7 Ways Every Child Can Benefit From Music Lessons

Guest post by Carol Watson of http://www.nationalnannies.com

 As public school systems slash budgets and eliminate musical education programs around the country, more and more parents are forced to find private musical instruction for their children. For parents who aren’t sure if the benefits of musical lessons justify the added expense and hassle, here are seven of the scientifically-proven benefits of music education.

1. Enhanced Abstract Reasoning Skills – Abstract reasoning skills, which play a crucial role in the development of mathematical and scientific aptitude, are markedly enhanced by musical instruction, according to a 1997 study stating that early childhood music education has a positive physiological impact. Children who actively participate in band or orchestra, or who have pursued private musical instruction, also tend to have higher math and science scores in adolescent and teenage years.
2. Stronger Cognitive Processes – A Henrich Heine University study reported findings that exposure to music enhances the cognitive process, boosting language and reasoning abilities. After studying the undergraduate majors of medical school students, noted physician and biologist Lewis Thomas also discovered that 66% of music majors who applied to medical school went on to be accepted, the highest percentage of any group.
3. Higher Standardized Testing Scores – On average, students with musical instruction and performance experience scored up to 57 points higher on verbal portions of the SAT and 41 points higher on the math portion than their peers with no musical background, according to the College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers. Princeton, NJ: The College Entrance Examination Board, 2001.
4. Increased Likelihood of Finishing High School and Attending College – Several studies, including one conducted in Florida in 1990, indicated that music, art and drama programs in public schools helped children to feel more involved with their school, and fostered a sense of community with like-minded fellow students that positively influenced their decision to stay in school. Similarly, a 2007 Harris Interactive poll suggests that 88% of those holding graduate degrees have a background in music education.
5. Reduced Likelihood of Drug and Alcohol Abuse – The 1998 Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report revealed that secondary students who were actively involved with band or orchestra reported the lowest current and lifetime rates of drugs, alcohol and tobacco use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has also issued a list of factors they believe could reduce the risk of adolescent and teen substance abuse; among them was success in school and involvement with school organizations. Children who are active participants in band, orchestra and other musical activities may face a significantly lower risk of addiction.
6. Greater Self-Discipline – A paper entitled “Music Linked to Reduced Criminality”, which was released by MuSICA Research Notes in 2000, examined a group of Rhode Island natives from infancy to age 30. The study discovered a significantly diminished arrest rate among those who had been involved in music and musical education. The dedication, determination and willingness to sacrifice free time for practice and performance fosters a strong sense of self-discipline in a child, which may lead to a lower likelihood of anti-social behavior.
7. Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem – Developing and mastering new skills dramatically boosts kids’ confidence and self-esteem. Through musical instruction, children are constantly learning new skills, improving them, and sharpening them to excellence.

Whether your child is enrolled in private music instruction, or is fortunate enough to attend a school that still offers a music program, the benefits of a music education are undeniable.

Thanks Carol for the valuable information from your article.

Piano Diana will be taking a break next Monday, Christmas Eve, but wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and many blessings for the New Year! 

Keep playing those beautiful Christmas songs, posts from my other blog, LadyDpiano.com

Do You Hear What I Hear

O Come All Ye Faithful

Joy To The World

Away in the Manger

Angels We Have Heard On High

Warmly,

"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

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Improvising with Jamey Aebersold

 

 "Anyone can improvise. It's the most natural way to make music. Always has been! It's a technique we've forgotten or thought we weren't good enough to begin." -- Jamey Aebersold

I just finished reading through How To Play Jazz and Improvise, a play-a-long book & cd set for all instruments. I wanted to share eight things that Jamey recommends when improvising.  Mr. Aebersold suggests that you choose one or two items at a time and concentrate on them while playing with the recorded track. Soon these elements of music will become automatic.

8 Tips for Improvising

 

1. Don't limit yourself by beginning every phrase in the low register and then proceed upward (ascending motion). Utilize descending motion and use melodic lines that combine ascending and descending motion.

