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Monday, 28 July 2008 |
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Do you always need to have the sheet music to play a song?
Do you wish you could sit down at the piano and just play like your favorite performers do?
Well, you are not alone.
Most pianists feel the same way as you do.
But don’t give up just yet:
There is an easy way for you to conquer this problem, and it’s guaranteed to work.
The 3 x 5 Method
Part 1: Creating Your Tool In 5 Simple Steps:
All you need is a 3 x 5 index card to get started.
1. Mark off 4 empty measures evenly spaced across your index card (from left to right)
2. Place the chords for each measure between the bar lines.
3. Continue doing this for the entire song: always staying with 4 measures per line.
4. Use repeat signs as well as 1st and 2nd endings to save space as well as to simplify.
5. If the song has a bridge (middle section), draw a horizontal line below the verses and then place the chords in the same way as you did for the other measures.
Note: Many songs have 3rd verses that are the same or nearly the same as the 2nd.
No need to write these chords on the card.
Part 2: Using Your Index Card as Your Ticket to Success
1. Put the index card on the piano and play the chords with your left hand in time (slowly) as you look at them on the card instead of on the sheet music.
2. Next, focus exclusively on the first 4 measures. Look at the index card as you play the chords with your left hand and the melody with the right hand. You will surprise yourself at how easily you’ll be able to play the melody without music after a few minutes.
3. Repeat step #2 without the index card this time. Even if you need to refer to the card a couple of times, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be able to memorize this section.
4. Every time you practice, review the part of the song that you have already memorized. Once you can play this with confidence, follow the same process to memorize more of the song—always concentrate on 4 measure sections.
5. Carry your index card with you in your pocket or purse at all times. Anytime that you have a free moment—standing in line at the grocery store, sitting traffic, waiting for your meal to be served—pull out the card and review the names of the chords in order.
Remember to focus on 4 measure sections before moving ahead.
Part 3: Free at Last
1. Once you have the first song memorized, play your newly memorized song on as many pianos and keyboards as possible. You may need to refer to the index card occasionally. That’s okay. You’ll still be building up your confidence.
2. Start working on another song and follow this same method. This will actually help you play your first memorized song better, because you’re now developing this habit.
3. Set a goal such as: “I play 5 songs beautifully and confidently from memory by…pick a date.” Review this goal 2 or 3 times every day.
4. Use visualization to help you: picture yourself playing the piano effortlessly a concert stage, as the center of attention at a party or just sitting in your living room alone.
The instrument is clear of all traces of music, and you are smiling from ear to ear.
5. Listen to recordings of your memorized song by great performers to inspire you.
Action Exercises
Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.
First, spend part of your daily practice sessions working on your songs to be memorized.
Your investment of a few minutes every day will yield powerful results.
Second, copy the chords onto an index card for each song you want to memorize.
The act of writing alone helps to imprint the chords into your memory.
Third, review the chords on your 3 x 5 card every time you have a free moment.
Your time away from the piano will become a turbo charger for your time at the piano.
