| In New Age piano music, there are basically | | | | simple theme that most would say is "New |
| two styles - textural and melodic. The | | | | Age." In the lesson piece Cirrus, we have |
| textural style is usually associated with | | | | something entirely different! We have |
| George Winston where you hear beautiful | | | | textures created by broken chords. Melody is |
| backgrounds created by the left hand while | | | | not playing the lead role here. In fact, |
| the right improvises melody. | | | | there really is no discernible melody at all |
| | | | - although there really is no music without |
| The melodic style popularized by David Lanz, | | | | melody - (a whole new topic!) |
| places melody at the forefront. | | | | |
| | | | While I'm the first person to say play what |
| Many students fall in love with the textural | | | | you feel and don't try and force yourself |
| side of New Age piano and while there is | | | | into playing something that's not your |
| nothing wrong at all with this, it's also a | | | | personal aesthetic, I'm also an advocate of |
| good idea to not put melody off to the side. | | | | not brushing off something completely just |
| It's a very good idea to familiarize yourself | | | | because it's not "your thing." |
| with both aspects of New Age piano playing. | | | | |
| | | | Leaning how to create pieces with melody at |
| For example, the piece "Egrets" focuses | | | | the forefront is a skill that will come in |
| mostly on melody. In fact, the first thing | | | | handy whether you enjoy this side of New Age |
| you hear is the theme, which is, repeated two | | | | piano or not. |
| times more after the introduction. It's a | | | | |