 

2. Avoid limiting your ideas tot he middle or the most comfortable register of your instrument. Nothing is more monotonous than listening to players who confine their playing to their most comfortable register and refuse to utilize the high, low, or unfamiliar registers. Be prepared to take chances and experiment with less-used limits of your instrument. By so doing, you will experience some of the most gratifying moments in improvising; it can also be quite frustrating at times. Soaring into the upper register or dipping down into the low register of your instrument on occasion can be a surprise, a relief and a joy for the soloist and, particularly, for the listener.

 

3. In order to have as much freedom of concept as possible, memorize the scales to be used. If you have the scales memorized and mastered, your mind is freer to concentrate on melodic development. Your imagination works best when you feel secure.

 

4. Vary your dynamics! Lack of dynamic contrast has a dulling effect on the listener and the player. Listen to the phrasing and dynamics of the jazz greats.

 

5. Don't stacatto every note, and don't legato every note. Use a variety of articulations. Listen to recorded solos of people who play your instruments. Interesting players have an assortment of articulations at their disposal. For variety, listen to solos by musicians who play an instrument other than your type. Many name jazz players have used this technique for practicing articulation.

 

6. Concentrate on hearing, mentally, each tone before you play it. This requires constant anticipation and awareness. It will help prepare you for more advanced improvisation, as well as create in you an inner sense of pitch. A sense of pitch will greatly stabilize intonation, and is extremely important when playing notes that are seperated by a large interval. Concentration will also help your intonation.

 

7. Always try to make the notes you play have a sense of direction. be aware of tension and release. Remember, every note you play is part of a larger musical idea. If you can't think of what should come next in a solo, try using silence. After all, music is nothing more than a combination of sounds and silences.

 

8. Listen to your sound. Do you like the sound you are getting? If not, why? Everyone should study privately with the best teacher they can find. Listen to records and copy the SOUND of the artist you listen to... Always play on the best instrument you can afford. Good instruments DO make a difference.

 

-- Use repetition when soloing. Repetition is like watching road signs. It helps hold the listener's attention and directs them to the next musical phrase or event.

Vol. 1, How To Play Jazz & Improvise (Book & CD Set) (Play- a-Long)

 




"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

5 Music Apps for Kids

http://creativemamma.com

Here is a list of some favorite music apps. These apps work with both iPhones and iPads.

• Baa Baa Black Sheep by Duck Duck Moose ($1.99 – iphone) – Explore the island of Baa Baa, where you can row-row your boat, see Baa Baa and his friends, explore 3 underwater worlds, all while looking for matching puzzle pieces hidden throughout the island!  – This app combines two songs and it’s fun and interactive – Music plus puzzles equals lots of fun!   

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Kiboomu ($.99 – iphone) – Aspiring toddler & preschool pianists now have a new way to take piano lessons. Kids will love the song and they will love to “play” the piano along with the song.

• Kids Song Machine by Genera Kids ($1.99 – iphone, there’s a free version to try) – Kids Song Machine is specially designed for young children, where they can sing and learn the song lyrics, with interactive animations by simply touching the screen. This is a fun app that has 10 songs included!  There is also cute characters that the kids can interact with.

• Ocarina by Smule ($.99 – iphone) - One of Apple’s All-Time Top 20 Apps, Smule’s Ocarina turns your iPhone into an ancient flute. With no musical training required, you’ll blow away your friends and family with your new talent. 

• GarageBand by apple ($4.99 – ipad) – GarageBand turns your iPad into a collection of Touch Instruments and a full-featured recording studio — so you can make music anywhere you go. Use Multi-Touch gestures to play pianos, organs, guitars, drums, and basses on your iPad. They sound and play like their counterparts, but let you do things you could never do on a real instrument. I love how this app is perfect for any age group!  Jude loves playing with the piano and the drum kits and I love the bass guitar!  The app is great because it introduces the kids to different instruments and they learn how to use them – a plus, if you are planning on having them take actual music lessons.  Do you have any favorite music apps for kids?

Monday Music Quote: Vladimir Horowitz

 "Perfection itself is imperfection."

