A Whole Host of Facts About the Modern Guitar

Most people know the distinctive look of a guitar and the basic sound it makes when you strum your fingers across the strings of the guitar, but most people don't know the litany of ornate facts about the guitar because they have never bothered to study it. Even some professional guitar musicians don't know about all the guitars. The guitar is a stringed instrument that is a component of a diverse set of musical styles like Blues, Country, Ragtime, Jazz, Rock and Roll, and Dance Music.

There are reports of the guitar being used 4,000 years ago. Electric guitars were even used in the 1930s. The guitar originated in Central Asia and India, and it has traveled throughout the centuries to make its way here from ancient times. The oldest representation of the guitar is from 3,000 years ago of a Hittite playing the guitar. Who said that Hittites weren't cool? The modern guitar was rumored to have come from the Romans. Some cool names and ancient references to the guitar include the guitarra, gitarre, cithara, and sihtar. These names are not familiar to most people, but remember that each culture has their own native language to represent the name of the guitar. Strings used to be made of the guts of animals and wood was used as the base of the guitar. Guitars were mentioned in records of the Vikings and the Moors. Who said that Vikings with the remarkable helmets couldn't play the guitar as well as their rock and roll legend counterparts? Maybe the world needs a band of Vikings to come along and show people how it's done.

Some of the top brands of guitars include Dean, Jackson, and Martin, but there are several dozen more and a little over 10 big names. The primary parts of the guitar that make almost every guitar include the headstock, neck, nut, fretboard, frets, truss rod, strings, and inlays. Each has its distinct part in the design, and if one is missing, then the whole thing cannot function. Imagine a guitar that was not hollow or missing its neck, the sound would be horrible.

The timbre of your guitar is a matter to discuss with the guitar salesman because he can let you hear firsthand how every guitar will sound. It is hard to describe each and every particular sound that a type and brand of a certain guitar will make, because that is something one must experience. A simple textual description will not be as good as actually hearing it and getting the appropriate sound for your band.

Some familiar guitar accessories include capotasto, slides, and plectrum. There are so many interesting parts of guitar methodology that many people find it hard to concentrate on them all without just jumping in and learning how each one works firsthand. The guitar is versatile, flexible, and portable so there is a way you can get used to it if you try. Everyone deserves a shot to be a famous musician, and the guitar may be the best way to do that.

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Ballroom Dancing - The Viennese Waltz and the Quick Step

The Viennese Waltz which was derived from the Austrian Landler is an elegant hasty, whirling dance where the partners hold each other as if in a romantic embrace. This raised greater than a few eyebrows of "polite" society. The increase in popularity of the Viennese Waltz, like the standard waltz, can at least in part be contributed to the music of Johann Strauss and to Vienna's famous ballrooms. As with the common waltz the music can be either vocal or instrumental and can be classical, country, or even rock.

The Viennese Waltz is a faster paced dance than the standard waltz which also makes it more challenging to do. Like the normal waltz the Viennese Waltz incorporates a straightforward, elegant rotation and swinging movements, though there should be no foot rise on the inner turns. The Viennese Waltz also requires a large amount of stamina, the equivalent, actually of the amount of energy that would be required to dance a polka.

The Viennese Waltz uses a right turn (natural turn), a left turn (reverse turn) and two change steps that link the moves between the turns. Dancing the line of dance (direction of traffic - turning left at the corners of the dance floor) and rotating in a clockwise direction is the Natural Turn. Following the line of dance and rotating in a counter-clockwise direction is the Reverse Turn. The step links (change steps) allow you to change directions while still following the line of dance.

The step links are simply two normal steps down the line of dance followed by a third step sliding the moving foot to the standing foot. By performing a string of change figures you can work your way through the tight spots on a crowded dance floor then resume the rotation. The "sway" is simply leaning slightly in the opposite direction of the line of dance movement.

Ballroom Dancing - The Quick Step

The Quick Step: The Charleston, the Black Bottom, the Shimmy and probably a couple other dances all melded into a quicker version of the Fox Trot, which in 1923 became called the Quick Step. The evolution of the Quick Step ended with a dance that utilizes a large number of movement, hops, runs, Quick Steps and rotation. It is a very brisk, energetic dance that was developed with very quick jazz music from the ragtime era.

The Quick Step is a fast, happy, lighthearted dance, the footwork can be slightly complex using a slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick tempo. Like other dances the slow steps on the heel, Quick Steps on the toes.

The Quick Step utilizes a quick moving up and down swing motion. It's essential to look light on your feet even supposing the movements are powerful. Owing to the quickness of the dance keeping in sync with your life-partner and attempting to keep similar tension in the legs is a necessity. More so than the other dances facial expression is essential to rapid the fun aspect of the dance.

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10 Piano Styles You Can Learn to Play

When studying the piano, a student encounters a myriad piano styles. To master the instrument, at least several of these styles must be learned, and all if at all possible. Knowledge of various playing styles enables a pianist to enjoy and play in any genre and to cross-polinate styles to create a fusion he or she can call their own.

Many modern piano styles are based on the blues. The blues involve an emphasis on the major and minor pentatonic scales, with an additional note included. The flatted fifth is added to the minor pentatonic to create the blues scale. Many blues songs are based on a simple chord progression, known as 12-bar blues. This uses the I, IV and V chords of a scale to create a foundation for melodies and solos.

For example, rock piano was born out of the blues and then took on a life of it's own in the stylings of Jerry Lee Lewis, Michael McDonald, Elton John, Billy Joel, and many others.

Cocktail piano is a style generally connected with Liberace, Eddy Duchin, Roger Williams, and others who play popular tunes with lots of great technique -- lots of notes, runs, flourishes, and so on. But I hate to categorize and of these great pianists, as many of them play in other styles as well.

Boogie-woogie is a piano style based on the blues. It started as a solo piano style, but has expanded into other genres, such as county-western and gospel. It differs from the blues in that it is considered dance music, while blues music traditionally expresses sadness and frustration.

