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Duane Shinn - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and products such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. Some of his courses included "How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano", "How To Play Chord Piano", "How To Play Piano By Ear", "How To Match Chords To Melody", "Chords: The Backdoor To Exciting Piano Playing", "Chord Progressions", "Chord Substitutions", and ... [More]
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- The Mozart Effect, Piano Playing and You
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The Mozart Effect refers to research that suggests that listening to Mozart's music may cause short-term improvement of spatio-temporal reasoning. This suggests that listening to Mozart before performing a task will help you perform that task better.
- Piano Practice Tips For Adults
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Adults often come to the point in their lives when they want to explore new hobbies. One of the most common hobbies adults pursue is learning to play the piano.
- A Quick Overview of Musical Forms
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are many different musical forms. Here's a quick overview of some of the most common ones such as the concerto, the symphony, the sonata, the sonatina, the fugue, and so on. Each form has it's own use and own unique qualities.
- Ten Reasons to Get Those Ten Fingers Playing Piano
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] To those who love music, there are many reasons to play any type of instrument. The wide variety afforded us to choose from is what makes music infinitely enjoyable. Choosing any instrument to study is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.
- How Can I Improve My Timing and Rhythm in Music?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There's really only one way by which you can improve your timing and rhythm, and that's through hours and hours of practice. You can read books about music theory, listen to masters explain how to play a waltz or samba rhythm, but unless you put in the hours of practice, you won't make the technical connection between what your head knows and how your fingers perform.
- Is it Really Possible to Learn to Play Piano by Ear?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If you want to learn to play an instrument and you have no interest in learning the music theory required to sight read, then it's more than possible to learn how to play by ear. What you do need before you start however is some sensitivity for pitch and rhythm so that you can identify the intervals between notes and the speed at which you should play.
- Piano Practice - Is it Normal to Hate to Practice?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] It's very common for musicians to say they hate to practice. One undesirable aspect of practicing is the simple fact that the musician must practice passages and techniques that are difficult for them to play. This creates frustration on the part of the musician and can make them question their abilities.
- What is a Grace Note & How Does it Work?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] A grace note should perhaps be thought of as an extra bit of flourish by the composer and player. Many call a grace note an "ornament" to be used in the ornamentation of music.
- What's the Difference Between an Orchestra & a Band?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] What's the difference between an orchestra & a band, an ensemble and a choir, a combo, and so on? Different combinations of musicians are given different names, based mostly on personnel, instrumentation, and the style of music played.
- What Piano Players Should Know About Woodwinds
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Woodwinds (clarinet, oboe, bassoon, etc.) are different from piano in that they require wind (created by the player) to create a tone (using a reed or reeds to create the vibrations needed for sound). In addition to using different techniques to make the reeds vibrate in different ways, the player also changes the tone (creates the notes) by pressing and releasing (using their fingers) keys that are attached along the length of the instrument, or by covering up, then opening, various holes on the instrument.
- What Piano Players Should Know About String Musical Instruments
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) are cousins of the piano as they make music with strings vibrating to a certain pitch. But they are different in the sense that the strings of a piano are struck with hammers to create sound, where as a violin player uses a bow to create sound.
- What Piano Players Should Know About Percussion Instruments
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Percussion instruments include the snare drum (and all drums in general), cymbals, tympanis (sometimes called kettle drums as they are shaped as such), and exotic instruments such as the guiro, claves, and maracas. These instruments, and the way they are played, go a long way in determining the feel and style of the music.
- What Piano Players Should Know About Brass Musical Instruments
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Modern brass instruments include trumpet, trombone, baritone, sousaphone (tuba), and French horn. These instruments create a wide variety of tones by the player forcing air into the instrument causing it to resonate in different ways.
- What Are the Most Popular Wedding Songs?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Over the past 50 years, wedding music has come to include all of the above styles (with the exception of patriotic music). Rather than choosing well-known pieces such as "Here Comes The Bride," "Canon in D," "Trumpet Voluntary," or "Joy of Man's Desiring," it is becoming more common for the bride and groom to choose songs that are familiar to them.
- Hoagy Carmichael - Songwriter Extraordinaire & Composer of "Star Dust"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Hoagy Carmichael, one of the greatest and most prolific songwriters of all time, was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1971. He died of heart failure in California in 1981, but his musical legacy lives on today.
- How to Tell the Key of a Song
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Every piece of music is written in one key or another, such as the key of Bb or the key of E or whatever. The key signature at the beginning of a score tells what sharps or flats are being used in the song, and therefore what scale the song is based on.
- How to Read Musical Road Signs - Dynamics and Tempo
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] In order for a piece to be played accurately and with expression and dynamics, written music includes a number of signs and symbols to guide the musician. Some of these include words that tell the musician how loudly or softly to play a note or passage.
- Piano Keys - How the Piano Keyboard is Arranged
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are 36 black and 52 white keys (88 total) on a piano. These keys trigger hammers inside the piano that strike the piano strings to produce sound. The white keys are a pianos "natural" notes while the black keys are used for notes that are either sharp or flat.
- The Amazing Mr Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] One of the greatest of all composers was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. His father and mother were Leopold and Anna Maria Pertl Mozart.
- 3-4 & 4-4 Time Signatures in Music - What They Are & How They Work
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Time signatures (placed on a musical staff along with key signatures) are used to specify how many beats are in a measure (each and every measure of a piece of written music) and what time value is given to each note. Time signatures, in their simple form, are represented by two numbers displayed as a mathematical fraction.
- Find Tons of Free Piano Music Online
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Sheet music can be expensive to purchase on a regular basis. If you want to expand your piano music library without spending a lot of money, download free sheet music from the Internet.
- What is MIDI and How Does it Work in Electronic Keyboards?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] How can one or two musicians sound like a full band? The answer is MIDI. It's the abbreviation for "Musical Instrument Digital Interface." It's the electronic "language" that is "spoken" between different instruments and the main device (computer) controlling them.
- A Musical Family - Johann Sebastian Bach and the Bach Family
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] A famous German composer and organ player, Johann Sebastian Bach came from a very musical family. He was born in Eisenach on March 31, 1685. He was the youngest child of Johann Ambrosius Bach and Maria Elisabetha Lammerhirt Bach.
- Piano Study is For Adults Too, and They Have More Fun!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If music in general and piano in particular interests you, then now is the time to begin. When it comes to learning the piano, age is no barrier. If you truly desire to learn the instrument, you will apply yourself accordingly no matter what your age.
- Burt Bacharach - His Extraordinary Songs and Musicals
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Ask any modern singer or songwriter for a list of their influences, and you're more than likely to see pop mastermind Burt Bacharach at the top of their list. Know best for his many hits that span the 1960s, '70s and '80s, Burt Bacharach's songbook is one of the best known in modern times.
- What is a Musical Synthesizer & What Does it Do?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The invention of the musical synthesizer revolutionized the world of sound recreation. A performer who wanted to recreate a particular sound on stage used to rely on old-fashioned recordings. Today, thousands of sounds, notes and frequencies can be generated in real time on stage at the touch of a button.
- The Life & Music of George Gershwin
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Although his life was tragically cut short, George Gershwin's legacy will always live on through his music. From timeless hits to musicals, his melodies still resonate in popular culture. His influence will be felt for decades to come.
- Staying in Tune - The Basics of Piano Tuning
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When was the last time your piano was tuned? You might not be getting a true pitch if it's been more than six months. Has it been more than a year? You might be shocked to find that what you thought was middle "C" really isn't.
- Harry Connick, Jr - Great Musician and Noteworthy Humanitarian
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humanities] The charming crooner and pianist known best by the name Harry Connick, Jr. was born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. on September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was the district attorney of New Orleans. His mother was also a lawyer, judge and former Louisiana Supreme Court justice. In addition to their legal background, Harry Connick, Jr.'s parents also owned a record shop.
- Starting Piano Lessons - Five Signs of Readiness in Your Child
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Starting piano lessons is a big step in a child's life. Parents who value a musical education are usually eager to begin as soon as possible. What age is actually best?
- Billy Joel - The Piano Man
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] William Martin Joel, better known as pianist and pop tunesmith Billy Joel, was born on May 9, 1949 in the Bronx. From ballads like "Just The Way You Are" to rocking tunes like "Uptown Girl," Joel's music made him a household name.
