10 Top Reasons You Should Learn to Play 'Chord' Piano: "
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10 Top Reasons You Should Learn to Play 'Chord' Piano
Author: Duane Shinn
There are roughly umpteen zillion reasons why you should learn enough chords to be able to �chord a song� at the piano.
By �chord a song�, I mean the ability to play 3 or 4 chords on the piano in some sort of rhythm while you or someone else sings the tune. To do this, you don�t need to be a Van Cliburn; all you need to do is learn a few basic chords and be able to more back and forth between them in some organized rhythmic pattern.
For example, did you realize that all of these songs (and hundreds more) can be sung or played with just 3 chords?
Auld Lang Syne
Amazing Grace
Kum Ba Ya
Silent Night
Joy To The World
Jingle Bells
Happy Birthday
Down In The Valley
On Top Of Old Smoky�
and hundreds or maybe thousands more!
Add just one more chord to the basic 3, and you can play another thousand songs or so. So why not learn a few chords and start your chording career?
Here are my top 10 reasons for learning �chord piano�:
1) It�s easy. Learn 3 chords and start in.
2) Even though it�s easy to get started, you don�t have to stop there. You can learn more and more chords and more rhythm patterns and get really good.
3) You�ll be able to play �Happy Birthday� while the gang sings it.
4) You�ll be able to play half-a-dozen Christmas carols. In case you haven�t noticed, Christmas comes every year, so every year you�ll get better as you participate in family gatherings.
5) You can help your kids learn to play the piano, guitar, or most any other instrument by learning chords. Most teachers don�t teach chords, so you�ll be giving your kids "
Sunday, October 16, 2005
How To Dress Up "Naked Music" On The Piano
How To Dress Up "Naked Music" On The Piano: "
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How To Dress Up 'Naked Music' On The Piano
Author: Duane Shinn
What in the world is �naked music?�
You know it when you hear it, but the words that describe it sound strange, don�t they? We�ve all heard of popular music and rock music and gospel music and jazz music, but naked music?
Naked music is simply the notes on a piece of sheet music. It�s �naked� � not dressed up or arranged at all. No fills, no slurs, none of the ingredients that make a song come to life.
Not a single professional musician plays the music exactly as it appears on a piece of sheet music. Instead, they use the written music as a map, or an outline, and then proceed to do their own thing with it. They twist it, bend it, add to it, subtract from it, put fills in it, change the key, change the words, change some of the melody notes, and on and on.
So when you hear your favorite artist perform a piece of music, if you look at the written sheet music while they are performing it, you will see it is MUCH different and MUCH better than the plain old �naked music!�
So how can the average musician dress up naked music? There are many ways, but here are seven of my favorites:
1.Change the chords slightly by adding color tones. What are color tones? Color tones are notes added to the basic chord, usually expressed as 6ths, 7ths, 9ths, etc. For example, instead of playing just a straight C chord as it is written � C, E, G � try adding a color tone to it, such as a 6th (A) or a 7th (Bb) or a major 7th (B) or a 9th (D). In fact, try adding a couple together, like a 6th and a 9th. So instead of being a plain vanilla chord made up of C, E, and G, you�ve made it a tasty variation "
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How To Dress Up 'Naked Music' On The Piano
Author: Duane Shinn
What in the world is �naked music?�
You know it when you hear it, but the words that describe it sound strange, don�t they? We�ve all heard of popular music and rock music and gospel music and jazz music, but naked music?
Naked music is simply the notes on a piece of sheet music. It�s �naked� � not dressed up or arranged at all. No fills, no slurs, none of the ingredients that make a song come to life.
Not a single professional musician plays the music exactly as it appears on a piece of sheet music. Instead, they use the written music as a map, or an outline, and then proceed to do their own thing with it. They twist it, bend it, add to it, subtract from it, put fills in it, change the key, change the words, change some of the melody notes, and on and on.
So when you hear your favorite artist perform a piece of music, if you look at the written sheet music while they are performing it, you will see it is MUCH different and MUCH better than the plain old �naked music!�
So how can the average musician dress up naked music? There are many ways, but here are seven of my favorites:
1.Change the chords slightly by adding color tones. What are color tones? Color tones are notes added to the basic chord, usually expressed as 6ths, 7ths, 9ths, etc. For example, instead of playing just a straight C chord as it is written � C, E, G � try adding a color tone to it, such as a 6th (A) or a 7th (Bb) or a major 7th (B) or a 9th (D). In fact, try adding a couple together, like a 6th and a 9th. So instead of being a plain vanilla chord made up of C, E, and G, you�ve made it a tasty variation "
How Fast Should My Child in Piano Progress?
