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 →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 →“I want to play music!” How many millions of people have either said or thought that? And why not? Music is the universal language that we all speak, and we all want to express ourselves and communicate our feelings to others. Music is the perfect vehicle for that.
Continue reading →In music there is a type of note which is never counted — it falls between the beats, and you never count it like you would count an 8th note or a 16th note. When I was a kid I used to skip rocks on Lake Tahoe — you’re probably done it too. Grace notes are like that rock that bounces across the surface of the water. You don’t count it, but it sure adds a lot and its fun, too.
Continue reading →There are many songs which can be played with just a few different notes, and Jingle Bells is one of them. A piano beginner can play it easily just with the 5 fingers of their right hand — 5 notes, 5 fingers. And since there are only 4 different chords in the song, it’s easy to put hands together for a two-handed arrangement.
Continue reading →A single note played is termed a unison. Two notes played together (or close together) is termed an interval. Three or more notes in combination is called a chord. Chords can have any number of notes in them, but the most basic type of chord is termed a triad.
Continue reading →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.
Continue reading →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.
Continue reading →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.
Continue reading →Pseudo-modulation is a little known technique that any pianist can use to brighten up a song. The idea is to apparently modulate to a new key, but really end up in the same key. Most non-musicians will never notice it consciously, but they will “feel” the lift it gives to the song. And musicians will likely say “How did you do that?”
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