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!

The Most Important Thing a Piano Teacher Can Give You

I've had a few piano teachers over the years. And I can't say that they really helped me. Why? Because I can learn technique pretty much on my own.

What I needed was for someone to help me trust my own intuition and act as a mentor guiding me to my desired goal, which at that time, was to create my own music. Intuition is the most confusing thing for someone "seemingly" without it to develop. That's because they've had a long time not trusting in themselves and their own unique talent and ability.

Nothing is more important for without the ability to trust yourself, you really won't be able to hear the intuitive voice that is always present and is always willing to guide you - if you let it.

The first step to accomplish this trust in yourself is to switch from a product oriented attitude to a process oriented one. You must let go of the need to produce something that is "good" or "bad." Instead, allow for mistakes and experimentation. Improvise and start out by using simple means. A few chords, a scale, some brief instruction are all that is required.

You must be able to play! Children trust themselves and their power of intuition without exception. They haven't learned how not to. I like to use the analogy of finger-painting as an example of this.

Put finger-paints and paper in front of a child and watch what happens. They can't wait to get started in exploring this world of color and form. They're not concerned with good or bad. What they are concerned with is pure joy. And this comes from their ability to suspend judgement and just play!

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 http://www.quiescencemusic.com/ now for a special offer!

Recommended Listening: Emily Bear - Northern Lights

This one's just amazing! Why? Because the pianist/composer you're listening to here was 7 years old when she composed this. Watch the right hand as it creates the mood for the entire piece right away! A quick little ostinato pattern is played in the right while she adds in a bass melody.

But she's not done here. Contrast is introduced now as the left hand gets the ostinato pattern. She returns to a 'modified' version of her original idea a bit later.

If I hadn't known she was 7, I'd think this was done by a mature adult. As I said before ... amazing! Learn how it's done! Visit Quiescencemusic.com 

Composing George Winston Style!

If you're a fan of New Age piano, no doubt you've listened to some of George Winston's music. What I find fascinating about his songs is how he creates them.

Most improvisers/composers start with the melody, usually because it's the easiest way to begin.

What George does is start with the background. He creates an aural canvas over which he improvises the melody. This is an excellent way to create with because once you have the chord changes for the first 8-bars or so, you've pretty much finished a section of music.

Now after Winston gets his (A) section, it's another textural background that will usually make its appearance for the (B) section. The beautiful thing about this method is that it really frees up the right-hand!

Once your left hand is playing the background, you are able to create melody easily. It's like a lead guitar player creating a solo while the band lays down the rhythm and chord changes.

In fact, George Winston has referred to his left hand as the rhythm section. Creating the background first is just another way to compose/improvise. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going with the melody first if that is what inspires you. However, it's good to know how others are creating so you can learn from them.

P.S. If you like the music of George Winston and wonder how he could create something beautiful like this, I'll show you how! I'll take you step-by-step through the process and not only teach you how George does it, but how you can do it yourself! And it's all on video. More info and a special offer for you at Quiescence Music.

Easily Create Your Own Piano Meditation!

Soothing and relaxing, meditation music is designed to calm your mind and center your spirit. There is a lot of music out there that will help you do this, but have you ever thought about creating your own meditation music?

It's possible. And it's a lot easier than you might think.

The cool thing about creating your own meditation music is that you can tailor it to suit your own taste. Many instruments are perfect for creating this type of music, but the piano is especially good. Why? Because a complete beginner can learn a few chords and begin to create immediately.

But how you ask? Here's how.

The first thing I have my students do is learn something called the open position piano chord. This chord structure allows the complete beginner to create sounds that are modern and easy on the ears.

It's not an easy chord structure to master at first, but once accomplished, it really gives you all you need to easily play the piano.

One style that's synonymous with meditation music is the New Age style. In fact, New Age music is the place most look first when they need to relax and unwind.

Most people have heard of New Age piano. The man who put this genre on the map, George Winston, has literally sold millions of his soothing, reflective solo piano CD's.

You see, the thing about actually creating this kind of music on your own is that it actually allows you to go deeper than just listening to it. That's because you are actively engaged in making it. This alone will help you stay in the present and experience a deep peace seldom found by just 'taking it in.'

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons He has been helping students learn how to create meditation music for over 15 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Visit Quiescence Music now and get a free piano lesson and special offer!

Don't Just Study Piano - Play It!

Many piano students spend much time learning how to play the piano. Years upon years of study time devoted to perfecting technique, tone, dynamics, etc.

All the while, many of these same students have never really played the piano. That is, they have spent their time practicing in preparation for the moment when they can "perform" for others.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if instead of learning how to play other peoples music, we could feel confident enough to create our own? Why is it so daunting a task for most of us?

I think it's because we've been taught that only a very few gifted individuals are capable of producing music from scratch - whatever the genre. Rock, jazz, classical etc. Unfortunately, this belief is enough to stop most dead in their tracks and for those, whose spark of interest was lit in childhood, it soon turns cold and lifeless.

Now, playing the piano is entirely different than learning the piano. Here we are at home. Why? Because we are playing. So different an approach it is too! Children are allowed free-play and are even encouraged to do so. But as we grow up, we decide we must "make something worthy of performance." What a tragic error in thinking! Yet one that pervades the music world.

The solution is to understand that we all have our own special music inside of us and each and every one of us has something wonderful to share with the world. This something comes through when we stop learning how to play the piano and begin to play it truly for the first time.

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. Visit http://www.quiescencemusic.com now and get a FREE piano lesson and more!

Improvisation ... It's About Feeling

It really doesn't take much to improvise. A few chords, a scale to play in and that's that. But once these technical decisions are out of the way, we must allow our feeling to guide us.

Playing this way has many advantages. First, you don't have to worry about what you're going to play. You let your intuition guide you in this. The hands are placed on certain chords. The fingers move and the mind is in abeyance, waiting in surprise to see what the hands will discover.

You also don't have to think about what chords to use or how you're going to play them. When you take care of the technical aspects first, you free yourself to explore your materials. Of course, things can change and we must allow for this, but playing within a set of limitations will free the mind.

For example, in the improvisation exercise 'Nurturing Rain', 2 chords are used. How they are played is determined and a Key is chosen. Now the improviser can relax and explore the possibilities available.

The other way of playing, the way where there are too many choices present, distracts the improviser from improvising. The mind must be free from these distractions so feeling can be expressed easily. Many students have a problem with doing things easily.

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