| Chopin used them extensively. So did Beethoven | | | | on improvisation, the arpeggio is an excellent |
| and Mozart. Arpeggios are beautiful and are | | | | vehicle to use. We pick a Key to play in, choose a |
| perfect for the New Age piano style too! | | | | few chords from that Key, then create an |
| You can hear them in George Winston's music. | | | | arpeggio with them. |
| David Lanz uses them in many of his | | | | What gives many students problems with this |
| compositions, and of course, I use them as well. | | | | technique is the crossing over part where the left |
| Why? Because the piano is well suited for this | | | | hand does its main work. But once this technique |
| technique! | | | | is mastered, the rest is easy. |
| The left-hand is used mostly to create this | | | | Then, you simply practice playing the arpeggio |
| cascading flow of notes. For example, in the | | | | until you can improvise a melody in your right |
| lesson "Wood Thrush" we use over 2 octaves of | | | | hand. You go slowly and smoothly at first; not |
| the keyboard. This creates a very nice | | | | rushing but taking your time. The rewards are |
| background over which we can improvise (or | | | | great because the sound that is created by using |
| compose) our melodies. | | | | arpeggios is full, rich, and very appealing to the |
| Because the New Age piano style focuses a lot | | | | ear! |