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Duane Shinn's Articles in Music

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The Battle Hymn of the Republic Still Marches On "Mine eyes have seen the glory" is one of the most powerful and recognized opening lines in the history of American song. The Battle Hymn of the Republic is the quintessential fight song of the United States, as well as its call-to-arms. It's Still Amazing: The Story of Amazing Grace A staple of both spiritual and secular singers alike, Amazing Grace is one of the world's most popular songs. John Newton, its writer, lived a life full of sin and redemption, both of which inspired the song's timeless lyrics. You're Still a Grand Old Flag George M. Cohan's encounter with a Civil War veteran inspired a song that became a Broadway hit and eventually went on to become a household name. That song was "You're a Grand Old Flag". Do You Know How "The Star-Spangled Banner" Was Written? Virtually everyone in America as well as many others around the world know "The Star-Spangled Banner", but few know that it was written by a captive on a British warship. The Story Of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" is a song from the Civil War era that expresses the yearning by loved ones for their solders -- their sons and husbands -- to come marching home safely. It has endured now for over 150 years, and shows no signs of disappearing any time soon. The William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger Theme) Mention the song title "William Tell Overture," and a lot of people might scratch their heads in confusion. But hum a few bars, and there are few people who don't recognize this classic tune. Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' Still a Joy to Hear! Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' is not only one of the most familiar melodies to most people, but remains a piece of pure art. It continues to give hope, inspiration, and plain old musical joy to peoples all over the world. How to Play the Keyboard: Start With C Major Playing the keyboard is not as difficult as a lot of piano upstarts think. In fact, the piano is the perfect instrument for music beginners, as, unlike other instruments, its layout is straightforward and easy to understand. Can You Write a Song? It's not as difficult as you might imagine to create a song of your own based on your own experiences and the emotion of your heart. It may never make the charts, but it's fun and so satisfying! The Moonlight of Debussy's Clair de Lune Clair de Lune is a piece of music that has stood the test of time. It is a piece that is constantly evolving, living and breathing in the fingers of pianists the world over, because each artist expresses it differently. Piano Sheet Music in the Internet Age The availability of music for the piano is unprecedented in human history due to the internet. For the first time ever musicians can locate and download literally thousands of pieces of music in most any genre. The Many Benefits of Learning Piano Chord Theory Chances are if you've ever taken piano lessons, you probably spent at least a little bit of time on piano chords. But learning the names of a few basic chords and actually understanding chords are two different things. Fur Elise: Beethoven's Mysterious Inspiration The mystery surrounding Beethoven's "Fur Elise" has still not been solved. Nevertheless millions of people over the space of 200 years have enjoyed and come to love this all time classic work. Playing Hymns & Gospel Songs On The Piano: A Treasure-Trove of Riches Thousands of hymns and gospel songs have been written down through the years, and the beginning piano player is confronted with a richness of availability almost unknown in other music styles. Would You Like to Take a Peek at a Naked Piano Player? Did you know that there are many piano players who are stark naked? Some of them probably live in your neighborhood. One of them might even be your next door neighbor Piano Note Reading for Beginners Learning to read sheet music is a bit easier than most people suppose, because there are only 12 different notes on the entire staff -- everything else is repeated an octave or two higher or lower. A Short History of the Piano If you're thinking of taking piano lessons -- or if you already take them -- it's a good idea to learn something about the long musical tradition in which you will be participating. So let's take a brief look at how the piano came to be. Piano Improvisation in Three Steps Improvisation on the piano is not just for pros -- anyone can learn to improvise to some degree. How Musicians Can Use Podcasts to Publicize Their Music Podcasts are excellent ways that you can inexpensively and quickly get your music out there to the public, which is extremely important to your success as a musician. Podcasts: What Are They And How Do They Work? Podcasts are files that can be downloaded directly from the internet or that can be accessed via streaming feeds like RSS feeds. Musicians as well as many other creative people are using them to communicate with their clients and others. Is It Really Possible To Play The Piano By Ear? Playing by ear is the ability to play a piece of music (or, eventually, learn an instrument) by simply listening to it repeatedly. Just like we pick up our language by listening to our parents and subsequently attending school, we can learn music by playing by ear and later taking formal lessons. Piano Books: The Top Piano Books To Help You Become a Better Piano