| The Russian Composer Igor Stravinsky once said: | | | | people. The point is I admit that they shaped my |
| " A good composer does not imitate; he steals."I | | | | own style. How? Because I liked listening to them. |
| think what he meant by this is that it's OK to use | | | | It's that simple.When I sit down to play, I |
| a technique developed by another and make it | | | | inevitably gravitate towards one style or the |
| your own. To imitate is to steal a technique or | | | | other. I'm fine with that. It doesn't mean that I'm |
| style and, somehow, not incorporate your own | | | | unoriginal. It just means that I acknowledge reality |
| voice and energy into it.We all get our ideas from | | | | and don't try to come up with "something original." |
| somewhere, whether by accidentally listening to a | | | | What sounds new is 99.9 times out of 100, a |
| piece of music and subconsciously storing it away, | | | | modification of what came before.The whole point |
| or by a conscious act where we say to ourselves: | | | | I'm trying to make is this: Don't try to be original. |
| "This sounds great and I want to use it in my | | | | Instead, focus on what you like and love and your |
| own music."Some people have the idea that | | | | own voice will come through in the end. The |
| everything created must be original and by that | | | | music may be modified to an extreme |
| they mean that there must be no outside | | | | (innovation) or just a little (homage). Just don't |
| influences - but this is unrealistic. Haydn taught | | | | imitate.Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and |
| Beethoven. Italian composers influenced Bach and | | | | webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano |
| so on. All past and present composers on this | | | | lessons. He has been helping students learn how |
| planet have their influences whether they admit | | | | to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 |
| them or not.Now, most of you know that I have | | | | years and works with students in private, in |
| two major influences: George Winston and John | | | | groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now |
| Herberman. You may or may not know of these | | | | at for a FREE piano lesson! |