 altogether. You can be picky later, but first you need to get out all the ideas you can, whether they are from your own head or inspired by other things and people.
Dig deep. Most likely, the golden nugget you seek (my metaphor for an amazing musical idea) is not going to be your first idea. You might have to discover it, uncover it, or even recover it. Think of tunneling down a winding passage way in search of gold. You will get dirty, sweaty and tired. Yes, my friend: this is work.
There are no “mistakes”. For this activity you are in a workshop, not a concert. As you try different variations, some will work and some won’t. It’s no big deal. Learning what not to do is a valuable part of the process.
Trust yourself. With time, effort and an attitude that welcomes the creative process, you will be able to craft a new idea that is fits the task at hand. Believe you are creative, because you are.
Posted in Composition, Improvisation, Music Instruction | Tagged: composition, creativity, education, improvisation, learning, lesson plan, music, music education, Musical Composition, piano lessons, reading music | 3 Comments »
Posted by Pamela Szalay on December 29, 2012
There are many talented musicians and students who have learned to play an instrument “by the book” and who are rarely, if ever, encouraged to improvise. If you are interested in being more creative with your music but are not sure how to begin, I have some ideas to get you started below.
First, let me remind you that the composers whose music you have read and performed over the years were able to compose it because they were willing to take risks, try out new combinations, and meddle with established norms. They gave themselves permission to be creative. You are no different! You can be musically adventurous. You can play around with new combinations. You can create.
Let’s start with something safe – the last note of a song you already know how to play. For example, if the last note of The Star Spangled Banner is Bb, or “do” in the key of Bb, what are some things you can do to change things up?
- Play a different note of the Bb chord –D or F.
- Repeat the note in a different octave – or several!
- Insert a rest before the last note.
- Hold the last note longer or make it staccato.
- Play the note more than once, in any rhythm combination that feels right. Try several variations!
- Experiment with different articulations.
- Combine 2 or more of the above variations.
For a keyboard or other harmonic instrument, if the last notes form a Bb major block chord you could start playing around with these basic variations.
- Break up the chord into an arpeggio.
- Play the chord using a different voicing: Take out the fifth, play the third in a different octave.
- Insert a rest before the chord.
- Play the chord twice in any rhythm you choose.
- Repeat the chord in a different octave.
- Experiment with different articulations.
- Try two or more of the above simultaneously.
- Try two or more of the above in various orders.
More advanced musicians may want to manipulate the final phrase of the song rather than just the last notes.
Of course, you won’t love everything you come up with, but if you give yourself enough room to play it can be a matter of minutes before you generate something that surprises you. The main thing is to try. Composing and improvising can be fun and liberating. Go ahead and try it today!
Coming up in my next article: Having the attitude of a composer
Posted in Improvisation | Tagged: children, composition, creativity, education, improvisation, instrument, keyboard, music, music education, piano, piano lessons, reading music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Pamela Szalay on November 16, 2012
“I wake up in the morning with an idea, then cut away everything that ain’t that idea.”
– attributed to “Bernie chainsaw artist” and tweeted by Scott Mueller@HandknitWebs
Clearly, a composer is working in a different medium than a chainsaw artist, but this quote got me thinking. What kind of focus is this describing? What kind of commitment? As a musician, if I wak