| Over the past few decades, millions of | | | | many cases, New Age music tries to emulate the |
| non-musicians have discovered that piano is not all | | | | feelings or sounds of nature. |
| about symphony concert halls and complex | | | | For example, a swift, smooth, and repetitive |
| compositions by classical music luminaries. On the | | | | melody may be used to emulate a flowing river, |
| contrary, although it still requires a great deal of | | | | or bright, unconventional melodies and harmonies |
| hard, focused work to become an accomplished | | | | can imitate the singing of birds. With sounds that |
| pianist, there are contemporary methods for | | | | are difficult to emulate, such as wind, clouds, or |
| playing piano without a lot of formal instruction. | | | | sunlight, many New Age musicians simply try to |
| Specifically, "New Age" piano improvisation is a | | | | re-create the feeling of those natural phenomena. |
| way to create your own sounds and compositions | | | | A good knowlege of chords can go a long way |
| without relying heavily upon formal technique and | | | | toward aiding a potential new age piano player |
| music theory. As few New Age pianists ever gain | | | | with some powerful ammunition. Simply by |
| any significant notoriety for their work, New Age | | | | breaking up those chords in various type |
| piano is perfect for people whose lives are too | | | | segments such as 8th notes, 16th notes, 32nd |
| busy to accommodate piano lessons. | | | | notes and so on can go a long way toward |
| Some musicians that have made an impact in this | | | | creating a unified impression. And when done with |
| field include George Winston, Dean Evenson, Will | | | | taste and feeling a pianist can similate the sounds |
| Ackerman, Ray Lynch, Suzanne Ciani, Jim | | | | of nature using the various registers of the piano |
| Brickman, Enya, B-Tribe, GregZ, Deep Forest, | | | | keyboard. |
| Jean Michel Jarre, Enigma, Kitaro, Yanni, Oscar | | | | Then by adding passing tones and neighboring |
| Lopez, and a few others. But for every famous | | | | tones and occasional embellishments one can |
| new age musician, there are thousands of pianists | | | | emulate the sounds of everything from wind to |
| that play in this style just for their own | | | | rain to hail to peaceful brooks and whistling trees |
| enjoyment and relaxation. | | | | in an effort to obtain a peaceful impression. |
| But first, what exactly is New Age music? You've | | | | Meanwhile, New Age music may draw on a great |
| probably heard the phrase bandied about in | | | | variety of influences. The term is often used |
| reference to specific artists, but few know what | | | | interchangeably with "World Music," a genre that |
| it actually means. In general terms, New Age | | | | incorporates elements of music from outside of |
| music is organic, natural; its main purpose is to | | | | the Western tradition. |
| soothe the spirit and fill the soul with calm. In | | | | |