Famous Mothers in Music

There was an interesting article in ABOUT on "Moms in Music", and since Mom's Day is coming up fast, thought you might like to see it.

http://musiced.about.com/b/a/258009.htm?r=94

Chord Progressions

Here is a typical chord progression:

C Am7 Dm7 G7

It is commonly referred to as the "We want Cantor!" chord progression, because those are the first 4 chords of a famous song by that name.

But you can use that very same piano chord progression not only in "We want Cantor", but also in "Blue Moon", "Heart & Soul", "Unchained Melody", "Ebb Tide", &quo! t;Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "It's The Talk Of The Tow n", and countless other tunes. You can also use the exact same progression in gospel songs such as "He's Everything To Me", "I Am Not Worthy", and many others.

So if you knew that progression -- I mean REALLY knew it -- you could play countless songs, and portions of countless others.

This same piano chord progression also makes an excellent introduction to most ANY song.

And this very same chord progression also makes a great "turnaround" in dead spots in a song, as well as for use between 1st and 2nd verses of a song.

All this from just ONE chord progression!

There are at least a DOZEN piano chord progressions such as this that occur over and o! ver again in song after song, and in my Chord Progressions course you will hear me play each chord and explain each progression in detail. You will hear me make RUNS & FILLS & RIFFS of various kinds out of each progression -- runs & riffs & fillers you can use, no matter whether you play gospel music, rhythm & blues, pop, rock, ragtime, jazz, praise & worship, or whatever.

The principals are exactly the same no matter what style you play in.

By learning a few runs & riffs that flow out of each chord progression, you will be actually practicing the "fancy stuff" you can then include in thousands and thousands of songs!

Please go now to the web page that tells all about it:
http://www.chord-progressions.com

I found a piano learning program for kids that is fun and actually works!

As you know, all of my courses are for adults, even though I have taught hundreds of kids in our teaching studio over the years. I just felt as though kids need a warm body sitting by them to help them along and motivate them, whereas an adult wanting to play the piano is self-motivated. So I have had to turn down lots of parents who have wanted their children to take my courses.

But I am delighted to tell you that I have discovered a wonderful piano learning program for children that is disguised as a game. It is lots of fun so it keeps the interest of kids from 3 on up (and I understand some adult beginners also use it).

Please go to http://www.playpiano.com/kids.htm

The facinating secret of learning just a few chord progressions...

Here is a typical chord progression:

C Am7 Dm7 G7

It is commonly referred to as the "We want Cantor!" chord progression, because those are the first 4 chords of a famous song by that name.

But you can use that very same piano chord progression not only in "We want Cantor", but also in "Blue Moon", "Heart & Soul", "Unchained Melody", "Ebb Tide", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "It's The Talk Of The Town", and cou! ntless other tunes. You can also use the exact same progression in gos pel songs such as "He's Everything To Me", "I ! Am Not Worthy", and many others.

So if you knew that progression -- I mean REALLY knew it -- you could play countless songs, and portions of countless others.

This same piano chord progression also makes an excellent introduction to most ANY song.

And this very same chord progression also makes a great "turnaround" in dead spots in a song, as well as for use between 1st and 2nd verses of a song.

All this from just ONE chord progression!

Please go to http://www.chord-progressions.com

More Reasons Why Everyone Should Learn Chord Piano

Click below to play this 5-minute video from Google Video! (You might have to click twice on the start button to get it going, for some unknown reason)

Music software: Exciting things you can do in music on the internet using software!

Are you a musical prodigy as well as a tech savvy computer fiend? You might as well combine the two and look into the hundreds of ways in which you can not only learn, but create, and edit your music with your computer, using software readily available online. There are hundreds of options out there, many of them perfect ways for you to unlock your inner virtuoso.

Please go to http://www.playpiano.com/Articles/36-musicsoftware.htm to read the entire article.

Famous people who played the piano

Of our 42 US Presidents, two of them were pianists, both Richard Nixon and Harry S. Truman. Even today, famous politicians such as Condeleeza Rice serve who is a wonderful pianist, who at one time considered becoming a concert pianist before pursuing her degrees in international relations and economics.

Please go to http://www.playpiano.com/Articles/37-famouspeoplepiano.htm to read the entire article.

Chord Substiution Technique #1

Please go to http://www.playpiano.com/101-tips/34-chord-subs-1.htm

Music Theory & Harmony: Boring?

Music Theory & Harmony: Boring? No!
It's An Exciting X-Ray Into

How Music Works!

It's a sad fact that most people, including piano players, regard music theory and harmony as some abstract concept that has very little to do with the songs they play on their pianos. Nothing could be further from the truth. Knowing music theory and harmony is the key to opening a whole new world of exciting insights into the songs we play, and enable us to do things on the piano we never dreamed we could do, to say nothing of enjoying the process a hundred times more.

What is music theory, and how can I benefit?

Here are just a few of the wonderful skills and insights a person benefits from by learning music theory:

How notation works -- a huge advantage in sight-reading.

The hierarchy of rhythm -- solving rhythm problems before they begin.

All kinds of scales -- the "ladders of notes" every song is composed of. Major scales, 3 types of minor scales, chromatic scales, whole tone scales, modal scales.

How transposition and modulation works -- playing songs in different keys, and getting from one key to another smoothly.

Complex time signatures, and what they tell you.

Perfect, major & minor intervals -- helps ear training greatly.

Two-part and four-part harmony.

For the rest of this article, please go to http://www.playpiano.com/musictheoryharmony.htm

Piano Chord-Casts

If you listen to podcasts, here are some piano-related podcasts called "Piano Chord-Casts"

http://web.mac.com/chordsgalore/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

Duane

PS They are all free, of course.