| There are basically two ways you can compose a | | | | recently lost interest in it. Not because it isn't good |
| piece of music. The first and most traditional way | | | | but because I don't feel like playing that way |
| is to write out the melody and then harmonize it. | | | | anymore. Currently I'm leaning towards a softer |
| Some call this working from the top (as opposed | | | | sound that comes from leading with the melody |
| to the chords on the bottom.) The second | | | | first. What I do is get the first 2-bars down and |
| approach is where you create some kind of | | | | then improvise the rest till I fill up 8 measures. |
| rhythmic harmonic pattern and improvise (or | | | | This way I can vary the chords and patterns |
| compose) the melody on top. Now, which one is | | | | without it sounding very repetitive (minimalism). |
| best for New Age music? | | | | It's actually another style. You can call it melodic |
| The answer is neither approach. Each has its own | | | | while the other one (Harmony approach) is more |
| merits and own special benefits. For example, if | | | | textural. IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR MOOD! |
| you start with a pattern in your left hand and | | | | Don't let one style freeze you into something |
| improvise a melody with your right, you are doing | | | | where you can't maneuver artistically! Remember |
| what most new age composers/improvisers do. | | | | that your feeling must come first. Everything else |
| This is what George Winston does most of the | | | | is secondary. Let your feeling lead you and your |
| time. He has chords he sets to a certain rhythm | | | | creation will be truly inspired, however, if you try |
| and does his thing with that amazing right hand of | | | | to mold what you have to say into a specific |
| his. | | | | style, the result may be less than satisfactory. |
| This is the style that I have been playing, but I've | | | | |