Rhythm and blues piano is based on blues, jazz, and gospel styles. As the name suggests, the emphasis is on the rhythm of the song. Most R&B has a particular swing to it, with a strong feel of syncopation in the rhythm. Syncopation involves placing the stress on a normally unstressed beat. This often results in an almost off-time feel to the untrained ear.

Ragtime piano also incorporates syncopation. Ragtime uses syncopation in its melodies by placing melodic notes between the stressed beats of the rhythm. Ragtime is often considered the first completely American genre, even predating jazz.

Jazz piano encompasses such a broad palate of styles that it is impossible to describe. Many piano styles incorporate ideas borrowed from jazz, such as improvisation. An emphasis on extended chord forms and chord re-harmonization also stems from jazz piano.

New age piano often involves less chord changes than other styles, instead relying on simpler progressions and polychords. It often imitates the sound of nature -babling brooks, wind, rain, and so on. A polychord occurs when two different chords are played at once. This technique is taken from earlier classical works by composers such as Stravinsky.

Gospel piano is often similar to the blues, jazz and R&B. It emphasizes certain extended chords, such as the 11th, and usually has the swinging feel associated with jazz and R&B. The apparent simplicity of gospel songs often hides the fact that they are, indeed, quite musically complex. Syncopation is highly stressed in gospel music, as it contributes to the overall spiritual feel of the music.

Country and western piano has similar roots as blues piano. Both styles stem from earlier folk styles, often developed by the less fortunate people of the era. Many early country songs stem from Appalachian folk songs. Country and western piano is highlighted by very bright playing, with simple chord progressions underneath the melody. One of the greats in this styles is Floyd Cramer.

Traditional sacred piano styles involve the playing of liturgical songs and hymns. These can range from the harmonically and rhythmically complex to simple two and three chord songs. Many hymns stem from folk songs of centuries past. The variety of sacred piano styles is as numerous as the liturgical songs themselves. These piano styles often involve a strict reading of notation, with less of an emphasis on personal interpretation than other styles.

The classical piano style is probably the most varied of all the styles. Classical music is older than other styles, and is considered to the proper grounds for musical instruction. Many elements of other piano styles come from classical music, and nearly all forms of musical theory are used in classical music. Andre Previn is the classic example of a well-trained classical pianist crossing over into the world of jazz, and with great success. Classical music usually requires intense training to master, though there many simpler pieces designed with the novice player in mind.

Though classical is often considered the high point of music, this "ain't necessarily so." For instance, many players who are "classically trained" have trouble adapting to the feel and sincerity of the blues. For this reason, a well-rounded player should be adaptable and learn as much about each of these piano styles as possible. In this way, a pianist is ready for any musical challenge. And besides, who knows where the future of music lies?

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at "Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!"

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The Jazz Piano Genius of Oscar Peterson

From his early love of music to his last years, Oscar Peterson's life was full with accomplishments and support from his family. The decision to become a professional pianist led to a weekly radio show and many performances in hotels and music halls for Peterson.

Although his life ended at the age of 82, Oscar Peterson had an extremely productive musical career in jazz that ended too quickly. Named Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, he was born on August 15, 1925, in Canada. As a child growing up in Canada, he and his family lived in a predominantly black neighborhood called Little Burgundy in Montreal.

Because of his surroundings, Peterson was largely influenced by jazz music, which was extremely popular during this era. Peterson started playing and perfecting the art of the trumpet and piano at age five. However, tuberculosis caused him to stop playing the trumpet and focus primarily on his gift for piano playing. To develop his extraordinary skills, Peterson practiced scales and classical eludes every single day. His daily routine consisted of four to six hours of solid practice time a day.

Studying with pianist Paul de Marky helped further refine his talents. Peterson soon began to concentrate on jazz, ragtime and boogie-woogie music. Because of his newfound interest in emerging music types, he was nicknamed "The Brown Bomber of the Boogie Woogie."

By nine years old, Peterson's collaboration list was growing quickly. At fourteen years old, he won the national music competition hosted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. However, his next life-changing decision proved controversial yet life-changing. Peterson decided to drop out of school and to become a professional pianist. The decision to become a professional pianist led to a weekly radio show and many performances in hotels and music halls for Peterson.

Oscar Peterson listed many of his personal influences in the musical spectrum. These influences included Nat King Cole, Teddy Wilson, James P. Johnson and Art Tatum.

After being heard on a radio broadcast, Oscar Peterson joined Norman Granz's recording label called Verve. Quickly, Peterson was assigned to Granz's "Jazz at the Philharmonic" project. This project included work with major artists and musicians including Ray Brown, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stephane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Anita O'Day, Fred Astaire, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz.

From this point on, Oscar Peterson would be acclaimed for his genius work with his craft of jazz piano. His reputation grew, and he soon was a major celebrity in the spotlight. In the 1940's, Canadian Radio hosted Peterson as a regular on many jazz programs.

By the 1950's, Oscar Peterson was a household name all over the world. He was labeled one of the leading pianists in jazz music.

His greatest asset after his unique, exceptional playing technical ability was his versatility. Peterson played in numerous duets, quartets, solos, trios, small bands and big bands. In the 1950's, Peterson collaborated with Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner. Duos with Herbie Hancock occurred in the 1980's. Performances in the 1980's through the 1990's often featured his protege Benny Green.

In 1993, Peterson suffered a stroke. Fortunately for the world, he recovered quickly. By 1995, Peterson returned to the world of musical performance.

In a tribute to his beloved friend and associate Norman Granz, Peterson named his dog Smedley two years before his untimely death. Smedley was Granz's nickname from Peterson.

Like the original Smedley, the dog Smedley had a great attachment and devotion to Peterson. Even at Peterson's death, the beloved and loving dog stayed at Peterson's side by his bed, refusing to leave him. Peterson died of renal failure on December 27, 2007, but his music lives on in countless jazz recordings.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at "Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!"

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The Non-Singer's Guide to Sharing Music With Your Child

Ahh... the sound of music. No, not the beloved and famous movie starring Julie Andrews, actual music notes being played from instruments or sung by voices. I have always loved hearing and making music. There is nothing that brightens and lifts the spirit more than the strains of a song drifting throughout our home.

