Author Archives: Duane

About 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.

Musical Terms: What are Passing Tones, Appoggiaturas, Anticipations, Neighboring Tones and Suspensions?

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At first glance these may appear to have the same effect, but listen to chord dominated music while following the manuscript and you’ll learn how to identify anticipations from suspensions, and neighboring tones from appoggiaturas. The best way to learn how to identify which non-chord tone is which however is to sit at the piano and try them out yourself. As you play them, you will learn to hear the subtle tone emphasis and variations of each and so be able to identify them easier when listening to a piece of music.

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Modal Scales: The Ancient “Church Modes” — Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian & Ionian Modes

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Back in the period between roughly 1150 AD and 1400 AD there developed scales called “modes”, or “modal scales” (actually deriving from the Greeks some thousand years before.) And since music was centered in the church during that period they came to be known as “church modes.”

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Minor Scales: What They Are & How They Work (video)

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Every major scale has a kissin’-cousin — a relative minor scale. It is related to the major scale of the key, but begins on the 6th note of the major scale. For example, if I were to play the C major scale but instead of playing it from C to C I played it from A to A, that would be the A minor natural scale. What makes it related? It uses the same notes — just starts and ends at a different point.

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What is Music Theory and Why Should I Learn it?

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Aside from the academic study of music theory, which explores the theories surrounding music issues, such as whether or not a piece of music fits into one category or another, music theory is really the nuts and bolts of music. It’s the way that music is composed, and performed. Whether you are thinking about musical harmony, the way a concerto is orchestrated, and even the simple basics of how to read music, then you’re thinking about aspects of musical theory.

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What is Musical Syncopation & How Does It Work?

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Syncopation is where the emphasis is on a note other than the one expected. It could be that there is an irregular pattern in the group perhaps as the result of a brief quaver length pause that should be where the emphasis falls. It could be that the music has been composed in a way that has dotted crotchets paired with quavers. There are many different reasons for creating the imbalance on the beat but usually it is done purposefully and to create a certain effect.

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Beginning Piano Lessons: How To Get Started Playing Piano (Watch short video)

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Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to play the piano but never had the opportunity. Perhaps you’re a parent with a child who has expressed interest in the piano. The question is: where do you begin? How to start depends on your age and your goals.

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Piano Playing: Wonderful & Nutricious Food For Your Brain

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Our population is aging. People are living longer lives, and they are constantly looking for brain food to keep their mental prowess in peak condition. One of the best ways to keep those hamsters running might be sitting in the corner of your living room gathering dust. That old piano of grandma’s has more than its share of brain teasers.

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What Piano Method Does Your Piano Teacher Use?

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Learning to play the piano is about more than learning the names of notes. Students and parents have a variety of different piano methods to choose from. All teach the basics of playing piano. The differences lie in their respective emphases and their suitability for particular age groups and learning styles. While there are many methods, here are a few of the most common.

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How To Form & Play Major Scales On The Piano Keyboard – Video

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Major scales are ladders of notes that lead from the root note up to the octave note. There are 8 notes in a major scale (7 different note names) and they are always arranged in this pattern:
Whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.

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