Play Piano - Here's How to Make Your Music Meaningful!
Whatever you play... wherever you play... play with musical meaning.
Ask yourself:
- Does it swing along with a steady pulse?
- Is there enough elasticity in the rhythmic pattern to avoid that drone, dull oom pah oom pah?
- Does the melody flow along smoothly, breathing in the right places?
- Are the dynamics effective?
If the answer to any of the above questions is negative you are not doing enough to make your music meaningful.
Music Must Communicate
If you feel you are not doing your best and you would like to do something about it, I would suggest that you sit back and take a good objective look (listen) at your musical product so you an diagnose the problem and then prescribe the remedy.
You are asking how you can diagnose your own playing problems - how can you listen to yourself - either objectively or subjectively.
Make a tape recording of your playing! Then sit back and listen objectively, as if you didn't know the performer. Watch the music as you listen and mark the spots that sound like just notes - not meaningful music.
Since rhythmic pulse is as vital to music as the heartbeat is to living, that would be the best place to begin to criticize your playing.
Once you get your time (duration of notes) and meter (arrangement of beats into patterns) under control, you will be on your way to making your music more meaningful.
To your success,
Ron Worthy
