![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Ostinato means "repeating pattern" and is used frequently in all types of music. For New Age piano players, it provides a great way to lay down the background of the piece while the right-hand improvises a melody!
For example, in the lesson "Winter Scene," we have a repeating pattern going on in the left-hand using 2 chords. And 2 chords are all that is needed to create a few minutes of music!
Interest is maintained by the right-hand melody. How long you could actually play this ostinato and maintain interest is a whole new topic but the secret to really keeping the improvisation going is to stay in the present and trust your intuition.
The music will naturally wind down when you start becoming bored or indifferent and/or no new material wants to come. Then the improvisation is over and the music has played itself out.
The good thing about using an ostinato to create with is that it's quite easy to develop a harmonic background over which you can improvise your melodies. The bad thing is that it tends to stagnate over time. That's when you either stop playing, or introduce new material - something that adds contrast.
If you wanted, you could introduce another ostinato pattern, or go for something completely different, but you'd probably want to let your intuition guide you in this. You shouldn't try to come up with material but instead, just improvise and see what comes up. A completely different, and much more effective approach!
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_lesson s.html for a FREE piano lesson!
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for music students is... Read More
While it probably doesn't seem like this would help -... Read More
"Music isn't just learning notes and playing them, you learn... Read More
Some people think composing is this miraculous thing that only... Read More
More so than any other music since the blues, hip-hop... Read More
Have you ever done any of the following?1. Made excuses... Read More
They're everywhere, and not only are they everywhere, they look... Read More
Eminem's roots can be found in Scandinavia through his mother... Read More
I am not sure if anyone has been watching out... Read More
So now you've decided to record your songs. Good for... Read More
A while back, I wrote an article that compared flower... Read More
It's all over the news these days. Download music from... Read More
One of the reasons I picked up the violin was... Read More
Celebrities now such as Outkast, a fashion wear can be... Read More
There are 88 keys on the piano keyboard. Most pianists... Read More
Remember the old ad that used to run endlessly in... Read More
Lately, I haven't been using my guitar pick all that... Read More
Chord symbols (for example, Fm7, Cmaj7 or G6) are a... Read More
When a painter is getting ready to paint, a color... Read More
Marshall Mathers, was born October 17, 72, and could be... Read More
Every once in awhile a guitar student will express a... Read More
Everybody's doing it: downloading music and sharing files. People who... Read More
The first time I heard George Winston play back in... Read More
Songwriters dream of making their living by writing, and sometimes... Read More
Ideally each page of your website should serve a specific... Read More
Piano playing doesn't have to be boring. There's no law... Read More
In reflecting on the world of the Music Business in... Read More
Did you ever wish that it was your song playing... Read More
I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of... Read More
In what way do the kinds of music (rock, rap,... Read More
There are roughly umpteen zillion reasons why you should learn... Read More
Do you want to learn how to play chords on... Read More
One of the rules of practicing we all hear over... Read More
IntroductionThe fact that you are holding this in your hands... Read More
There are basically two ways you can compose a piece... Read More
The Suzuki violin method has come to dominate the way... Read More
Piano lessons for adults is generally LOTS more fun than... Read More
Ideally each page of your website should serve a specific... Read More
The Kasabian concert at the Kool Haus seemed like a... Read More
You have to find radio airplay time if you're going... Read More
Those of you who have been reading my articles for... Read More
Chopin used them extensively. So did Beethoven and Mozart. Arpeggios... Read More
P2P file sharing programs are free. Period. But there are... Read More
Since chords (the main component of harmony) are one of... Read More
Guitar amplifiers are a major part of your tone. Some... Read More
Music is the art of arranging sounds in periodic time... Read More
This article discusses 8 vital things to remember as improvisers... Read More
Interested in making money while you're asleep, or making money... Read More
Fan support for musicians is a two way street. You... Read More
You CAN do everything.Repeat.You CAN do everything. What you cannot... Read More
Music & MP3 Music & MP3 |