Creative Musical Musings
Beyond “Just Playing the Song”: The Magic of Flexible Fiddling Building Blocks
Most string orchestra arrangements follow a predictable path: the students open the music, learn their specific notes, and "play the song." While that builds reading skills, it often misses the most exciting part of being a musician—creativity. When I designed...
Bringing Creativity to the String Orchestra: Join Me at ASTA 2026!
Do you want happy, engaged students who can’t wait to get to orchestra rehearsal? We all know the challenge: in a world increasingly shaped by AI and automation, how do we prepare our students to think on their feet? The answer lies in creativity. Encouraging creative...
Why Returning Pianists Feel Stuck (Hint: It’s Not Your Fault)
You decided to sit back down at the keys. You remembered the basics. You can still read the treble clef, and you might even remember that big "showpiece" you played for a recital when you were twelve. But then you hit a wall. You can "decode" the notes, but you can't...
Unlock the Soulful Simplicity of “Wayfaring Stranger”
🎶 ChordWise Piano Lesson: Unlock the Soulful Simplicity of “Wayfaring Stranger” “Wayfaring Stranger” is one of the most hauntingly beautiful American folk spirituals ever written. Its minor key melancholy and simple, repetitive chord structure make it an absolute...
Scarborough Fair: Unlocking the Haunting Elegance with the Dorian Mode
"Scarborough Fair" possesses a deeply beautiful, almost mystical quality that makes it stand apart from typical folk tunes. This unique sound isn't an accident—it comes from the specific scale used, known as the Dorian Mode. If you’ve been relying on standard major...
Play “Shenandoah” with the Rolling Sound of a River
The beautiful folk tune "Shenandoah" captures the sweeping, historical movement of the famous river running through Virginia. When you play this song, you shouldn't just read notes—you should feel and hear the flow! That's what playing with lead sheets is all about....
Stop Reading Note By Note and Start Playing Music: The ChordWise Difference
Are you tired of feeling chained to sheet music? Do you wish you could sit down at the piano and effortlessly play a song you just heard, or even improvise your own melody without a single page of notation? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. The journey from...
The ChordWise Difference: From Sheet Music to Soulful Play
Many pianists believe that truly internalizing music—learning to play easily and well—comes from understanding simple melodies and accompanying them with left-hand chords. If you've been searching for a program that delivers this profound understanding, look no...
Beyond the Notes: Master Piano with Confidence, Creativity, and ChordWise
Tired of feeling stuck to the page? Do you dream of improvising, playing by ear, and truly making music your own? ChordWise Piano offers a revolutionary approach to piano learning, empowering you to become a confident, expressive, and independent musician, free from...
Unlock Your Inner Musician: Play Piano by Ear with ChordWise!
Are you a pianist longing to play with freedom, without being tied to sheet music? Imagine sitting down at the piano and effortlessly playing a tune by ear, improvising, and making it uniquely yours. With ChordWise Piano, this isn't just a dream – it's your new...