- Music Notes - The Basics of Musical Notation
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Every composer of any kind uses notes to craft his or her composition, and any musicians who plays any instrument uses them. But what are notes, and how do they work?
- Perfect Pitch - How to Tell If You Have It
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Perfect pitch is a musical term. It is universally defined as "the ability to identify and/or recreate a musical note without comparing it to a reference note."
- Franz Liszt - The Greatest Pianist Ever?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Is there a way to definitively say someone is the "greatest pianist ever," especially when the person in question lived long before recorded music? One of the contenders for the title is a gentleman by the name of Franz Liszt.
- The Great Ragtime Pianists Through the Years
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Ragtime is a style that developed from the roughest of neighborhoods and was originally performed in brothels. A precursor to jazz, it is enjoying a resurgence in popularity today.
- The Top 10 Piano Songs of All Time
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The top 10 piano songs of all time may be more a matter of personal preference than anything. Ask any piano student though, and he'll likely name at least five of these 10.
- The Dynamic Talent of Rodgers and Hart
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The celebrated musical team of Rodgers of Hart came about when musician Richard Rodgers paired with lyricist Lorenz Hart. The musical partnership of Rodgers and Hart generated some of the most innovative and successful musical comedies on Broadway and in Hollywood.
- Did You Know That Dudley Moore Played the Piano?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Try typing "Dudley Moore, piano" into an Internet search engine. Yes, that Dudley Moore. Before the biographies and his life and trials as an actor, you'll find video clips of the actor sitting in front of a piano. Dudley Moore played the piano; he wasn't just a star tinkering with a bit of music in his spare time either.
- The Great "Cocktail" Pianists - The Best of the Bunch
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The first cocktail pianists showed the music world that experimenting with music can yield incredible results. From the charm of Eddy Duchin to the musical poetry of Carmen Cavallero to the flamboyant brilliance of Liberace, cocktail pianists shook piano music up in a big way.
- Keyboard Charts and Chord Charts - Great Tools For Musicians
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] No musician knows every scale and song. That's why keyboard and chord charts were developed. They are tools that provide musicians of all skill levels an easy reference to expand their knowledge. They have similarities and cross-over points as well.
- Pop Piano - Five Ways to Get Started in Popular Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Piano lessons provide more than just a musical education. They build life skills like goal setting and time management. Piano students can supplement traditional piano lessons with popular music instruction from a number of sources.
- Georgia on My Mind - The Life and Music of Hoagy Carmichael
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Jazz pianist Hoagy Carmichael's story is one of a musician overcoming the odds. For Hoagy Carmichael, life started with a succession of homes across the Midwest as his father moved their family around looking for steady work, returning always to Bloomington, Indiana.
- The Innovative & Intellectual Jazz Piano of Bill Evans
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Bill Evans was born on the 6th of August, 1929 in Plainfield, New Jersey. He started learning to play the piano when he was six years old. In 7 years, he added two more instruments to his repertoire.
- The Distinctive Jazz Piano Styles of McCoy Tyner
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Alfred McCoy Tyrner, better known by the last two words of his full name - McCoy Tyner, was both on the 11th of December, 1938. His mother pushed him towards his love for the piano, by sending him for piano classes when he was 13 years old.
- Ray Charles - Pianist, Singer & All Around Musical Genius
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Ray Charles was born Ray Charles Robinson on the 23rd of September, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. He was the son of poor parents. His life was a tragic story. He and his family were plagued by poverty. His mother had to bring up both him and his brother on her own.
- Keith Jarrett - The Jazz Piano Prodigy
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Keith Jarrett was born in Allentown in Pennsylvania on the 8th of May, 1945. At 6 years of age he was writing his own music and played two of his own compositions at his very first concert.
- Basic Training in the US Army Band
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are four special army bands that have the honor of performing at special functions. These special units are comprised of the best musicians in the US Army.
- Liberace - Mr Showmanship & The Glitter Man
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Better known as just Liberace, Wladziu Valentino Liberace was born on the 16th of May, 1919 of Polish-Irish parents. He discovered his unique ability at the piano at an early age and went on to become "Mr. Showmanship".
- George Gershwin - Prolific Songwriter and Musical Maestro
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humanities] 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.
- Thelonious Monk - One of the Pioneers of Bebop
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- Christian Artist Michael W Smith Plays With the Spirit of Worship
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Look up "prolific Christian performer" and you are sure to stumble across Michael W. Smith. Raised in West Virginia, he exhibited musical talent at a young age and went on to become one of America's greatest living legends of music both as a songwriter and a performer.
- Cole Porter - Composer Extraordinaire
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] A very accomplished musician, Cole Porter was born to a wealthy pharmacist and his wife on June 9, 1891, in Peru, Indiana. Most people know Cole Porter for 1948's Tony Award winning Broadway musical "Kiss Me Kate."
- New Age Music Relaxes the Mind
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] New Age music is meant to soothe the soul. Developed in the 1960's as a way to expand consciousness, New Age music continues to relax and inspire listeners today. New Age is not the syrupy synthesized songs you hear in the elevator at work.
- Mose Allison - The Musician's Musician
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Mose John Allison Jr, or just Mose Allison as we know him, is one the many jazz legends that has contributed to jazz and blues. Born on 11th of November 1927. Mose's fascination with music started when he discovered an ability to replay the tunes that he heard on the jukebox.
- Hugh Laurie - Gifted Actor and Piano Player
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humanities] The next time you're watching TV and Gregory House sits down by the piano at the end of an episode, watch his fingers carefully. The British actor that plays Dr. House, Hugh Laurie, is both an accomplished actor and a professional musician.
- The Life & Music of the March King John Phillip Sousa
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The music of John Philip Sousa encompassed a range of inventive suites, operettas and songs written for both orchestral and band performance. His marches attracted widespread acclaim, remaining his most famous compositions. Sousa's contribution to the musical field in the US embodied the musical landscape of America at the turn of the century.
- How Moms Can Learn Piano While Helping Their Kids Learn
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Are you a mother looking to get your child piano lessons? Maybe you took them as a child as well, but stopped as you got older. The good news is that helping your child learn how to play the piano can actually help you learn the instrument as well.
- Leonard Bernstein and the Story of the West Side Story
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Performing-Arts] At the age of 15, Louis became Leonard Bernstein. As a child, Leonard was always interested in music and was frequently taken to concerts. He began to play piano and attended the Garrison School, Boston Latin School, Harvard University, and the Curtis Institute of Music. In his life, Bernstein accomplished a great deal. When "West Side Story" came to life, his career skyrocketed.
- White Christmas - The Life and Music of Irving Berlin
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Before rising to the heights of superstardom, Irving Berlin was a poor waiter. Through stubborn determination to express his music,he eventually taught himself to play the piano and became one of the most prolific composers in music history.
- Erroll Garner - One of a Kind Jazz Pianist & Composer of "Misty"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Erroll Garner was an admired and well-known American jazz pianist and composer. Peterson's most recognized and celebrated composition was the popular hit song, "Misty."
- Billy Graham's Musicians - George Beverly Shea, Paul Michelson, Tedd Smith and Cliff Barrows
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Contemporary evangelists, with their passionate sermons, modern music and revival of multitudes has one twentieth-century preacher to thank for his innovation. Billy Graham has changed the world in many ways over his long career as an evangelist.
- The Broken Church Organ That Inspired the Christmas Carol "Silent Night"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] This much-loved song was literally written on a 'Silent Night.' If a church pipe organ had not malfunctioned, our society probably would not have this beloved Christmas carol. It may be that the silence of the broken pipe organ gave Reverend Joseph Mohr the inspiration to write the lyrics to "Silent Night" in 1818.
- The Joy of Playing the Piano Songs You Love
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Playing the piano can be therapeutic. If you have had a stressful day, go home and pound those keys. Before you know it you'll be having such a good time you will have forgotten all about how bad your day was.
- Practically Speaking - Piano Practice Can Be Enjoyable!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Like any other worthwhile activity in life, piano practicing demands a certain amount of discipline. This discipline produces the results we foresaw when we first decided to take up the instrument.
- I Hate Piano Lessons!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Many people took piano lessons when they were growing up and a large percentage of them hated their lessons. Piano lessons can be enjoyable on a weekly basis. It just takes a proper attitude, a proper perspective, and preparation.