It is important for parents to make it a point to encourage and nurture their child's exposure to the world of music. Introducing your child to music and song encourages their interaction with others, and inspires creative expression. It gives wing to their imagination, and can help in their development. But if you consider yourself a non-singer or never took piano or other instrumental lessons yourself, you may be reluctant to share the world of music with your little one.

Not to worry! You do not have to be a singer or play an instrument to share music with your child. Here's our guide to sharing the joy of listening and making music with your children.

• A parent's voice is the first musical "instrument" a child hears. One of the easiest things a parent can do from the moment you bring your newborn home is to sing lullabies. Sing with lullaby CD's or hum to classical music. You'll soon find that your baby has a favorite song even when they are very young. Once your baby becomes a toddler, it's great to sing and dance with your child to silly songs, particularly action songs.
• You may feel silly breaking out in that "sing-song tone," but with a little tweaking of lyrics to songs you enjoy, adding some rhyme and movements, and you'll find you both enjoy the experience. For example, short song jingles, such as "may I have some milk now, please?" and "thank you oh so very much" or "David now it's time for bed" to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down." will quickly grab their attention and motivate them to do what you would like them to do!
• Hum to your little one with their ear against your heart. You don't need any particular tune, just snuggle up and start humming a little melody! Babies love this.
• Take your little one to see live music performed, such as street performers, local fairs and other events that you do not have to worry about annoying other listeners. Open air is a better choice than an enclosed area that could bombard little ears with too many sounds.
• Invite your older child to sing with you to the new baby. This helps alleviate sibling rivalry and makes the older sibling feel an important part of the new baby's life.
• Kids love making music! Make musical instruments from items found in the household. An old coffee canister can become a drum. Plastic yogurt cups with dried beans or rice in them easily become shakers. Blowing into bottles with different levels of water become pipes. A comb with a handle and colored tissue paper wrapped around the comb becomes a kazoo. A paper plate with jingle bells glued on it becomes a tambourine. Tap two spoons together. Have a fun day with the kids creating your instruments or go to the local dollar store and look for inexpensive instruments, then jam along with some CD's.
• Listen to music CD's together--- all types of genres. Classical, reggae, folk, ragtime, jazz, opera, silly songs. Teach your children the history of the music, and tap out the rhythm of the songs together.
• Select a special song that just the two of you can dance to each day at a certain time. Maybe it's your "bedtime boogie" song, or a song that is played when you come home from work.
• Open your ears. Discover the rhythms and the sounds of life--- the swish-swish of the washing machine, the song of the birds, rivers and wind in the trees. The crickets singing in the summer and wind chimes tinkling on the patio. Close your eyes and listen to the symphony of natural music, and talk about the sounds and rhythms you hear. Invent a song to some of the sounds.
• Take a music and movement class with your infant, toddler or preschooler.
• Make up new words to songs. This is a great activity when traveling in the car and you can end up with some wonderfully hilarious songs.
• As your child gets older, share in their interest and love of music. Ask your child about the artists they admire and listen to their work with your child.
• Dance to music with your child.
• If you do involve your child in music lessons or a children's choir, attend their concerts without fail. Have them rehearse for you at home to help them gain self-confidence.

Music is a very enriching and positive experience, no matter what your age. It transcends language barriers, encourages interaction with others, and can make a child's playtime or bedtime an enchanted time. The magic of music shared together is a rewarding experience. It will remain a part of your child's life and the experiences will be shared with their own little ones in the symphony of life.

(c) February 2010

About the Author
Catherine is a resident of Tualatin, Oregon and owner, songwriter and main instrumental and vocal artist for her family music production company, Pitter Patter Productions, established in 1992. The company specializes in original award-winning music for children from newborn through kindergarten, ebooks and a FREE bi-monthly ezine. Pitter Patter Productions is going green! Several of our children's music albums are now available as a download in addition to CD format. Receive a FREE sampler album download when subscribing to our ezine, Parent Patter Magazine. For more information about our products or to subscribe to our FREE ezine and receive your free music sampler download, visit us online at http://www.pitterpatterproductions.com or email me at catherine@pitterpatterproductions.com.

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Origins of Jazz Music

There are a lot of people nowadays who enjoy great jazz music. In fact, almost every home has somebody who loves to listen to its cool rhythm and its moving beat. However, jazz music did not come along that easy since it all started. In fact, based on the origin of jazz, this type of music genre had its share of low times before it hit the popularity spot. While jazz is now being enjoyed by a lot of people, there was a time in its history when it was not as accepted as it is today.

Somehow, the popularity of jazz or its unpopularity at the onset had to do with its being clearly identified as black music. But now, when the issues of racial discrimination is slowly starting to wane, anyone can say that jazz music, which is being played not only by black people but also by white, is here to stay.

In general, the origin of jazz was believed to have started in New Orleans before it spread to Chicago and then on to Kansas City, then to New York City and finally the West Coast area. Both the vocals and the instrumental sides of the blues are known to be essential components that we can still predominantly see in this music genre today. There have been and there still are many types of the genre and this was all started with the ragtime that officially started in New Orleans or what is also known as the Dixieland jazz. Then, after this, there came the swing jazz, which was also known as the bop or bebop. Cool or progressive jazz followed thereafter, which was also then succeeded by the hard bop or the neo-bop.

Then, there was the third stream and the mainstream modern and the jazz type that a lot of people like to dance, which is the Latin jazz. Of course, rock and roll also made its influence on this music genre with the coming out of the jazz rock, which was followed lastly by the avant-garde or what is commonly known as the free jazz.

The origin of jazz actually started out in the later years of the 19th century and this was derived from the work songs of the blacks, their sorrow songs, their field shouts, their hymns and their spiritual songs, the melodic, rhythmic and harmonic elements of which were seen to have been dominated by African influence. However, because it was seen as a music genre that was improvisational, emotional and spontaneous in nature and because it was mainly associated with the blacks, jazz did not garner the level of recognition that it deserved.

