Creative Musical Musings

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...
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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...
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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....
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Why is Music Good for Children?

Why is Music Good for Children?

by | Jul 6, 2023 |

There are many reasons that music lessons are valuable for children. These benefits can be grouped as emotional, social, and cognitive. Music’s benefits are too big to ignore! Emotional Benefits of Learning Music The emotional benefits of learning music are many....

Is Flexible Fiddling For You?

Is Flexible Fiddling For You?

by | Jul 6, 2023 | ,

Recently I decided to learn to fiddle. I wanted to play by ear and improvise. Of course, I had played fiddle tunes off printed music. But I wanted to have more insights into the history and style of this music. And I wanted to pass this music on to my students. I...