- 10 Top Ways to Find a Good Piano Teacher That's Right For You
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] You've decided you want to tinkle the ivories. You have decided on a formal approach to your studies, instead of self-teaching. Therefore, you need a qualified piano teacher to help you reach your goals. What should you look for?
- Art Tatum - The Virtuoso of Jazz Piano
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Being born blind never proved to go against the music in Arthur Tatum Jr's heart. One of the most technically sound pianists, his technique and compositions manage to boggle musicians even in this advanced day and age.
- How to Qualify For the US Marine Band
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The US Marine Band, also called "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, is the oldest such band in the USA. The US Marine Band was established by an Act of Congress in 1798.
- The Many Magical Musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Mention the names Rodgers and Hammerstein and almost everyone knows a bit about them. Rodgers and Hammerstein are two of musical theater's best collaborators and the creators of Oklahoma, South Pacific, Carousel, and The Sound of Music.
- Nature Music - New Age Piano Improvisation
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] What exactly is New Age music? You've probably heard the phrase bandied about in reference to specific artists, but few know what it actually means. In general terms, New Age music is organic; its main purpose is to soothe the spirit and fill the soul with calm. In many cases, New Age music tries to emulate the feelings or sounds of nature.
- The Life and Songs of American Composer Stephen Foster
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Stephen Collins Foster, the "father of American music," wrote songs in the nineteenth century that live on to this day. He was the forerunner of today's professional songwriter, though he died in poverty. He expanded the musical tastes of America like no other before him.
- Beginning Piano For Motivated Adults
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Adults who have been out of practice for several years may find returning to piano lessons challenging. Re-learning piano as an adult can be intimidating. Starting piano lessons again can be fulfilling though for those prepared to tackle the challenges.
- Count Basie - The Count of Piano Jazz
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] One of the all time greats of jazz is William "Count" Basie. He was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Widely regarded as one of the most important jazz bandleaders of his time, Basie led his popular Count Basie Orchestra for almost 50 years.
- The Story of "Joy to the World"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Set to a score adapted from George Frederick Handel's "The Messiah," Joy to the World has taken its place permanently in the hearts of both Christian and secular society. This Christmas hymn remains a favorite no modern church would dare exclude during the holiday season.
- Will You Become Smarter If You Play the Piano? Is Piano Study Good For Your Brain?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Will you become smarter if you play the piano? Does piano study increase the capability of your brain? The question is whether there is a correlation between mastering a musical instrument and one's brain increasing in potential.
- The Song From Heaven - The Story of the Great Christmas Carol "Silent Night"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] It was a 'Silent Night' indeed when this beloved song was first composed. If not for a broken pipe organ, the world likely would have been without its most popular Christmas carol.
- Dashing Through the Snow - The Story of "Jingle Bells"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Many people are surprised to learn that "Jingle Bells" was actually written for American Thanksgiving. The song was composed by James Lord Pierpont, and details surrounding his life and the writing of the song have been contended over the years. In fact, in some older publications, the song's writer is listed as 'anonymous.'
- Musical Theory - Do I Need to Know It?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- What is Musical Syncopation and How Does it Work?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] One of the most common music forms of musical syncopation is in ragtime music where the melody is often syncopated and the bass line isn't. Think of the music of Scot Joplin, and the memorable strains of "The Entertainer" and you've got a great example of syncopated music.
- How to Get Started in Beginning Piano Lessons
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- What Piano Method Does Your Piano Teacher Use?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- Oscar Peterson - Jazz Pianist Extraordinary
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] One of the most influential players of jazz that the world has known, Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was born on the 15th of August, 1925 in Little Burgundy, Montreal. He is considered the dean of jazz piano players by most fans and critics.
- Marian McPartland - The Grand Lady of Jazz Piano
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] A born child prodigy, Marian Portland started playing the piano at the age of three. She is formally trained in both the violin and the piano. Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz radio program on which she interviews jazz pianists and plays duets with them is on National Public Radio and has been a favorite of jazz lovers for decades.
- Do Music & Presidential Politics Mix? You Bet!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] People were surprised to learn that the former President, Bill Clinton, plays the saxophone. But, several other Presidents of the United States of American were musically gifted as well, such as Harry Truman and Richard Nixon, both of whom played the piano.
- How to Start Tickling the Ivories Again As an Adult
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are gazillion adults who took piano lessons as a child but stopped playing for various reasons. Some aren't the least bit interested, but many wish to return to piano playing at some point in their lives.
- Piano Instruction - Formal Versus Informal
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When you think of piano lessons, the mental picture you get might be of child sitting at a keyboard. The instructor is probably sitting next to the child, tapping out rhythm with a baton or pencil. If the idea of being scrutinized by a piano teacher makes you cringe, consider some other forms of piano instruction.
- Music For Stark Beginners - How to Read Notes
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] New pianists learn notes first. An understanding of musical notes and their values is the foundation for learning any instrument. That includes the piano. The values of the notes are easy to remember because their names denote their values.
- Music Scales For Beginners
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Most beginners in music are introduced to the concept of scales very early in their training. Despite this, it sometimes takes a few years of training to get good understanding of how scales work.
- Contemporary Christian Music - The Real Deal in Quality & Passion
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Christian music has come a long way from the church-sanctioned melancholy chants of centuries gone by. It has rich history going back several hundred years. In fact, the earliest music manuscripts were of church origin.
- Piano Practice Tips - How to Get the Most Out of Your Practice Time
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Even the most avid of piano players sometimes dread practicing. Sometimes that dread can sabotage your practice time. Don't sit down at the piano feeling negative before you even begin.
- Music Therapy - Changing Lives For the Better
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Music therapy, a relatively new method of therapy in the eyes of modern medicine, is an ancient practice. Since 1944, it has gradually been practiced more extensively in the United States. In the United Kingdom, music therapy was used in hospitals during both world wars.
- The Many Faces of the 12-Bar Blues
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Piano players and other musicians who desire to learn the foundations of purely American music should start with the blues. This music form began over a century ago. Today's jazz, hip-hop, rock-and-roll and rhythm and blues owes a debt to it.
- Sheet Music Then & Now
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Most modern musicians take sheet music for granted. Sheet music abounds in printed form and can even be downloaded from the Internet. It's a far cry from the days of oral tradition. Centuries ago, there were few ways to pass on music other than to "hum a few bars" until the listener caught on.
- 10 of the Most Popular Hymns of All Time
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Hymns are some of the most beloved songs of all time. Hymnals contain hundreds of songs, and no two hymnals are alike. Anyone looking to learn the most popular hymns needs to know where to start. The following is a list of 10 of the most popular hymns, even though that will change somewhat by both taste and time.
- What is Musical Harmony?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Musical harmony is a simple concept, yet it contains so many variations that it is inexhaustible. With these simple rules, anyone can learn the basics of harmonization and be on their way to composing the next great song.
- George Shearing - The Amazing English Blind Pianist
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] George Shearing was born blind on August 13, 1919, but his life has been fast-paced and full of amazing accomplishments in the world of music. Born in London, Shearing was the youngest of nine children and even though blind from birth, went on to create one of the most recognized sounds in jazz.
- Piano Keyboards to Keep You Playing - What to Look For in a Keyboard
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When looking for a new keyboard, consider the name brand manufacturers of piano keyboards. Look at your budget and then go from there. Does that budget allow you to check out some of the premiere makers out there? Does your budget require you to go with a lesser-known manufacturer?
- Andre Previn - Jazz Pianist, Classical Pianist, Conductor and Composer
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Andre Previn is a German-born pianist, conductor, and composer. From arranging and composing Hollywood film scores to his multiple marriages which sparked many musical inspirations, Andre Previn's life was never dull. Andre Previn is a German-born pianist, conductor, and composer.
- What Are Some of the Top Piano Schools?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] For those who want to pursue a career in piano, the options for training are diverse. There are a number of quality schools available in the United States and some abroad too.
- How Important is Sight Reading For Piano Players?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Sight reading is the act of reading and playing a piece of music before having ever seen it: on sight. This technique is a vital one for musicians to learn. Being skilled in sight reading makes reading a piece of music easier; the musician doesn't have to labor over every note and re-teach themselves the common patterns.
- 10 Piano Styles You Can Learn to Play
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When studying the piano, a student encounters a myriad piano styles. To master the instrument, at least several of these styles must be learned, and all if at all possible. Knowledge of various playing styles enables a pianist to enjoy and play in any genre and to cross-polinate styles to create a fusion he or she can call their own.
