So many piano students wonder how they can improvise. They just don’t understand how someone can sit down at the piano and play off the top of their head. What they don’t know is that there is some method or system behind the pianist’s approach. One of the best methods is to just pick a few chords from a Key and play.

For example, imagine you’re sitting down at your piano and you just want to play what you feel. What do you do? For starters, you could place your fingers on the first chord that calls out to you. Perhaps a minor chord is what you feel like playing. Or maybe you’re in a Major mood. The key is to not think about it and allow the fingers to move towards what it wants. Take the lesson “Reflections in Water” for example.

Here we start out by playing a C Major 7 open position chord. This chord choice really determines the way the whole improvisation is approached. By using this chord structure, you’ve already determined what the sound will be. Now all you have to do to create your free-form improvisation is to play around with this chord and a few others from the Key of C.

In this lesson, you have the chords you will be playing and the order in which they are to be played. Now, you can relax and play around with the possibilities and come up with your own unique improvisations. And of course, by using this lesson as a template, you begin to understand that the way pianists can sounds so professional when sitting down to play is by using chords.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music’s online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

Are you well past puberty and have always had a hankering for tickling the ivories? Maybe you didn’t have the money as a child. Or your family was always moving. Or you probably didn’t even know there was such a wonderful thing as the piano. Whatever the reason it is never too late to start. Really!

I began my quest to learn to play the piano at the late great age of 24. I had always wanted to play but was too busy pursuing my other interests one of which was gymnastics. I’m not even sure I knew note names but in all my innocence, after receiving a keyboard from my father for my birthday, I ran out and bought the first method book I happened upon. It was the Alfred Chord Series and I made it all the way through book 3 before finding a piano teacher.

Meanwhile I had been asked by my church to become their pianist. What follows is 10 years of struggles, learning adventures and opportunities that have molded me into what I am today. A PIANIST!

I had no goals of becoming a classical performer. I just wanted to play music. And I do. I have played at weddings, given piano lessons and I am still the church pianist. I have also added guitar to my list of skills. What I’m trying to say is don’t let age stop you or even time. Most people think I studied as a child. And I know more music theory than many college piano majors. Being an adult puts you ina unique situation on knowing what you want to learn and how. Trust me this will all make sense once you start. If you’ve always wanted to learn then go ahead. It’s actually very easy and there is a wealth of information to start you on your way. If you have no idea where to start just type “Free Piano Lesson” into your search area on the internet. Then when you’ve become overwhelmed visit the book store and pick up Alfred’s Adult Piano Method series. Many adults learn to play with this series and while it’s not the only one out there it will get you started.

Happy Playing!

K Quinn is a church pianist and author of the book The Struggling Church Pianist. Visit her website and download some free musician tools at… http://www.strugglingchurchmusician.us

When most people think of piano lessons, they think drudgery. Beethoven, Czerny, scales, etc. What most people want, however, is to be able to express themselves creatively.

It’s a fact that if you decide to learn how to play in the classical style, you can pretty much forget about creating music. Instead, you’ll be recreating works that were inspired centuries ago and bringing them to life.

This is fine for most people and the curriculum usually stops here for them. For those who aren’t satisfied with this routine, there is very little in the way of creative music instruction - except for jazz. In jazz, you learn theory, harmony, etc. But even here, it is suggested that you really not attempt anything creative until you get enough technique under your belt.

Then there is New Age music - my favorite genre. Why? Because it is heartfelt yet not sanguine. It is honest, yet not sappy. In short, here is a music that is contemporary and likable AND EASY TO LEARN!

I’m always amazed that teachers want to start their students with repertoire that dates back as far as the 16th century. While there is no question this music is “good,” it’s also dead. And while a beginning writer who wants to learn the art of fiction will read the best authors of the past, he or she also wants to create something modern! Something that has their own voice. Why should music be any different?

Piano lessons don’t have to be the dull, lifeless exercise we know they can be. They can actually be FUN!

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music’s online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!