The diminished scale, or octatonic scale, is an enigmatic and distinct scale that offers a great deal of melodic and harmonic depth and possibility. There are examples of the diminished scale in European classical music dating back to the time of Bach and also in various folk music traditions from the Middle East. However, the …
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Reading two clefs simultaneously is one of the most unique musical challenges available and the piano is virtually the only instrument that requires us to do so. When you get in the zone of reading two clefs at the same time, you enter a true flow state. It is quite amazing and well worth pursuing. …
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Learning piano scales, and getting the most out of your practice, is all about your attitude. To the beginner, practicing scales might seem like a tedious and boring task. However, if you shift your perspective and view the practice of scales as an important tool in your repertoire of ways to become a better pianist, …
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Jazz is one of the most interesting, unique, and controversial musical inventions in recent memory. Much like rock and roll, funk, electronic, and hip-hop, jazz is part of the Black American music canon and is full of virtuoso musicians, iconoclastic characters, and a melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic language and history all of its own. In …
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We all love the piano. After all, that is why we are here, right? The piano is one of the coolest instruments ever created. So what better way to celebrate this 88 key wonder of modern music than with a special day dedicated to it? World Piano Day, first declared in 2015 by the pianist …
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Timbre, texture, and tone are three interconnected ideas in music. To the beginning pianist, these ideas may seem nearly identical. It is true that even the most advanced professional musicians will occasionally use these three words interchangeably. However, that is not because they do not know the meaning of them. In this article, we will …
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The chromatic scale is simultaneously one of the most important and most overlooked scales in music. It is a scale well worth studying for its technical and creative applications. Because the scale does not follow an interval pattern like any of the major or minor scales, the chromatic scale does not contain any of the …
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A scale in music theory is a sequence of notes played in ascending or descending order with a specific interval structure. There are many scales in music. Some are extremely common and fundamental, like the major scale or minor scale. Others are more obscure and only called upon in certain settings, like the whole tone …
Beginner’s guide to the world of scale degrees Read More »
The piano is a dramatic instrument – there is no doubt about it. What other acoustic instrument has such an enormous range, both in register and dynamic? From some of the deepest and lowest pitches to the lightest of pianissimos, the piano can deliver huge drama at any moment. Not to mention the monumental worlds …
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Everyone loves a good piano cover song. Learning a favorite tune is certainly fun, but it is more enjoyable to perform well-loved songs for friends and family. Many hit tunes of the last decades were not originally written solely for piano, but with a few small changes they become great popular piano covers. This week, …
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Pitch is one of the most fundamental concepts in music and the main way musicians categorize notes. Physics and music theory can be used to analyze and catagorise the sounds waves that make up pitch and let you transform them into musical melodies with the piano. Pitch in music is one of the most interesting …
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The metronome is one of the most valuable practice tools available to you as a pianist. A piano metronome produces a steady pulse, which will help you to stay in time when playing and improve your rhythmic skills. The pulse can be sped up or slowed down by adjusting the tempo, which is usually measured …
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