| Love him or hate him, George Winston single | | | | done though. For example, in the author's lesson |
| handedly invented a whole new genre of music - | | | | "Winter Scene," we have a repeating ostinato |
| New Age piano. His light ambient sound has reached | | | | pattern using 2 chords. The pattern is played over |
| millions of listeners around the world. | | | | and over again while the right hand improvises a |
| Now, a lot, and I mean a lot of pianists would like to | | | | melody. And guess what? That's a piece of music! |
| be able to play like George but don't think they can. | | | | That's right! Now, if I wanted to show this piece as a |
| That is, they don't know how he does what he does. | | | | composition, I would have to chart it out using a |
| They think he just sits down and music comes up or, | | | | chord chart. This too is a lot easier than it sounds. |
| they believe that he spent years studying | | | | For instance, "Winter Scene" is just a 4-bar phrase in |
| composition and theory in order to create these | | | | 4/4 time. Each chord gets 2 bars and that's it! |
| sometimes elaborate compositions. | | | | Sometimes called a "loop" these phrases can be |
| But, and here's the interesting thing, when you really | | | | repeated as long as the composer/improviser wishes. |
| listen and break down what he's doing (and most | | | | Then, if more music is required, we just add in new |
| other composers for that matter) it's all about how | | | | phrases and keep building up our piece of music. |
| phrases of music are repeated and then contrasted | | | | So what is George Winston's secret? Learn how to |
| with new material. That's it! That's all composition is. | | | | use musical phrases to create your own easy |
| It's the art of repetition and contrast! | | | | compositions! |
| Just saying this won't help you understand how it's | | | | |