"Played percussively, the piano is a bore. If I go to a concert and someone plays like that I have two choices: go home or go to sleep. The goal is to make the piano sing, sing, sing."

-- Vladimir Horowitz

Horowitz's performing style frequently involved vast dynamic contrasts, with overwhelming double-fortissimos followed by sudden delicate pianissimos. He was able to produce an extraordinary volume of sound from the piano, without producing a harsh tone. Horowitz could also elicit an exceptionally wide range of tonal color from the piano, and his taut, precise attack was noticeable even in his renditions of technically undemanding pieces such as the Chopin Mazurkas. He is also famous for his octave technique; he could play precise passages in octaves extraordinarily fast.  

Did You Know?

Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa is the official march of the United States of America. the famous Russian pianist Vladimir Horowitz transcribed (rewrote) the piece for piano to  celebrate when he became a U.S. citizen.

From this Monday's Music Quote, I thought of this song:

"Sing, Sing, Sing"

"Sing, Sing, Sing" is probably the most famous tune associated with Goodman, if not the entire Swing Era. However, it was originally a tune written by Louis Prima.

You'll find a lead sheet that you can transpose and it's free here 



Did you know Hear and Play offers a dvd course for drummers? If you're interested, visit
Hear and Pay Drums Collection 
"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

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Virtual Keyboard: New Software Tool

Dear Readers,


I always blog about a music dvd I've just discovered or a piano dvd that works for us musicians.


I recently received this bit of news launching a new virtual keyboard. When I watched the video, what caught my eye was the fact that you could learn new jazz songs, plus adding free midis. Here's the note:
What if a robot could teach you songs?

Sounds crazy but with the power of technology,
there's now a way to turn your computer into a
song-teaching machine... that never sleeps,
never charges by the hour... doesn't get
frustrated... and repeats as much as you want!

My friends over at Hear & Play Music are the ones
behind it and just created a video demonstration
at:

Virtual Keyboard

(I only wish I had this little magic tool when
I was young!)

They call it the "Song Robot!" You simply load
song files into it and it shows you, on demand,
how to play them on a big virtual keyboard.

There's a full video demonstration at:
Song Robot

Here's what it does:

* It can slow down songs, "turtle speed."

* It transposes songs to all 12 keys so you're
  not stuck in ONE key.

* You have the choice of learning with huge, red
  colored notes that light up or a real-looking
  3d version of a piano.

* You can stop, pause, rewind, fast forward.

* You can even load your favorite audio files
  and have it remove vocals so you can practice
  (they can even be slowed down and put in all
  12 keys... real albums!)

Visit:
Piano Robot

For a limited time, they're making you an
unbeatable deal on the song files... and
throwing the song robot in at no cost!

Once you get your hands on this, you'll see
why so many are excited about it.

Visit:
Check Out Song Robot

I just might jump on this great deal myself!

All the best,
D.

P.S. Drop me a line regarding chord charts to jazz songs from the 20's, 30's and 40's. Have a favorite?


"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

How To Play The Piano Without Music

Image via Wikipedia If you're looking for tips on how to memorize music, then take a look at my latest article:
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Play-Piano-Without-Sheet-Music&id=5861178

There was a time when the great pianists would appear on stage without music in front of them. Clara Schumann seems to have been the first to perform from memory, and for this she was considered "insufferable," pretentious, and disrespectful toward the composers who wrote the works she played. Today though, many consider memorization one of the most important aspects of piano playing.

Most books will discuss the how-to of memorizing stress the importance of understanding the intricacies of musical form. When you approach a piece you want to learn, the suggested practice is to break it down into various components, so you can see the exposition of the theme, the introduction of other themes, a development section, key relationships, modulatory passages, and so on. Of course, we can get even more complex about it. With the advent of home computers, it won't be long before every piano student is required to analyze all pitch series permutations and rhythmic stratifications on every page of an assigned piece!

I'm kidding of course. But it is easy to get carried away with theoretical detail, and the dryness of an approach such as this cna betray the initial thrill which brought us to the keyboard in the first place.

