Piano Pilot

A student once asked me; “Can I determine what my favorite piano player is actually doing on the keyboard just by listening?” An excellent question and one that can be answered in the affirmative. Here’s how to do it.

First, figure out what the left-hand is doing. This is the key to understanding what is being done by any piano player, no matter what the style. Let’s take New Age pianist David Lanz as an example. Lanz’s style usually revolves around a left hand that plays an ostinato pattern while the right hand improvises. Very few pianists base their compositions on the right-hand.

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Since chords (the main component of harmony) are one of the three most vital elements of music the others being melody and rhythm it would be useful to know how many chords there are. And it doesn t matter whether you play piano or guitar or some other instrument chords are chords.

It s certainly not necessary to learn all the chords in the whole wide world, but it is necessary to learn some of them at least enough to allow you to harmonize the songs you would like to play.

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Keyboards come in a variety of sizes with various bells and whistles depending on your needs. Of course, this also means they come in a wide price range, so it’s important to weigh up what you need with what you can afford, as well as ensuring you get the best value for money. Whether it’s your first ever keyboard, or you’re simply adding to your existing collection, it’s imperative that you ask a few key questions before you buy any model.

Firstly, you should ensure your keyboard is a full-sized model. Keyboards range from around half-sized for kids right up to full sized keys covering a number of octaves. It is important that you make sure your

keyboard is full size if you are serious about learning. The smaller sized keyboards will keep you going if you’re learning how to play, but soon enough you will require the full range of keys as you tackle more complex or involved pieces. Unless you want to have to upgrade after six months, don’t opt for a smaller keyboard.

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When I first heard this technique applied over 15 years ago, I couldn’t believe my ears. How could so much music be coming out of one piano? Turns out, what I was hearing was something called an “ostinato.” Ostinato simply means repeating pattern and is used frequently in all kinds of music.

But it really shines for the New Age piano genre. Just listen to George Winston’s piece “Rain” to get an idea of what can be done with this technique. He uses a very large chunk of the keyboard to create a beautiful left-hand ostinato pattern while the right hand improvises. And what music! You’d swear it couldn’t be just one piano but it is!

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If there were one genre of music that’s perfect for music therapy, it would have to be New Age piano! Soothing and relaxing, the piano offers many benefits to those in need of respite. The wonderful thing about this style of music is that it’s also easy to learn how to play!

A few chords, a scale, and you’re able to make music. And not just any kind of music, but one that’s conducive to alleviating stress. Let’s look at how one might go about learning how to play piano in the New Age style.

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