It is never too late to learn a musical instrument. While many virtuosos begin studying instruments when they are children, that doesn’t mean that later beginners cannot reach a high level of skill or creative satisfaction. The piano is an excellent choice for adult beginners. It is simple to begin, offers a number of different …
Learning piano at 40: is this real? Read More »
When you sit in front of a grand piano your eyes are drawn not only to the keys but also to the three pedals at your feet. These pedals play a crucial role in shaping the sound and expression of the piano. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced pianist, understanding the functions of these …
Piano pedals: what they are and how to utilize them? Read More »
Oftentimes music can express those things that we as humans can not say. When musicians write music, they will try and express something that doesn’t quite exist in the real world – a frightening image, a haunting chill, or a difficult memory or unrequited love. For these moments musicians will often reach for a different …
The harmonic minor scale: an extensive guide Read More »
Key signatures are like the compass of a musical journey, guiding musicians through the landscape of a composition. At its core, a key signature is a set of sharp or flat symbols placed at the beginning of a staff, indicating the key in which the music is written. This not only sets the tonal foundation …
Key signatures in music: a comprehensive guide Read More »
Musical terms refer to the specific words and phrases used to describe and identify various musical concepts, techniques, and elements. By understanding musical terms relating to tempo, volume, tonality, and many other topics, you will be able to properly read and perform sheet music, convey the intended emotions and moods of the music, and collaborate …
Glossary of music terms Read More »
Sight reading is a vital skill for pianists of all levels, as it enables them to read and perform music they have never seen before. Whether you’re playing for your own enjoyment or performing in front of an audience, the ability to sight-read can greatly enhance your playing abilities and musical knowledge. Piano sight reading …
Piano sight-reading: your guide to musical creativity Read More »
The piano has been around for many years and has taken many forms – some of them big, some of them small, some of them electronic and some of them entirely acoustic. They all have certain things in common, they all have the same basic inner workings of hammers or strings, and they all have …
Piano keys: types, history and identification techniques Read More »
The whole tone scale is a surreal and enigmatic sound that often feels ambiguous and unanchored. The scale is perfect for creating dream-like passages and is commonly found in the work of Impressionistic composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. However, examples of the scale date back to the 17th century. The whole tone scale …
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The diminished scale, or octatonic scale, is an enigmatic and distinct scale that offers a great deal of melodic and harmonic depth and possibility. There are examples of the diminished scale in European classical music dating back to the time of Bach and also in various folk music traditions from the Middle East. However, the …
Explore the daring diminished scales Read More »
The melodic minor scale is a variation on the natural minor scale that emerged primarily because of its melodic functionality, as opposed to its cousin, the harmonic minor scale, which developed based on its harmonic functions. In European classical music, the scale follows one interval pattern ascending and a different interval pattern descending. However, in …
Understanding the melodic minor scale Read More »
Musicians are often practicing groups of notes played one at a time in order, on their instruments. This is a very common way to develop speed and skill, hand independence and practice playing at slow or fast tempos. These notes musicians are often practicing are called Scales, which are actually called diatonic and chromatic scales. …
Understanding all seven diatonic scales Read More »
Timbre, texture, and tone are three interconnected ideas in music. To the beginning pianist, these ideas may seem nearly identical. It is true that even the most advanced professional musicians will occasionally use these three words interchangeably. However, that is not because they do not know the meaning of them. In this article, we will …
Timbre, texture, and tone: three concepts of sound Read More »
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