Guest Post by Simon Reich
I would imagine, many creative and serious musicians, would love their children to follow in the same footsteps? Well interestingly enough, it doesn’t always turn out that way.
Take my own four children for example…
Tag: Simon Reich
Simon Reich on Improvisation: Part 3
Improvisation in Action – A Video!
In this series, I have written many words and imparted knowledge from my experience. But merely in print form.
I have mentioned a few times though, that you need to dip your foot in the pool and go for it yourself. That got me thinking about videoing myself noodling around until I “found” something that constituted a tune.
I’ve never done this before, so it was quite interesting for me as well. I put my phone on a shoe box and started taping in my music room. I only did one take and had never consciously heard this tune before.
Simon Reich on Improvisation: Part 2
Improvisation – Jump In!
Guest post by Simon Reich (pictured)
The amazing thing about improvisation, in my experience, is the fact that inspiration and output can come no matter how I am feeling.
In fact, some of the best tunes I have composed have been when I am feeling down and compromised. The flip side to this is that when I am happy, the creative juices still flow! So in essence, nothing need hold you back from a productive improvisation.
As mentioned in the previous article, armed with your skills of scale and chord understanding it’s always the right time to start noodling around the keyboard and find a gem waiting to be unearthed. Sometimes it starts with a chord progression, other times a melody.
When I was quite young, I remember hearing certain tunes and feeling a funny tingling sensation in my stomach. This became my yardstick for great chord progressions. If I could make myself feel those “butterflies in my tummy”, I’d done it!
You are your own best guide to what sound good, so trust your intuition.
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear” – Jack Canfield
Simon Reich on Improvisation: Part 1
Improvisation – Can it be learnt?
Guest post by Simon Reich (pictured)
People ask me, “can you learn to improvise”, and my answer is, “YES, the majority of musicians can be taught”.
If you have only ever played from printed scores, then surely at times you have heard music in your head? It’s just a matter of coaxing that out via the instrument.
Improvisation – A natural high
Guest post by Simon Reich
Launching a new series on improvisation…
There are many natural highs to be enjoyed in life.
Society’s obsession with alcohol, drugs, nicotine and artificial stimulants misses the serotonin release available from activities that occur all around us. In my case, consuming great tasting food, stimulating conversation with friends, daredevil acts – like riding a roller coaster or jumping from high platforms into water, romancing my partner, winning competitive games and (for the focus of this article), playing a musical instrument.
Confessions 8: The Final Scene
Guest Author: Simon Reich “Confessions Series”
Following on from his warmly received guest post “Confessions of a Piano Student“, Simon Reich invited teachers from around the world to answer 8 Questions.
In this series he shares their answers…
Question 8
Although movies can’t always finish with a happy ending, I thought we’d round up this series with a question that could give teachers a chance to give a positive finale.
“I have a few secondary school teachers as friends. They often remark how they hardly ever hear from former students. So as the last question, Have you ever had a response from a past student, years down the track? Something that really warmed your heart?”
Confessions 7: How wide are piano teacher’s job descriptions?
Guest Author: Simon Reich “Confessions Series”
Following on from his warmly received guest post “Confessions of a Piano Student”, Simon Reich invited teachers from around the world to answer 8 Questions.
In this series he shares their answers…
Question 7
How wide are piano teachers job descriptions?
Continue reading Confessions 7: How wide are piano teacher’s job descriptions?
Confessions 6: Are Exams helpful?
Guest Author: Simon Reich “Confessions Series”
Following on from his warmly received guest post “Confessions of a Piano Student“, Simon Reich invited teachers from around the world to answer 8 Questions.
In this series he shares their answers…
Question 6
This controversial question needed to be asked.
“Do you feel the current system of testing and grading of students is helpful to budding creative musicians? If not, what would you consider as an alternative?”
