You Can Create Your Own Music – Even If You’ve Never Touched a Piano In Your Life!

A few days ago I was going through some student emails and one question really popped out at me: "Edward, I really want to just sit down at the piano and improvise but I don't think I know enough to begin. Can you help me?" Here's my answer to this student: Dear P., There are really 2 issues going on here. The first is the belief that you don't know enough. The second is the idea that you need to know a lot in order to begin. Let's deal with the first issue - the belief that you don't enough. Many students share this belief. They think they need to understand a lot more than is necessary before they take the "plunge" into improvisation. The truth of the matter is they're actually scared they might be able to do it after all… and that would quickly eliminate their belief that they can't. This seems strange but it really has to do with fear of the unknown. Many of us can do things we previously thought were impossible - and are impossible - unless you actually give it a try! The real stigma has to do with thinking that what you're producing isn't good enough. Because if you truly didn't care about the outcome, your focus would be on pleasing yourself first and enjoying the process - something so many adults wish they could do, but are reluctant to do for fear of creating something "bad" or "unworthy." I always tell students that it's far more important to actually enjoy yourself at the piano than to create something others can approve of. Some have an extremely hard time letting go of the need to gain others approval and this itself can cause a lot of anxiety and needless striving. All you really need to begin improvising are 2 things:

1. Knowledge of a few chords
2. Willingness to take the plunge

After students begin to improvise without worrying about whether the music's good enough they begin to tap into their own creative source. When this happens, a small miracle has occurred. Once you actually taste how good it feels to let go and allow the music to move through you, it becomes addictive. Then you'll want to play the piano more and more. And the more you play, the more you learn. Not by accumulating knowledge but by allowing yourself the freedom to explore. 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. Visit http://www.quiescencemusic.com now and get a FREE piano lesson! Outdoor Living