New Age Piano and Music Therapy - A Pretty Pair

If there was one genre of music perfect for music therapy, it would have to be New Age piano! 

Soothing and relaxing, the piano offers many benefits to those in need of respite. The wonderful thing about this style of music is that it's easy to learn how to play! A few chords, a scale, and you're able to make music. And not just any kind of music, but one that's conducive to alleviating stress. 

Let's look at how one might go about learning how to play piano in the New Age style...

First, it's best if you learn one chord position that will give you a nice modern sound right away. The open position chord structure accomplishes this. It's easy to learn and can be used by the beginner right away to make music with. And it uses both hands as well to cover more than 2 octaves of the piano keyboard!

Once this chord structure is practiced, it's time to add in a few chords. Just a few chords is all that is necessary for the beginning adult to experience the joy of improvisation. The hands are placed on the open position chord structure and the fingers move around creating melody. Nothing more is required than an openness to explore the possibilities.

And once students get started, they find that they can't stop playing. The therapeutic aspect of this comes from the free-form improvisations students are able to play only after a few minutes of practice. They begin to unwind, relax, and forget about the problems and cares of the day. It's a music therapy that goes one step above just listening to music.

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 15 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Visit and get a FREE piano lesson!

Six Reasons To Play New Age Piano!

Thinking about learning piano? Here are six very good reasons to learn how to play piano in the New Age style...

1. It's easy. No months spent learning theory here. Just a few chords and you're off enjoying the joy of improvisation. Learning chords is the key to playing easily and effortlessly! And with New Age piano, the chords you learn can be used right away!

2. It's fun! You can actually create your own music! In the classical music world you spend all your time learning how to play other peoples music. With New Age piano, you can sit down and "compose" a piece of your very own

3. It sounds good. You can, by using a few modern sounding chords, sound good playing piano right away.

4. You get to improvise! New Age piano uses techniques that anyone can learn how to play in a matter of minutes.

5. No note reading involved. New Age piano is very much an improvised music. This being the case, chords are really all that you need to know. Although note reading is nice, it's not necessary in order to create your own music

6. It's modern. New Age piano is a modern genre. Having really picked up steam in the mid 1980's, it's something that can grow and become a vital force in today's society.

And reason number seven...  click for a risk-FREE special!! 

Do You Make These 3 Common Improvisation Mistakes?

A lot of people make piano improvisation a lot harder than it has to be. If you're one of them, this article should help!

Mistake #1 - Thinking about what you're going to play
A lot of students think there should be some kind of preparation before improvising on the piano. They are right! There should be some thought as to the sound, tonality, key - but once these choices are made the thinking should stop and the playing should begin.

Mistake #2 - Worrying about whether it's good or not

Are you concerned with how your music sounds? Many students are. This mistake is prevalent among newbies at improvisation. They play a key or two and then think it stinks. Nothing will stop the creative flow more than thinking that what's coming out of you is not good enough!

Good is in the ear of the beholder. That beholder is you so stop judging the product and focus on enjoying the process of being in the moment. This is why people learn to improvise in the first place. Let go and let the music tell you where it wants to go!

Mistake #3 - Thinking that you don't know enough to improvise

This mistake is really an oxymoron because the more you know, the more likely it is that you will experience blocks. If you do not have a lot of formal music knowledge don't let that stop you. All you need to know in order to improvise is chords and the scale the chords came from. That's it. And the good news is this is easily learned.

Some students create unnecessary problems for themselves because they beleive they need to know this or that before they can begin. This is just an excuse to avoid jumping in the water. It's also a way to avoid the act itself because once you begin to play you may tell yourself you really don't know what you're doing. Trust me. You know enough and you know enough to begin now.

Ready to freely improvise on piano? Visit Quiescence Music now for a risk-FREE special!! 

2018 New Year's Resolution: I Will Play Piano, I Will Play Piano!

Another year has flown by, and it's hard to believe we're already approaching the year 2018.

Instead of making New Years resolutions you know you won't be keeping, why not do something different for a change? Make a worthwhile New Years resolution to bring the joy of music into your life – even if you never touched a keyboard before!

Sound far fetched? Not at all according to maestro Edward Weiss, teacher, author and composer of piano music for over 15 years.