In order to memorize a piece, it helps to analyze the music in a tactile, practical sort of way. Here's what I mean. Take a work you wish to memorize. Start with the opening phrase, and learn to play it without the music. Then, pause for a moment, to consider this: If you were a composer, how would you continue? You might, for example, repeat the original idea starting on a different pitch; or turn it upside down; or embellish it. There are, of course, countless possibilities.

Now take a look at what the composer of the piece actually did. Is what comes next very ordinary, or is it surprising? Note these first two phrases. Does the second answer the first? Are they short or long? Are they of equal size? Are there rhythmic ideas which repeat? Is there a natural rise and fall in the shape of the phrases, or do they leap and zigzag?

Let's also consider the physical demands this music is making. Is there a tricky fingering that comes up at a certain point? If so, play it over a few times, to remember the feeling. Are the hands playing together, or alternately? Are they moving in opposite directions? On which notes does the thumb go?

Each time you ask one of these questions, play those first phrases over before answering. Then, close the book.

You are ready to try playing without the book. When you hit your first blank moment (which might pop up right away), open the book and find the spot in the music you couldn't remember. Play through it a few times. At the beginning, you might have to play for a while just to memorize the notes. Later, there will be just a spot here and there that will cause problems. In those cases, you might want to imagine a picture which you can associate with each section of the music. It can be anything at all, like ocean waves for arpeggios, or raindrops for staccato passage. Then, close the book again.

You can repeat this process over and over until you are sure of the music. Then, you'll want to move on to the next part of the work, thinking again about how the composer decided to continue, what the shape is, and what configurations you will find your fingers in.

Each time you hit a blind spot, you should refer to the printed page. If you hit the same blind spot over and over, it's important to "analyze it in the context of the phrases which come before and after (including, for example, how your "ocean" becomes a "storm," and so on). By repeatedly closing the book, you are forced to confront any part of the music which is not completely clear to you. each time you forget, you are actually getting an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the piece!

When the entire work is memorized, it will be necessary to test your ability to play it every so often, because some memorization is only short term- and it is only through constant questioning and evaluating that a deeper kind of learning takes place.

-- From Keyboard Tricks Of The Trade

The advantages to following this routine are many. What have you discovered that works for you?
I've used Jermaine Griggs and Yoke Wong's music resources and lots of practice!

• Take Your Piano Playing To The Next Level
• Learn How To Improvise Using Chords Techniques
• 30 Day Money Back Guarantee

    www.PlayPianoTips.com






"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

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Amazing Grace

One of my favorite songs is Amazing Grace. I have played it with gospel chords and here I used some jazz chords for a different sound. I'm thinking I should follow up with a tutorial next time and post the chords. Do you have a favorite song with a special style of playing it?




My friend, Yoke Wong, wrote a great article about practicing the piano.

How Do I Find Time To Practice?

"Would you like to know the answer? Piano practice
sessions do not need to be long.
Have you heard of the 7/20 rule? It's seven
repetitions for 20 minutes. If you can't play
something seven times in a row without making
mistakes, the section is probably too big for you
to work on. Also, 20 minutes is the limit of your
full concentration. After you practice for 20
minutes, you can take a break.

You should always be clear on your short- and
long-term piano goals. Knowing your goals will
help motivate you to practice. A short-term goal
might be that you want to play Rhapsody in Blue
and have it mastered and memorized by Feb. 1st.

A long-term goal might be that you want an active
repertoire of four pieces in 2011 or that you want
to sight-read anything at tempo. So, your
short-range goals determine what you play this
week, this month, but those short-range goals
should always help you move towards your
long-range goals.

The way many pianists typically learn is from the
beginning, the first section/introduction. When
they're fairly accomplished, they dive into the
second section. The second section is never
learned as well as the first. The third section
(save us!) is a disaster! Does this sound like
you?

If so, I advise you to start to learn a new piece
someplace other than the opening section. How
about the middle section? Or the end?

Are you ready to make a good start for this year?"...

Yoke Wong offers a great music dvd resource for playing hymns.