It was the European audiences that showed warmer reception to jazz, making the jazz musicians of America go to this country to work on their trade. Jazz only gained a wider audience when adaptations or imitations of it were made by white orchestras. It was in the later part of the 1930's when it was known to have become a legitimate entertainment and this was when Benny Goodman initiated concerts at the Carnegie hall of groups having mixed racial origins.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

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Jazz History: "Pre-Jazz"

Jazz as a style didn't come into its own until around 1920. Before that there were such prejazz forms as band and piano ragtime, jug bands, banjo groups, country blues, European marching bands and pop songs, street calls, and African percussion music. Good examples of this early American music can be heard on the Smithsonian Folk Collection. Most good jazz texts run the history and descriptions down. One such book is Jazz Styles by Mark Gridley.

Jazz came about due to the inevitable confluence of ragtime and the blues. Of course, one could make a semantic argument which would confuse what the salient characteristics of jazz are (much of what they presented on BET Jazz I wouldn't call jazz, for example). Similarly, I would not call the Original Dixieland Jass Band's barn animal and slide-whistle gimmicks jazz. (Many contemporaries called their stuff jive hokum.) Jazz didn't really swing until Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong, and simply because Louis and Jelly played ragtime before they evolved their great jazz groups does not make what they played before that jazz.

Certainly the music had been gradually evolving towards jazz for quite some time, but because the ODJB first used the term Jass (not Jazz) in their title isn't that much of a big deal to me. I'm sure they thought it would help with sales and popularity (and it worked for them, too), since these terms--and others--were already in the air. And musicians did not uniformly refer to whatever music they played at that time as jazz by any means; these were loose terms. Many scholars do, however, acknowledge that the ODJB was the first recorded jazz band, and that is where I differ with them.

I cringe when I hear about ODJB in this regard: Having played their recordings for many Jazz History classes over the years, and compared their music to Louis, Jelly, and many others, I think they are an embarrassment. To me they are insufferably corny and they couldn't swing their way out of a paper bag! Worst of all, they are the recorded caricature of the less-talented whites stealing the black man's music--and doing it poorly.

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Great Jazz Pianists and Their Contributions to Music

Some of the greatest piano players in history became known for their proficiency in jazz. Technicality and a heavy reliance upon the ability of the musician to improvise makes jazz piano one of the hardest styles to learn. That does NOT mean, however, that it can't be learned, but to get to the highest rungs a pianist must have lots of talent, a great ear, and the ability to improvise.

The birth of jazz music in the early 1900s was a significant period in musical history. Many of those who are considered among the greatest jazz pianists of all times were pioneers of the genre during this period. Jazz evolved from musical styles that African slaves brought to America. Therefore, its inception can largely be attributed to the early African-American community. African-American pianists, such as Scott Joplin and Ernest Hogan, are considered to be among the fathers of ragtime music. Although the ragtime era only lasted a few years, it was a precursor to, and contemporary of, the jazz era.

Many of the earliest and greatest jazz pianists were African American. For this reason, jazz music had something of a hurdle to overcome. While many embraced jazz as a new and exciting genre, others didn't. The emancipation of African slaves was still a fresh memory, and many people still carried strong attitudes of racism.

Jazz's public image changed slowly over the first two or three decades of the 20th century. Great African-American jazz pianists of the early to mid 1900s were instrumental in helping transform the perception of jazz. African-American artists like Erroll Garner, Theoloius Monk, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson brought a level of class to the genre that was undeniable. In fact, the Count Basie orchestra was pivotal to the jazz culture of New York for half a century. Noteworthy musicians in and of themselves, they also provided back-up for critically acclaimed singers like Billie Holliday and Big Joe Turner.

Count Basie's association with Ella Fitzgerald is both historically and musically significant. The 1963 album the two made together is remembered by critics as possibly the greatest recording of her career. Count Basie also made recordings with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett. These match-ups lent even more credibility to jazz as a distinct genre.

The evolution of jazz saw many changes over the ensuing decades. More branches and sub-genres developed. In fact, jazz music fell out of favor with the public for several years in the 1980s. There was controversy within the musical community over the fusing of so many different types of music with jazz. Some purists viewed it as "watering down" the art form. Other musicians and fans see jazz music as a culmination of many types of music and view blending it with rock as simply another variation generally known as "fusion".

Contemporary jazz artists have brought jazz back around into public favor in the 21st century. Today's great jazz pianists, like Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr. and Norah Jones bear living proof of this by number of albums sold. While some write off their work as "pop" jazz, many believe they are instrumental in keeping jazz alive in the new millennium.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at "Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!"

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Jazz Music Through the Ages

Although the dictionary describes jazz as an American musical art form which originated in African American communities, there are no words to describe the sound jazz has carried through the ages.

The invisible line of racial segregation in the early 1900's made it hard for newly freed African Americans to find work. Black citizens were forced to take jobs as entertainers in bars, brothels, dances and clubs. As fate would have it though, jazz music was born from the new sound of ragtime music these musicians came up with. The sound caught on like a wild fire and intrigued the likes of Scott Joplin and Claude Debussy.

Jazz aficionados mostly attribute the city of New Orleans to the music's roots. Through music played at local brothels as well as the sounds of marching bands in funeral processions, jazz caught its intriguing beat.

In the 1920's and 1930's, the Jazz Age made its grand entrance. A man with a voice of gold named Louis Armstrong formed his band during this time. One of jazz music's' greatest composers, George Gershwin took the world by storm with his beautiful "Rhapsody in Blue." All over the country, jazz music was looked at in different lights, ranging from enlightening to immoral. Swing clubs were born and America's youth put their feet to work with the new hip collective sound of jazz.

DixieLand, BeBop and Cool Jazz emerged in the 1940's and 1950's. The sweet melodies of Miles Davis lit up the room and took jazz music to a whole new level. Never disappointing, jazz kept up its reputation and produced a whole new genre of music including Latin Jazz and Soul Jazz in the 1960's and 1970's.

The last 2 decades have brought about many exciting yet straightforward forms of jazz. This beloved music art form has inspired many a singer and songwriter. To hear a jazz song is to see inside an artists' soul. The richly diverse takes on jazz throughout the last century have helped to shape not only a culture but a way of life.