How Fast Should My Child in Piano Progress?: "
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How Fast Should My Child in Piano Progress?
Author: Cynthia VanLandingham
Parents ask this question because they want to be sure they�re doing everything they should to support their child in piano lessons. Sometimes parents are concerned their children aren't practicing enough at home, and assume they must not be making much progress. It can take some time, however, for children to learn how to apply themselves to their lessons. Learning to practice is part of the learning process that will take time to achieve. If your child in piano isn�t practicing as much as you would like, try not to come to a hasty judgment about their musical potential.
As the parent you really can�t control your child�s musical progress. This is especially true when kids approach their teen years. As one family therapist explains, �Trying to control your teenager is a bad idea � you might as well try to put pants on a gorilla!�
My suggestion is to give your child ownership of their piano lessons early on, so they can learn from their mistakes and successes through a process of trial and error. In the long run your child will learn more by relying on their natural energy and motivation that comes from personal ownership and responsibility. Trying to control your child�s progress too much in piano can actually keep them from learning how to go about taking responsibility for their own success.
So try not to worry if your child in piano is slow to practice. Give him or her some time to develop their own motivation and you�ll be able to delight in their independent spirit. I can guarantee this is a lot more fun than putting pants on a gorilla!
For piano resources to get your young child in piano off to the right start visit, Piano Adventure Bears Learning Res"
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How Fast Should My Child in Piano Progress?
Author: Cynthia VanLandingham
Parents ask this question because they want to be sure they�re doing everything they should to support their child in piano lessons. Sometimes parents are concerned their children aren't practicing enough at home, and assume they must not be making much progress. It can take some time, however, for children to learn how to apply themselves to their lessons. Learning to practice is part of the learning process that will take time to achieve. If your child in piano isn�t practicing as much as you would like, try not to come to a hasty judgment about their musical potential.
As the parent you really can�t control your child�s musical progress. This is especially true when kids approach their teen years. As one family therapist explains, �Trying to control your teenager is a bad idea � you might as well try to put pants on a gorilla!�
My suggestion is to give your child ownership of their piano lessons early on, so they can learn from their mistakes and successes through a process of trial and error. In the long run your child will learn more by relying on their natural energy and motivation that comes from personal ownership and responsibility. Trying to control your child�s progress too much in piano can actually keep them from learning how to go about taking responsibility for their own success.
So try not to worry if your child in piano is slow to practice. Give him or her some time to develop their own motivation and you�ll be able to delight in their independent spirit. I can guarantee this is a lot more fun than putting pants on a gorilla!
For piano resources to get your young child in piano off to the right start visit, Piano Adventure Bears Learning Res"
Should I Buy a Digital Piano or an Upright Piano ?
Should I Buy a Digital Piano or an Upright Piano ?: "
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Should I Buy a Digital Piano or an Upright Piano ?
Author: Henry Howard
Should I Buy a Digital Piano or an Upright Piano?
Digital pianos sound nothing like a real piano. Upright pianos take up too much room. There is a lot of conflicting advice floating around. I will give you the right piano buying advice so you can make your own decision on whether the digital piano or the upright piano is right for your needs.
A brief history of the digital piano.
Digital pianos were invented about 20 years ago and when they where first introduced they were pretty terrible, the keys were much too light, spongy and nothing like a real piano. The sound was incredibly bright and the sampling was quite dreadful. You couldn't really say that it sounded much like a piano at all. These digital pianos also looked nothing like a real acoustic piano, they had ugly, plastic lookin cases that didn't match any type of furniture in the room. If guests came around it was almost an embarrassment to have this ugly plastic looking machine in the living room. My how things have changed over the last 20 years!
A brief history of the upright piano.
