Classical and jazz are the two most noteworthy styles of piano playing. Even if you’re only going to be playing in one or the other (or a more contemporary style like pop) it’s a good idea to give a listen to these different styles. Keep an ear out for the different chords the players use depending on the style. Look into the work of Liszt, Chopin or Satie for great classically-based piano works. For jazz, Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck and Chick Corea are all players worth looking into.
Scales are a very handy thing to know when it comes time to write melodies. While there’s no sure method to write a great melody, knowing which scale you should be using will give you an idea of which notes to use and which to avoid.
Most cellphones have a recorder option. If you don’t have a cellphone for this purpose, basic handheld recorders tend to be very affordable.
Going for a walk is a fantastic idea if you’re getting frustrated. Many artists have some of their best creative epiphanies when they’re out for a stroll.
It’s easy for our inner judge to get the best of us and censor ideas before we even try them out. When you’re composing music, it’s best if you drop this self-doubt. Even if you think something is a bad idea, there’s a chance it may lead to something more promising when you start playing around with it.
This technique doesn’t always work, but if you’re a visual thinker, it’s certainly worth trying out.
Dynamics is defined as a show of change or difference within something. In the case of a musical performance, it refers to a player’s treatment of volume. Some pianists play naturally louder than others, but a truly gifted performer will use quiets and lows to his advantage.
The idea of relying on repetition and slowly changing it over time is referred to as Minimalism.
Lyrics are an obvious requirement in most cases if you want to add voice. Lyrics give you a chance to tell a more vivid story with your music. Of course, if you’d prefer it, you can sing without lyrics. Some compositions prefer to use the voice as another instrument, with “oooohs” and “aaahs” taking the place of lyrics.
Try using a chord map to get you started. [10] X Research source Although this might sound too mathematical at the start, the truth is that it’ll come without thinking to you once you get the basics of theory down pat.
Make sure the scale you’re using is in accordance with the chords and key you’ve chosen. The standard scale is a C Major scale. This scale is often used for vocal warm-ups before a performance.
There are digital notation programs that may prove easier to work with than pen and paper.
