Music Information

How to Find Musical Ideas


The Russian Composer Igor Stravinsky once said: " A good composer does not imitate; he steals."

I think what he meant by this is that it's OK to use a technique developed by another and make it your own. To imitate is to steal a technique or style and, somehow, not incorporate your own voice and energy into it.

We all get our ideas from somewhere, whether by accidentally listening to a piece of music and subconsciously storing it away, or by a conscious act where we say to ourselves: "This sounds great and I want to use it in my own music."

Some people have the idea that everything created must be original and by that they mean that there must be no outside influences - but this is unrealistic. Haydn taught Beethoven. Italian composers influenced Bach and so on. All past and present composers on this planet have their influences whether they admit them or not.

Now, most of you know that I have two major influences: George Winston and John Herberman. You may or may not know of these people. The point is I admit that they shaped my own style. How? Because I liked listening to them. It's that simple.

When I sit down to play, I inevitably gravitate towards one style or the other. I'm fine with that. It doesn't mean that I'm unoriginal. It just means that I acknowledge reality and don't try to come up with "something original." What sounds new is 99.9 times out of 100, a modification of what came before.

The whole point I'm trying to make is this: Don't try to be original. Instead, focus on what you like and love and your own voice will come through in the end. The music may be modified to an extreme (innovation) or just a little (homage). Just don't imitate.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!


MORE RESOURCES:

Joy Online

New York Music Examiner
Examiner.com - 11 hours ago
... Polow Da Don, Rodney Jerkins, DJ Montay, Ne-Yo, Espen Lind, Amund Bjorklund, Kanye West, T-Pain, and Universal Music Publishing Group.
Michael Jackson snubs family reunion Times of India
The Jacksons Blame It On The Boogie eFluxMedia
Jacksons reunite at BMI Urban Awards The Associated Press
MarketWatch - Urban Network
all 244 news articles


Mobtown Modern's goal is to make new music less scary and more fun
Baltimore Sun, United States - 9 hours ago
"I looked at the music scene and the composers I wasn't seeing on programs, all the music not being performed that should be heard here," says saxophonist ...


Dallas Symphony Orchestra's new music director takes the stage ...
Dallas Morning News, TX - 15 hours ago
By SCOTT CANTRELL / The Dallas Morning News Jaap van Zweden conducts his first local concerts as music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra: a ...
Impressed with its vision for future, Doug Adams returns to Dallas ... Dallas Morning News
all 8 news articles


New York Times

All Ears on Screen: Music and Musicians Play Major Role at Toronto ...
New York Times, United States - 4 hours ago
By MICHAEL CIEPLY TORONTO — Movies are on the screen, but a lot of music is in the air at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. ...


Trade pact aiding music, movie industry has critics
Reuters - 5 hours ago
The treaty is supported by the movie and music industry and other businesses which have aggressively sought to to defend their works from counterfeiting, ...


Washington Post

TV Tonight: The 25th Annual MTV Video Music Awards
BuzzSugar.com, CA - 2 hours ago
Amazing, isn't it, that we've had a quarter-century of awesome performances and crazy stunts at the MTV Video Music Awards? This year's 25th installment of ...
Live from the VMA Red Carpet E! Online
One More Time: Britney returns to MTV VMAs The Associated Press
Kanye West to close VMAs Los Angeles Times
Showbiz Spy - The Press Association
all 1,849 news articles


Classical music preview: Big names take the baton
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 14 hours ago
Pioneer, mystic, devout Roman Catholic, birdsong collector, organist, teacher, composer and technical explorer, Messiaen has in music and example influenced ...
Bernard Haitink garners appreciation from Chicago Symphony ... Chicago Tribune
all 2 news articles


8 classical music events from Bernstein to Galway
Newsday, NY - 16 hours ago
14 appearance of the Philharmonic at Carnegie under music director- designate Alan Gilbert. There will be films, lectures, panel discussions - exhausting, ...
LI says 'I do' to 'Wedding Singer' and 8 other shows Newsday
all 2 news articles


CLASSICAL MUSIC + DANCE FALL CALENDAR
Kansas City Star, MO - 20 hours ago
(913-469-8500, Ext. 3605) BRENTANO STRING QUARTET: Friends of Chamber Music. 8 pm Oct. 3. Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th. www.chambermusic.org (816-561-9999) ...


MUSIC FALL CALENDAR
Kansas City Star, MO - 20 hours ago
MOTORHEAD WITH THE MISFITS, AIRBOURNE, VALIANT THOR AND YEAR LONG DISASTER: 7 pm Sept. 7. Harrah’s Casino, VooDoo Lounge, One Riverboat Drive, North Kansas ...

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006