Q. I'm 15 and have taught myself how to play the piano. I've played in public and at coffee houses before. I got focused on other things and stopped playing for about two weeks almost a month and a half ago and now, the feeling that I used to get, and my ability to compose seems to have gone away. it feels hollow. Like my creative five is but a flicker now. Will it be gone forever? How can I bring it back? I loved it. please give me a real answer. thanks.
A. Would you like some assurance? Sure, words are cheap. Your fire will relight. Your inspiration will return. Your greatest work is yet to be written. Go for it. Kindle the sparks. Feed the flames. Let your art burn bright.
Now, would you like the truth? Nobody knows. These things come and go. There is no accounting for when or whether the creative muse visits upon you, sooner, later, or never. Sorry.
However, maybe you will be comforted in knowing the same uncertainty has confounded others. One of the most beloved of all Victorian verses deals with the subject. Please let me share it with you:
Seated one day at the Organ,
I was weary and ill at ease,
And my fingers wandered idly
Over the noisy keys.
I do not know what I was playing,
Or what I was dreaming then ;
But I struck one chord of music,
Like the sound of a great Amen.
It flooded the crimson twilight,
Like the close of an Angel's Psalm,
And it lay on my fevered spirit
With a touch of infinite calm.
It quieted pain and sorrow,
Like love overcoming strife ;
It seemed the harmonious echo
From our discordant life.
It linked all perplexéd meanings
Into one perfect peace,
And trembled away into silence
As if it were loath to cease.
I have sought, but I seek it vainly,
That one lost chord divine,
Which came from the soul of the Organ,
And entered into mine.
It may be that Death's bright angel
Will speak in that chord again,
It may be that only in Heaven
I shall hear that grand Amen.
Adelaide Anne Procter: "The Lost Chord" 1858
So, what would the best route for learning to play guitar be for me?
Q. The drums are my primary instrument, and piano is a good secondary one I know how to play. I have a good understanding of music, both reading and composing. In my situation, what would you reccomend as the best option for me to teach myself to play guitar?
A. Musician's Friend sells a great DVD set that will teach you everything you'd learn from years of private lessons. It starts with the very basics (names and functions of guitar parts, tuning, etc.), works into chords and scales, and eventually teaches how to craft intricate solos. I bought the DVDs after having played guitar for more than 20 years and can't believe how much my playing has improved. Even better, the set costs $40. The advantage of DVDs over lessons is you can learn at your own pace and review things as necessary. If you read the reviews, you'll find I'm not exaggerating about how great the set is. Here are links to the acoustic and electric versions:
http://books-videos-music.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rock-House-Learn-Rock-Acoustic-Guitar-Beginner-Intermediate-and-Hands-of-Steel-DVD-Package?sku=942720
http://books-videos-music.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rock-House-Learn-Rock-Guitar-Beginner-Intermediate-and-Advanced-3DVD-package?sku=942719
Best answer 10 points! Whats the best way to understand music theory and easy way?
Q. I'm taking a music theory class and I'm having a heard time understanding whats being taught. I play the piano mainly by ear. Use to take lessons, but I dont read music as well as I use to ever since my teacher left me. Is there any advice someone can give me learn music theory? I'm just not getting it.
A. Hey Josh R, click on mt avatar, add me as one of your contacts and then read all the answers I gave to others. I mainly answer questions on here about theory so there is a LOT there that will help you. Here are the books you NEED to buy from a music shop:
MASTER YOUR THEORY by DULCIE HOLLAND books 1 2 and 3 (Dont bother with 4 5 etc, they go into writing for string sections etc) These books are workbooks. They explain everything first, then give you exercises and then some questions to answer. The important thing to remember with theory (Or MUSIC in general) is WE DONT GET THINGS WRONG!
Let me explain, at school, if you do a maths test and you get 8/10 they will mark you as 8/10 and leave it at that. As MUSICIANS we go BACK and STUDY those TWO things you got wrong and do it AGAIN and AGAIN until you get it right, until you know it and until you UNDERSTAND it. NEVER ever leave anything as UNKNOWN.
So musicians dont get things wrong doesnt mean you dont make mistakes, it just means you dont go any further until you get it right.
So with the workbooks, work in PENCIL. IF you get something wrong, RUB IT OUT and do it again until you DO get it right. I always find it best to photocopy the pages, then do the answers, that way you can use the same book over and over again. (The answers that you need will be on the first page instructions for each LESSON)
The book is set out in LESSONS. NEVER start LESSON TWO until everysingle answer in lesson one is CORRECT. You will NEED the information from lesson one to understand how to do lesson two.
You get it? If you were building a house of cards and one of the bottom cards wasnt lined up, the next level of cards WILL fall.
With music, if you CANT build a C scale, you cant work out the chord, or change it to a minor.
YOU should do this with your school work as well, just because the teachers are too lazy to finish their work doesnt mean you have to settle for 8/10!
Also, if you add me as a contact, I get an email of every music question you ask, so if you need to know ANYTHING, if youve added me as a contact, I'll be able to answer it. Otherwise I wont know the question is up here. (Also, I cant answer questions you leave on your questions AFTer you've best answered them. Add me as a contact)
This is for you. Theres not a lot of information here, its very basic but its all accurate
http://musictheoryblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/duration-of-notes-and-rests-dotted.html
http://www.pianoinstructors.com/musicterms/term1.html (NO LESSONS here dude, just the dictionary to help you okay?)
All the best
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Title : Why is my ability to create music on the piano dwindling?
Description : Q. I'm 15 and have taught myself how to play the piano. I've played in public and at coffee houses before. I got focused on other t...