- Are Music Correspondence Courses Right For You?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The opportunities for music correspondence courses are vastly different today compared to a few years ago. Thanks to modern technology and the Internet, taking a music course by correspondence is now much more practical.
- The Jazz Piano Genius of Oscar Peterson
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] From his early love of music to his last years, Oscar Peterson's life was full with accomplishments and support from his family. The decision to become a professional pianist led to a weekly radio show and many performances in hotels and music halls for Peterson.
- Changing Keys - What is Transposition, and How Can I Do It?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Transposition is changing the key of a piece of music, or changing the notes without changing their relationship. This is often done to make the piece of music easier to play or sing.
- The Mysterious Tritone Chord Progression
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Just what is it about the tritone chord progression that makes it so mysterious? Perhaps it has to do with its dissonant, clashing sound. It may have something to do with its dubious history. Whatever it is, the tritone chord progression in music made a comeback in music after several centuries of bad publicity.
- Swing Bass For Piano - Get Your Left Hand in Action
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The piano style is called "swing bass" because your left hand swings back and forth between a low note or group of notes, such as a 10th, alternating with a chord in the area right below middle C. It is a great tool for lending spark and variety to songs. You will add a lot to your style as you practice this technique more and keep your audience swinging with your music.
- Dave Brubeck - The Master of Improvisation and Unusual Rhythms
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck is one of the giants of jazz piano. His music is characterized by unusual time signatures and can be either extreme - totally dynamic or or completely relaxed. His most famous piece - Take Five - is so popular it has taken on almost cult status, and rightfully so.
- Even Beginners Can Make Great Music With a Synthesizer
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Synthesizers are electronic, keyboard-based instruments that produce artificial, or synthesized, sounds. Many frequently mistake synthesizers for simply portable, electronic pianos, but the differences are extremely vast. While synthesizers can definitely produce a piano sound, their main purpose, usually, is to create sounds not specifically found on any other instrument.
- When it Comes to Music, You Never Know What's Going to Be Popular
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The popular music field has room for songs of many styles. As Dave Brubeck proved, you never know what the public will choose to make popular. In any given year there are always surprises, remember the song "Who Let the Dogs Out"? So, there you go. Sit down at that piano and compose away. You just never know.
- Ambient Music - Nature's Sounds Put to Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] It's often playing in the places you go. Whether it's in an art gallery, a unique specialty shop, or a restaurant, ambient music creates a mood. This music genre has seen a growth in popularity in the last 30 years. It is sometimes referred to as "new age music".
- How to Read Piano Notes
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Reading piano notes may seem daunting at first, but it really isn't if you ground yourself in the basics. The first step is learning the names of the notes. The great thing is that you only have seven to memorize.
- How to Read Music - Easier Than You Ever Thought!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] One of the simple joys in life is the ability to read music. Learning this skill will enable you to express yourself creatively at the piano, playing your favorite songs. It's not difficult to learn to read music if you understand its components.
- How to Get That "Gospel Feeling" Using Jazz Chords
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Does the cold, cerebral feel of modern jazz leave you cold? Maybe you'd like to have a little bit of "gospel" in your jazz? Maybe you just want to take an old hymn and give it some updating. Then you'll need to load yourself with an arsenal of gospel jazz chords.
- How Can I Learn to Understand Music & Piano Playing?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The graceful flourishes of a well-played piano masterpiece are sounds that many people would love to create. From trained professionals to child prodigies, a brilliantly played piano can steal the show. But great lessons are costly and involve scheduling time away from your busy life. So how do you learn how to play the piano or deepen your knowledge of the instrument?
- Piano Lessons From Hell
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Does the idea of taking piano lessons make you cringe? Does it make you remember old Sister Mary beating you over the knuckles with a ruler when you were eight years old for not practicing your scales enough?
- Keyboard Lessons Online Await Adults Anxious to Learn to Play
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If you are interested in learning the piano and want to learn from the comfort of your own home, online keyboard lessons are the way to go. Many sites offer you the instruction you need to begin playing the piano now.
- How to Play Chords on the Piano
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] One of the most important aspects of any pianist's repertoire is the understanding of how to play chords. To play chords, you must learn some simple theory. To make it easier, you'll mainly be playing the white keys.
- Learning Music As an Adult
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] While we have all heard stories of child prodigies and the importance of learning music as a child, an adult can still learn to play an instrument quite well. Even with no prior experience, the right training can help an adult learn to play music just as well as a child.
- Guitar Players Can Learn to Play the Piano in No Time Flat
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If you're a guitar player who desires to learn the piano, you're already ahead of the game. You can transfer your knowledge of chords and chord patterns to the keyboard. This means you could be playing a tune at the piano in no time. That's because chords are chords, no matter what instrument they are played on.
- Johann Strauss & His Father - Waltz Kings
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Johann Strauss was the son of a famous composer. He was born in Vienna, Austria in 1825. Johann Straus Senior was often known as the father of the waltz, and Strauss Junior was later dubbed the king of the waltz.
- Are Gospel Chords Different Than Normal Chords?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Gospel music is full of history and soul. It comes from a rich tradition of folk songs and church hymns. Gospel stays alive by remaining relevant, taking various aspects of the musical culture of the day and bringing those aspects into the spiritual fold. In modern gospel, jazz has been introduced into traditional songs. This has sparked the musical term "gospel chords."
- What in the World is Figured Bass in Music?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Even many musicians haven't heard of figured bass. Also called basso continuo, a simple explanation of the term is a short way to note chords on a musical score. It could be considered akin to, or a precursor of, a modern chord chart.
- Learning Music For Absolute Beginners
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Learning music as a beginner can be frustrating if you do not know where to start. There is no right or wrong way for a beginner to learn, but there are simple steps that can help anyone make learning music fun.
- How to Read Piano Sheet Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When it comes to reading piano sheet music, the first place to start is with the individual elements of the composition itself. Before you can tackle an entire piece, you must be familiar with that particular composition's language.
- Piano Lessons in PDFs With Embedded Audio & Video Are Here to Stay
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Does anyone still doubt that the Internet has deeply changed practically every aspect of modern life? Even people who usually resist technological change have to admit that this is true, even if grudgingly. As a piano teacher who has, more recently, greatly benefited from these new technologies, I can now admit that I should have paid attention to these new technologies much earlier.
- Mastering Blues Keyboard Riffs
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] In popular music, blues keyboard riffs are universal. From Billy Preston jamming with the Rolling Stones to Ray Charles kicking into "What I'd Say," blues progressions and scales serve as the basis for legendary songs and amazing keyboard solos. One of the greatest aspects of blues keyboard riffs is the musical theory behind them, which is simple enough for beginners, yet still challenges virtuosos.
- Ten of the Most Popular Classical Pieces of All Time
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] For anyone studying popular classical music, it can be a daunting task to know where to begin. There are so many great pieces that a beginner can get overwhelmed. Here are 10 of the most popular classical pieces with a brief background of each.
- Canon in D by Pachelbel - The Song Everybody Knows
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel is a composition well known throughout the world. It's a piece of music that is played in commercials, feature films, and shopping mall music systems. Its melody and harmony are such that, when heard, spur an "I know this song" reaction in listeners.
- How to Play Blues Piano - Getting Started
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Playing the blues on the piano is not usually for beginners, unless one has a natural feel for the blues. For most of us, it requires a solid understanding of traditional music theory plus an overlay of "blue notes".
- Beginning Piano Lessons on the Internet - Useful, But Beware
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When learning how to play piano, free opportunities present themselves all over the Internet. Most notably, many websites offer quick step-by-step lessons, as well as free online sheet music, which beginning pianists can use to learn how to play piano at no cost.
- A Beginner's Guide to Playing Piano Chords
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The piano is the most perfectly designed instrument for playing chords. It's visually straightforward, easy-to-understand layout makes it simple for the beginning piano student to learn how to play chords. Unlike other instruments, such as the guitar, the player doesn't need to learn how to contort her fingers in strange, unnatural ways just to play the most simple combinations of notes.
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach's Most Loved Work
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Even though Bach did not consider Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring his favorite or best work, it is probably the most widely recognized of all of his compositions. Because of its mainstream popularity, this song will undoubtedly continue to surface at weddings and other public performances for hundreds more years.
