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 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)
June 27, 2005
Active Entertainment
Most people, when faced with a free evening, start thinking about what movie to see, or what TV shows to watch. A great many folks spend a lot of time in passive activities, where they sit and watch someone else do something. Sometimes they even make the effort to buy tickets to an event, dress up, leave the house, get in the car and drive, and go to a gathering place (arena, concert hall) and sit and watch someone else do something.
Is there anything wrong with this? Its just entertainment, after all. There’s nothing inherently wrong in all this, but imagine what it would be like if there were no movies, TV, sporting events, Internet, theme parks, or radio shows. What would we do with ourselves? Could we survive?
Learning the Old Ways Anew
During the spate of hurricanes here in Florida during the summer of 2004, some folks got a taste of what it was like to live without TV, movies, the internet, etc. They were forced to discover “new” ways to entertain themselves, and some even found themselves a little sorry when the power came back on. But they apparently were not too sorry, as they soon drifted back to there old passive, entertainment-consuming ways.
What is Active Entertainment?
So what is “active entertainment?” Things like making music, telling stories, playing games and socializing with friends and the local community. Whenever my wife Sheryl and I spend an evening conversing with friends, or gathering together with our fellow musicians to play songs for each other, we feel like it was time well spent.
One reason I am so passionate about teaching people to make music, is that not only am I teaching them a valuable skill, I am giving them a tool for engaging in active entertainment. Playing the piano, especially pop music, can become a community activity. Gather your friends around, play a few songs, sing together. No need to be a virtuoso; just pound out a few chords. Folks used to do this in their leisure time, even when the power was on.
If it sounds good, it is good!
Posted by leon at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2005
I'm Back!
Well, I made one entry on this blog, and then got caught up in preparing to go to Hawaii, of all places! Why Hawaii? My daughter just graduated from high school, and Grandma (my mother in law) wanted to take her to Hawaii to celebrate. Mom and Dad got to tag along. It’s rough, but someone has to do it.
Taught a class at Brevard Community College on Tuesday (June 14). A brilliant group of 20 people. What made them brilliant? They laughed at my jokes! No, actually, they were all eager to learn, and ready to stretch themselves mentally and musically, and that makes it a real joy for me.
One of the advantages of teaching these classes is that everyone who attends is there because they want to be. This is something they want to learn. Many of my students have been looking for a way to get “back to the piano” for many years, and this class provided them a way. Nothing beats seeing the look of excitement and enthusiasm on their faces, as they realize that the world of music making is not closed to them.
I have a few more classes to teach before “closing down” for the summer. I’ll be continuing to teach privately, while looking for new places to present my piano workshops in the fall and on in to next year.
If it sounds good, it is good!
http://www.solocreativemedia.com
Posted by leon at 10:39 PM | Comments (0)
May 17, 2005
Gotta Teach!
I’m a lucky fellow. I get to do something I love as my vocation. Everything I do is connected with music in some way. I perform, write, arrange, record, produce, write about, and teach music.
I have found that teaching tends to enter in to just about everything I do. When I’m working with an artist in my project studio, I tend to explain to them what I am doing as we go along, especially if the artist has not done much recording. When I perform live, sometimes afterward an audience member will ask me about my keyboard, or how I played a certain song, and off I go, teaching again as I demonstrate one of my keyboard’s functions, or demonstrate a way of playing a chord. And of course, when I write about music, that’s a form of teaching.
Whereas some folks would rather die than speak to a group of people, I am most comfortable when I am talking to an audience. It can be a handful of people, or an auditorium full, it makes no difference. I love to impart valuable information.
I’ve also learned the value of wit and brevity. (“Tell ‘em what you know and then sit down!”)
I also enjoy working one-on-one with someone who wants to learn how to play the keyboard, and how music works.
I’ll be here most days sharing with you my thoughts and musings about music and music education. My goal is to help you have fun as a music maker.
Tune in tomorrow!
Posted by leon at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)