Working on getting my hands used to those clusters. Added two new clusters today. I now have two clusters for the following notes: C, D, E, F, G, and A.
Reading the handbook also today, going slowly to better understand the material.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
January 30, 2012
Ok, so I am totally jazzed up about the Moody material. Today just worked on consolidating the clusters I know already.
I think for 2012 my goals will be:
Short Term: Get a lot of practice using two clusters for each note in the key of C. Take my time.
Long Term: Work through the Moody material in a slow way to learn how to play songs by ear and learn whatever else his course has to offer.
Possible Goal: Learning to play from lead sheets in different keys.
I think for 2012 my goals will be:
Short Term: Get a lot of practice using two clusters for each note in the key of C. Take my time.
Long Term: Work through the Moody material in a slow way to learn how to play songs by ear and learn whatever else his course has to offer.
Possible Goal: Learning to play from lead sheets in different keys.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
January 29, 2012
Again, technology helps with piano learning. I now have two "piano buddies:" one in the United States, and one in England! Thanks for the encouragement, buddies!
Today I'll be working on consolidating learning of the clusters I have learned, learning new clusters, experimenting with using them in parts of songs, and reading more Moody material.
Today I'll be working on consolidating learning of the clusters I have learned, learning new clusters, experimenting with using them in parts of songs, and reading more Moody material.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
January 28, 2012
Just when I thought it was time to do a different method, human kindness and technology has merged to help! My piano buddy's encouragement is always a good thing. And thanks to contemporary technology, I emailed Gregory Moody, and his response to some technical issues leads me back to his drawing board! Thanks go out to Gregory for having the patience and kindness to address my questions via email. Back to the drawing board!
January 28, 2012
The piano is a very difficult instrument for me to play. I want to play material on the fly from fake books, but it just hasn't clicked. I was just about ready to give up yesterday. The most recent course I purchased just hasn't clicked for me. Perhaps it would for others. Perhaps it's best suited to a player with much more experience than myself.
So where does this leave me?
I just could not seem to remember songs utilizing the Sudnow Method. The Method Book stuff, was Ok if I wanted to read music, but at this stage of life I think I just want to play songs. The Moody stuff sounded too dissonant to my ears. Other methods haven't clicked either.
Frustrating as that has been, it's ok. I can still use what I picked up in these methods in play.
I am moving more towards using Alan Swain's methods again. Here is a method that appears to me to use memorization. That'll be hard work, but like I said at the beginning of this post, piano is difficult for me. To assume there is a simple way to learn what I want to do is naive on my part. Will just have to do the work to get where I want to be. And be committed to the work.
So where does this leave me?
I just could not seem to remember songs utilizing the Sudnow Method. The Method Book stuff, was Ok if I wanted to read music, but at this stage of life I think I just want to play songs. The Moody stuff sounded too dissonant to my ears. Other methods haven't clicked either.
Frustrating as that has been, it's ok. I can still use what I picked up in these methods in play.
I am moving more towards using Alan Swain's methods again. Here is a method that appears to me to use memorization. That'll be hard work, but like I said at the beginning of this post, piano is difficult for me. To assume there is a simple way to learn what I want to do is naive on my part. Will just have to do the work to get where I want to be. And be committed to the work.
Friday, January 27, 2012
January 27, 2012
Just getting a little more enthused again. Was quite frustrated earlier with the dissonance. Got a nice email from my piano buddy encouraging me to continue on. I think I will...
Thursday, January 26, 2012
January 26, 2012
A tough day at the piano.... Sometimes I just don't know about all the dissonance....
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
January 25, 2012
Crammed in a little practice this morning. Might not be able to get more in today.... Worked on cluster memorization. Interesting how my play (in terms of my concern that some clusters might sound too dissonant)seem to sound better than I originally thought, when I listen back to recordings of my play.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
January 24, 2012
Worked hard today on "Over the Rainbow (OTR)."
Looking to add new clusters while remembering old ones while trying not to sound too dissonant are the present challenges.
Looking to add new clusters while remembering old ones while trying not to sound too dissonant are the present challenges.