- Spirituals - The Songs That Inspire Us
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Great spiritual songs that inspire are a part of America's folklore. Long a part of our nation's canon of song, we hardly give thought to how they came into existence. Each one does have a story though, which sheds light on the place and time they were born.
- Keyboard Instruments - Organs, Harpsichords, Pianos, Keyboards & Synthesizers
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Even non-musicians are familiar with keyboard instruments. Few people reach adulthood without having had at least one opportunity to bang on a keyboard of some type. However, many people (including musicians) aren't aware of the history behind keyboard instruments. Their evolution is both fascinating and surprising.
- Great Jazz Pianists and Their Contributions to Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- How Jazz Got Started
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Though many associate the birth of jazz music with the city of New Orleans, its origin may be a bit more ambiguous. Like many other musical forms, jazz evolved over a period of years. It's widely agreed, however, that jazz music as we know it today was born in the southern United States.
- It's Never Been Easier to Play a Variety of Popular Piano Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment: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? Invite some friends over, find some great sheet music and have a sing along to some of your favorite songs.
- Three of the Greatest Pop Pianists of Modern Times
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- Free Piano Videos Online Are Waiting For You
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If you absorb information faster with the aid of visuals, then piano videos online are for you. Using these in association with other music learning tools, you can make progress with the keyboard in no time.
- Four of the Greatest Modern Classical Pianists of All Times
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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?
- How the "Happy Birthday to You" Song Was Written
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Possibly the most widely-recognized song in the English language, "Happy Birthday to You" didn't start out as a song of birthday good wishes. The tune of this beloved ditty was penned in 1893 by school teacher sisters Mildred Hill and Patty Hill. The two teachers wanted a sing-song greeting with which to welcome their young charges to school each day.
- The Mambo - The Cuban Rhythm That Makes Feet Dance
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The mambo is one of several Latin-American rhythms that has developed into a style of dance. Although not as popular as it once was, it still is a contagious rhythm that makes feet dance.
- Brain Food - 7 Ways Piano Playing Benefits Your Brain
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If you're looking for a perfect way to keep your mind sharp, piano playing is the solution. It exercises several different parts of the mind and body, while providing you with years of musical enjoyment. Whether you play piano currently or are thinking about starting, playing piano is great brain food.
- Easy Piano - Ways You Can Start Playing Piano Right Away
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The pleasure of being able to play a song on the piano is something that must be experienced. And playing piano does not have to be difficult -- there are methods for easy piano that get you started with just 3 or 4 simple chords.
- The Joy of Music - 'Sound' Therapy For Everyday Life
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Music is called "the universal language" because it transcends cultures, distance, and time. But music also has the power to restore sanity and peace to our busy every day lives and to bring joy and calmness to both the listeners and the performers.
- America's Patriotic Songbook - Songs For the 4th of July
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- The Battle Hymn of the Republic Still Marches On
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] "Mine eyes have seen the glory" is one of the most powerful and recognized opening lines in the history of American song. The Battle Hymn of the Republic is the quintessential fight song of the United States, as well as its call-to-arms.
- Woody Guthrie's 'This Land is Your Land'
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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. The result was 'This Land is Your Land,' a song that is still taught in school music classes.
- It's Still Amazing - The Story of Amazing Grace
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] A staple of both spiritual and secular singers alike, Amazing Grace is one of the world's most popular songs. John Newton, its writer, lived a life full of sin and redemption, both of which inspired the song's timeless lyrics.
- You're Still a Grand Old Flag
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] George M. Cohan's encounter with a Civil War veteran inspired a song that became a Broadway hit and eventually went on to become a household name. That song was "You're a Grand Old Flag".
- The Yankee Doodle Boy Says, "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Performing-Arts] 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.
- Do You Know How "The Star-Spangled Banner" Was Written?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] On September 13, 1814, as British warships pounded away at Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor with their rockets and mortars, a prisoner on one of the ships changed America's history. He did it with a poem written on the back of a letter. When he was released from custody, Francis Scott Key set the words to a traditional melody and gave the fledgling United States its triumphant national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
- The Story of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" is a song from the Civil War era that expresses the yearning by loved ones for their solders -- their sons and husbands -- to come marching home safely. It has endured now for over 150 years, and shows no signs of disappearing any time soon.
- The William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger Theme)
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Mention the song title "William Tell Overture," and a lot of people might scratch their heads in confusion. But hum a few bars, and there are few people who don't recognize this classic tune.
- The Story of Franz Liszt's "Liebestraum"
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Liebestraum is one of the most loved and most recognized tunes in all of classical music. It was written by Hungarian Franz Liszt, considered by many to be the greatest pianist who ever lived.
- Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' Still a Joy to Hear!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' is not only one of the most familiar melodies to most people, but remains a piece of pure art. It continues to give hope, inspiration, and plain old musical joy to peoples all over the world.
- How To Play The Keyboard - Start With C Major
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Playing the keyboard is not as difficult as a lot of piano upstarts think. In fact, the piano is the perfect instrument for music beginners, as, unlike other instruments, its layout is straightforward and easy to understand.
- Can You Write a Song?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] It's not as difficult as you might imagine to create a song of your own based on your own experiences and the emotion of your heart. It may never make the charts, but it's fun and so satisfying!
- The Moonlight of Debussy's Clair de Lune
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Clair de Lune is a piece of music that has stood the test of time. It is a piece that is constantly evolving, living and breathing in the fingers of pianists the world over, because each artist expresses it differently.
- Piano Sheet Music in the Internet Age
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The availability of music for the piano is unprecedented in human history due to the internet. For the first time ever musicians can locate and download literally thousands of pieces of music in most any genre.
- Easy Piano Classics for Beginning Pianists
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The Web is such a great resource for beginning pianists. No longer is it necessary to buy entire, expensive books. Now, you can try out several different formats of easy piano classics you can locate and download on the internet before shelling out the money for paper anthologies and collections.
- The Many Benefits of Learning Piano Chord Theory
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Chances are if you've ever taken piano lessons, you probably spent at least a little bit of time on piano chords. But learning the names of a few basic chords and actually understanding chords are two different things.
- Fur Elise - Beethoven's Mysterious Inspiration
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The mystery surrounding Beethoven's "Fur Elise" has still not been solved. Nevertheless millions of people over the space of 200 years have enjoyed and come to love this all time classic work.
- Playing Hymns & Gospel Songs On The Piano - A Treasure-Trove of Riches
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If you're a beginning or intermediate pianist interested in learning and playing hymn tunes -- particularly those relating to the Christian faith -- there are several issues working in your favor. First, as the words and tunes of hymns generally date back to pre-20th century times, most hymns live entirely in the public domain.
- Piano Note Reading for Beginners
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Reading piano notes is far easier than many beginning pianists think it is. Ultimately, piano note reading is simply a matter of memorization and repetition. In other words, once you learn the basics, all you have to do is put them into practice, and to do so as many times as it takes to completely internalize your note reading skills.
- A Short History of the Piano
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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. So let's take a brief look at how the piano came to be.
- Piano Improvisation in Three Steps
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Improvisation on the piano is not just for pros - anyone can learn to improvise to some degree. Because of the technical virtuosity and skill of famous jazz, blues, and classical improvisers, many beginning pianists mistakenly assume that improvisation is to be learned in the distant future, when one's piano abilities are more developed.
- I Took Piano Lessons As a Kid, But I've Forgotten Almost Everything
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are literally millions of adults today who took piano lessons when they were growing up, but at some point along the way gave them up. Some couldn't care less, but many have an urge down deep to take up piano playing again someday.
- 8 Easy Musical Instruments That You Can Learn To Play Quickly
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Not all of us have the time, or want to invest the time in learning to play a complicated instrument such as the piano or guitar. There are easy musical instruments that you can learn to play quickly & easily.
- How Musicians Can Use Podcasts to Publicize Their Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Podcasts are excellent ways that you can inexpensively and quickly get your music out there to the public, which is extremely important to your success as a musician.
- Podcasts - What Are They And How Do They Work?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Podcasts are files that can be downloaded directly from the internet or that can be accessed via streaming feeds like RSS feeds. Musicians as well as many other creative people are using them to communicate with their clients and others.
- 7 Great & Fun Ways To Earn Your Living In The World of Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are lots of ways to make a living in the music industry, and very few of them have anything to do with getting on stage and performing, or trying to crack the lineup on American Idol.
