By admin
Boogie music, also known as boogie woogie, is a genre of piano-heavy music particular to America in the 1930’s and 1940’s and 1950’s. It’s characteristic walking bass is familiar to many as a harkening back to rock and roll, even though the form is based strongly on the blues (in fact, it’s often been called an upbeat version of the blues).
Boogie originally started as a strictly piano form; the most familiar versions are still based solely around the instrument. The precise origin of boogie-woogie piano however is uncertain; it was no doubt influenced by early rough music played in the roadhouses and honky tonks in New Orleans and Kansas City and other cities and towns in the south.
A couple early boogie-men were W.C. Handy and Jelly Roll Morton, and as it grew in popularity many other pianists adopted the style. But as boogie became more and more popular, so too did the idea of including a whole band. Before long, the once solo genre adapted itself to accommodate an entire band. The latest versions of boogie often include guitar and other instruments, but the piano and drums remain the focal point. Even years later you can hear the influence of boogie in the music of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and many others.
Many boogies (but not all) are based on the familiar 12-bar blues, which is a series of chord progressions using just the I, IV, and V chords:
Typical 12-bar blues:
4 bars of the I chord
2 bars of the IV chord
2 bars of the I chord
2 bars of the V chord
2 bars of the I chord
then rinse and repeat
Here is a typical left hand boogie pattern in the key of C that can be played either as single notes or octaves or offset broken octaves:
C - E - G - A - Bb - A - G - E
C - E - G - A - Bb - A - G - E
F - A - C - D - Eb - D - C - A
C - E - G - A - Bb - A - G - D
G - B - D - E - F - E - D - B
C - E - G - A - Bb - A - G - E
Boogie is often credited as the originator of rock and roll, but that idea isn’t necessarily valid. While boogie definitely played some role in rock and roll’s early days, it was really rhythm and blues that started the form. Boogie, on the other hand, remained an off-shoot of blues and an entity in its own right. It also may have indirectly spawned a dance of the same name, a dance that led largely to boogie being credited as rock and roll’s most dominant predecessor.
The boogie dance, an upbeat and energetic social dance with small roots in swing, was danced mostly to rock and roll. It spread through teenage social circles like wildfire and became almost synonymous with rock and roll. As boogie (the dance) continued to grow through the 50s, boogie (the music) began to disappear from the limelight. And as it grew further and further from the mainstream, boogie’s captivating hold on audiences became understood as a product of the dance, not the music. The way in which the two forms of boogie were interchanged often led to confusion about where and when the form originated and how it related to the dance and the inception of rock and roll.
In any case, boogie is here to stay. It’s fun to play and fun to listen to.
Can you become a boogie-man or boogie-lady?
Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD’s, CD’s, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His book-CD-DVD course titled “How To Play Chord Piano In Ten Days!” has sold over 100,000 copies around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled “Amazing Piano Lesson Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions” with over 70,000 current subscribers.
Tags: Blues, boogie, boogie woogie, pianoBlues, boogie, boogie woogie, pianoShare This
By admin
Classes that involve piano for beginners would include an introduction to reading and understanding the keys, chords and how to read musical notes. The piano is unlike any other instrument and sounds wonderful as stand alone music or as part of a group. The intense sound of a piano is one that captivates audiences with power or soothes them with serenity.
Budding musicians always find it exciting to explore the world of piano for beginners. Whether this is their first venture playing the piano or being used as a reminder of forgotten skills, piano for beginners is a terrific way to develop or improve skills.
The most popular place to find a piano for beginners class would be a local high school or college university music department. Occasionally, instructors will offer piano tutoring to non-students. Students, on the other hand, will have a variety of choices within the music curriculum. Otherwise, a quick visit to a local specialty music store may provide leads on potential instructors.
When learning piano for beginners, it’s important for hopefuls to select the best instructor by evaluating his/her experience, educational background and accomplishments. The most commonly sought instructors will possess some type of music degree or an equivalent amount of musical experience. A potential instructor should be interviewed regarding their history in music, fee requirements, length of classes, policy on missed sessions, etc. If the learner’s schedule is particularly hectic, he/she may wish to enlist the help of a private tutor as opposed to a group instructor. Music lessons offered in a group will be scheduled by the instructor and will be less flexible toward each individual learner’s schedule. This is not to say that group lessons are not an excellent way to learn piano for beginners because they are. Simply put, private tutors are better for anyone with a hectic or unpredictable schedule. For example, a private tutor will have a more flexible schedule and may be willing to work around that of the learner’s daily routine. Whereas group classes are often held at the same time on a certain night, or nights, each week, a private tutor can be scheduled at any time during the day or evening without having to abide by a preset schedule. Internet courses, on the other hand, offer learners with the option of learning piano for beginners in the comfort of their own home at any time during the day or night. After all, where else could you learn piano in your pajamas?
Perhaps that most fun way to learn the piano for beginners is to just start playing. Some of the world’s most famous musicians are self-taught, so don’t be afraid to go solo until you get comfortable with the keys and each of their unique sounds. Professional instruction is certainly the most desirable, but there is nothing wrong with a little practice before signing up for class. In fact, the more familiar you are with the piano, the sooner you will be on your way to the Grammy awards. Hey, you never know!
Ian Williamson is the owner of the learn to play piano comparison site - Piano Lessons at http://piano.you-can-learn.info.
Tags: chord, piano, piano lessonchord, piano, piano lessonShare This
By admin
Have you encounter people that tell you: ” My wife and I plan one day to have a piano in our home that the whole family can enjoy. Perhaps our children can learn to play also.
I will practice and practice until I become good at it. If I can’t do it in the morning then I will do it when I come home at night after work, and on weekends I can play the piano for hours on end”
I do not think you had that experienced too often, maybe never, but my guess is that there are many of you that have friends in other parts of the country or less fortunate countries where they know of people in this situation. The point I am trying to make is that there are people out there that can not wait the moment in which they can have access to a piano or another ‘proper’ like instrument where they can practice and practice, because it is a joy and a dream for them.
On the other hand, I ask myself if there are many people that buy pianos, very expensive pianos just for show, to be used just as furniture display items, that gather dust in a corner of a mansion, while in a different neighborhood we have somebody that would love to get his/her hands on it for just few minutes. How can we develop this same feeling of love for an instrument? I believe some ways would be:
1) By being aware that an instrument, expensive or not needs to be used and care for.
2) By seeking out like-minded individuals with whom you can learn how to play this beautiful instrument.
It should be a rewarding experience to meet a bunch of different people with access to a piano, and you can go to it and improvise and laugh with your friends about the funky noises that you make and start to take some shape. For sure that would be therapeutic, playing in groups, not only the piano, but also music games, piano learning video games and the like.
Another option would be to take your own I Can Play Piano Camp instruction somewhere that is available in your city or at your own home. You can even take advantage of it while on vacation. Take a few moments and head for the entertainment room at the hotel, restaurant, conference area where you can find a free piano and play by ear whatever tune you desire. You will see how music inspiration thoughts come to mind. Remember, your audience either does not know much as you do now, or has gone through the same challenges that you are experiencing and they will be happy for your accomplishments.
My best wishes to you in your new musical adventure. I know it will be rewarding and fun. Awake those hidden talents!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jesse Fisher enjoys writing about interesting new developments in the music instruction world. To learn more about milestones in educational music products, visit PianoWizard’s I Can Play Piano informational page.
Tags: can, i, piano, playcan, i, piano, playShare This