In this article, the author Jeni Stevens writes about the jazz music. In the 1920's and 1930's, the Jazz Age made its grand entrance and jazz music has inspired from many singer songwriter and hot adult contemporary artists. More information is avail on http://www.shaunbarrowes.blogspot.com

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History of Jazz Piano

Jazz piano has been a part of jazz since its beginnings. Piano is one of the rare instruments in a jazz combo which can play chords, unlike saxophone or trumpet which can only play single notes. The early jazz piano was mainly stride. Stride is also known as New York ragtime is a pioneering jazz piano style. It was developed in Harlem during the World war one. As you can see from the name (New York ragtime) it was influenced by ragtime but it featured improvisations, blue notes and swing rhythms which were new in this type of music.

The great performers of that time were Earl Hines, James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, Willie "The Lion" Smith , Art Tatum, Thomas "Fats" Waller, Mary Lou Williams, Teddy Wilson and many others who often attended cutting contests (battles between stride piano players in the early 1920s) where they showed of their skills.

It continued to develop specially during the 50s and 60s with pianists like Red Garland and McCoy Tyner. In that time one of the most widely spread types of jazz called Free Jazz was becoming more and more popular. Some great works of art still reminds us of that time which surely was a gold age of jazz existence. The beginnings of free jazz can be set with recordings of Ornette Coleman for Contemporary and with the Jazz Advance and Looking Ahead, two great albums by Cecil Taylor.

Today jazz piano is still popular among many pianists just to mention few Michael Weiss, Bill Charlap, Geoffrey Keezer, Brad Mehldau, Mulgrew Miller, Danilo Perez and many others.

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New Orleans Jazz - News and Views - Lars Edegran

Since 1965 Lars Edegran has been an innovative presence in New Orleans music. His accomplishments as arranger, bandleader, talent scout, record producer, and performer are well-known throughout the world. He received national acclaim when his soundtrack for Louis Malle's film Pretty Baby was nominated for an Academy Award and his orchestrations for the off-Broadway smash hit "One Mo' Time" resulted in a Grammy Award nomination for the original cast album.

Lars was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1944. He started taking classical piano lessons at the age of seven but soon developed an interest in playing American music ­traditional jazz and blues - by listening to his piano-playing brother's band rehearsing at the house. Lars' father also played music - guitar, banjo & mandolin - and encouraged all his children to learn an instrument. By the late 1950s Lars was playing piano in local Dixieland bands and in 1961 he organized a New Orleans style band with clarinetist Orange Kellin and several other friends, The Imperial Band. This group's main inspiration were the New Orleans Revival recordings of the 1940s and 50s. The Imperial Band became popular in Stockholm and toured in Sweden and Denmark although most of the members were still at school at the time.

Lars left Sweden in March 1965 when Bob Koester offered him a job in his Chicago jazz record store. There wasn't much jazz in Chicago to Lars' liking so he spent a lot of time in the blues clubs listening to Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, J.B. Lenoir and others. He also got a chance to meet and hear some of his country blues favorites - Big Joe Williams, Son House, Lightnin' Hopkins and Mance Lipscomb.

After five months' stay in Chicago, Lars decided to take the trip down to New Orleans to hear some of his favorite jazz players. He was so overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people and the exciting music at Preservation Hall and other places that he right away decided to give up his job in Chicago and try his luck in New Orleans. He has made New Orleans his home ever since, apart from a six-year hiatus in New York.

Lars' first musical activities on the New Orleans music scene was playing clarinet in brass bands and he soon became a regular member of Andrew Morgan's Young Tuxedo Brass Band. On week-ends he played guitar at Munster's Dance Hall with Tony Fougerat's band and that way learned a lot of tunes not normally heard on jazz records. On the recommendation of Harry Shields, Lars joined Sharkey Bonano's band, which at that time played mainly private functions. In 1967 Lars discovered a treasure trove of ragtime orchestrations in the Tulane University Jazz Archives which led to the formation of the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, at that time the only group in the country playing classical ragtime - some six years before the movie "The Sting". After appearances at the first New Orleans Jazz Festival and the 1970 Newport Festival, the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra began many years of touring and recording and is still active today. The International Dixieland Jazz Band (two Swedes, two Japanese and two Americans), under the leadership of Lars Edegran, held forth at Luthjen's Dance Hall for two years in the late 1960s and after that Lars began a long stint of working in Bourbon

Street clubs that was to last till his move to New York in 1979. During the 1970s Lars also undertook European tours with the New Orleans Joy Makers, a group of jazz veterans, and the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra.

Lars spent six years in New York being employed by the "One Mo' Time" company as pianist, musical director and arranger. "One Mo' Time" was a New Orleans musical that became a hit as an off-Broadway show while playing at the Village Gate in New York City and then had successful runs in London, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney and Washington, D.C., as well as a number of long tours in the USA and abroad. Lars was involved in all the various companies training the vocalists and working with the bands. While in New York Lars also worked as musical director and arranger in several other theatrical productions. After taking some music courses at the Juilliard School of Music and lessons in big band arranging from Swing Era veteran Eddie Barefield he moved back to New Orleans in 1985.

Lars returned to touring with various jazz bands as well as keeping busy free-lancing on the New Orleans jazz scene. He got a position furnishing the music for the Riverwalk Market Place in 1987 - still going at the time of writing - and the following year replaced Sing Miller in Percy Humphrey's Preservation Hall Jazz Band. This led to a number of years of touring the USA as well as long stays in Mexico and appearances in Thailand, Israel and Greece. In recent years Lars has spent the winters working in New Orleans and the summers touring Europe; usually with his own group of New Orleans artists but occasionally as a guest artist.

Lars has recorded with numerous jazz greats - Doc Cheatham, Sammy Price, George Lewis, Louis Nelson, Jim Robinson, Jabbo Smith, Percy & Willie Humphrey, Louis Barbarin, Danny Barker, AI Casey, Arvell Shaw - and has produced many recordings in the blues, gospel and jazz field.

