Piano Music, Perfectionism, and Self-Expression
Is your heart in the music? If so, it won't matter what you play so much as what is received through your playing. Do you still think you need to learn 43 chords to sound good or are you concerned with the joy of expressing yourself through this wonderful instrument called the piano? People who sound like they know what they are doing may indeed know what they are doing but does that mean you want to listen to the music?
Let's look at pop music for example. Here is a music that is produced so tightly and carefully that nothing is left to chance. Not a crackle or hiss, not one static spot on the entire 3 to 4 minutes of the track. Yet after a few listens or even after a single listen, the mind may grow disinterested.
It's like a sporting event - exciting and enthralling while you are there but once over let down and perhaps even a little depressed. Now most (but not all) pop music is like that. It gets you hooked up for a few minutes, gives you a feeling, usually of excitement, then its gone. New age music on the other hand is a more sincere and heartfelt expression, and as such, mistakes are allowed.
Id like to share something with you. When I recorded both "La Jolla Suite" and "Anza-Borrego Desert Suite" I made mistakes. "La Jolla Suite" was recorded live so I couldn't help that, but the Desert Suite was done in one take. I wasn't so concerned with the production value as the emotion I felt at the time I was playing. I could have gone back and redone the tracks I didn't like so much but then I could have gotten stuck in a perfectionist's rut.
No, I decided that a "wrong" note here and there wouldn't kill what was heard and might even make it sound more authentic. So if you hear a mistake it may sound like I don't know what I'm doing. Perhaps not. But that doesn't concern me. What concerns me is one thing and one thing only - am I present at the piano. Am I there in spirit as well as body? If so, I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing.
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. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!
Related Articles:
Pop Sensation Leah DeVon Donates Music to the Troops
KAZ Records recording artist Leah DeVon has been selected to be a featured artist for Music For Troops. Leah has made available free music downloads from her current album Come Over. "To give the gift of music to our men and women in uniform is an honor." -- Leah DeVon
Music and Moto Fans from Across the Country to Converge at Inaugural California Bike Week
Moto Fest highlighted by world's largest one-day motorcycle charity event -- the love ride.
University Students Launch Online Community for Amateur Music Artists, FanCovers.com
FanCovers.com lets the average musician share their performances of popular songs by famous artists, online and for free. The site is founded by two 19 year old university students.
Billboard Music & Money Symposium to Feature Keynote Q&A Session with Mitchell Leib, President of Music and Soundtracks Walt Disney Pictures a
One-Day Event Unites Top Thought Leaders from Music, Legal, and Financial Fields
Najee My Point Of View Jazz Music CD Review
Richly talented Jazz artist Najee has released him latest CD titled My Point Of View and Wow! It's good.
The benefits of music education to children
Introduction
Composer Torben Thoger Of Denmark Teams with Only New Age Music, Inc. for his Music Catalog's U.S. Release
Danish composer Torben Thoger has commissioned U.S.-based new age music expert Suzanne Doucet of Only New Age Music to oversee the first-time release of his catalog to the U.S. market.
Norah Jones Come Away With Me Jazz Music CD Review
The exceptionally talented Jazz artist Norah Jones has released her CD entitled Come Away With Me. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Norah Jones fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Come Away With Me Norah Jones?s artistic excellence is on full display as Jones has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be her best work to date.
Working Americans with Rock Star Dreams -- Noisy Planet Helps Closet Music Stars Reach Their Audience
Introducing Noisy Planet, the new music community for musicians in any genre and skill level. Noisy Planet exists to help bridge the gap between music artists, distribution and the fans.
Elmore Magazine is Saving American Music, One Child at a Time
Elmore Magazine, a national American music publication, knows saving American music starts with children. That's why Elmore is offering free subscriptions to schools making a request.
Go 'Back to School' with Music Choice - Chris Brown, Corbin Bleu, Aly & AJ, Shop Boyz and Secondhand Serenade Featured in the Month-Long Campaign o
Music Choice, the multi-platform music network that reaches millions of music fans through their televisions, online, and cell phones, announces the launch of its 'Back to School' campaign in September, featuring the artists that 'students' care about - Chris Brown, Corbin Bleu, Aly & Aj, Shop Boyz and Secondhand Serenade.
TuneUp Media Launches Must-Have Companion for iTunes to Fix Mislabeled Music Collections and Find Missing Cover Art for iPods and iPhones
TuneUp is a new iTunes plug-in that cleans your music collection (properly labeling tracks with missing information, "Track01s", "Various Artists" and synchronizing the "TheBeatles", "the beatles", and "beatles"), finds cover art, and presents you with content from the web including music videos, merchandise, concerts, tickets, and recommendations.
Zune Music Downloads ? Your Complete Guide to Downloading
Owning a Zune is great but you probably are wondering how to get those Zune music downloads other than using the marketplace. Free download networks are not the best place to download music for your player simply because there are too many risks involved such as the legality of the songs, poor sound quality as well as computer viruses, adware and spyware.
Muzak Launches New Customizable Music Product
Encompass LE2 Delivery System Lets Businesses Customize In-Store Music and Messaging Experience Online
GET Interactive's Exciting New Advertising Paradigm Makes Music Videos & Movies Shoppable
The patent-pending system from GET Interactive converts any video content on the Internet, mobile device or IPTV into a shopping or promotional opportunity without disrupting the viewing experience. The new advertising system makes it possible to view music video or movie on internet or mobile phone, easily purchase products in video. Get Interactive turns videos into shoppable videos.