This category includes any kind of essay written on this site, including philosophy, psychology, musicology, music theory, and anything else related to being a musician. Some are more formal than others, but if I did any kind of research for the post, it probably ended up in this category!
Write better chord progressions: if you feel like your chord progressions are boring or aren’t expressing exactly what you want them to, try approaching harmonies from different perspectives. Often, the most helpful creative tool is just coming at a problem from a different angle. Here are 4 different ways to help you write better chord …
Write Better Chord Progressions 4 Different Ways Read More »
Common-tone modulation is the name of a specific way of changing keys in music, and if you want to change keys in a super dramatic and abrupt way, you can use this type of common-tone modulation. What this means is that the last chord in the old key that you’re coming from and the first …
Common-Tone Modulation in “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams Read More »
How secondary dominant chords are used in “Don’t Know Why” by Jesse Harris to add color and forward momentum
Chord progressions describe the way the order of harmonies can influence the overall sound of a piece of music, and most people don’t know that there are different ways of looking at them. If you’re reading this, you might be aware of traditions founded in functional harmony (if you know anything about Roman numeral analysis, …
The Chopin Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1, is one of his most remembered works. The piece contains both a compelling backstory and haunting musical content. This post provides a brief history of how this waltz came to be a marker of a depressing moment in Chopin’s life and then interpretive performance suggestions …
Chopin Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1: Analysis and Interpretation Read More »
Beethoven’s Opus 119 is a collection of shorter works for piano. The Bagatelle is the first of these and displays his knack for placing entire worlds into mere measures. I could probably write a substantial, scholarly paper on just the last ten measures or so, but this post is meant to give you a broader …
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” is a traditional English Christmas carol whose origins are unknown. Regardless of where it came from, it is a short and familiar tune that contains an interesting use of sequences and non-diatonic harmony. Exploring form, melody, and harmony in short, familiar tunes like this one provides an excellent entrance …
Anatomy of a Christmas Carol: We Wish You a Merry Christmas Read More »
Last time, I focused on why being specific and relevant in your piano journey is helpful and how to implement that practice in your own goal-setting. In this post, I’m focusing in on the “MART” of smart goals and what it means to “reality check expectations,” as this is where new pianists especially struggle with …
Reality Check Your Goals: Mindset and New Experiences Read More »
Deck the Hall is a classic Welsh Christmas carol from the 16th century. From its long-lasting popularity, we can learn how looking at the harmony, melody, and overall structure of a piece contributes to our ability as performers to control more fully how we express emotion and narrative (if there is a story) in a …
This is part 3 in the series on charting your quest, strategizing your piano journey so that you don’t get lost in some figurative dark forest of no return. We’re making plans, so you can achieve your goals and feel really awesome about the work you’re doing! The first few posts aren’t about the act …
Set Yourself Up for Success: Be Specific in Your Goals Read More »
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Musescore, Music xml, Midi, and Pdf file types included.
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Musescore, Music xml, Midi, and Pdf file types included.
Free
Musescore, Music xml, Midi, and Pdf file types included.
Free
Musescore, Music xml, Midi, and Pdf file types included.
Free
Musescore, Music xml, Midi, and Pdf file types included.
Free
Musescore, Music xml, Midi, and Pdf file types included.
