Music Information

How to Stop Thinking and Start Playing


Learning how to improvise is confusing for most. The sheer number of choices becomes a burden. Should I play this note? What chord next? Where do I go from here? All valid questions newbies (and oldbies) at improvisation sometimes ask themselves.

The number one reason people have problems creating in the moment is that they won't let up on themselves and just play. They knew how to do it once as children but now that memory is gone and with it, a void has taken its place.

Fortunately, there is a solution. It's really a two-pronged solution because once we do learn how to ease up and just play, we are left with another problem and that is, what game are we playing.

The game of improvisation is a game like any other. We have a few rules, some guidelines, and then the game is played. You see, we must have some kind of structure to play the game of improvisation. Why? Because without it there would be way too many choices and this would prevent most people from even beginning.

Here's a perfect example. In Lesson 5, "Winter Scene," we have 2 chords, a scale, and a way to play these chords. With these choices out of the way, we can now focus on and enjoy the act of improvisation. We can play around with the music and feel good about our play.

Some think working within a set of limitations is uncreative. I thought so too once until I realized that until I learned how to do this by following the examples of others, I couldn't be free to create my own set of limitations.

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:

New Music Download Site - PositiveMusicandDownloads.com ...
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
"Too often the industry has dictated what type of music we should be listening too. Artists who have a more positive message can't always get past music ...


BBC News

World's Greatest Artists Help Launch (RED)WIRE, (RED)(TM)'s New ...
MarketWatch - 16 hours ago
Every Wednesday, (RED)WIRE members receive an issue delivered to their desktop featuring exclusive music from the world's greatest artists. ...
(RED)WIRE Music Service Launches I4U
Music Stars Help Fight AIDS in Africa With New Digital Magazine ... Ecorazzi
U2 and Coldplay back new Aids mag BBC News
Slippery Brick - The Press Association
all 102 news articles


Universal Music Enterprises Partners Up With Amazon.com to Offer ...
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is coming to the rescue of financially-strapped or simply unimaginative gift-givers this holiday season. ...


Download Shopper lets you compare prices on digital music
Macworld, CA - 2 hours ago
In it, I mused: What with the recent proliferation in DRM-free music stores, I’m in the market for a good search engine that’ll scan them all and tell me ...


Hartford Courant

Elvis Costello puts serious eye on music in Sundance Channel's ...
New York Daily News, NY - Nov 30, 2008
Music on TV goes only so far. You can see a short performance with no interview from the star (on late-night talk shows or “SNL”), hear a full concert that ...
Elvis Costello's new TV show 'Spectacle' offers different look at ... The Canadian Press
Music on TV This Week: Spectacle Film.com
New On Sundance: Costello & Friends Hartford Courant
New York Times - TheCelebrityCafe.com
all 97 news articles


PR Newswire High Technology Summary, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
NY48979 12/01/2008 00:01 rf NY-(RED)WIRE-AIDS (NEW YORK) World's Greatest Artists Help Launch (RED)WIRE, (RED)(TM)'s New Music Service That Fights AIDS in ...


Music group alleges copyright violations at RI pub
Boston Herald, United States - 4 hours ago
By AP PROVIDENCE, RI - A Providence tavern is facing a federal lawsuit for allegedly not paying for songs played at the pub. ...


Concert Reviews - Online Music Reviews - New Release Album
Billboard, NY - 1 hour ago
As first tipped here last month, Creed is hammering out details for a lucrative 2009 reunion tour, sources tell Billboard. The Scott Stapp-led group, ...


BBC News

Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Queen music enters Grammy Hall Of Fame
NME.com, UK - 4 hours ago
Music including Jimi Hendrix's rendition of 'The Star Spangled Banner', Queen's 1977 single 'We are the Champions/We Will Rock You' and The Police's 1983 ...
2009 GRAMMY Hall of Fame ® Inductees Announced as the GRAMMY ... Business Wire (press release)
Hendrix's Banner, Queen's anthem head for Grammy Hall of Fame CBC.ca
all 37 news articles


NEWS.com.au

Britney Spears: 2008 Was a "Hell of a Year"
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 3 hours ago
Admitting that she "didn't know exactly where I stood with everyone," Spears says it was her big night at the Video Music Awards, where she picked up three ...
Britney Spears: 'My Music Is Therapy' AceShowbiz
New Spears effort is a gooey, glittery grab bag Baltimore Sun
Britney Spears' New Year's Resolution: 'Stop Worrying So Much' MTV.com
Daily Cardinal - TheImproper.com
all 62 news articles

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006