Monday, January 23, 2012
January 23, 2012
Did not practice yesterday; went to see NRBQ instead. A great show by a buch of talented musicians. Back to the keys for me today.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
January 21, 2012
Working on a different tune throughout the day. With making the changes from cluster to cluster, my left hand fumbles, but it's getting better. Added a new Bb cluster.
Friday, January 20, 2012
January 20, 2012
An up and down day at the piano. Some clusters just sound too dissonant. Need to be patient adding new clusters to my repertoire.
C = 2 clusters known, but can use Sudnow chord for major
Db = 1 cluster known.
D = 2 clusters known.
Eb = 1 cluster known.
E = 2 clusters known.
F = 2 clusters known.
Gb = 1 cluster known.
G = 3 clusters known.
Ab = 1 cluster known.
A = 2 clusters known.
Bb = 1 cluster known.
B = 1 cluster known.
C = 2 clusters known, but can use Sudnow chord for major
Db = 1 cluster known.
D = 2 clusters known.
Eb = 1 cluster known.
E = 2 clusters known.
F = 2 clusters known.
Gb = 1 cluster known.
G = 3 clusters known.
Ab = 1 cluster known.
A = 2 clusters known.
Bb = 1 cluster known.
B = 1 cluster known.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
January 19, 2012; addendum I
I think I'm going to learn "She's Leaving Home" rather than "Misty." Maybe I'll wait to learn Misty for when I know more cluster substitutions for the notes in that tune. I think I may be able to get by with the clusters I know now learning the Beatles' tune.
January 19, 2012
Just a minor change of ideas. (This post will make better sense if the reader reads yesterday's post before proceeding). I've decided to make a couple of changes that relate to each other:
1) I'm not going to focus on playing a cluster for just about every note. I do not plan on always using a cluster for every note in my typical play, so why do so now? The only reason to do so would be to get used to changing clusters quickly. However, I think that reasoning is trumped by the rationale that this needs to be enjoyable, musical, relevant to the sounds I am looking for, and more reflective of how I would play a song in a typical playing situation.
2. So I won't be working on "She's Leaving Home" now, but rather a song that I have worked on in the past, and I have some familiarity with what notes sound good with clusters, and what notes might be better left played without an associated cluster: "Misty."
1) I'm not going to focus on playing a cluster for just about every note. I do not plan on always using a cluster for every note in my typical play, so why do so now? The only reason to do so would be to get used to changing clusters quickly. However, I think that reasoning is trumped by the rationale that this needs to be enjoyable, musical, relevant to the sounds I am looking for, and more reflective of how I would play a song in a typical playing situation.
2. So I won't be working on "She's Leaving Home" now, but rather a song that I have worked on in the past, and I have some familiarity with what notes sound good with clusters, and what notes might be better left played without an associated cluster: "Misty."
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
January 18, 2012
Trying to put it together in my first song using Moody's ideas. Started work on the Beatles' "She's Leaving Home." Decisions/struggles to be made or work through include:
1) Just how many melody notes should I voice?
2) Play any notes with just regular chords?
3) Speed of play?
4) Must stay patient.
5) Embellish play or play it straight?
Regarding #4 above, I think the more tunes I play, the more I'll learn how to make cluster changes quickly. Regarding #5, I think I should just learn it straight with little embellishment, since the goal at this point is how to change clusters quickly, and not embellishment, which can come later. Regarding #1, I think I should challenge myself to play as many clustered notes as possible, while trying to sound musical. Regarding #2, for now I think I should just play Moody chords since that's what I'm trying to learn how to do. Regarding #3, I think I need to play at the fastest but most appropriate speed as possible that I can play but as long as what is being played is on time and played without mistakes. That means its going to be pretty slow going for awhile.
1) Just how many melody notes should I voice?
2) Play any notes with just regular chords?
3) Speed of play?
4) Must stay patient.
5) Embellish play or play it straight?
