In this case, practicing in public is a great way to increase your skill and comfort level. While this article may discuss a specific program of getting people to play in public, check out any programs in your area, or hey, just grab your instrument, sit down on a random street corner, and get playing!
It’s not just the words you say that get a message across—it’s the way you say them. Similarly, in music there are many ways to “say” the same notes. Without following articulation markings, your playing could end up sounding like the equivalent of speaking in a monotone. Here’s an easy guide to help you become more “articulate” and bring more life into your playing by using accents, slurs, and staccatos.
The list below is taken from my years of experience as a musician, songwriter, recording engineer, content creator, teacher, and audio journalist. You may be familiar with some of the tips, but even if there are just a few that hit home you’ve done yourself a favor by moving closer to your goal of becoming an expert.
Improvisation is the art of creating music on the spot and without preparation. It’s commonly seen in jazz or blues music where musicians routinely improvise solos or melody lines.
As many musicians can attest, there’s a big difference between playing music for your own enjoyment and being asked to play in front of other people. Whether you’re playing on stage for a large crowd or entertaining a group of friends in a more intimate setting, “stage fright” is a real phenomenon that can cause even the most experienced musicians to shy away from public performances.
The Improvise Approach is all about music creativity for people who have disabilities using iPads and the ThumbJam app as an accessible musical instrument. It’s a training and resource eBook that has been written exclusively for the iBooks Store.
Learning to play a musical instrument can help keep your mind sharp, boost your self-confidence, improve your coordination, open up new doors for social interaction, provide a creative outlet, and teach you valuable life skills like perseverance and discipline.
If the numbers are right, the sound will be right. The piano can be thought of as a numbers machine, a calculator if you like. Think in terms of shapes, patterns and numbers. Encompassing these three aspects is the musical interval
This guide will help you understand the fundamental building blocks of a jazz piece a bit better, as you enter the world of jazz and understanding the jazz language.
Have you ever been told to “speak up” and make friends with your belly? How many people tell you to sing from your diaphragm? What does that really mean?