How many of you took piano lessons as a kid? And then how many of you stopped soon after? Whether it’s due to scheduling conflicts or a lack of interest, sometimes music lessons just don’t happen. But here are 4 reasons why you should learn how to play the piano: 1. It teaches discipline. One […]
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Last week we discussed how minimalism became a musical movement in the mid-1900s. After decades of experimental music and a shift away from traditional melodic and harmonic ideas, a group of American composers aimed to return to the simple and – as a result – created minimalism. Today, let’s take a look at some* of […]
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Minimalism: “a form of art music that employs limited or minimal musical materials” (thanks Wikipedia). But what does that mean exactly? And why does it matter? I’ll tell you why it matters. Minimalism as a musical style emerged in the middle of the 20th century, and its influence has since permeated contemporary music. Many famous […]
Read MoreHello dear readers! Please enjoy my music vlog; it’s an in-depth look (including musical examples and real-life applications) of my post 4 Tips on Starting a New Musical Composition. Echoes: A Piano Solo The background music for this vlog is an ambient remix of my piano composition Echoes. Check out the original version here.
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When you sit down to write a new piece of music, is it inspiration or perspiration that gets you the end result? Sometimes we are inspired; a melodic idea comes into our head or we hear a rhythm that suddenly unfolds into a new composition. However, inspiration only carries us so far. It’s the perspiration, […]
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*By the way, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost more for you! Perhaps one of the most well-known pieces by contemporary composer Ludovico Einaudi, Nuvole Bianche is a gorgeous (and heartbreaking) piano-solo-turned-song that connects with listeners around the world. Like the sheet music? Get it here! *Fun fact: “nuvole bianche” is […]
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Records tell us that Johann Sebastian Bach had 20 children over the course of his life (he did have two wives). But what most people don’t know is that he actually had a 21st child: His name was P.D.Q. Bach. Biography Born in Leipzig, Germany, on April 1, 1742, P.D.Q. was called a “pimple on the […]
Read MoreHappy Saturday dear readers! I just wanted to share with you my third music vlog; it’s an in-depth discussion about my latest composition, Three Images Book 1. Check it out: The free sheet music can be downloaded here.
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Remember earlier this week when I posted about O Magnum Mysterium, a 16th century motet taken from Catholic Mass? Well, today I want to share another Mass with you – but this one is from the 21st century. Called Sunrise Mass, Norwegian composer Olja Gjeilo (b. 1978) created this 30-minute work for choir and strings with four […]
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I’m excited to present to you my latest composition: Three Images Book 1 for solo piano. The work consists of three parts, each telling a unique (yet progressive) story. Each movement was created out of an impromptu piano improvisation, where the main elements and themes were then developed and expanded into a full piece of […]
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