I asked Lars about his plans for 2009 and again he will be touring Europe, Scandinavia and then Italy, with superb New Orleans musicians and the stunning Juanita Brooks who adds that hot New Orleans spice to the music. In Scandinavia, he will be Musical Director with Sammy Rimmington and Juanita Brooks. In Italy he will be playing with his own band from New Orleans, including Tommy Sancton and Freddy Lonzo. I asked Lars why he did not visit the UK and basically he said that nobody had asked him! I believe that his Mahalia Jackson tribute with Topsy Chapman and Juanita Brooks would fill any concert hall in the world including the Royal Festival Hall..

New Orleans Jazz specialist Geoff Gilbert, banjo player writer and broadcaster lives in the French Quarter. Born in England in 1932. he formed and led the Gothic Jazz Band in 1962. After moving to Sydney, Australia in 1964, he formed the Harbour City Jazz Band and began his jazz radio show on 2MBS-FM which ran for 30 years. In 2001, Geoff relocated to New Orleans to continue his love affair with the birthplace of jazz.

Want to hear some more? Listen to Geoff's podcast, Video of the Month, record reviews and local news at http://geoffgilbertsneworleansjazz.com/

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Popular Jazz Artists and Their Music

Many people consider jazz as the one true original American music. However, just as the country is a hodge-podge of different cultures, its music a mixture of different beats and melodies. In fact, jazz is a combination of African beat and European melodic influences. The combination is so unique only to America, which is why it cannot be considered as something that came from somewhere else. Jazz was first heard in the suburban areas in the south during the late 1800's, in communities that were largely populated by Afro-Americans.

Because of its origins, the early popular jazz music artists were blacks. The genre was still at its inception stage with ragtime as its earliest form. The usual instruments used to create such music were banjo and piano. The popular artists then were Ernest Hogan and Tim Turpin, who published the Harlem Rag. By the end of the century, jazz developed further with the innovations created by Scott Joplin. Being a pianist trained in the classical music, he created a beautiful fusion of his specialty and ragtime. By the beginning of the 20th century, the blues came into being, with W.C. Handy as one of the most popular artists of such genre.

Big bands usually play jazz music during the early years. However, when swing music, another new jazz form, rose to prominence in the 1930's, soloists became more popular too. Swing music highlights the skills of the trumpeter. Because of this, the trumpet player usually ends up becoming more famous than the other musicians in the band. During this time, the genre's icons, such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington grew so popular that any jazz lover should know them and their music.

From the danceable swing music, jazz evolved further in the 1940's to 1960's with bebop. Bebop is known as the musician's music because it gave emphasis on the talents of the instrument players. Every musician in the band was provided with moments to shine, from the piano, the base, to the wind instruments in the band. Among the top trumpeters were Clifford and Dizzy Gillespie. The most popular among the pianists were Thelonius Monk and Bud Powell. Even drummers gained recognition, with Max Roach as one of the more famous ones.

The 70's saw the development of jazz fusion, a bold attempt to combine the elements of rock and roll with the classic jazz sound. These were the times when the jazz artists, such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Tony Williams became very famous. Not only did they develop a new jazz sound. They also influenced even the rock and roll artists of the time, such Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead.

For those who wish to discover more about jazz music and musicians why not do some research here: jazz music online

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The Development of Jazz in New Orleans

Jazz is known as being one of the only styles of music created in America, though it is a mixture West African and Western music traditions. Jazz's began in New Orleans, around the 1900's, but its roots can be traced back hundreds of years earlier when slaves who were brought to America developed spirituals and blues in order to communicate with one another and express sadness, desires and religious beliefs. The music was passed along orally with each new generation making their own unique changes to the songs, which were often of a call and response form and unaccompanied by musical instruments.

Rhythms and melodies from the black community were combined with European compositions leading to the development of Ragtime music around 1895. "Ragging" a song meant dragging out certain notes and livening up music by rearranging notes. Ragtime and Jazz are similar but Ragtime music is predominantly sole piano music while Jazz music is played in ensembles.

Though jazz is closely associated with blues and ragtime, one of the most important elements of jazz music is that it is improvisational music--well-known notes and lines are a starting point for musicians to develop unique songs around. Early jazz musicians often could not read music but they thrilled audiences by bringing emotion, excitement and the unexpected to their pieces. While ragtime music was popular in restaurants, clubs or hotels, Jazz was mobile, versatile music played at funerals, parades, weddings, and at festivals.

The 1920's were known as the Jazz Age as New Orleans jazz was brought to nightclubs in Northern cities such as Chicago and New York. It was more upscale than the music of New Orleans, and New Orleans Jazz distinguished itself as being a more folksy and spontaneous form of Jazz. Throughout the 20th century, many variations of Jazz music were popular including Dixieland, bebop, Big Band, swing, cool jazz, soul jazz and Latin jazz.

All forms of jazz music and the types of music that inspired it or have preceded it are celebrated during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The event began in 1970 as means of showcasing the musical heritage, arts, crafts and cuisine unique of New Orleans. The first Jazz Festival had a lineup that included Duke Ellington and Fats Domino and only about 350 attendees.

Quickly the Festival's popularity grew and it now draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, world-renowned singers and the top talent of New Orleans and Louisiana. This year, artists including Rod Stewart, Jon Mayer, Harry Connick Jr. and ZZ Top are set to play in the event which will take place during the weekends of April 27-29 and May 4-6.

2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival attendees are invited to stay at the Hotel Maison de Ville in the French Quarter so that in addition to seeing the festival performances, they'll be right by jazz clubs and bars where they can hear intimate performances by traditional and contemporary jazz artists who have been inspired by the earliest performers.

Hotel Maison de Ville is located in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter. The main building located at 727 Rue Toulouse, the reception room, parlor, concierge, and nine guest quarters. Additional luxury accommodations are offered in other historic buildings, including the Audubon Cottages. The Maison de Ville also is home to one of the finest restaurants in New Orleans, The Bistro, which features Nouvelle Creole Cuisine. Please see http://www.hotelmaisondeville.com for more information.

