Piano Musings

Piano lessons Online a Low Cost Win-Win for Students and Their Piano Teacher

2008-09-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) March 25, 2008 -- It's tough trying to maintain an active lifestyle and wanting to learn piano at the same time. Not only that, but piano lessons with good teachers are expensive and it's often really difficult to schedule lessons.

So to fit it all in to a filled-to-the-gills schedule more and more students have turned to taking their piano lessons on the Internet.

They've proven that not only is it doable, but that they have the brains and musical ability to improve and learn, and they have a blast at the same time. And the online instruction is even more personal than one would expect.

In classic piano lessons, students and teachers vie for a certain number of limited time slots. With the Internet, students download workbooks and view videos anytime they want.

Edward Weiss, who has been teaching improvisational piano conventionally for more than 14 years, has now moved his piano instructions almost totally online. His growing online practice helps piano students, mostly young and mature adults, of a wide range of experience from all over the world. His web site has been growing and getting bigger and bigger. It now contains over 100 individual lessons.

Personal music lessons with a good piano instructor usually run $25 to $35 per half hour session. Online music lessons with Weiss cost $19.97 a month.

"My students move a computer or a wireless laptop right next to their piano," he explains. "With the Internet, students just click on the piano lessons they want to take and work their way through the instructions. They practice on their own for the most part. Then when they have a question, they email me."

"Good musical training is good musical training", says Weiss. "It's just that nowadays, people can get more and more of it online. It doesn't matter where we are anymore. We just get together virtually."

"In fact, some of the training is more personal and easier to receive, because we have access to each other so readily and there's no travel involved."

"No matter where my students are, they can reach me. We interact more frequently than if we are in a traditional conventional setting."

"It provides a lot more flexibility for students and for me. I help more students than ever using the Internet than I could even hope to teach with conventional lessons," says Edward Weiss. "Students can get every bit of personal one on one attention than they can get in person, and they can do it from anywhere."

According to Weiss, and more and more will undoubtedly agree, the future of music instruction is on the Internet.

A Google video demonstration of Weiss giving a piano lesson - Lesson 20: "Reflections in Water" is available for free. Students learn how to use open position chords in the Key of C to create a quiet, reflective mood.

http://www.quiescencemusic.com

New Age Piano Lesson - Flashflood

2008-09-04T22:55:00.001-07:00

My homage to George Winston. Here I use just 2 chords to create the (A) section. The next section uses a few more chords and that's it.

From my CD "Anza-Borrego Desert Suite" By the way, a complete step-by-step breakdown of this lesson is available to course members. More info at http://www.quiescencemusic.com

Music Is a Time Art

2008-09-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

Music is an art that moves through time. Some think music exists in space. And they're partially right since sound waves emanate into the air but ... as far as creating music goes, the composer works with time first and foremost.

A piece of music lasts a certain amount of time. Two minutes, twenty minutes, or an hour. It doesn't matter how long it lasts though. What matters is that the composer is aware of certain parameters. For instance, one of the first things you see when you look at sheet music is the time signature.

4/4 time and 3/4 time are 2 of the most common time signatures . It represents how many beats are in a measure and what note gets counted as the beat.

Piano Therapy

2008-08-30T12:33:00.001-07:00

The music for "Piano Therapy" is actually a lesson from my online piano course.

It's in the Key of F Major and it's where I show students how to create a small ABA form using an 8-bar phrase for the (A) section and a 4-bar phrase for the (B) section.

How to Begin a Piece of Music

2008-08-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

How do you begin a piece of music? That's a question I'm often asked. The answer I usually give is that you begin as soon as you start playing - that is, if you're trying to "compose" something, the piece begins the moment it has energy and is something you want to capture. If it's an improvisation, the piece begins the moment you set your fingers on the keys and hit the first note. It's like free flow writing and writing a chapter to a novel.

The writer can both improvise and enjoy the process or can structure the ideas more - or, as I like to do, combine both procedures into one. I start out by improvising - always. Then, if I want to memorialize a musical idea, I write down the first two bars of melody along with the chord(s) I'm playing. I throw this on a chart and voila - the idea remains fresh until I want to either expand on it, or ignore it completely.

Zen Gardens

2008-08-26T14:53:00.001-07:00

The music in Zen Gardens is actually Lesson One from my online piano course. It uses the minor pentatonic scale and just 2 chords to create an "eastern" feel.

By the way, the minor pentatonic scale is just a fancy way of saying "black keys." That's right - this is a black key improvisation that you can create on your own in a matter of minutes!

Visit http://www.quiescencemusic.com to learn more

New CD by David Lanz: "Painting the Sun!"

