Music Information

Zen and the Art of New Age Piano


We all want to be in the moment. That's where real transformation takes place. For some, walking gets them there. Others like to play sports or watch movies. For me, it's playing the piano. When I'm in the moment, letting the music speak, it's like the world is new again.

The notes flow out of the piano into the air and I know that something magical is taking place. It may last a minute or a half-hour. No matter how long it lasts, I know that I've been transported to a special place. Many musicians know of this place - especially musicians who know how to improvise. There is no planning - only spontaneous invention.

Zen music in particular has an ethereal quality that seems to grow organically. It starts and ends yet there seems to be no starting or ending point. The music just is - like a living being it just is there. It's like a fine perfume in the sense that it lingers in the air but does not overwhelm or grow tiresome.

Any instrument can be used to create this kind of music but certain instruments lend themselves more readily to it. Flutes, the harp, the piano, the Japanese Koto - these instruments are often used to create atmospheres that linger delightfully but really do not want to go anywhere. Here in the West, we are used to a music that must pursue an ending course. We must have a climax or a big finish or we are not satisfied. Like a fireworks show, it begins and ends with a bang.

There can be a struggle between creating a music that comes from spirit or making music that pleases the crowd. We can be torn between pleasing the ego or pleasing ourselves. To play piano in the "new age" style is to understand a music that isn't planned but allowed to become. Once this concept is understood, the music will flow.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!


MORE RESOURCES:

AFP

Downloading music: what does the government's announcement mean ...
guardian.co.uk, UK - 1 hour ago
Basically, they are the first tentative steps towards the music and film rights owners working together with internet service providers (ISPs) to try to ...
ISPs to crack down on music piracy VNUNet.com
UPDATE 1-Britain agrees plan to tackle online music piracy Reuters
UK's Biggest ISPs Agree To Warn Illegal Music, Movie Downloaders Washington Post
Reuters UK - Reuters
all 364 news articles


Fluid Music's Trusonic(R) Extends Growing Relationship With Guitar ...
FOXBusiness - 54 minutes ago
By providing strategic control of music, messaging and ad placement, Trusonic solutions build on existing brand awareness while generating new revenue ...


Sky News

Cyberclinic: Music downloads – resistance is futile
Independent, UK - 3 hours ago
By Rhodri Marsden Our main story today, surrounding how on earth the problem of illegal music downloads is going to be tackled, is one that even close ...
Personalise your news Sky News
all 52 news articles


Music listings
Vancouver Sun,  Canada - 4 hours ago
Girl Talk Aka music producer and mashup DJ Gregg Gillis, from Pennsylvania. Commodore Ballroom, July 24, ticketmaster.ca and Zulu Judas Priest Heavy metal ...
In Concert The Province
all 2 news articles


MySpace music service to launch in September
CNNMoney.com - 11 hours ago
Social networking site MySpace will launch a new music service in September, CEO Chris DeWolfe announced at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference on ...
MySpace's DeWolfe Says New Music Joint Venture to Launch in September Washington Post
MySpace Music to launch in September CNET News
all 5 news articles


4Music to be 'rebirth of music TV'
The Press Association - 1 hour ago
Details of the "premier line-up" of 4Music, a reincarnation of music TV channel The Hits, have been outlined. Channel 4 and Bauer Media, which are behind ...


New York Times

Music Review Onstage in the US, if Not on the Air
New York Times, United States - 9 hours ago
Mr. Michael’s music since 1990 has received little play on American radio stations, ever since he unsuccessfully sued his label at the time, Sony, ...


Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to perform work inspired by music of ...
The Canadian Press, BALTIMORE - 21 hours ago
6," the first orchestral work inspired by the music of the Grateful Dead. Patrons will be greeted by a display of rare Dead photos in the lobby, ...


BBC News

BSkyB teams up with Universal Music to take on iTunes
NME.com, UK - Jul 23, 2008
The UK's biggest pay-for-TV company BSkyB, who operate Sky Digital, is launching an online music subscription service. The company has signed up Universal, ...
BSkyB signs Universal for online music service Reuters
Sky to take on Apple's iTunes with online MP3 music service Telegraph.co.uk
Music industry: Sky sets up rival for iTunes with Universal deal guardian.co.uk
Times Online - International Herald Tribune
all 105 news articles


Music site founder talks about how Facebook hearts iLike
Los Angeles Times, CA - 11 hours ago
Ali Partovi, one of the twin brothers behind popular online music service iLike, dropped by the press room at today's F8 conference to bask in the glow of ...
iLike to get get elevated status on Facebook Seattle Post Intelligencer
all 5 news articles

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006