- Piano Playing Secrets Of The Pros
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] It's no secret that professional piano players use techniques that amateur piano players don't. So what else is new? Professional golfers use techniques that amateur golfers don't use (at least not very well), and pro ball players use techniques that sandlot and weekend athletes don't use - or again, not very well. So it's not surprising that professional piano players have some tricks up their sleeves that the rest of us mortals don't have.
- Is It Really Possible To Play The Piano By Ear?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Playing by ear is the ability to play a piece of music (or, eventually, learn an instrument) by simply listening to it repeatedly. The majority of self-taught musicians began their education this way- they picked up their instrument and began playing an easy melody from a well-known song, slowly picking out the notes as they went along. And even after these musicians master their instruments or a particular song, playing by ear still plays a large role.
- Music Theory & Harmony - Boring? No! It's An Exciting X-Ray Into How Music Works!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Learning music theory and harmony is not just an option you can take or leave: it is part and parcel of the "stuff of music". No surgeon would ever say "I don't want to learn all that stuff about the nervous system & the skeletal system and blood vessels and how the lungs and heart works and all that stuff -- I just want to operate". And yet the majority of piano players ignore the very thing that would take them to the next level in their playing and knowledge -- music theory & harmony.
- Piano Books: The Top Piano Books To Help You Become a Better Piano Player
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are umpteen zillion piano books available in music stores and online at such places as Amazon. And piano books are usually necessary if your goal is to become a better pianist. But how does a person know which piano books are necessary and which books are redundant, to say nothing of good or bad.
- Music Chords: How To Become a "Chord Detective" And See Into The Music!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There's a logic behind every note written in music, & you can learn to understand that logic, and therefore understand music. If you can read music to some degree but don't "see through" the written music-don't understand what you are seeing-it is now very possible that you can put on your "chord glasses" that good "chord detectives" wear to see through all that mass of black printed notes on a white page of sheet music to quickly understand what chords are being used and the "family logic" behind it all.
- Runs & Fills: How To Add Real Excitement To Your Piano Playing!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] If you're anything like me, you would love to learn how to "fill up the empty spaces" with scale fragments, chords, broken chords, and so on. Learning how to "fill it up" with runs and fills would certainly take your piano playing to the next level.
- The Blues Scale & Cool Stuff You Can Do With It
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Most of us who took piano lessons as kids are all too familiar with scales, and most of us hated practicing them with a passion. But understanding scales and what they do is critical to the process of improvisation as well as key orientation and just a general understanding of what's happening in the song we are playing.
- Piano Chords: How Many Are There?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] An interesting experiment is to ask people how many chords there are in music. You'll be surprised to find out that most musicians don't do any better at answering that question than non-musicians.
- Did You Know that Music is Based on Natural "Laws"?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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.
- Music Notes: How Pitch & Duration Are Determined
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Notes are the musical notation representing a fixed pitch. While the word strictly refers to the physical notation of a pitch, it's more commonly used to refer to both the pitch and the notation.
- Transposition and Modulation: How To Transpose To a Different Key & Modulate Between Keys
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] How do transposition and modulation relate? Are they the same? In this article we're going to take a look at both of them and see what makes them tick.
- Piano Lessons: Make Sure They Include Chords & Music Theory
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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. Just make sure that those lessons include both music theory and the study and application of chords.
- How To Tell What Major Key A Song Is In Quickly & Easily
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Key signatures are a type of musical notation that indicate which key the song is to be played in. But key signatures, despite the name, are not the same thing as key.
- How To Color Without Crayons: Adding Color Tones To a Chord
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Adding color tones to a chord is like adding colors to a black and white drawing; it adds depth and dimension and well as bringing it to life. You'll find many, many exciting combinations of color tones you can use in various musical situations that will brighten your song and add a rainbow of colors to your creative improvisations.
- How To Turn Your Knowledge & Skills Into a 1-Person-School & Earn a Fortune
[Business:Solo-Professionals] It doesn't matter what your talents and skills are. Somewhere there is a hungry market for your skill. You just need to find that market and give them what they are looking for your skill.
- Inversions: How To Stand a Chord On It's Head
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Many people get all confused when chords are turned upside down. They recognize them when they are in root position, but when you stand them on their head...well, it gets kind of fuzzy for folks.
- Learn Music Online Fast
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] With the advent of the internet there is no longer any excuse for not learning music if a person wants to learn. Learning music online has revolutionized learning, since it is the first time in history that anyone with a computer can virtually find out anything they want to know about music -- and find out quick!
- Add Some Spice To Your Musical Meal By Using Diminished Triads
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Major and minor chords are the meat & potatoes of a musical meal. To add saltiness to the meal, add a few diminished chords.
- The Immense Popularity of the Piano Continues To This Day
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Every since about 1709 when Christofori announced that he had invented an instrument to upscale the harpsichord, which plays all at one volume level - no soft or loud - that played both soft and loud - which he appropriately named the "pianoforte" (which means "soft-loud" -- later the name was shorted to just "piano") - people throughout the world have been entranced with the harmonic sound of the piano - its richness and fullness in enabling musicians to play many notes at once or in rapid succession.
- Minor Chords -- How To Form Them & Use Them
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Minor chords create a sound which is somber or serious; some people even think of minor chords as "sad", as opposed to major chords which sound "normal", or "happy".
- Christmas Carols You Can Play this Christmas with Just 3 Chords!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Did you know that there are literally thousands of songs you can play if you know just 3 chords?
It's true. Songs from "Amazing Grace" to "Cum Ba Ya" to "Happy Birthday" to "On Top Of Old Smoky", "My Country 'Tis of Thee", "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", "God Bless America" and countless others.
But there are also Christmas Carols that you can learn to play this Christmas if you know, or are willing to learn, three simple chords.
- How To Play The Piano Using "Shorthand" - Chord Symbols - Instead of Reading the Full Score
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Most people who took piano lessons as a kid, including me, grew up learning to read music exactly as it is written on the printed page. Being able to read music is a valuable skill, and I am delighted I learned that skill at an early age. But there is a downside to only being able to read music without understanding what you are reading. Learning chord symbols and how to apply them multiplies your value as a pianist many times over.
- Can YOU Play All The Major Chords in 3 Seconds or Less?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Some people go through their entire lives not being sure about what such and such a major
chord is - and it's all so unnecessary, because you can memorize them in just a few
minutes, and learn to play them in 12 seconds or less - one second per major chord.
- Exciting Improvising: How to Make Up Music Out Of Your Head As You Play
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Improvisation (also known as improvising) is the act of making something up as you go along - an act with which we all have a little experience. Remember playing House or Doctor as a child, letting the game go wherever your mind would take you? That was improvisation. No rules, no boundaries, just the limitless potential of your imagination.
- How To Impress Girls - Or Maybe Not
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] I suppose that all males at some time in their life attempt to impress girls. My efforts started in about the 5th grade, and left a great deal to be desired.
- Can You Become A Boogie-Man Or Boogie-Lady?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Boogie music, also known as boogie woogie, is a genre of piano-heavy music particular to America in the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.
- Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The benefits of adults learning to play the piano are many and varied, but most of all, it's just plain fun.
- Why Piano Students Knew More About Sex Than The Other Kids In My Home Town
[Home-and-Family:Pregnancy] The center for sex education in Auburn in the mid-to-late 40’s was not the home, the church, the school, or the health clinic. Not that these did not contribute to our growing body of knowledge – they certainly did – but the center for the dissemination of actual facts was a piano studio on Jasper Way.
- Real Shortstops Don’t Chew Their Gloves
[Home-and-Family] Growing up with an older brother (Garland) and two order cousins (Earle and Harvey) who lived across the garden from us meant that I often was assigned to the more inconsequential roles in games and sports. For example, all us neighbor kids played baseball in a clearing in our orchard – actually, the clearing was the infield, and any ball hit out of the infield went into the orchard. I was stationed to the right of 2nd base where a pear tree grew about 10 feet behind the bag.
- So Here's To You, Joltin' Joe, But Who's The Rookie Leaning On The Bus?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] For many young boys baseball was the center of their thoughts and of their lives. Getting an autograph of a baseball hero such as Joe DiMaggio was not just a thrill -- it was a lifetime accomplishment.