2008-08-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

You know, there are only a few luminaries in the New Age piano world. One of them is George Winston. The other is David Lanz.

Both of these artist have contributed greatly to the New Age piano genre so it's somewhat of a major event when one of them releases new music.

Lanz's new CD is titled "Painting the Sun," and from what I've heard, it's a winner!

It contains 12 tracks of pure piano music and you can listen to some or all of these tracks at http://www.davidlanz.com/PTS/index.html

Do yourself a favor and listen now.

New Age Music with Nature Pictures

2008-08-21T15:15:00.001-07:00

Here's a good example of what can be done using just one chord! Caverns is a minor piece and uses a D minor chord in the left hand. The right improvises melody and crossover the left to play bass notes.

Get a complete step-by-step breakdown of "Caverns" now when you join Quiescence Music! More info at http://www.quiescencemusic.com

How I Compose a Piece of Music

2008-08-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

A number of people have asked about my own methodology for creating a complete piece of music at the piano. At the risk of oversimplification, the steps are as follows:

1. I sit down at the piano without any thought of creating something and tune in to my feelings.

2. I start to play the first thing that comes to mind. In other words, my fingers come before my brain. I let it all hang out and see where the music wants to go. If something resonates or has energy I stay with it until the energy dissipates. If the music does not seem to want to go anywhere I get up and leave.

3. Now, (assuming that I am on to something) I draw bar lines - enough for an 8-measure phrase. I then write down the chord changes on top - hopefully for the entire 8 bars. If the entire 8-bars don't come, I try for four - but I usually succeed in filling up this 8-bar space. I'll then pencil in the melody, but only the first 2-bars.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

New Age Music - Forest Piano

2008-08-15T19:35:00.001-07:00

Follow Me on Twitter!

2008-08-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

Social websites or web 2.0 is all the rage these days. I'm already on Facebook so I thought I'd try Twitter.

Basically, Twitter allows you to leave brief messages that you and others who sign up for this service can read.

It's actually pretty cool.

My Twitter page is at https://twitter.com/eweiss

Please feel free to "follow me" on Twitter!

Cool Video - The Piano

2008-08-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I came upon this very beautiful and poignant video on YouTube that you MUST see.

It's touching. It's cool. And it's going to possibly make you cry.

Have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr64NI33qUo

On The Facebook Wagon

2008-08-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally decided to see what all the hoopla is about Facebook. Turns out it's a great place to meet old friends and network.

Plus, it's very addictive. You get to see what your "friends" are doing at all times. That is if they type it in. It's similar to Twitter. I checked out Twitter but didn't really like it.

Anyway, find my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=782705483

If you're already a Facebook member, you can add me as a friend.

-- Edward

New Age Music - Forest Piano

2008-07-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to this for a long time - create a slideshow with nature pictures and New Age piano music. The problem was I couldn't find the right program. Until Windows Movie Maker.

I like this program because it's SO easy to use! Just drag, drop and play. Anyway, this is my third attempt at creating a movie/slideshow using this software. The music is actually from a lesson in my online piano course.

Enjoy.
Edward

Nature and Piano Music Video Slideshow - Caverns

2008-07-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Well, my first attempt at creating some king of nature-themed slideshow with music is done. It's called "Caverns" and is based on - believe it or not - a lesson I gave students showing them how to use a one chord ostinato pattern.

It's the first time I used Windows Movie Maker too and I have to say that it's very easy to use!

The music is free-flowing and uses right hand crossover technique to hit bass notes. The melody is improvised. And yes ... only one chord is used in this - D minor. It's actually in the D Dorian mode. Please tell me what you think in the YouTube comments section and rate this video.

Find the video at http://youtube.com/watch?v=bAOMBvylL-Y

New Piano Lesson Shows You How to Develop a Theme!

2008-07-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

I just posted a new lesson to my piano lessons site titled "Gift of Rain." I show students how to take 2-bars of melody and turn it into a small ABA composition.

Composition is the art of repetition and contrast. I first learned this from composer Aaron Copeland in one of his books. It seemed like such an easy explanation. Easy in theory yes, but not so easy to put into practice.

Anyway, in the lesson, I show students how to flesh out the first 8-bars quickly using a few chords.

Click here to learn more about my online piano course.

Quiescence Music on the Radio!

2008-07-23T14:35:00.001-07:00

In my never ending effort to promote my piano lessons site, I've decided to try some radio advertising. And it's going to be at solopianoradio.com.

Talk about a perfect market/message match. I've also purchased a new domain name - newagepianolessons.com

It's a lot easier to remember and spell then quiescencemusic.com

When I first came up with the piano lessons idea, I think newagepianolessons.com was already taken. But I've got it now!

