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