how those natural laws work we can actually understand what we are doing when we play — we don’t have to be at the mercy of what someone else has written on a piece of music.
Continue reading →How To Play “O Christmas Tree” — In a Jazzy Arrangement for Piano
As you know, there are many many ways to arrange songs on the piano and bring your own unique twist to them. Here is one way you can use left-hand voicing in 4ths to create an interesting sound in this old Christmas Carol.
Continue reading →Piano Instruction: Make Sure It Includes Chords & Music Theory!
Proper piano instruction is an element extremely vital to learning the instrument well. Though it’s very possible to be a self-taught piano player, piano lessons can really increase the speed and efficiency with which one learns the instrument. That’s not to say that great piano instruction makes great piano players overnight; even the most naturally talented pianists still play for years before they consider themselves advanced. But proper piano lesson instructions will maximize those years to the fullest and ensure that the student is learning the correct techniques.
Continue reading →History Of The Piano: How The Piano Was Born & Named & Raised…
If you’re thinking of taking piano lessons — or if you already take them — it’s a good idea to learn something about the long musical tradition in which you will be participating. After all, nobody’s choice to play piano is made in a vacuum. No, we decide to learn the instrument because of its special musical qualities and its unique history.
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