Regarding #4 above, I think the more tunes I play, the more I'll learn how to make cluster changes quickly. Regarding #5, I think I should just learn it straight with little embellishment, since the goal at this point is how to change clusters quickly, and not embellishment, which can come later. Regarding #1, I think I should challenge myself to play as many clustered notes as possible, while trying to sound musical. Regarding #2, for now I think I should just play Moody chords since that's what I'm trying to learn how to do. Regarding #3, I think I need to play at the fastest but most appropriate speed as possible that I can play but as long as what is being played is on time and played without mistakes. That means its going to be pretty slow going for awhile.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
January 17, 2012
Ok, looks like I know a cluster for all 12 notes. Added new clusters for the C, D, G and A notes today, and it's nice to have choices. Time to SLOW DOWN learning new clusters and use them more in the context of playing songs. Been playing parts of songs using the clusters, and the hesitations experienced in changing clusters on time is a long term problem that will need to be addressed, I think, by just being patient, and when it's time, using the Sudnowian ideas of learning complete songs one at a time, played on time and without mistakes.
Monday, January 16, 2012
January 16, 2012
Working on trying to get those clusters in my hands by just playing songs on the fly. My speed of play is something needing to be worked on ... Playing songs without hesitations between changes. These clusters have a tendency to sound quite dissonant, so I will need to learn how to implement them with some thought for options regarding sounds I want. But first, let me really get these clusters in my hands. Worked today on learning two new clusters: one for the B note and one for the F# note.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
January 15, 2012
Not too easy remembering those chord shapes, but its worth it. So far, I've memorized chord shapes associated with the following notes: C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, G, Ab, A, and Bb. Only two more to go: F# and B.... Practiced these chords in context within the playing of some songs, and results have been interesting. Some initial observations of trying that:
1) Sometimes in playing the clusters within the context of songs, the chords have fit better than other times. Hence, Moody's recommendation to learn a number of chords for each note.
2) Practice is important for a number of reasons.... Getting those clusters in the hands and familiarizing those clusters so that they are as easy to get to as a normal C chord is crucial. Or else what happens is those hesitations playing songs trying to get the hands to play on time and perfectly. Not only practicing the chords, but playing them in the context of songs is going to help enormously in learning. In conclusion, I'd agree with Sudnow that learning clusters within the ontext of songs is crucial; however, for me, learning the chords in isolation is important also.
3) The chords Moody presents are very rich and sometimes quite dissonant, at least where I am now in my learning. Playing them in the context of songs serves to give practice in when to use them, and when possibly use regular chords instead.
Great stuff.
1) Sometimes in playing the clusters within the context of songs, the chords have fit better than other times. Hence, Moody's recommendation to learn a number of chords for each note.
2) Practice is important for a number of reasons.... Getting those clusters in the hands and familiarizing those clusters so that they are as easy to get to as a normal C chord is crucial. Or else what happens is those hesitations playing songs trying to get the hands to play on time and perfectly. Not only practicing the chords, but playing them in the context of songs is going to help enormously in learning. In conclusion, I'd agree with Sudnow that learning clusters within the ontext of songs is crucial; however, for me, learning the chords in isolation is important also.
3) The chords Moody presents are very rich and sometimes quite dissonant, at least where I am now in my learning. Playing them in the context of songs serves to give practice in when to use them, and when possibly use regular chords instead.
Great stuff.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Absolutely Fantastic New Direction
I am very happy in that I think I finally found the exact thing that I've been looking for. Its Gregory Moody's material, and wow....
Looks like I'll be soon be able to play just about any kind of ballad song I want without the pains of memorizing the song....its a matter of me just memorizing lush chord shapes. I'm on the fourth of 12 shapes needed to learn....whats good (and admittedly intimidating) is that there eventually more and more chords that I can add to the notes....really, really, cool.
As icing on the cake, it after learning these chords, it will be easy to match up a single noted melody (even of an original melody!!!) to lush chords.
Really interesting and exactly what I have been looking for. The Sudnow Method was a great way of introducing me to the stuff available in the Moody material.
Enthused!
Looks like I'll be soon be able to play just about any kind of ballad song I want without the pains of memorizing the song....its a matter of me just memorizing lush chord shapes. I'm on the fourth of 12 shapes needed to learn....whats good (and admittedly intimidating) is that there eventually more and more chords that I can add to the notes....really, really, cool.
As icing on the cake, it after learning these chords, it will be easy to match up a single noted melody (even of an original melody!!!) to lush chords.
Really interesting and exactly what I have been looking for. The Sudnow Method was a great way of introducing me to the stuff available in the Moody material.
Enthused!
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