This is part two of the article on the incredible benefits of learning piano chording patterns on the piano or keyboard. 6. Knowing chords and chord progressions will give you a confidence you've never known before. It's exhilarating to know that you're no longer "tied to the written music", but are free to soar through the musicphere unhindered by traditional limitations! If you've never known such a feeling you are in for the musical treat of your life. 7. Knowing chords and chording techniques is "self-feeding". That is, the more you apply the techniques you know, the more new techniques will gradually become apparent. For example, once you master left-hand chords in a "hand-over arpeggio" form, if will some day occur to you that you can do the same in the right-hand. That will not just double your potential in that area, but multiply it exponentially, because you will come to see opportunity after opportunity to apply those arpeggios in many different ways -- from "music box" sounds to "waterfalls" to "flowing river of sounds" techniques and so on. 8. As you become more and more proficient with chord applications, you may discover that other musicians want to play along with you. Many a combo, band, worship team, etc. has been formed simply because one musician heard another playing, and liked what they heard. That not only leads to friendship and opportunities to play in some public forum, but also is a wonderful way to learn even more new techniques from the other members of the group! 9. Music theory, which once looked like a giant puzzle to you, now gradually becomes self-evident as you understand more and more about music and how it all works. I recall taking a music theory course in college after playing in a small group for a few years, and it was so easy I challenged the course after a couple weeks, and easily passed it. Years later many of my young private students (I used to operate a teaching school for years names "Piano University") challenged the course too, as they started their college work. 9. Music theory, which once looked like a giant puzzle to you, now gradually becomes self-evident as you understand more and more about music and how it all works. I recall taking a music theory course in college after playing in a small group for a few years, and it was so easy I challenged the course after a couple weeks, and easily passed it. Years later many of my young private students (I used to operate a teaching school for years names "Piano University") challenged the course too, as they started their college work. And the more you master chords and their implications, the easier music theory will become for you as well. 10. You'll just plain-old have FUN once you get the hang of it. Many of my students have no intention of ever playing in public, but want to play for their own relaxation after work, or just for fun with the family. That's great and as it should be. Each of us has different needs and different goals, so what we do with our piano playing is entirely up to us. Piano playing is one of the most satisfying hobbies you could possibly have, and the more you "do your own thing" on the piano in the way of arranging songs using chording techniques, the more fun it becomes! So what are you waiting for? Jump in and enjoy it! |