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How Jazz Got Started

Though many associate the birth of jazz music with the city of New Orleans, its origin may be a bit more ambiguous. Like many other musical forms, jazz evolved over a period of years. Many believe its evolution took place over decades. It's widely agreed, however, that jazz music as we know it today was born in the southern United States. It is also accepted that it developed from a variety of different influences, culminating in a style that became its own genre.

Jazz's major influence probably came from African slaves brought to the United States in the 1800s. In fact, African music influenced many styles of music, including rock and roll. The form that evolved into jazz consisted specifically of call-and-response singing, syncopation and improvisation. Ragtime, which may be considered a precursor to modern jazz, drew upon many of these elements.

Ragtime music originated after the emancipation of African slaves. The newfound freedom of slaves was bittersweet. Though freedom was deserved and appreciated, there were few job opportunities for freed slaves. Many had no means of self-support, and some simply stayed on with their former owners. Others supported themselves through musical performance. Often, this meant performing in dubious locations, like brothels and minstrel shows.

It was these types of venues that gave rise to ragtime, which enjoyed a brief period of popularity in the late 19th and early 20th century. Talented ragtime musicians like Scott Joplin were generally recognized much later for their contributions to modern jazz.

Though ragtime only graced the music scene for a few years, it influenced what would become referred to in 1915 as jazz music. While the actual origin of the term is uncertain, the name stuck. Cities like New Orleans have since become synonymous with jazz. This is not necessarily because it originated there, but because its musicians have added a distinct flavor to jazz music. Dixieland jazz bands still largely dominate the musical culture of New Orleans. Thanks to modern artists like Louis Armstrong, Winton Marsalis and Miles Davis, Dixieland-style jazz continues to enjoy mainstream popularity.

Once jazz music became labeled as such, more variations developed. Swing was one of those, which saw its height in the 1930s. Swing greats like Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller are still covered by today's musicians. Although swing isn't the genre it once was, it still has a big following today.

Because of its early association with brothels and speakeasies, jazz music had a stigma to overcome in its early years of development. Eventually, jazz became an accepted art form. Today jazz is embraced and taught as its own branch of music.

Jazz music is most distinguished from other musical forms for its reliance upon improvisation. The best jazz musicians have gained notoriety for their ability to play without the aid of written music.

They are able to make up music on the spot and off-the-cuff. It's entirely possible for a song to be different every time it's performed. This may be one reason that jazz fans believe that the most talented of the world's musicians are not classical musicians, but purveyors of jazz.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!

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The Story of the Jazz Piano Style

When people think of piano music, they tend to think of classic pieces. Jazz piano is a style that is obviously unique, but also technically and soulfully superb.

The story of the jazz piano begins with a man named Jelly Roll Morton, a town called New Orleans, and a type of music called ragtime. Joseph Ferdinand La Menthe (Jelly Roll Morton) was known throughout New Orleans as a musician that could play just about any type of music. Jelly Roll enjoyed entertaining crowds with his ragtime, jazz, and blues combinations, and he often played to a roaring crowd throughout New Orlean's Redlight District.

The song "Jelly Roll Blues" was the first jazz compilation every published (1915), and this catchy tune really put both Jelly Roll and the jazz piano on the musical map. There is no debating the fact that Morton was the original father of jazz piano, and he is entirely responsible for the jazz piano tunes that we know and love today. If you have heard this great musician play, you may be interested to know that a fantastic recording of his is currently at the Library of Congress. This recording was the last one that Morton ever did, and it is one of the best recordings in history.

When the 1920s rolled around, jazz music took a whole different turn, and the streets of Chicago and New York City were vibrating with the sound of a rolling piano. During this time, New York musicians were tapping the keys to a style called "Harlem Stride," and many attribute this type of music to James P. Johnson (1891-1955). The story of jazz piano really started to crank up when Harlem grabbed a hold of the instrument, and though many have tried to duplicate this sound, jazz music has not been the same since.

If you enjoy listening to modern jazz, take the time to discover Jelly Roll and Johnson - you'll be pleased that you did. Whether you want to play the piano, or whether you simply love to hear those sweet chords chime, those that were true piano pioneers are still the best the world has every heard.

There can be no history of the jazz piano without the mention of New Orleans, Harlem, Chicago, Jelly Roll Morton, and James P. Johnson - the men, the music, and the piano all combine throughout time to create a sound unlike any other. Stop for moment, listen to those old recordings, and then ask yourself whether or not you can hear that good old piano truly roll.

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The Great Ragtime Pianists Through the Years

Ragtime is a style that developed from the roughest of neighborhoods and was originally performed in brothels. A precursor to jazz, it is enjoying a resurgence in popularity today. There are quite a few famous ragtime pianists, though many of the originators of the genre died before audio recording was widely available.

Though not famous purely for his piano playing, Scott Joplin remains the most influential ragtime composer. Joplin wrote the first instrumental ("Maple Leaf Rag") to sell over one million copies. Though he never recorded a note, famous friends bore witness to his skills, saying that he played slowly but with perfect execution.

Joplin created several piano rolls for companies, some of which survive today. Unfortunately, the illness that eventually killed him also caused his later playing to suffer, which is why there is debate as to his technical skill. Still, Joplin's mastery of ragtime composition laid the groundwork upon which later pianists would embellish.

Another ragtime composer noted for his piano skills was Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton. Beginning his training at a young age in a local brothel, Morton developed both great technical skills and a rather infamous ego. He brought the techniques he had learned from playing ragtime piano to Chicago, where he wrote the first jazz song, "Jelly Roll Blues." Morton brought traditions from New Orleans to the rest of the world and turned piano playing, and music in general, completely upside down.

Eubie Blake was yet another practitioner of the style, though he incorporated other musical genres into his playing. As a boy of four or five, he climbed onto an organ bench while shopping with his mother. Blake started fooling around with the instrument, causing the store owner to proclaim him a genius. His parents bought a pump organ, and he received lessons from his neighbor. He also played in a bordello before moving on to play in proper bands.

Blake composed the song Charleston Rag, which became a huge crossover hit. He went on to write one of the first Broadway musicals written and directed by African Americans.

