Music Information

New Age Music - What Is It Good For?


Let's face it. The world will not end if there isn't another new age music CD on the market. So why bother? Why play when most people don't care or want to hear the kind of music you like? The answer lies in the nature of art itself, for the world really does not need art. It can survive without painting, sculpture or music. It can survive, but it would be a pretty dreary place.

But the main reason we play is not for the world but for ourselves. We must play for ourselves first and if people hear and like it fine. If not, that' s fine too. As long as we don't deprive ourselves of the enriching experience improvisation can bring.

When I first started playing I wanted to create something others could admire. Something that people could say, wow, listen to that. That guy is really good. But I was miserable and miles away from the true purpose of playing music. It wasn't until a year or so later that I realized that if I don't please myself first, no one would be pleased. Nor did it matter if others were pleased or not.

So, what is new age piano improvisation good for? Absolutely nothing - except the joy it can bring to you and to me when we enter the flow and the music pours out of us. It is so precious to be able to do this. So fleeting it may be too. A second or a minute of forgetting yourself at the piano is a sacred act. One that grows and develops. It matures of itself. Much like meditation. If one practices the art, one grows in proportion to that practice.

But this kind of growth is spiral in nature. There are times that the music seems lifeless and dull. At these times we feel the same inside. But a day or two later, we are in a new place and the music flows like water. This is a mystery, this process. One can only go with it and not fight it. You are creating art second by second when you improvise. This kind of beauty is fleeting - but is the most precious. Guard it. Cherish it. And if you feel inclined share it with the rest of the world.

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!


MORE RESOURCES:

ZDNet

Why the new Zune Pass should be irresistible
ZDNet - 4 hours ago
The music industry has been stumbling and bumbling with subscription-based music services for years, and I’ve been experimenting with them since the very ...
Microsoft Ups the Ante on Zune Downloads New York Times
Microsoft lets Zune music subscribers keep tunes The Associated Press
Microsoft: Zune music subscribers can keep tracks Computerworld
MarketWatch - Afterdawn.com
all 365 news articles


Washington Post

Julianne Hough Wants To Focus On Her Music Career.
kypost.com, KY - 11 hours ago
She tells Ryan Seacrest that she really wants to focus on her music and "be taken seriously." She says it's hard to be on "Dancing With The Stars" and be ...
Julianne Hough 'Dancing' no more New York Daily News
Julianne Hough Hangs Up Her Dancing Shoes E! Online
`DWTS' pro Julianne Hough won't return next season The Associated Press
Great American Country - Chicago Sun-Times
all 290 news articles


Hard times demand good music, conductor Gergiev says
Reuters - 4 hours ago
About to embark on a two-week tour of Japan at the head of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), Gergiev said that while classical music may be expensive, ...


AceShowbiz

Miley Cyrus Turns 16 at the American Music Awards
People Magazine - 1 hour ago
... Miley Cyrus has one distinct advantage when she takes the stage at the American Music Awards on Sunday night – she'll be celebrating her birthday, too. ...
Christina Aguilera Set To Open The American Music Awards On Sunday AHN
Christina Aguilera to Open 2008 American Music Awards With Medley ... AceShowbiz
Christina Aguilera Preps for the AMAs The Gossip Girls
The Gossip Girls
all 10 news articles


Music review: Fiery finale for Guarneri Quartet
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 24 minutes ago
In the potent performance of the Mendelssohn Octet that occupied the second half of the program, a listener could witness the mantle of chamber-music ...
West Coast premiere of Salonen composition, canceled at OCPAC ... Los Angeles Times
all 2 news articles


San Diego Union Tribune

Dudamel's baton entices a new wave of classical music lovers
San Diego Union Tribune, United States - 2 hours ago
By Roxana Popescu The high-energy Gustavo Dudamel will replace Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic next year. ...
Making music, making history Asianjournal.com
10 minutes with Gustavo Dudamel OCRegister
all 4 news articles


Washington Post

J-pop producer Komuro charged, released on bail
The Associated Press - 8 hours ago
TOKYO (AP) — Top-selling Japanese music producer Tetsuya Komuro was formally charged with fraud Friday in a scandal that has tarnished the image of a star ...
J-pop legend Komuro released on bail in copyright fraud AFP
Bailing Out J-Pop Pollstar
all 113 news articles


The Sekret to Success: Deal with Maximus Multimedia to Extend ...
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
The agreement calls for Sekret Media to produce music related content for distribution in the 2600 hotels represented by Maximus Multimedia. ...


CNET News

Week in review: Yahoo to replace Yang
CNET News, CA - 6 hours ago
Tennessee has agreed to filter computer networks for unauthorized music downloads at the state's colleges and universities. Tennessee Gov. ...
AP Technology NewsBrief at 7:33 pm EST TMCnet
all 131 news articles


Kanye West's new album to debut on MySpace Music
FOXNews - 7 minutes ago
NEW YORK — Add Kanye West to the list of artists previewing their new CDs on MySpace Music. The 31-year-old rapper's "808s & Heartbreak" doesn't come out ...

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006