Become A Better Church Pianist Now!


Learn How To Play Hymns Using Color Chords


& Exciting Runs & Fillers

www.PianoArrangement.com




If you have the time, stop by my other blog http://LadyDpiano.com

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-- LadyD Have a heart that never hardens and a touch that never hurts. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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How To Improvise Using 4 Left Hand Notes

Image via WikipediaIt is so wonderful to provide free online piano lessons to all ages and at all levels.  I have been teaching piano lessons in my home for over 15 years now.  I have enjoyed playing with various musicians in San Diego County for 30 years.


Beginner piano students are always looking for tips on moving right hand notes and matching some other bass notes with their left hand. So many folks are looking for practice methods that will encourage them to learn to improvise and play piano by ear. They want easy piano lessons.

I found a great teaching video from Yoke Wong that I wanted to share with you.  After seeing the video, you will be playing piano lessons. So, here we go.

How to improvise using 4 left hand notes by pianomother on YouTube.

Be sure to practice and apply the technique!

G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, and F

  Hand Coordination Techniques

PlayPianoChords.wmv

This is Piano Diana . 

Many of you have expressed an interest in taking
your piano playing skills to the next level. 
I want to help you get
there by ensuring that you get the most out of
your piano practice and learning experience.
Studying music is like studying a foreign
language. To become fluent, one needs to be
competent in both reading and speaking. Now,
apply this to your piano playing. How well do you
read? What about improvising? How well do you
improvise?  These techniques (sight reading and
improvising) go together, just as reading and
speaking do.

Over the many years of my musical career, I have
come across trained pianists who are excellent
sight readers but really struggle with
improvising.  That, obviously, is not a good
situation.

If you think you need help in improvisation, I
have an important message for you. 

A special friend of mine, Yoke Wong, is an
accomplished pianist and music educator who
specializes in piano improvisation. She has
compiled a comprehensive home study course
called, Definitive Piano Improvisation to help
piano students master the art of improvising. I
generally do not promote other courses, but this
one is unique and deserves your attention. Since
I am very aware of the value and importance of
improvisation, I also recognize the value of this
course. It can really make a significant
difference in your piano playing.

Home Study Course

If you seriously want to upgrade your skills, I
urge you to get this DVD home study course
here.

The course comes with 11 hours of video
instruction, 2 CD’s and a 142-page binder. For
those who take advantage of this offer right now,
Yoke will include a bonus of her “Inspirational
Moments Digital Sheet Music.”

Because of the special price, this offer will be
available to the first 50 customers only. The
offer ends 7-14 days from today.

Definitive Improvisation Method

Your feedback is very important in helping us
evaluate how the course has made an impact on
your piano playing world. I would love to hear
from you once you have tried it out!

Thanks for your response!

Cordially,
Piano Diana  

Visit pianomother's site for more information at http://www.pianomother.com



All the best, LadyD

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Music Therapy

Image by dirk@vorderstrasse.de via Flickr
This article has been on the net for quite sometime. Here it is in part explaing that indeed music does calm the savage beast.

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? The answer, apparently, is yes. To illustrate this, researchers point to the different physiological changes that take place within the human body in response to different sounds and noises. A loud noise that shatters the silence sets the human heart racing and stimulates a rush of adrenaline that prepares you for flight. In contrast a soft, soothing sound helps us relax.

Music therapy has, in fact, been around for thousands of years. Nearly four thousand years ago the Hebrew scriptures recorded that the boy who would later become King David was hired by his predecessor to play the harp to calm King Saul when he would go into a rage. Likewise, the use of music therapy is found in the writings of ancient civilization such as Egypt, China, India, Greece and Rome.

More recently scientists have been studying the effects of music therapy and have documented changes in respiratory rates, blood pressure and pulse. In response to music, researchers in the realm of music therapy have found that the use of music therapy can be effective in areas as diverse as IQ and recovery rates, pain management and weight loss.



