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July 27, 2005
Concentration
Life seems to come at us faster all the time. How many times do you come to the end of the week and find yourself exclaiming, (often to no one in particular) “Where did this week go? It’s Friday already!”
Sometimes in all the “hustle and bustle” we find it hard to concentrate. Our minds are always going, and we find ourselves jumping from thing to thing. Here is where the study of music, and the keyboard especially, can help.
When you sit down to play a song, you have to concentrate. Your whole world becomes creating this beautiful sound that can be recognized as a song. You’re thinking about playing the notes, getting the rhythm, singing the lyrics. You’re finding out where the “hard” spots are, and spending some time working on them so that you can play more smoothly. You’re going back over the songs you’ve already learned, and enjoying how much easier they are getting as time goes by. The rest of the world seems to fade away while you concentrate on your playing.
My hope for you is that they take some time each day to focus on your music. I know how difficult this can be, as we all have so much to do. But I encourage you to make the effort, even if just for 15 minutes a day. Your brain will thank you. You may find yourself taking time away from things like television to make more time for music.
Posted by leon at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2005
Memory (Use It Or Lose It)
The study of music can be likened to building a house. Obviously, the first thing to be done is to lay the foundation. So when I teach a piano class, I make sure that everyone has “the basics” down. I need to make sure that the foundation is solidly there before I start to build on it.
The student learns the basics, and then must remember them, as new concepts are added. Each new music concept builds on what has previously been taught. The process, if done well, is logical and orderly. This makes it much easier to “pick up” on the new concepts, since they are connected with what has already been learned. It’s a lot easier then just memorizing a bunch of seemingly unrelated facts and figures! All accomplished musicians remember the basics, and are constantly learning new things.
In the future, I plan to put up a list of the basics, so you can see what the foundation for music is!
Posted by leon at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)
July 21, 2005
Music Makes You Smarter
The title is, of course, meant to grab your attention. Music, and the study of the piano in particular, not only helps your brainpower, but it causes you to improve in other areas as well.
Increased Motor Skills and Coordination
The piano player is in many ways a “hand athlete.” Many folks when playing the piano for the first time find their hands stiffening up, and they have to work at getting their fingers to go to the right place. However, in time it gets easier.
The process can be likened to what happens when a sedentary person begins a regular exercise program. At first, they’re going to be a little stiff, and the progression will seem slow and difficult, but after a while, when progress has been made, they wonder why they waited so long to start.
So if you’re just starting to play, using our popular method, and you find it “slow going,” hang in there, it gets easier, and gradually you will be able to do things on the piano that you never dreamed of doing before.
If you have any questions about my popular method of piano study, let me know!
Posted by leon at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
July 18, 2005
The Mood Elevator
It’s no secret that music affects one’s mood. There are songs that make me smile, Beethoven piano sonatas that make me contemplative, choral pieces that never fail to move me to tears of joy as I consider their sheer beauty.
Learning to create music can have a marked effect on your mood as well. One of the greatest joys of teaching is to see the “light bulb” go on over someone’s head when they figure out for the first time that they can make beautiful sounds on their instrument. I’ve seen a lot of “light up the room” smiles come over their faces as the “secrets” of music making are revealed.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that a sense of accomplishment, and the ability to create a pleasing sound can make you feel pretty darn good! Why else would so many musicians seek to perform as much as possible? And why do so many folks want to learn to play?
Posted by leon at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)
July 07, 2005
Music Brings People Together
That statement may sound a bit like a cliché, but music can accomplish this. It can help bring people together.
People gather together to hear a favorite performer, they talk about their favorite songs, and they share their musical discoveries with each other. For a great many folks, music is a huge part of their lives.
Of course, folks can also be divided by music styles. I know some folks who HATE, and I mean HATE Rap. I myself am not particularly fond of opera (although I don’t hate anyone who likes it). But I don’t want to dwell on the negative.
How does music bring people together?
Music is a major part of every country and culture on the planet. Some of the world’s music may sound strange to our ears, but it is still music, and it still means a great deal to the culture from which it came.
Music is used in almost every social event. In my 15 years as part of band, I have played at countless wedding ceremonies and receptions, country club events, ballroom dances, cocktail parties, concerts, fund-raisers, conventions, birthday parties, Christmas parties, Valentines Day parties, Halloween parties, the list goes on and on. Music is the central element of all of these functions. Folks would often attend an event because they liked our band (we’re great for dancing, another activity that brings people together, and goes hand-in-hand with music!).
Every Sunday, millions gather for church, and a major ingredient of the service is singing together. Some Churches use “contemporary” worship songs, some draw on the old hymns, others try to “blend” different styles, but music is still an indispensable part of the gathering.
Those who are involved in the creation and performance of music are naturally drawn together. My wife and I are members of a group of writers and performers here on the Space Coast of Florida called the Music Kottage. One of the most enjoyable things we do is to get together and play our new songs for each other. Music brings us together.
I could give many more examples, but I think you get the idea. How does music help you connect with the other people in your life? Just think of the connections you could make as a creator of the “beautiful noise.”
Posted by leon at 05:26 PM | Comments (0)
July 05, 2005
What's in it For Me?
Why study the piano?
The study of piano and music in general has been of immeasurable benefit to me. When I started piano lessons in 1969, I had no idea that through the study of music and the piano I would find my life’s work, my passion, and a way to make a difference in countless peoples’ lives.
Now I realize that not everyone who studies music will make it his or her vocation, but there are still numerous reasons for any person to learn the piano.
Here are some (not all) good reasons for learning music. For most folks, “learning music” involves studying the piano. The piano helps form the foundation for almost all the different music styles of our culture, such as classical, folk, rock, pop, gospel, country, etc.
I’ve loosely grouped the reasons under these headings:
1. Music brings people together
2. Music can elevate your mood
3. Music can make you smarter
Under each of these heading are several reasons for studying music.
In the coming days I’ll talk a little bit about each one of these.
Come back tomorrow!
If it sounds good, it is good!
Posted by leon at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)