- How Grandma’s Lap Robe Saved My Legs
[Home-and-Family] As I was growing up, Grandma always made sure that I wouldn't catch cold by insisting I have a lap robe over my legs. Didn't matter if it was 32 degrees or 100 degrees; the lap robe was an absolute necessity.
- Never Open An Outhouse Door Without Knocking
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] I suppose that every hometown of every child holds certain favorite hiding places, or short cuts, or little-known doors or cubbyholes or secret passageways or whatever, and the little town of Auburn in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains was no exception.
- How I Found Out That God Bowls On Monday Evenings at 7
[Self-Improvement:Spirituality] I grew up wondering what Jesus did on Monday evenings. My Uncle Verge went bowling on Monday evenings, and although a good Methodist child wouldn’t be caught dead inside a bowling alley back in those days, I sometimes visualized Jesus bowling along side of Uncle Verge, since they both apparently had Monday evenings off.
- How Summer Camp & Prayer Turned Me Into a Halfway Decent Piano Player - Part Two
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When I was 8 years old, I was one of the worst piano students known to mortal piano teachers. I stared out the window, dreamed about baseball, and drove poor Mrs. Graham, my 70-year-old piano teacher with whom I had a lesson every Saturday morning, to distraction. I even wore my fielder's glove to a lesson one day.
It wasn't that I didn't like music – I did – but all those old guys like Bach and Brahms and Beethoven just didn't match up with stars such as Joltin' Joe, Scooter Rizzuto, Stan the Man, Ted Williams, and guys like that. I lived and breathed baseball, and my daily piano practice was a rude interruption into the world of home runs, stolen bases, and off-the-wall leaping catches.
- How Summer Camp & Prayer Turned Me Into a Halfway Decent Piano Player - Part One
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Humor] When I was 8 years old, I was one of the worst piano students known to mortal piano teachers. I stared out the window, dreamed about baseball, and drove poor Mrs. Graham, my 70-year-old piano teacher with whom I had a lesson every Saturday morning, to distraction. I even wore my fielder's glove to a lesson one day.
- Is It Possible To Create Cool "New Age" Sounds On The Piano Without Knowing A Thing About Music?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Is it really possible for a person who doesn't know a thing about music to create some pleasant "new age" sounds on the piano?
I'll admit that for many years as a piano teacher I didn't think so. But in the last couple years I made a discovery about creating pleasant sounds on the piano that I never would have believed during my earlier piano teaching career.
- The Many Incredible Benefits Of Learning Chording Techniques On The Piano – Part Two
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Many piano players seem to spend their entire lives “chained to the written music”. They can sight-read sheet music, but when it comes to knowing what to play when the music blows off the stand and onto the floor, they are entirely lost.
- The Many Incredible Benefits Of Learning Chording Techniques On The Piano – Part One
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Many piano players seem to spend their entire lives "chained to the written music." They can sight-read sheet music, but when it comes to knowing what to play when the music blows off the stand and onto the floor, they are entirely lost.
- How To Match The Melody Notes Of Any Song To A Chord In Your Left Hand!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Is it really possible to know which chords go with which notes in a song without having to depend on the written sheet music? Can you pick out a song by ear and then harmonize that tune with chords that match it?
- How To Predict Which Chord Comes Next In A Song
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] It is quite possible to predict which chords will occur in a given song once you know the key of that song and understand the "guts" of music and how chord progressions work.
- How To Play More Notes On The Piano Without Reading More Notes
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Most people learn to play the piano by playing just the written music. Playing by written music is exactly what the phrase says it is -- playing the exact notation on a piece of sheet music. But playing by chord symbol is very different. Instead of following the harmony note by note, you follow the chord symbols (i.e. C7 or F) written above the harmonies, filling in the gaps with...well, whatever you want as long as it sticks to those chords.
- 33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] "There are at least 33 elements that contribute to becoming a good pianist," says Duane Shinn, pianist and owner of Keyboard Workshop in Medford, Oregon. "There are probably more, but without these 33 principles a pianist cannot hope to rise to the level of his ability."
- I Know a Man Who Can Take You To Narnia
[Travel-and-Leisure] I know a man who can take you to Narnia. Well, not really Narnia, but to the very spot in England where Narnia was born in the mind of C.S. Lewis, author of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and the entire Chronicles of Narnia series, recently featured in the Disney hit movie.
- Learn a Musical Instrument, Prepare for a Career
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] From education to video games, there are careers available for those who happen to have a background in music which the rest of us never see. Each of these fields requires time and study for proficiency, but they represent a career path that is nonexistent for non-musicians.
- To Make Your Kids More Successful, Teach Them Music!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Besides being a sure way to become the life of the party, learning to play an instrument can make your children smarter, better adjusted, and better equipped to adopt a position of leadership in a diverse world.
- I Like It, But Is It Music?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Are you frustrated when you try to explain your taste in music? Fortunately, one of the benefits of learning a musical instrument is a better understanding of your own musical taste. Learn to play an instrument, and soon you will be able to discuss what works or doesn't work for you, in music.
- "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" - Einstein Would Have Loved It!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Movies-TV] Einstein would have loved the movie "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" because it is filled with not only imagination, but also time dilation and wormholes that tunnel into distant regions of space and time and black holes and string theory and spacetime curvature... all implicated in his General Theory of Relativity.
- How To Dress Up "Naked Music" On The Piano
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] 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 naked music?
- Families That Hit Pine Cones Together Stay Together
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] It is said that families that pray together stay together. I think it’s almost equally true that families that play together stay together. If play time is the glue of family life, our family is a sticky crew!
- 10 Top Reasons You Should Learn to Play 'Chord' Piano
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are roughly umpteen zillion reasons why you should learn enough chords to be able to “chord a song” at the piano. By “chord a song”, I mean the ability to play 3 or 4 chords on the piano in some sort of rhythm while you or someone else sings the tune. To do this, you don’t need to be a Van Cliburn; all you need to do is learn a few basic chords and be able to more back and forth between them in some organized rhythmic pattern.
- Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] The benefits of adults learning to play the piano are many and varied, but most of all, it's just plain fun.
- What In The World Would We Do Without Music?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] What in the world would you and I do if there was no such thing as music? Can you imagine a world without music? No songs, no tunes, no rock, no roll, no jazz, no hymns, no boogie-woogie, no country-western, no symphonies. No singing in the shower. No whistling Dixie?
- Does Music Impact Epilepsy - For Bad Or For Good?
[Health-and-Fitness] Even though music is not yet used as a formal treatment for epilepsy, the sheer fact that music has shown a potential ability to be a treatment for epilepsy as well as its ability to induce epileptic seizures would seem to indicate that music just might play a more significant role in the human experience than we ever imagined.
- How To Play Piano Using Chord Symbols
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Chord symbols, for modern music with lots of changes, are much easier to read. They function as a sort of shorthand for change-heavy music and are written with four chord parts in mind: the root, the quality, the extension, and the alterations.
- Music Therapy: Can Music Really Soothe The Savage Beast?
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] It has long been suggested that “music soothes the savage beast.” But is this true? And if it is, does this have any implication where humans are concerned?
- 3 Quick & Easy Steps To Playing Music by Ear
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Playing by ear is a valuable technique for many musicians; learning songs based solely on hearing them is a great way to understand song and chord structure. In fact, a great number of rock and pop musicians learned to play their instruments this way. Instead of picking up a book or taking lessons, they concentrated on figuring out the notes and rhythms to a song until it was mastered.
- Do you really need college to learn to play music?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] In the last few years a new dimension to learning music has appeared in the form of the internet – the world wide web. Now instead of being limited to classroom courses, students are free to create their own schedules and learn at their own pace.
- How Many Chords Are There, Anyway?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Since chords (the main component of harmony) are one of the three most vital elements of music – the others being melody and rhythm – it would be useful to know how many chords there are. And it doesn’t matter whether you play piano or guitar or some other instrument – chords are chords.
- 3 Secrets To Understanding What Makes Music Tick
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] It’s no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some form or other. The country-western fan may not like jazz, but he or she sure loves the sound of pickin’ & grinnin’. And that’s as it should be. If we all liked the same kind of music, there just wouldn’t be the variety that is available to us now. We can choose from musical styles ranging from heavy classical and opera to rock to children’s songs to Broadway musicals to gospel music to the blues.