Some object thta this sounds too good to be true. How can music therapy change something like pain management? Researchers tell us that the reason music therapy works is based on how we hear. Sound is a little more than vibrations in the air that pick up by the inner ear and transferred to the brain which is a key component in your nervous system and controls the functions of the body and the brain responds to the stimuli that it is given.



In light of this, music therapy can and often is used in a wide variety of applications. One common application for music therapy is in working with autistic individuals because research has found that music can help autistic children to express themselves. Likewise, music therapy has been found to help individuals with physical disabilities to develop better motor skills.

With music therapy, individuals with high levels of anxiety can be helped to express suppressed emotions thereby discharging anger, or enabling the individual to express the joy they would not otherwise be able to express. Likewise, research has found that music therapy can help lower anxiety levels of hospital patients who find themselves facing frightening prospects and in unfamiliar environment. Furthermore, music therapy has been found to help medical professionals with pain management such that they have been able to reduce pain medication by as much as one half by helping to stimulate the production of the body's own pain killers, called endorphins.




Music therapy can come in a wide variety of forms. In some cases it's as simple as having the individual listen to particular music. In other cases it's as simple as having the individual respond to teh music either in dance or using some other form of expression. But in its many forms, music therapy has often been found to be beneficial.

Music education benefits the students listening to themselves while playing the piano, plus listening to cds of other performers. Won't you take the time to listen to your son/daughter play their instrument and saturate your home and car with good quality music. It's good therapy for the body and the soul!

Tips to Finding Free Piano Tabs

Image via WikipediaMany piano players, especially those who are good at  improvising, as well as pianists who prefer to develop their own style of playing prefer to use piano tabs (chord charts) instead of sheet music.

Piano tabs offer great flexibility and versatility while reading sheet music, although able to improve your technical proficiency, limits you to a technical style of just reading the notes. The Internet has a huge selection of free piano tabs available and they’re quite easy to find when you consider the tips below.
 
Places to Find Free Piano Tabs

Piano tab databases allow you to copy, save, or download their piano tabs. Sometimes, their entire database is free to access. Other times, you need to pay a membership fee or per tab. With tab search engines, you need to specify the piece you require piano tabs for and they’ll produce a list of websites that have them.

Piano Tutorial Websites and Forums

Websites and forums that teach or help you to play the piano for free usually have free piano tabs as well.

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Jazz Piano Tutorial-Easy Does It

Teaching music with a steady beat:

Standardized testing shows that children with steady beat independence are better readers and more successful in mathematics. STEADY BEAT seems to help in areas of concentration, to understand space and distance and to have better control of physical movements. Here is a website for using a free metronome to help with your child's practicing a STEADY BEAT.
www.freemetronome.com

'Easy Does It' - jazz piano tutorial 

Wonderful playing by Doug McKenzie... enjoy!

Play Piano By Ear

Image by Mikey G Ottawa via Flickr

I found this very cool article online this morning written by Isaac Whitfield.
It's  called Play Piano By Ear  - Practice Is The Key. I couldn't agree more. I hope you find some interesting tips to help you bring your piano playing to the next level.


Practice is a big part of learning to play piano by ear, but another is natural ability and some musical background. If you have a family member who is a musician and seems to be able to play anything they want, that is natural ability. If not, then there are ways of learning, but it will take a lot of practice to achieve your goal.

Pitch
Those who are lucky to have been born with perfect pitch have no problem at all learning to play piano by ear. If not, more practice! Begin by sitting at your piano. Now close your eyes and strike a note. Without looking at what note you played, identify it. Were you close? Get it right on the money? Keep at it. This is a big part of playing by ear. Note: Make sure your piano is tuned!

Listen And Listen Some More
Play a favorite song on your CD player, and just as the first drill, try to identify what notes are being played. Listen to just the melody. Play it again and listen to the bass line. Play it again and try to identify any other instruments being played. Learn everything about the song. Choose a song that has some easy piano parts in it.

Play The Melody
Now that you have studied this song with your ears, try to play the melody, one note at a time from memory. Play the first few bars over and over. Turn your CD back on and play the first few bars or whatever you can remember. Keep at it until you have learned the basic melody.
 