Listed among Steinway & Sons compilation of professional teachers, and endorsed by David Lanz, one of the original greats of the mesmerizing New Age style of music, Edward brings the joy of musical self- composition to everyone.

As Edward explains: "Most people automatically assume you have to be a gifted musician who's spent years in a conservatory to compose original piano scores. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"Piano Improvisation is a musical art form anyone can learn. It doesn't matter how young or old you are, or if you've never even sat down at a piano or played an instrument in your life."

The secret? Edward's step by step online video instructions allowing his students to literally Look, Listen and Learn.

Outside of an internet connection, the only other thing an aspiring artist needs is a keyboard – and of course the desire to do something different!

Weiss talks about learning piano...

"If you're going to make a New Years resolution, make one that will actually improve your life – and not just set you up with frustrations and disappointments. Creating your own piano music is one of the most fulfilling adventures a person can take. My method lets you do just that - improvising and composing your very own pieces - easily and effortlessly."

Mr. Weiss is currently offering a 50% off New Year special at his website http://www.Quiescencemusic.com

Piano Songs - Create Them Yourself With Just a Few Chords!

Most people play other people's music. That's fine. Nothing wrong with that. The classical repertoire is fantastic and worthy of playing.

But what if you want to just sit down at the piano and create on your own? Piano songs can come out of you as easily as drinking a glass of water. Think not? It's true. All you need to realize is it can be done - if you start using a chord-based approach!

For example, in the lesson "Forest Interlude" a few chords and a simple technique is used to create a very nice little piano song.

Nothing complicated or sophisticated here. Just some simple chords in open position and a framework upon which to hang it.

But, and this is important, it's an original piece of music. No note-reading was used. No attempt to "come up" with material. You see, when you're able to freely improvise, piano songs can spill out of you as easy as words do when speaking.

So what's the trick? It's being able to let go of the need to control the outcome and allow the music to unfold on it's own. This is actually an intuitive approach to playing the piano and one that's served me well over the past 15 years.

Look, the goal for most piano players is to be able to either play the classics, or play from lead sheets or fake books. Creating one's own piano music is a foreign notion to most. That's why I'm a big fan of the New Age piano style!

It focuses mainly on improvisation and "free play" and requires very little in the way of technical know how. What is required is the ability to suspend judgment and allow for the unexpected.

This can be very threatening to some. In fact, people come up with all kinds of excuses as to why this music is "inferior" to other types. I always laugh when I hear that argument because I know there's nothing more these people want then just to "be" at the piano.

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 15 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Ready to get creative at the piano? Try the course risk-FREE for 30-Days! More info... 

Free Piano Sheet Music: 'Christmas Peace!'

Experience the quiet reflection of Christmas Peace! Christmas Peace uses easy chords in the left hand accompanied by a poignant right hand melody you're sure to enjoy! Perfect for beginners.

Code: QM-4302
Playing Level: Easy
Key: D Major
Composer: Edward Weiss
Pages: 1
Format: PDF file

Click here to access Christmas Peace!  

Want to be able to create your own music like this without sheets? Look into Edward Weiss's online piano lessons.

P.S. Happy Holidays! :) 

How To Be Creative At the Piano

So you want to be more creative when playing piano. Many students wish they could just sit down and improvise their own music but don't know how to begin.

They think if they can't play a fugue like Bach, they are untalented. Or, they think the music that comes out of them must be sophisticated or it's not worth anything.

Fortunately, there is a style of piano playing that bypasses this academic snobbery and allows the beginning (and advanced) student to be more creative.

The New Age piano style is geared towards improvisation and creativity specifically because it requires very little in the way of technical know-how. What it does require is the courage to just sit in front of the piano and allow for the creative act; allow being the important verb here.

Many students wonder why they have problems improvising. When I explain to them that the problem is not with technique but attitude, they look at me surprised. After all, aren't they willing to learn? Of course! But they must first shun the "creative genius" persona and be willing to let go and let the music tell them where it wants to go.

Once students understand that they aren't in charge of creating music, they begin to have that knowing inward smile. They have discovered that the secret to being creative at the piano is to release all expectations of good or bad and focus on the process. Then they can relax and fully enjoy all that music has to offer.

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 15 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Visit Quiescence Music now and get half-off Edward's New Age piano course!