Piano Pilot

So, you want to learn how to improvise your own music on the piano. Most think this task is difficult. And it is, if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Fortunately, there is a way to actually improvise and create your own music at the piano without having to spend months if not years learning how.

Take a look at the lesson “Reflections in Water” (available by clicking below.) Here we have what is basically an improvisation exercise in the Key of C Major.

You don’t have to know anything about music in order to try this lesson. All you need is a keyboard or piano to practice on and the ability to stretch your hands out a little.

Step one of this

lesson introduces you to something called the open position chord. This chord structure gives you the ability to play the piano with both hands right away. Plus, it’s a modern sounding chord. This 6-note chord really stretches your hands and really is quite amazing.

The first thing you should do is get used to it and the best way this is accomplished is through playing it first as a solid chord, then as a broken chord.

If this chord type is new to you, you’ll notice that your hands are being used to their fullest extent. In fact, you’ll be stretching out over 2 octaves!

After you familiarize yourself with and play the chords you’ll want to begin to improvise. And the cool

thing about all this is that with this chord structure it’s easy! All you have to do is create a little melody using the C Major scale.

The one thing that stops students from actually trying and succeeding at this improvisation exercise is the fear of actually doing it. It they would just take the first step and place their fingers on the keyboard they would be halfway there.

Truthfully though, music instruction has, for the most part ,dissuaded many from attempting anything like this. Most people think you have to have some extraordinary talent to improvise music. This belief has stopped many from experiencing the joy of improvisation. They think if they don’t have the talent of a Mozart or Beethoven

why even bother.

Nothing could be further from the truth. We try because it brings us pleasure and that is quite enough of a reason to begin.

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!