Music Information

Improvisation and Musical Form


Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so, good. This has its place in music making and in new age piano playing in particularly. Just listen to New Age pianist Michael Jones's music to hear an example of this kind of free-form improvisation.

Now, some of you want to create something that will give the listener a slightly more cohesive experience. How is this accomplished? By forming the music into a shape - an ABA shape for our purposes here. To give form to music does not require as much theory and technique as most people think. In fact, it is as simple as applying the principles of repetition and contrast.

Now in most new age piano music there is some kind of form that the composer uses whether it's extended "A" form ala Michael Jones, or extended "A" extended "B" and back to "A" again as in some of George Winston's music. Think in sections people. A section of music can last for as long as the person who created it is involved with it- that is, as long as the inspiration is fresh.

As soon as the music sounds dull it's time for a change - the next section of music. This is the point where a composer will add something-new (contrast) or, if she is smart, end the piece. If the music does not have that freshness, that touch of inspired in the moment fantasy, you'll be able to detect and hear it. Some composers are so in touch with their feeling that they can take you on a 20 or 30 minute journey using very little means - but by using the elements of repetition and contrast maintain listener interest.

First, get your "A" section. The first few bars (8 usually) is more than enough to propel you forward. You must adopt a listening attitude to hear what is coming next. You don't force nor will it into being. This will not give you what you want, which is, I'm assuming, inspired content. Listen, listen, listen and the music will come. If it doesn't just do what Beethoven did.

He worked on 3 or 4 pieces at a time. When the inspiration dried up on a particular piece he was working on, he just moved on to another and picked up on the others later on. You can do the same. Be bold and go forward. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Be afraid of not trying.

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:

Sportsnet.ca

Just for the record: the Oz Olympic music was phoney too
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 16 hours ago
It turns out that Australia also knows a thing or two about miming music. Eight years after Sydney hosted what was dubbed "the best Olympic Games ever", ...
Sydney orchestra faked 2000 Olympics performance CTV.ca
Sydney Orchestra Admits to Fakery New York Times
Sydney Olympics Fakery Sky News
Independent Online - Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 265 news articles


GM to offer radios with ports for music players
The Associated Press - 20 hours ago
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Corp. says it will offer optional radios with USB ports for personal music players on some of its 2009 models. ...


Enews 2.0

First Pop-Star, Michael Jackson, Gets Older, but His Music Never Dies
Enews 2.0, UK - 4 hours ago
Since the 1980s, he became a dominant image in the popular music and his videos airing on MTV, such as “Billy Jean” or “Thriller” turned his figure into ...
Michael Jackson at 50: The music is still welcome even if the man ... Palm Beach Post
Michael Jackson: Dangerous or Invincible at 50? FemaleFirst.co.uk
Michael Jackson Turns 50 And CNS Survey Shows Fans Still Love His ... AHN
Manila Bulletin - Chatter Shmatter
all 185 news articles


ABC News

Britney's Made Her Mark, Says Pharrell
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 18 hours ago
Hip-hop mogul Pharrell Williams has advised Britney Spears not to worry if she fails to win an award at this year's MTV Video Music Awards -- because she is ...
Britney Spears will not appear in MTV Video Music Awards EnjoyFrance.com
Kid Rock: Playing MTV's Video Music Awards DetNews.com
MTV Marks its Return to Los Angeles for the '2008 MTV Video Music ... Earthtimes (press release)
Digital Spy - antiMUSIC.com
all 511 news articles


Global Music Group, Inc. of Delaware Makes Offer for Assets of ...
MarketWatch - 15 hours ago
LOS ANGELES, Aug 29, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Global Music Group, Inc. a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware (GMG Delaware) today ...


The Province

Granada Theater brings live music downtown
Dallas Morning News, TX - 8 hours ago
Downtown Dallas has joined the Granada Theater to present a series of daylong Saturday concerts in Pegasus Plaza. Headliners for the first (Louis XIV) and ...
Kenny Rogers releases exclusive hits collection Reuters
all 20 news articles


A bountiful classical music season kicks off this week
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 15 hours ago
Here comes the annual fall avalanche of riches from the region's classical music groups, including some surprises from Opera San Jose. ...
CCU faculty present 'Romantic Lieder' Myrtle Beach Sun News
all 2 news articles


ABC News

Music Minute: Remembering Katrina
NPR - 16 hours ago
All this week we've been ending our show with different pieces of music connected to the Democratic National Convention. But with the convention floor empty ...
Video: Gustav Follows Katrina's Path CBS
all 6,421 news articles


Concerts make beautiful music for D-Backs
Arizona Republic, AZ - 10 hours ago
There, patrons pay $25 to $75 a game to hang out and listen to a band or DJ music. The ticket does not include a seat at the game, but club-seat and suite ...


MTV Video Music Awards: Pussycat Dolls will beat Britney Spears ...
Los Angeles Times, CA - 21 hours ago
I think that our two music kudos prophets — David "Guru" Schnelwar and Darrin "DoubleD" Dortch — have correctly forecast the winner of this MTV Video Music ...
MTV Tr3s and Calle 13 Partner to Unveil the Grammy Winning Duo's ... HispanicBusiness.com (press release)
IN BRIEF Fresno Bee (subscription)
all 5 news articles

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006