Most pianists want to be able to express themselves better with their piano playing; however, the majority of piano players have no idea how to actually practice this skill. This leads to a lot of time being wasted on practicing piano in a way that does not produce big results. The solution to this problem is to develop a more accurate fundamental understanding of how to develop creativity in music.
Many piano players try to enhance their musical creativity skills by searching the music of their favorite pianists for music passages and playing them over and over. This is certainly an enjoyable activity to do when playing piano, but in reality it does not do very much to help you to learn musical expression. If you spend a great deal of time on this, you will be missing out on the two most critical parts of being able to create emotion in music:
- You have to understand the manner in which great piano players and musicians ‘think’. More specifically, this means determining WHY they choose the specific notes and ideas that they do. This is something that you cannot learn if you simply copy the “notes” of your favorite songs and piano solos. Rather than just playing the same notes as other musicians, you must spend time thinking about the emotions you want to express, and what specific musical choices you need to make to achieve that goal.
- Once you gain this level of musical creativity, you will develop your own unique sound as it relates to the ideas and emotions that come from your mind.
To cultivate your artistic voice on the piano, immerse yourself in the liberating practice of improvisation, allowing your creativity to shine as you navigate the keyboard without the constraints of judgment or the fear of making mistakes. Set aside dedicated moments to explore an array of rhythms, harmonies, and melodies that resonate with your emotions, turning each improvisational experience into an authentic reflection of who you are.
Challenge yourself to venture beyond your comfort zone by blending different musical styles, combining the classics with contemporary elements or experimenting with unexpected harmonic choices. Remember, every note you play is a chance to convey your most profound thoughts and narratives, helping you to establish a personal musical language that is uniquely yours.
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