Player There are thousands of piano books available in music stores and online at such places as Amazon. And piano books are usually necessary if your goal is to become a better pianist. But how does a person know which piano books are necessary and which books are redundant, to say nothing of good or bad. Music Theory & Harmony: The Key To Understanding How Music Works! Learning music theory and harmony is not just an option you can take or leave: it is part and parcel of the "stuff of music". And yet the majority of piano players ignore the very thing that would take them to the next level in their playing and knowledge -- music theory & harmony. Music Chords: How To Become a "Chord Detective" And See Through The Notes Right Into The Music! There's a logic behind every note written in music, & you can learn to understand that logic, and therefore understand music. The Blues Scale & Cool Stuff You Can Do With It Most of us who took piano lessons as kids are all too familiar with scales, and most of us hated practicing them with a passion. But understanding scales and what they do is critical to the process of improvisation as well as key orientation and just a general understanding of what's happening in the song we are playing. Did You Know That Music Is Based On Natural "Laws"? Did you know that music is based on natural "laws" -- like gravity -- and by learning to understand how those natural laws work we can actually understand what we are doing when we play -- we don't have to be at the mercy of what someone else has written on a piece of music? Piano Lessons: Make Sure They Include Chords & Music Theory! Proper piano instruction is an element extremely vital to learning the instrument well. Often overlooked in the teaching curriculum, however, is music theory and chord structure. Transposition and Modulation: How To Transpose To a Different Key & Modulate Between Keys How do transposition and modulation relate? Are they the same? Let's take a look at both of them and see what makes them tick. How To Tell What Major Key A Song Is In Quickly & Easily Key signatures are a type of musical notation that indicate which key the song is to be played in. But key signatures, despite the name, are not the same thing as key. How To Color Without Crayons: Adding Color Tones To a Chord Adding color tones to a chord is like adding colors to a black and white drawing; it adds depth and dimension and well as bringing it to life. Inversions: How To Stand a Chord On It's Head Many people get all confused when chords are turned upside down. They recognize them when they are in root position, but when you stand them on their head...well, it gets kind of fuzzy for folks. Learn Music Fast Online Learning music online has revolutionized learning, since it is the first time in history that anyone with a computer can virtually find out anything they want to know about music -- and find out quick! Sprinkle Some Pepper On Your Musical Meal Through The Use Of Augmented Chords Augmented chords are to a piece of music like pepper is to a meal; you would never sit down to a meal of pepper alone, but you might sprinkle a little on your food to liven up the taste a bit. Use augmented chords judiciously and you will find they add real interest to your piano playing. The Immense Popularity of the Piano Continues To This Day The piano has been vastly popular for about 300 years now, and despite the resurgent popularity of the guitar, piano sales and piano lessons continue to accelerate. Add Some Spice To Your Musical Meal By Using Diminished Triads Major and minor chords are the meat & potatoes of a musical meal. To add saltiness to the meal, add a few diminished chords. Minor Chords -- How To Form Them & Use Them Minor chords create a sound which is somber or serious; some people even think of minor chords as "sad", as opposed to major chords which sound "normal", or "happy". Christmas Carols You Can Play This Christmas With Just 3 Chords! Did you know that there are literally thousands of songs you can play if you know just 3 chords? And some of them are Christmas Carols that you can learn to play this Christmas if you know, or are willing to learn, three simple chords. How To Play The Piano Using "Shorthand" -- Chord Symbols -- Instead of Reading the Full Score Most people who took piano lessons as a kid, including me, grew up learning to read music exactly as it is written on the printed page. Being able to read music is a valuable skill, and I am delighted I learned that skill at an early age. Can YOU Play All The Major Chords in 3 Seconds or Less? Some people go through their entire lives not being sure about what such and such a major chord is -- and it's all so unnecessary, because you can memorize them in just a few minutes, and learn to play them in 12 seconds or less - one second per major chord. Exciting Improvising: How to Make Up Music Out Of Your Head As You Play Improvisation (also known as improvising) is the act of making something up as you go along -- an act with which we all have a little experience. Can You Become a Boogie-Man or Boogie-Lady? Boogie music, also known as boogie woogie, is a genre of piano-heavy music particular to America in the 1940s and 50s. Can You Really Learn To Play a Musical Instrument From an Online Course? Out of the 250 million people in the United States, about 25 million of them play an instrument of some kind, or at least used to when they were in school and would like to pick up where they left off. Another 30 million or so sing in a church choir, a barbershop