The upright piano was invented in 1709 by the Italian Cristofori. It was a four octave instrument compared to the seven and a quarter octave instrument of today, with hammers striking the strings just as they do on a modern upright piano. The instrument was invented to meet the need to control dynamics by touch, which could not be achieved on the harpsichord. The early upright piano went through many changes before it emerged as the instrument we all know today. The Cristofori piano was wing shaped like grand pianos, it had a curved body and a lid that could be elevated. There were also square pianos in which the strings ran"
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Should I Buy a Digital Piano or an Upright Piano ?
Author: Henry Howard
Should I Buy a Digital Piano or an Upright Piano?
Digital pianos sound nothing like a real piano. Upright pianos take up too much room. There is a lot of conflicting advice floating around. I will give you the right piano buying advice so you can make your own decision on whether the digital piano or the upright piano is right for your needs.
A brief history of the digital piano.
Digital pianos were invented about 20 years ago and when they where first introduced they were pretty terrible, the keys were much too light, spongy and nothing like a real piano. The sound was incredibly bright and the sampling was quite dreadful. You couldn't really say that it sounded much like a piano at all. These digital pianos also looked nothing like a real acoustic piano, they had ugly, plastic lookin cases that didn't match any type of furniture in the room. If guests came around it was almost an embarrassment to have this ugly plastic looking machine in the living room. My how things have changed over the last 20 years!
A brief history of the upright piano.
The upright piano was invented in 1709 by the Italian Cristofori. It was a four octave instrument compared to the seven and a quarter octave instrument of today, with hammers striking the strings just as they do on a modern upright piano. The instrument was invented to meet the need to control dynamics by touch, which could not be achieved on the harpsichord. The early upright piano went through many changes before it emerged as the instrument we all know today. The Cristofori piano was wing shaped like grand pianos, it had a curved body and a lid that could be elevated. There were also square pianos in which the strings ran"
Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!
Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!: "
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Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!
Author: Duane Shinn
OK, so I lied about the fun part.
Maybe piano playing is the just 2nd most fun thing adults can do. But 2nd place isn�t bad when you consider the popularity of the competition.
But there�s no question at all that it is MUCH safer than sex.
How so?
�Piano playing has no threat of easily transmitted diseases, unless of course you lick the keys.
�To date, piano playing is not known to cause pregnancy.
�Piano playing does not lead to jealousy, rage, spousal abuse, or murder. No love triangles here � there�s plenty of notes and songs to go around.
�Piano playing is generally not done in fast cars leading to accidents.
�Very few pianists talk on their cell phones while playing the piano with both hands.
�Piano playing is generally not done under the influence of foreign substances. Very few piano players sniff glue or inhale helium. But the few adults that do play under the influence find that falling off the piano bench is really not that big a deal.
�Piano playing does not often lead to 911 calls or other forms of emergency action.
OK. So piano playing is safer than sex. What about the fun part?
�Playing the piano in a social setting is a great way to make friends and create bonds as you sing around the piano with others. Social and happy people are always popular.
�Piano playing gals and guys can create their own music in their own way. They can create moods that excite, moods that empower, and moods that heal and sooth.
�Piano playing is a great relaxation tool after a stressful day at work or at school. Many professional people � medical doctors "
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Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!
Author: Duane Shinn
OK, so I lied about the fun part.
Maybe piano playing is the just 2nd most fun thing adults can do. But 2nd place isn�t bad when you consider the popularity of the competition.
But there�s no question at all that it is MUCH safer than sex.
How so?
�Piano playing has no threat of easily transmitted diseases, unless of course you lick the keys.
�To date, piano playing is not known to cause pregnancy.
�Piano playing does not lead to jealousy, rage, spousal abuse, or murder. No love triangles here � there�s plenty of notes and songs to go around.
�Piano playing is generally not done in fast cars leading to accidents.
�Very few pianists talk on their cell phones while playing the piano with both hands.
�Piano playing is generally not done under the influence of foreign substances. Very few piano players sniff glue or inhale helium. But the few adults that do play under the influence find that falling off the piano bench is really not that big a deal.
�Piano playing does not often lead to 911 calls or other forms of emergency action.
OK. So piano playing is safer than sex. What about the fun part?
�Playing the piano in a social setting is a great way to make friends and create bonds as you sing around the piano with others. Social and happy people are always popular.
�Piano playing gals and guys can create their own music in their own way. They can create moods that excite, moods that empower, and moods that heal and sooth.
�Piano playing is a great relaxation tool after a stressful day at work or at school. Many professional people � medical doctors "
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