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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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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Musicians are often practicing groups of notes played one at a time in order, on their instruments. This is a very common way to develop speed and skill, hand independence and practice playing at slow or fast tempos. These notes musicians are often practicing are called Scales, which are actually called diatonic and chromatic scales. …
Understanding all seven diatonic scales Read More »
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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The whole tone scale is a surreal and enigmatic sound that often feels ambiguous and unanchored. The scale is perfect for creating dream-like passages and is commonly found in the work of Impressionistic composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. However, examples of the scale date back to the 17th century. The whole tone scale …
Dreaming with the whole tone scale Read More »
Join in the fun and celebration of World Music Day this month with Skoove. Music is a wonderful and beautiful force and what better way to celebrate the power of music than with an all-day celebration around the Summer solstice! Learn more about this wonderful day, some of the history behind the idea and event, …
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Like many pursuits in life, progressing in your piano practice requires consistency and discipline. It can feel easy at the beginning to make huge leaps in your skills. However, after some time you may feel like you start to hit certain plateaus. Feeling like you are hitting plateaus in your practice presents a chance to …
Simple strategies to improve your piano playing Read More »
Practicing the piano should be a fun, exciting, and enjoyable experience. However, it is useful to take a step back on occasion and examine the habits you develop around piano practice. How often do you do this? This week, we will explore a range of bad habits that you can develop on the piano so …
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Memorizing music as a pianist is an important skill to develop. It is extremely easy in our modern world to simply access information via phone or computer and retain very little. Memorizing helps us to build a base of knowledge that we can use and extrapolate to other dimensions of our lives, helps us to …
How to memorize music as a pianist Read More »
Learning about a diverse range of musical artists is a great way to expand your knowledge, gather new inspiration, and experience new worlds and ideas. The universe of music is so vast and encompasses so many styles, cultures, and traditions that it would take several lifetimes to explore and appreciate all of it. Fortunately, we …
Explore the piano all over the world for Diversity Awareness month Read More »
“Do re mi fa so la ti da” is an instantly recognizable refrain. This is especially true if you have ever watched “The Sound of Music”. This is an example of solfege patterns being used to help teach a musical scale. For most musicians who take up an instrument, one of the first things you …
Solfege in music – What is solfege and how can you use it? Read More »
Musical terms refer to the specific words and phrases used to describe and identify various musical concepts, techniques, and elements. By understanding musical terms relating to tempo, volume, tonality, and many other topics, you will be able to properly read and perform sheet music, convey the intended emotions and moods of the music, and collaborate …
Glossary of music terms Read More »
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