About The Author Ed Mascari has been teaching piano privately to children and adults for nearly three decades. He is a seasoned performer (pianist/ jazz organist) of show tunes, jazz and popular music as well as a published classical composer and church musician. Ed combines his extensive experience to guide students in a variety of styles as he helps them achieve their unique potential. Ed teaches group classes for piano students in the tele-class format. All of the programs at http://www.mykeyboardsuccess.com/ focus on specific topics that are designed to give participants the tools and techniques that will help them to play piano better and better. |
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Sunday, 27 July 2008 |
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E tickets are a form of ticketing that ticketmaster and other such primary source ticket sellers have been using for the past three years.E tickets are an option that is given to original ticket buyers when purchasing tickets.For example, when a person goes to buy concerts, sports, or theatre tickets, he can usually opt to receive these tickets in a number of ways: 1. Hard tickets via standard mail. 2. Hard tickets via shipper( Fed Ex or UPS). 3. Tickets left at Will Call 4. E tickets If the ticket buyer selects the e ticket option he will simply receive an email from the ticket seller with an attachment.The attachment can be opened and the tickets will become available for print on any standard printer. There are several advantages to e tickets, which include the ability for the tickets to be reprinted.This comes in handy when tickets are lost.Instead of the old method of calling the ticket seller and spending 30 minutes on the phone and providing purchase information, e tickets provides a hassle free solution.E tickets are great for the ticket seller as well, in that e tickets are totally automated which cuts employee costs.E tickets are also excellent for the environment.With e tickets simply being wired through the internet, there is no need for traportation costs which cuts down on natural resource consumption. In deed there are many advantages to e tickets, there are some disadvatages as well.Because these e tickets can be printed an infinite # of times, the aspect of fraud comes into play.For instance, a person could simply by an e ticket,make several copies and then sell it over the internet or at the venue several times over.Unsuspecting buyers can no doubt, be scammed.A remedy to any of these unwanted outcomes would be to simply purchase tickets from a ticket broker, where buyers have recourse! If you have any questions regarding e tickets or need a second opinion before buying tickets, feel free to contact our office. Gary Ketchum CEO TicketAmerica.com http://www.ticketamerica.com |
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Saturday, 26 July 2008 |
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Many people have argued that there are no great piano composers in the modern world. They say that this art died fifty to one hundred years ago. Here are the facts – there are still many unbelievable piano composers in the modern world today. However, whilst one cannot argue with their creative skills, they lack basic modern marketing skills. And the world is missing out on this distinguished talent.
The most affordable and convenient way to market your music today is through the internet. It is used by billions every single year. So why do many piano players fail to market their music online? Why do they go down the traditional route of taking it to a publisher?
Marketing Method Number One – Creating Your Own Website with A List
If you make the decision to market your music online, it is almost criminal to do so without a website. Your website must be where you send all of your prospective customers. Your website must contain details on how to purchase your music, both online and offline. I would also recommend having a ‘sample’ piece of music for clientele to listen to for free and to be able to download the score.
When you are building your website, you must include a list. What is a list? A list is a collection of email addresses of potential customers. Your list should be kept abreast on new pieces of music that you are creating. Also they should receive occasional incentives to remain on your list, eg. a free song or a discount.
It is much easier to sell to people that know and trust you then to sell to a complete stranger. But so many people in all facets of marketing spend more time on getting more customers than selling to previous customers. Do not make this same mistake. By investing no more than $US200 per year, you could and should have a major increase in sales.
Marketing Method Number Two – Piano Radio Stations
Piano radio stations are a great way to market your music online. There are numerous radio stations on the World Wide Web that specialize in all sorts of areas, and piano is no exception. Whilst I could only speculate costs, you might be able to get your music played for free, or even better, you might be entitled to royalties from that particular radio station.
The main difference between radio piano stations and normal piano stations is that online users are able to click on a link that will take them directly to your site. So make sure that the music that you submit to radio stations are some of your best pieces of work and fit the mould of the station.
Marketing Method Number Three – Submitting Your Scores To Directories
There are numerous cases where piano composers only market their actual music and neglect to market their sheet music. This is such a silly thing to do. If a piano player likes listening to your music, then naturally they would want to learn to play it. Web sites like Free Piano Sheet Music would be more than willing to put your compositions onto their web site for free. Also you would get valuable links from your sheet music to your website.
Marketing Method Number Four – You Tube
This is the new way to market your music online. You Tube has simply taken the world by storm, not only from a viewers perspective but from a marketing perspective also. Similar to video clips that you see on MTV you are able to create your own video of your music. It does not have to be a complicated task. The easiest way to do it is to record yourself at the piano playing the score and this would be enough. However if you have a theme to your music i.e. the ocean, then you would cut to shot of the beach, i.e. waves crashing on the rocks. Whatever you decide your video clip to be, make sure you put a visible URL at the end of your video as credits, so the viewer can take action to buy your music.
Marketing Method Number Five – Piano Forums
Forums are an old and popular way to marketing your music, and it still works today. Not only can you specifically market your music in the forum, you can also market your music by just posting messages about anything related to the piano. For example, if there is a discussion about what is the best brand of piano, and you post your comments, you can put a link at the bottom of your post to your website. So not only do you market your music, you also marketing to the right group of people, piano players!
In conclusion these are much more effective methods of marketing your music then taking it to a publisher. Not only do you have much more control of your music, it is also much cheaper.
The world deserves to hear your music.
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