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How to Improvise New Age Music

Posted by Piano Mother on 6/23/2014 to Inspirational Stories

Today I'd like to share an email from one of my students - Alex Vishnevskiy from Russia. It is a story in his music journey.

"Well, I will tell you honestly: I DO BELIEVE - IMPROVISATION IS A GIFT...

This is 100% true in my new age case - I know almost nothing of musical theory. I was trying honestly to follow the courses on improvisation - and I find your course great, indeed! But though such courses are excellent in improving technical sides of the matter - they will not ignite the ability to hear the nature which is so important for new age music.

How (did) I improvise?

I know almost nothing about musical theory...

I pray - not for something, but pray in a sense I listen to what nature tells right now...

And when I receive the gift of hearing it - I just let my hands to go and do that on the piano...

As for technical courses - they are great for further improvements, developments of certain passages, etc. - but the truth (as I understand it) is: if you have the gift, you will find the way to sound it beautifully. But if one has only (though well developed) technique - it will be genius etude, but not real new age improvisation.

Here is an example - I was just listening to how nature sounds after the rain - and let my hands express it. And this is the result":



New Age styles improvisational techniques are covered by the piano lessons of Definitive Piano Improvisation course

Definitive Piano Improvisation

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18 Comments

Yoke Wong
Date: 6/23/2014
Reply
Hi Alexander, Thank you for sharing with us your beautiful "Neo-classical" piano music - After the Rain. The music is melodic and nostalgic, full of feeling and expression. It is also peaceful and calm. This music repeats its themes and brought different memories to my mind. I felt like sipping a cup of tea and savoring the moments while listening to it over and over again. Thank you Alex!
Sheila
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Beautiful Alex and I agree with Yoke Wong, wish I could play keyboard tried many times, maybe not for me.
Alex
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Dear Sheila, thank you and don't give up - if you really wish it. In my childhood I was sent out of musical school for being incapable to play piano :-) and only after many years, when I took it as my service to the people it has started to move in the right (I hope) direction...
ALPHONSO ROSARIO
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Its a very beautiful new age music composed & played by Alexander. Congratulation Alexander! Dear Yoke Wong, I request you to prepare a special video on playing "New Age Music". This will help your students. Many thanks & regards from Alphonso India ===========
Sandra Thomas
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Thank you for sharing such a lovely piece of improvised new age music. I have the Improvisation Course which I have found is a wonderful way to improve piano playing. I could not play a note without sheet music for many years but now am able to just sit down and play a few simple tunes without the written music. Thank you Yoke
gorky
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Alex, its a great piece of music.Very soothing and serene. Its excellent and very encouraging "New Age Music" is it your idea? because I love playing may not be right but i love don't know if it did make any sense to another.But my Spirit feels free Keep it up, BLESSINGS Gorky
gorky
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Pls do keep in touch with your other musical pieces, Gorky
Alex
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Dear Gorky, thank you, and indeed it is my approach to share with the people what I have - if I feel it is at acceptabe level I upload it to me youtube channel - the channel is called stelmofortress - the other pieces with the photos which I take while travelling are there. Alex.
Janice Mathison
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Alex, Enjoyed very much, thank you for sharing...
John
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Hi Alphoso, The piano lessons (DVD #5) of Definitive Piano Improvisation course cover the techniques of playing New Age Music. The course has both DVD and digital downloadable versions. And it has payment plan. For more information, please visit http://www.pianomother.com/Definitive-Piano-Improvisation.html Thanks.
Marlene Brilz
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Hi Yoke, This is off the topic of today, but I just had to tell you how much I enjoyed playing "Mona Lisa" using your Blocked Chord style to play the melody notes, with L.H. playing Octaves and the R.H. playing 3rds with melody note on top. I tried in in other songs and it also sounds good in "Edelweiss" and other slow ballads. Thanks for the new idea. Looking forward to a lesson on playing New Age Music and also how to play "Somewhere Over A Rainbow:" Thanks again Yoke, Marlene.
Cricket
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Hi Alexander, we disagree on the "gift" part...but your piano playing & this piece is beautiful, Thanks! Perhaps we can all find our own paths to arrive a place where we can create beauty! You have definitely found your path, congratulations! ~ Cricket
Alex
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
Hi Cricket! Thank you... you know... when I say "gift", of course, I don't mean that I am "gifted" - vice versa, I mean that the Creator is so generous, that can give such a gift... And another thing - gift is nothing without at least three other things: the first one of them - practice, the second one - practice, and the third one - practice :-) Well, seriously - a melody really may come as gift (this is how I take it), but professionalism can develop this gift in a much better way... and this is what I'm starting to concentrate on walking on this endless path... Alex.
danlami hamidu
Date: 6/24/2014
Reply
HI YOU REALLY HELP ME IMPROVE. KEEP IT UP.
danlami
Date: 6/25/2014
Reply
I will like to shear with my story on how i start to learn piano. before i think of learning it, i am playing drum. but it seems like i am not improving on that, then i said " let me learning piano. i only know key c, f, and g. but it happen that during the time i was in Ramat politechnic school maiduguri Nigeria, the piano they have, has no transpose switch. then that gives me challenge to go and learning piano the more. I go into the net to search for some lessons, and tutorials, then i encounter some good teachers eg you, and matt. you people develop my ability! now i can play songs on any key without fear or loose confident. thanks a lot, and GOD will surely reward you.
BlueBob
Date: 6/26/2014
Reply
When I am (improvising?), I hear passages in my mind which I then try to play. When I hit a wrong note (lack of skill), the passage I then hear in my mind seems to assimulate the two passages as if I hadn't made a mistake. This is weird, but I have a theory. When we hear music, it is stored in our brains, like most other memories, by association. So the next passage I hear in my mind following the mistake was given to me by my minds habit of association. I have since tried intentional mistakes and the same thing tends to happen. Am I crazy ????
Myriam
Date: 6/26/2014
Reply
Alex, very nice. I can hear the last drops fall from the leaves of the trees. Very beautiful, relaxing and inspirational.I haved enjoyed it very much. Thanks to Yoke for sharing this perfect gift from Alex.
Poline Valerie
Date: 6/27/2014
Reply
Hi to all! Definitely, the way certain associations get set up in our brain is the vastest terra incognita in the contemporary Human Anatomy and Physiology. I guess, the Harmony has always Been - it's just the matter of our ability to hear and express it through music, fine arts, poetry, or anything really... Some people are "gifted" indeed (and "addicted" or even cursed in a way:)) to hear and see more than the others. Perhaps, this happens due to the more sophisticated, delicate and fine-tuned constitution of their brain. However, I believe it is the Spirit that gives one the energy to Create (or - practice, practice and practice again). The power of creation (or improvisation), in other words, is really the God's mark and gift in this sense. Having known Alex for over a decade, I'm fully positive that the gifted ones are the ones marked by God for serving the People. Thank you, Alex, and God Bless You!

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