Sometimes referred to as New York Ragtime, stride piano developed from traditional styles into its own form of playing. Developed during World War I by Luckey Roberts and James Johnson, it relies heavily on the left hand playing a bass line and the right hand playing chords on alternating beats. Though it is often related more to jazz playing, stride was given birth through ragtime.

Modern pianists continue to keep ragtime in the public eye. Butch Thompson was an integral part of A Prairie Home Companion between 1974 and 1986, serving as both the house pianist and band leader. Thompson began playing at the age of three, taking up lessons a few years later. After playing the clarinet in high school, he went to college and joined a local jazz group. After this, he traveled to New Orleans to learn from the masters of jazz and ragtime. He currently tours the world and hosts a jazz program on the radio in Minneapolis.

A free email newsletter on exciting piano chords and chord progressions from Duane Shinn is available free at Piano Chords

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What is Ballroom Dancing and What Styles Are Considered Ballroom?

Ballroom dancing is not one particular style of dancing. Rather, the name encompasses a group of styles that include varying types of partner dance. The most popular styles of ballroom dance are the waltz, the fox trot and Latin dances like salsa, tango, and the cha-cha.

The varying styles are enjoyed both socially and competitively. Though it is now enjoyed by all walks of life, ballroom dancing was reserved for the royal, wealthy and privileged historically.

Ballroom Dancing burst into the common man's scene in the early 20th century, spurred on by the popularity of jazz music and a movement across dance styles towards independent movement for men and women. The jitter bug, charleston, fox and turkey trots are some of the many ragtime dance crazes that took America by storm in the pre-WWI era. Dancing slowed in popularity due to the war, but Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers two-stepped it back into our hearts in the 1930's.

There are many national and international competitions. International competition standards are more rigid than American ones; both require the bars per minute to be regulated but international competition also regulates the time signature. There is a World Dance Council that oversees international competition. The International Olympic Comittee recognizes ballroom dancing as a sport, as well, though there is currently no Olympic dance competition.

Though dancing is less popular today, swing and salsa dancing are still popular American pastimes. Watching ballroom competitions like Dancing With the Stars has proved to be more popular than dancing itself in the 21st century.

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A Brief History of Jazz Music

The folk songs and plantation dance music of black Americans have much to say about the early jazz. These types of music came about all the way through the Southern United States at some point in the eighteen hundreds.

Ragtime, a musical technique that influenced early jazz, emerged from the St. Louis, Missouri, area in the late 1890's. It rapidly became the most popular music style in the United States. Ragtime was a vigorous and syncopated assortment of music, primarily for the piano, that give emphasis to a formal composition.

A conventional jazz band would consist of a front line of a trumpet, trombone and clarinet or the saxophone, and a rhythm section of drums, a bass, a piano, and often times a guitar or banjo. The blues is a type of music that has always been an imperative part of jazz. The blues was especially widespread in the American South. Its mournful scale and uncomplicated repeated harmonies helped shape the character of jazz. Jazz instrumentalists have long exploited the blues as a vehicle for improvisation.

Completely developed jazz music in all probability started off in New Orleans at the commencement of the nineteen hundredths. New Orleans style jazz came forward from the city's own musical customs of band music for black funeral processions and street parades. Today, this kind of jazz is occasionally known as classic jazz, traditional jazz, or Dixieland jazz. New Orleans was the musical home of the first distinguished players and originators of jazz. Jazz soon broaden from New Orleans to the other parts of the country.

The 1920's have been called the golden age of jazz it the jazz age. Commercial radio stations, which first appeared in the 1920's, featured live performances by the growing number of jazz musicians. New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, and The City of New York were all significant centers of jazz.

A group of Midwest youths developed a type of improvisation and arrangement that became known as Chicago style jazz. While in The City of New York, a musician named as James P. Johnson popularized a musical style from ragtime which is known as stride piano. In stride piano, the left hand plays alternating notes single notes and chords that move up and down the scale the scale while the right hand plays solo melodies, accompanying rhythms, and interesting chordal passages. Johnson strongly influenced other jazz pianists.

Fletcher Henderson was the first most important figure in big band jazz. In 1923, he became the first leader to arrange a jazz band into sections of brass, reed, and rhythm instruments. His arranger, Don Redman, was the first to master the modus operandi of scoring music for big bands.

For those who wish to discover more about jazz music and musicians why not do some research here: jazz music online

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The Origin of Jazz Music

Most people believe that Jazz music was first heard during the period known as the "Jazz Age" of the 1920's. The truth is that the origin of Jazz was much earlier. In fact it's roots can be traced to a period between 1850 and 1900 when African slaves and freed people began to experiment with European music.

The music of central and western Africa is filled with intricate rhythms and improvisation played on percussive instruments. When the early African American people incorporated these rhythms into American spirituals, hymns and hillbilly tunes the roots were planted for new forms of music that would eventually lead to the Jazz phenomena. However this new improvisational style of music wouldn't be a given name until around 1915 when it was first referred to as "Jass" or "Jassing".

The first instruments used to play this new style of music were more commonly part of military marching or dance bands. Percussion, brass, woodwind and string instruments were taken up by the African Americans. Without formal training the new musicians were free to interpret and play in their own style. The new music lacked formal structure and collaborative improvisation became a key feature of the new sound. African rhythms and improvisation were combined with European instruments and American tunes. As Jazz developed, long improvised solo performances would also become part of many music pieces.

The first style of music to be classed as Jazz was called Dixieland and it was performed from around the turn of the century in the Southern states of America. New Orleans would become the first home of this new sound. Dixieland itself had it's roots in the Ragtime music played at the end of the nineteenth century. In fact many Dixieland bands and orchestras would include Ragtime music in their repertoire.

Jazz music would become a form that gives musicians freedom to experiment with sounds. New harmonies and rhythms could be added to music on the fly, adding originality to each performance. It can be described as "music from the heart". Each instrument and performer adding their individual brilliance to a collective performance. Put it all together, and that's what they call Jazz!

Find more information on the origins of different styles of Jazz and the Jazz legends at http://www.squidoo.com/origin-of-jazz-music.

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