quartet, or at the very least, in the shower. Five Great Practice Ideas I Learned From My Piano Students Sometimes the teacher learns more from the student than the student does from the teacher. Hopefully, not too often, but today I would like to share with you some great practicing ideas that have come from my piano students over the years. What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player? Many students ask me a question that goes something like this: "What all do I have to know to be a really good piano player?" The answer is multi-facited and depends largely on the motivation and talent of the individual. Is Your Child Struggling in School? Get Him (Or Her) Music Lessons Playing music has been discovered to have a direct and almost immediate effect on the brain of the student. Music lessons have been shown in a German study to have a significant impact on the way the brain functions after as little as five weeks. So You Want to be President? Learn to Play a Musical Instrument! From Bill Clinton and his sax to Richard Nixon and his piano, many Presidents and leaders have played a musical instrument. Does Condi Rice have an edge in future presidential elections because she is also a concert pianist? Piano Playing is Easier than You Think When You Understand Musical Form Understanding musical form in music is one of the proven shortcuts to better piano playing (or better guitar playing, or any instrument). Form is like the blueprint to a house -- it holds the key that unlocks the musical map of a song or a musical compostition. Killer Piano Playing Secrets of a Chord Addict! When a lightbulb comes on in the mind of an individual who is seeking knowledge in some area, it is amazing how much progress can be made in a short time. For piano players and other musicians, that moment of insight that changes lives often has to do with understanding chords and how they progress to create music. They Laughed When I Sat Down at the Piano -- but When I Started to Play -- Is there a "backdoor to piano playing?" Chords are a way in to the world of piano playing without having to go through the front door: years and years of scales, drills, rote practicing, etc. Chords are really a shortcut to understanding and playing music without all the formal training. Musicians: What Chords Do You Absolutely, Positively Have To Know? There are thousands of different chords in music, but there are 3 chords -- just 3 -- that you absolutely, positively have to know. If you don't know these three, there's hardly a song in the whole world that you could play. But by knowing just 3 chords, you can play hundreds, if not thousands of songs! Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You a Happier Person? How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes? We all know it works -- we just don't know why. Now science is beginning to unravel some of the mystery behind the relationship of music and our moods. Win Friends & Influence People Through Music -- Is It Possible? Can learning to play a musical instrument really help you "win friends & influence people?" It almost seems like a stretch, but scientific research seems to support the idea. Rock stars aren't the only ones to be popular; there is a direct correlation between music study and the ability to relate will with others. Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous! The benefits of adults learning to play the piano are many and varied, but most of all, it's just plain fun. The Many Incredible Benefits Of Learning Chording Techniques On The Piano Many piano players seem to spend their entire lives "chained to the written music". They can sight-read sheet music, but when it comes to knowing what to play when the music blows off the stand and onto the floor, they are entirely lost. Is It Possible To Create Cool "New Age" Sounds On The Piano Without Knowing A Thing About Music? I'll admit that for many years as a piano teacher I didn't think so. But in the last couple years I made a discovery about creating pleasant "new age" sounds on the piano that I never would have believed during my earlier piano teaching career. 33 Tips to Becoming a Great Pianist "There are at least 33 elements that contribute to becoming a good pianist," says Duane Shinn, pianist and owner of Keyboard Workshop in Medford, Oregon. "There are probably more, but without these 33 principles a pianist cannot hope to rise to the level of his ability." What In The World Would We Do Without Music? What in the world would you and I do if there was no such thing as music? Can you imagine a world without music? No songs, no tunes, no rock, no roll, no jazz, no hymns, no boogie-woogie, no country-western, no symphonies. No singing in the shower. No whistling Dixie. How To Play More Notes On The Piano Without Reading More Notes! Most people learn to play the piano by playing just the written music. Playing by written music is exactly what the phrase says it is -- playing the exact notation on a piece of sheet music. How To Predict Which Chord Comes Next In A Song It is quite possible to predict which chords will occur in a given song, once you know the key and understand the "guts" of music theory & chord progressions. How To Match The Melody Notes Of Any Song To A Chord In Your Left Hand! Is it really possible to know which chords go with which notes in a song without having to depend on the written sheet music? Can you pick out a song by ear and then harmonize that tune with chords that match it?

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