Association
A big part to learning to play piano by ear is to associate what you hear with the notes on your keyboard. By mastering the first drill of playing a note and identifying it with your eyes closed, this association will hit you like a ton of bricks someday and you will yell-I got it!
 
Take It Slow
Learn the melody first, then begin putting some bass lines into it. If you know basic chords and scales this process will be easier. Hop online and check out some video tutorials. There are audio lessons available as well, created specifically for ear training.
By following these tips learning to play piano by ear can be achieved, but the big word here is practice!

 I love the sound of slow, soulful blues. Listen to Willie's amazing piano playing... love the style.

Slow, Soulful Blues Piano - Gospel Blues Piano

 

My friend dazza from the zone community at hear and play sure can play the blues! You will learn so much from dazza's piano tutorial on playing slow blues. I have posted a chord chart for his chord progressions. Those quick grace notes add such a cool sound!



Learn this at:

http://www.learnasongseries.com, plus loads of free videos on how to play piano

* Chord Chart

Pick Up - (r.h. notes) Bb, B, D, E

G D/B G

B B/A B D G

C C/Bb, (Eb), E G, (Bb, B, D, E) (C9)

D D/F# C D (D7)

/ D Bb, C A

G D/(Bb) B G

E E/Gb D G (E7 add9)

A A/G C# (A7)

D D/F# C (D7)
 

All the best,

 -- LadyD I Write for Fortitude. Fortitude is for people who write with passion. http://fo.rtitu.de/1014

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How Notes Move on The Staff

Image via Wikipedia

 Notes move on the staff in three ways: Step
Skip
Repeat 

Notes on or above the middle line have down stems.

Notes below the middle line have up stems.

Measuring Intervals
The distance between two notes is called an interval. Another way to say it; the distance from the pitch of one note to the pitch of another.

2nd Interval:
On the keys a 2nd is like a step: from one key to the next key.
On the staff a 2nd is like a step: from line to space or space to line.

3rd Interval:
On the keys a 3rd is like a skip: from line to line or space to space. One skipped key is a 3rd.

4th Interval:
Two skipped keys is a 4th. On the staff a 4th is either line to space or space to line. On the keys a 4th is a larger skip.

5th Interval:
Three skipped keys is a 5th. On the staff a 5th is either line to line or space to space.

Melodic and Harmonic Intervals:

A melodic interval has single notes, like notes in a melody that are played one at a time. If you sing a note and then another then this is a melodic interval.

A harmonic interval has two notes played together to make harmony in music. If two people each sing a different note at the same time then this is called a harmonic interval.

Now that you know what intervals are why do you suppose we need to learn them?

Learning to recognize intervals, whether by sound, on paper, or an instrument, is extremely helpful for many reasons. Among them are chord building, improvisation, sight singing, composition, understanding and remembering keys and their related accidentals, and figure out music by ear. If you’re trying to play a melody that is in your head or on the radio, knowing your intervals eliminates most of the time spent searching for the right notes.

One of the coolest ways to add feeling and expression while playing those piano notes is to observe road map signs or what musician’s call Dynamics or dynamic markings.
Basically there are symbols that indicate varying degrees of volume. So we have degrees of loudness or softness.

Music has loud and soft signs called dynamics.

mf means medium loud.
Its Italian name is Mezzo Forte.

f means loud.
Its Italian name is forte.

ff means very loud
Its Italian name is Fortissimo.

fff means very, very loud.
Its Italian name is Fortississimo.

ppp means very, very soft.
Its Italian name is Pianississimo.

pp means very soft.
Its Italian name is Pianissimo.

P means soft.
Its Italian name is Piano.

With this understanding of how notes move while playing quietly or loudly, you’ll enjoy hearing yourself play with more feeling in addition to technically playing the notes correctly. Have fun!



 All the best,
LadyD


Comments are welcomed and encouraged! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your stay at Piano Diana.

