“I’m having problems staying with the music,” wrote one student. “I can’t seem to get it. What I mean is, I get stuck or blocked only after a few seconds of improvising. What can I do?”

The above complaint is a very common problem among newbies at improvisation. They don’t understand how to keep an improvisation going. Why? Because they have it backwards!

You’re not supposed to keep an improvisation going. No. That’s the wrong approach to improvisation. The right approach is to let go of your need to control the outcome. Then and only then will your intuition come to your aid.

Listen, you may want to create something beautiful on the piano, but it is exactly your desire that is creating blocks! How? Because the ego is never satisfied and wants a perfect music, a good music, or something that will satisfy it. The ego is insatiable and is never satisfied.

That’s why when you focus on and enjoy the process of improvising, you free yourself from this trap.

Many of us are obsessed with creating a product. Something we can be proud of and show off to friends and family. Look, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to have something you can call your own, but when you are only concerned with creating the end result, your creative self (inspiration) will dry up and leave you feeling empty.

But, if you put process over product, not only will you enjoy the whole experience more, the outcome will be far superior to any forced ego product you may end up having.

To enjoy the act of making music, we must let up on ourselves and adapt an attitude of exploration. We must allow for mistakes and listen for where the music itself wants to go. This idea may be strange to some of you. I can understand that but once you really let go of trying to control the outcome, wonderful things begin to happen!

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!

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Electric pianos, also called digital pianos are become increasing popular, due to their many benefits. Quality digital pianos now how a sound and feel very close to an acoustic piano. In fact, some digital pianos can rival the best grand pianos in sound quality.

One of the best benefits of digital pianos is their digital output of sound, so it’s very easy to record music using just your digital piano and your computer.

Most keyboards and electric pianos have a one quarter inch stereo output. Most computers have a one eighth inch stereo input, so you’ll need an adapter. You can get the necessary adapter at Radio Shack or a similar store.

Once you have your electric piano plugged into the microphone port on your computer, you’ll need software to record with. Audacity is about as good as you can get. It’s free, and supports multiple tracks, plus has many useful effects.

Once you install Audacity, you’ll need to adjust your keyboard volume. You can adjust the volume via the Audacity interface or on your keyboard.

To record, just click the record button and start playing…then click stop when you are done. To record multiple tracks, just click record again and play along with the track you already recorded.

If you add acoustic tracks, such as guitar, vocals, drums, etc to your recording, you should use the Noise removal effect on Audacity. This tool is very helpful in removing static and noise from your recordings. It usually won’t be necessary for your electric piano, though, since all the recording is digital.

Using your electric piano and Audacity, you can easily create recordings with a full band. If you need more voices for your keyboard, you can get midi boxes or software to add 100’s of extra voices everything from drums to flutes.

Find electric piano parts @ Vintage Vibe.

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What I’m about to share with you took me years to learn! And I’m still learning it. What am I talking about? I’m talking about something that will revolutionize your playing. I’m talking about being present at the piano while you’re playing!

See. I told you it was simple. Simple to say but not so simple to do.

Let me tell you how I approach this. Some time ago, I sat down at my piano to work on some pieces for a new CD project. I’d completed the first sections on many of these pieces but the rest of the music just wouldn’t come.

I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating this was (and sometimes still is) for me!

Anyway, I decided to take a walk and figure out what the problem was. I started walking and unwinding and then it hit me… the reason nothing was coming was because of my own expectations. You see, I wanted to complete the pieces I’d been working on so badly that I was creating an atmosphere of anxiety. The joy of making music was gone. It was replaced for the need to create a product. And once this need appears - any progress is sure to be halted. Why?

Because the ego is never satisfied and wants something that is in direct opposition to artistic expression.

Now I have a different approach. I tell myself that my job is to just show up at the piano. To be present with the music. If new material comes, then fine. If not, that’s OK too. Just as long as I show up and remain present to the process.

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!

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