- Is Your Child Capable of Composing Music? Maybe the Next Mozart?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] History reports that Mozart was writing minuets by the time he was five years old. Amazing. At five years of age, I’m not sure that I knew the difference between my finger and my thumb and I certainly wasn’t composing music.
- Can You Really Learn To Play a Musical Instrument From an Online Course?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Out of the 250 million people in the United States, about 25 million of them play an instrument of some kind, or at least used to when they were in school and would like to pick up where they left off. Another 30 million or so sing in a church choir, a barbershop quartet, or at the very least, in the shower.
- Five Great Practice Ideas I Learned From My Piano Students!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Sometimes the teacher learns more from the student than the student does from the teacher. Hopefully, not too often, but today I would like to share with you some great practicing ideas that have come from my piano students over the years.
- If Seals Can Sing, Why Can't You?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Hearing that seals sing really shouldn’t surprise any of us. Music is a central element of life. Walk through the forest at night in the eastern part of the United States and you can’t help but be moved by the symphony of sound that is created when each woodland creature sings its part.
- How To Make a Fortune Teaching Piano (or Guitar, or Drums, or Singing, or...) To Beginners
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Opportunities for teaching music are huge. Every year millions more kids get to the age where their parents start thinking about getting music lessons for them, so your prospect list is constantly getting bigger every day. There are plenty of beginners to go around, so competition is really not an issue at all for a person who loves both people and music.
- Mp3's - The Future of Music?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Mp3 music is an audio file that has been digitally encoded and compressed to make the amount of data smaller without compromising the overall sound quality. Because of it's portability, it promises to be the future of music.
- How to Become a World Class Expert in Just 20 Minutes a Day
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Is it really possible to become an expert in some field in 20 minutes a day? It's not only possible, but it's probable if you pick a small area of knowledge that you are excited about.
- How Many Guitar Chords Do I Need To Know?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Most simple songs contain just 3 chords – called “primary chords”. So even a stark beginner can learn 3 simple chords well enough to strum along and accompany himself as he sings. But after that, the sky is the limit – there are thousands of possible chords, so it is up to the individual guitarist as to how many he or she wants to master.
- What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Many students ask me a question that goes something like this: "What all do I have to know to be a really good piano player?" The answer is multi-facited and depends largely on the motivation and talent of the individual.
- Jazz: What In The Heck Is It?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] All of us know what jazz is when we hear it, but trying to define it is a different matter. With so many variant styles, coming up with an accurate definition of jazz is difficult if not impossible.
- Improvising On The Piano: Jazz Musicians Do It -- Why Not Other Styles?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Jazz pianists improvise all the time. So why not classical pianists, gospel pianists, and piano players of many other styles?
- Piano Lessons For Adults: More Fun, Easier, & Faster Than Piano Lessons For Kids
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Piano lessons for adults is generally LOTS more fun than it is for kids, primarily because the only adults that play piano are people who really want to, which is certainly not true of most kids that take piano lessons because their parents want them to.
- Piano Playing Your Way: How To Have More Fun Playing The Piano Than You Ever Have Before
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Piano playing doesn’t have to be boring. There’s no law that says you have to play a song the same way everyone else plays it. By learning some basic music theory and chord formations, you can have the time of your life playing music like you’ve always wanted to.
- Playing The Piano Using Chord Symbols Instead of Being Tied To The Written Sheet Music
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Piano improvising and arranging is an art but definitely not a science. It is all based on chords and chord progressions. There aren't any steadfast rules for creating an arrangement, nothing to dictate the limitless potential of your imagination. Musicians learn to arrange by simply arranging – and improvise by improvising -- over and over again. It's a big game of trial and error. But it’s also a scientific method: you keep the experiments that work, and abandon those that don’t work.
- Learn To Play The Piano Better By Learning To Arrange Chords & Chord Progressions
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Piano arranging is the process by which you take a written piece of music and rework it with chords, adding new bass accompaniment, fills, or even slightly altering the song's structure. And while it's a process that takes years to truly master, anyone with a basic education in piano and a working knowledge of a few key techniques can create an inventive, satisfying arrangement. It all boils down to one thing: chord recognition.
- Is Your Child Struggling in School? Get Him (Or Her) Music Lessons
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Playing music has been discovered to have a direct and almost immediate effect on the brain of the student. Music lessons have been shown in a German study to have a significant impact on the way the brain functions after as little as five weeks.
- Oh My Aching Head! Can Music Really Make You Feel Better?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] We all know, if only instinctively, that music has a profound effect on us. If we didn’t believe that music affects us then singing lullabies to calm children and help them sleep wouldn’t be universal. In reality melody, harmony, and rhythm probably impacts the human brain in ways that are far more profound than we realize.
- So You Want to be President? Learn to Play a Musical Instrument!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] From Bill Clinton and his sax to Richard Nixon and his piano, many Presidents and leaders have played a musical instrument. Does Condi Rice have an edge in future presidential elections because she is also a concert pianist?
- Church Service Family Style: How a 3 Year Old Preacher & a Beagle Made Our Sunday Unforgettable
[Home-and-Family] Family life can be full of both funny and profound moments, sometimes at the same time. Teaching opportunities come to parents at the most unexpected moments, and wise is the Mom or Dad who can use those moments to build meaningful memories into the lives of their kids.
- Music Downloads: Free & Low Cost Ways For Musicians To Get Their Music Known All Over The World
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] For the musician, music downloads are an absolute breakthrough technology, allowing, for the first time in history, for a musician to develop a following without ever leaving his or her house! Marketing possibilities are unlimited for the musicians who avail themselves of this wonderful new technology.
- Piano Playing is Easier than You Think When You Understand Musical Form
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Understanding musical form in music is one of the proven shortcuts to better piano playing (or better guitar playing, or any instrument). Form is like the blueprint to a house -- it holds the key that unlocks the musical map of a song or a musical compostition.
- How To Get An Avalanche Of Free Publicity For Your Home Business!
[Business:PR] There are many ways you can get tons of free publicity in the form of write-ups in magazines, newspapers, and even radio and TV. And sometimes you can turn family events into human-interest stories that editors like and will publish in their magazine and newspapers...
- Killer Piano Playing Secrets of a Chord Addict!
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] When a lightbulb comes on in the mind of an individual who is seeking knowledge in some area, it's amazing how much progress can be made in a short time. For piano players and other musicians, that moment of insight that changes lives often has to do with understanding chords and how they progress to create music.
- They Laughed When I Sat Down at the Piano... but When I Started to Play...
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Is there a "backdoor to piano playing?" Chords are a way in to the world of piano playing without having to go through the front door: years and years of scales, drills, rote practicing, etc. Chords are really a shortcut to understanding and playing music without all the formal training.
- Musicians: What Chords Do You Absolutely, Positively Have To Know?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] There are thousands and thousands of different chords in music - everything from basic major chords to minor 7ths to 13ths to suspensions to poly-chords. Someday, you might want to learn all those chords if you don't already know them.
But meanwhile, there are 3 chords -- just 3 -- that you absolutely, positively have to know. If you don't know these three, there's hardly a song in the whole world that you could play. But by knowing just 3 chords, you can play hundreds, if not thousands of songs!
- Music & Citizenship: Can Playing a Musical Instrument Help Your Child Become a Better Citizen?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Disregard the popular image of rappers with their ghetto blasters, terrorizing neighborhoods with eardrum-splitting cacophony. Consider instead our delightful school bands and orchestras… and ponder on whether those students might be becoming our best future citizens. Unlikely as it may seem, recent scientific research suggests this hypothesis might actually be true. It appears studying music can, in fact, impact the development of the human personality, especially in the area of socialization.
- Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You a Happier Person?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes? We all know it works -- we just don't know why. Now science is beginning to unravel some of the mystery behind the relationship of music and our moods.
- Win Friends & Influence People Through Music -- Is It Possible?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Can learning to play a musical instrument really help you "win friends & influence people?" It almost seems like a stretch, but scientific research seems to support the idea. Rock stars aren't the only ones to be popular; there is a direct correlation between music study and the ability to relate will with others.
- Music & Intelligence: Will Listening to Music Make You Smarter?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Will listening to music make you smarter? Will learning to play a musical instrument make your brain grow larger than normal? Questions like these ones have been popping up all over the place in the past few years, and not just in scientific journals either. In recent times the media has been fascinated by the research surrounding brain development and music, eagerly reporting on the latest studies to the delight of the music-loving parents of young children.
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