| Every style of piano playing has its share of | | | | played. Another good example of this |
| tricks and techniques. New Age piano is no | | | | technique is used in George Winston's piece |
| different. The New Age piano style has 3 main | | | | "Thanksgiving." Here he uses a few chords in |
| techniques that are used over and over. These | | | | the left hand broken up into arpeggios and |
| are the ostinato technique, the crossover | | | | creates a nice harmonic "loop" with them. |
| technique or arpeggio, and the broken chord | | | | Then the right hand improvises a melody and |
| technique.The Ostinato technique - A | | | | the piece is created. Very easy and quite |
| Repeating PatternYou've probably heard this | | | | nice as well.The author's lesson piece |
| technique numerous times and may or may not | | | | "Morning Mist" uses a few chords along with |
| have knows what it was. Ostinato simply means | | | | the crossover technique as well. First you |
| repeating pattern or obstinate pattern and | | | | learn how to play the left-hand crossover, |
| that's exactly what it is. For example, in | | | | then you slowly add in a melody of your own. |
| New Age pianist George Winston's piece | | | | Creative? Yes! And easy as well!The Broken |
| "Rain," we have a left-hand pattern that uses | | | | Chord Technique - Both Hands In PlayHere we |
| over an octave of the keyboard to create a | | | | have a technique that sounds a lot more |
| beautiful aural background over which a | | | | complicated than it really is. Both hands are |
| melody is improvised.This technique is a very | | | | used to create music with. The hands are |
| quick and easy way to create New Age piano | | | | placed on a chord and that chord is broken |
| pieces. The ostinato is played over and over | | | | up.For instance, the lesson "Reflections in |
| while the right hand is able to "mix it up" | | | | Water" uses broken chord technique along with |
| and create change with the melody line. Of | | | | open position chords to create a very nice |
| course, you can change the ostinato pattern | | | | "New Age" sound! Beginners who listen to this |
| as well as Winston does. With just a few | | | | piece won't have a clue as to how it's |
| small note changes, freshness is maintained | | | | accomplished but once you learn how to play |
| and the piece moves listener attention | | | | the open position chord, insight will follow |
| forward. The author's one lesson piece | | | | and you'll begin to see just how easy |
| "Rainforest" does the same thing. Two chords | | | | creating in the New Age style can be!Edward |
| are used in the left hand while the right | | | | Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of |
| improvises a melody.The Crossover Technique - | | | | Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He |
| Arpeggios Up and DownThis technique is used | | | | has been helping students learn how to play |
| everywhere in New Age piano and elsewhere. | | | | piano in the New Age style for over 14 years |
| Usually spanning an octave or more, the | | | | and works with students in private, in |
| pianist uses the left hand (mostly) to create | | | | groups, and now over the internet. Stop by |
| a cascading pattern of notes that can ascend | | | | now at for a FREE piano lesson! |
| or descend or both depending on how it's | | | | |