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Learn 20 Advanced Guitar Licks

 I just wanted to let you know about 'Advanced Guitar 301'
Digital Version is finally available! It's a new guitar course available to musicians. My friends at Hear and Play always have great dvds available for playing piano by ear, drums and now a guitar course.

For The First Time Ever, Superstar Professional Guitarist, Jairus Mozee Takes You By The Hand And Drags You To "His World" Where He Personally Hand-Picks 20 Insanely Advanced Licks, Runs, Riffs, Patterns, and Fill-Ins You Can Outright STEAL And Apply To Your Own Playing Virtually Minutes After Watching!

Guitar 301

Learn 20 Super Advanced Guitar Licks, Tricks, And Riffs Across 4 Different Styles...
Funk, R&B, Gospel, Jazz

Advanced Guitar 301 Trailer / preview

The structure of "Advanced Guitar 301 - Licks, Tricks, and Solos" is pretty straightforward.

It covers 4 genres of music: Funk, Gospel, R&B, and Jazz.

In each of those genres, we start by teaching you the underlying chords that make up the patterns you're hearing. So if you're in the "funk" section, you'll start by learning the funk chords he's using as a bare minimal (even beginners can benefit from this part).

Then they proceed to break down 5 unique riffs, runs, licks, or tricks you can play over these same chords. In fact, the underlying chords and patterns hardly change. But you learn dozens of ways to approach improvising over them. They do this for funk, r&b (soul), gospel (shouting music), and jazz.

By the end, you'll have 20 professional, advanced soloing licks you can pull out the cupboard at any time.

You can order this new dvd music resource at:

Guitar 301

Comments are welcomed and encouraged! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your stay at Piano Diana.

Sitting at the Piano

Ready for your first piano lesson? Sitting at the piano should be a comfortable feeling right from the beginning.

Sit up straight facing the center of the piano. Place your feet flat on the floor. If your feet do not reach the floor, it is helpful to have a footstool or books under them when you practice but not absolutely necessary.

Sit high enough to reach the keys easily. Do you have a piano stool or chair at home that moves up and down? If not, pillows or books may be used to help you sit at the correct height when you practice.

Piano posture is important for all beginner and advanced players. Most importantly, you want to be comfortable at the piano. Sitting with your nose directly in the middle of the range of piano keys is the best place to sit. Where is Middle C you ask? You will find that the white key to the left of the 2 black keys is the “C” key. In fact, all of the “C’s” are to the left of the 2 black keys.

After sitting at the piano and practicing for a time, let’s say 30 minutes, I suggest you take a little break. I have found that sewing at the machine, being on your computer and playing the piano for a much longer period of time will cause your shoulders to droop (round shoulders) and gravity will just pull you forwards, plus the backache will begin with a tense neck. For youngsters, 10-15 minutes of practicing every day will show great improvement overall.

Hand Position

Hold your fingers in a nice curved shape. Imagine you are holding a ball in each hand. That is the way the fingers should be curved when playing the piano. Your wrist should be level with your arms. Keep them level as if you’ve placed a rectangular pencil eraser upon your wrists while moving your piano fingers.

Finger Numbers

Left Hand:

5=Pinky, 4, 3, 2, 1=Thumb

Right Hand:

1=Thumb, 2, 3, 4, 5=Pinky

Have someone trace your piano hands and then number your fingers accordingly. Date it when you first begin piano lessons. It will make a wonderful keepsake.

The Piano Keyboard

The keyboard has white and black keys. The black keys are in sets of 2’s and 3’s. When you play down to the left on the keyboard the sounds are lower, bass tones. When you play up to the right on the keyboard the sounds are higher, treble tones.

On the keyboard, the high keys are usually played with the Right Hand. The low keys are usually played with the Left Hand.

Make up some pieces using sets of black keys. Perhaps you could make up a song using the sets of 2 black keys. Then add the set of 3 black keys. If you play all 5 black keys in the high end of the piano, you will hear tones that sound like a lovely Asian piece or flowing, running water. I hope these first steps have been fun and easy for you.

Happy Practicing!


Comments are welcomed and encouraged! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your stay at Piano Diana.

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