CHAT

Saturday, June 30

One is the loneliest number

[Go here] for One is the Loneliest Number videos... by some female pop star, the original 3Dog Night... then me. Compare them. Then create your own version on piano and upload it to youtube... let me know about it.

Sunday, June 24

As Time Goes By piano/vocal cover






You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date.
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.

Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.


Piano / vocal cover of Moody Blues' Tuesday Afternoon by Moody Rick on a Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday Afternoon Moody Blues Tuesday afternoon, I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away. Something, calls to me, The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why? Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh. I'm looking at myself reflections of my mind, It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind. So gently swaying through the fairyland of love, If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday, afternoon, I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way. It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away. Something, calls to me, The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why? Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh.

My imitation of Neil Diamond's "Hello" (piano/vocal cover)



Move over Neil...

Sunday, June 10

Edgar Froese's concept of "music"-- what is it exactly?

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[+] Here are 10 minutes of Edgar Froese's "stratosphere".

[Background]

Ambient Music is a better term than New Age, I think. The number of chord changes are frustratingly few. It numbs the mind. To recover, listen to Bach.

[Bach Harpsicord Concerto]

Edgar Froese's use of harmony seems very limited. If we could combine the genius of Bach's compositions with the synth sounds of Froese, there might be something there.

Saturday, June 9

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a good teaching song for chords, voice and piano.

Here, I demonstrate a version of the playing of Twinkle Little Star from "fake book" music with a melody line and chords. I would say that if you're going to play piano... at whatever age... you need to be familiar with the fake book or chord chart form of music immediately. There's no need to put it off. That way you can get as fancy or as simple as you want. The notes on particular arrangements are always interesting as Mozart proved. But the essential song is playable for most popular piano situations as follows:



And now here's what Mozart did with it.



You can immediately say that Mozart did more than I did-- but he didn't sing. So I'm one up on im in that way. When you take lessons from me, we'll be flexible. Whatever your preference for Twinkle Little Star, we'll do it. But it will be part of your repertroire-- and listening to Mozart's 12 variations will be required too.

[Discussion]

Saturday, June 2

Big Bang Theory Hammond vs. Rick Wakeman Synthesizers





My opinion is that the Hammond Organ is an historically great instrument but that you're limiting yourself far too narrowly by specializaing in that too early in life. Synthesizes and keyboards with automatic percussion and other features built in are far more fascinating and open up vistas of musical possibilities that will change your life. I believe the hammond would be a rut. Note the difference tween the Big Bang act above and Wakeman...from the 1970's no less. Imagine what a top synth player can do today. I'll post that when I find it later.