Watch Me Turn These 2-Bars Into a Composition!

2008-07-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

Yes ... on Thursday July 24, 2008 I give my next lesson. And you can watch me turn the 2-bars above into a piano composition in the New Age style.

You'll learn all about introductions, transitions, how to harmonize, how to create the initial melody and more. And it's all going to be video taped.

Not a Quiescence Music member yet? Visit http://www.quiescencemusic.com/ for a free lesson and to learn more about my online course. This is going to be very exciting!

Feeling Less than Creative? Ask the Right Questions

2008-07-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Just came across this interesting article about asking open ended questions instead of closed ones to get answers.

You know, instead of asking yourself something like ... "Can I become a better improviser?" you ask an open ended question like this "How can I become better at improvisation?"

See the difference? One only allows for a single answer. The other lets you ruminate and discover answers you may not have thought about it.

This strategy is really a good one to uncover answers to problems you might have - creative or otherwise. Read the entire article here.

Composing Away From the Piano

2008-07-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

I was reading yet another thread over at the Piano World forums on composing music away from the piano. Most can't do this. Not because they actually "can't" but because they find it easier to notate ideas in front of the keyboard.

I actually have a happy medium to this "problem." What I do is jot down the first 2-bars of the musical idea. This is usually a melody so it's quite easy to notate. For example, it might be something like this in 4/4 time: Measure 1 = half note - quarter note - quarter note. Measure 2 = quarter note - quarter note - quarter note - 2 eighth notes.

I know this looks weird written out like this. Nevertheless, this is a great method for capturing the main rhythmic idea. Then, when you get to your piano, you take this rhythm pattern and assign note values. Now you have the beginning of a theme!

"Ocean Pacific" An Homage to George Winston

2008-07-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

"Ocean Pacific" is a lesson piece I wrote to teach students about hand independance.

It's based on 4 chords in the Key of A Major and uses a left-hand crossover pattern that resembles something New Age pianist George Winston might have used.

In fact, it sounds so much like something Winston might have come up with that I call it a "homage." And what better person to create an homage to? The man literally put New Age piano on the map!

Without Winston, there may not be a "New Age piano" which is ironic since I know for a fact that he hates the term. He prefers to call it rural folk piano.

Whatever you want to call it, if you're into nature and music you'll like "Ocean Pacific!"

The "Best" at New Age Piano Playing Revisited

2008-07-12T22:19:00.001-07:00

After reading the thread on who's the best New Age pianist at the piano world forums, I had to laugh to myself. Now, I've come across people who like to compare styles with one always coming out ahead.

It's always those trained classically who can't stand the New Age piano style. You'll hear them say things like "it's OK if you like it but it's so simplistic," or "I can't understand how people can listen to this." It's as if they have to justify their own reasons for liking something.

And this always has something to do with "sophistication" in the form of advanced harmony, theory etc.

Yet these same people don't get it. They don't understand how someone can simply love something for it's own sake without analyzing it for "worthy" qualities. The music itself is worth enough. But don't try and explain this concept to these people unless you want them to write an essay as to why their music is better.

I tell you ... I just don't understand why certain people feel this need to put down another genre. Any ideas?

Recommended Site: Solopianoradio.com

2008-07-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

I've known about this site for some time, but perhaps some of you don't know about it.

Simply put, if you're into New Age piano, solo piano, or whatever you want to call it, you have to check out David Nevue's Whisperings!

It's simply beautiful piano music performed by some of today's top contemporary artists. Look at the picture and you'll even see David Lanz there.

So visit http://www.solopianoradio.com/ now and see for yourself if it's your cup of tea. My hunch is you'll be listening for quite a while.

Sheet Music with Video = Understanding

2008-06-30T13:35:00.001-07:00

Many students love the ability to actually see how a piece of sheet music comes to life on the piano.

"Under the Sycamore" is a lesson piece I created to show students how to play a crossover pattern while improvising a right hand octave melody.

I turned it into sheet music because it was easy enough for me to do. It's not that difficult a piece to translate into notes. And since I use Finale notepad to do it, I have to add in the notes manually. A labor of love really.

Anyway, for those of you who can only play this via sheet music, I invite you to learn how to use chords to create this kind of music on your own.

Find the sheet music for this here. You'll also see the link where you can see me playing this piece on YouTube.

Recommended Site: Healing Piano

2008-06-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

I first noticed this site during one of my searches for new solo piano artists. Turns out the site's owner Chuck Brown also plays in the New Age style.

Chuck's also a voiceover artist and I will be using him very shortly for a 30 second radio ad.

Anyway, his music is worth a listen and you can find his website at http://www.healingpiano.com

-- Edward