This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/jul/08/beginners-piano-class-with-chilly-gonzales

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
A beginner's piano class with Chilly Gonzales A beginner's piano class with Chilly Gonzales
(about 1 month later)
My relationship with the piano has always been a curious one. How could anyone possibly understand something with so many keys, notes and potential permutations? I never took lessons, but instead tried to apply what I had learned from other instruments – a few tortured months of tenor horn training at school, some trial-and-error on a guitar – to a knackered Yamaha PSS-140 keyboard while I was a member of Bradford’s best-named post-rock band: Lou Diamond Phillips. But after leaving Bradford, and the band, I didn't want to play by myself because everything I'd done in the group was so simple and naive. My relationship with the piano has always been a curious one. How could anyone possibly understand something with so many keys, notes and potential permutations? I never took lessons, but instead tried to apply what I had learned from other instruments – a few tortured months of tenor horn training at school, some trial-and-error on a guitar – to a knackered Yamaha PSS-140 keyboard while I was a member of Bradford’s best-named post-rock band: Lou Diamond Phillips. But after leaving Bradford, and the band, I didn't want to play by myself because everything I'd done in the group was so simple and naive.
Chilly Gonzales, meanwhile, is no such charlatan. He’s a Grammy-winning musician who made a name for himself collaborating with artists such as Feist and Daft Punk, has released two critically acclaimed piano albums, Solo Piano and Solo Piano II, and in 2009 broke the then-world record for the longest ever continuous solo concert (27 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds).Chilly Gonzales, meanwhile, is no such charlatan. He’s a Grammy-winning musician who made a name for himself collaborating with artists such as Feist and Daft Punk, has released two critically acclaimed piano albums, Solo Piano and Solo Piano II, and in 2009 broke the then-world record for the longest ever continuous solo concert (27 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds).
Now he wants to inspire others, and is publishing Re-Introduction Etudes, a book of musical exercises aimed at lapsed pianists who want to get back into playing the instrument. Ahead of the piano masterclasses he’s teaching at the Roundhouse in London this month, he talked me through his beginners’ guide to finding joy on the piano.Now he wants to inspire others, and is publishing Re-Introduction Etudes, a book of musical exercises aimed at lapsed pianists who want to get back into playing the instrument. Ahead of the piano masterclasses he’s teaching at the Roundhouse in London this month, he talked me through his beginners’ guide to finding joy on the piano.
Here's what I discovered …Here's what I discovered …
Limit yourself to free your inner pianistLimit yourself to free your inner pianist
One of the most intimidating things about playing the piano can be the sheer number of notes in front of you. Gonzales advises countering the fear by using only the white keys at first. “For me, it's all about a playful approach to piano; limit yourself and you start to think outside of the box all of a sudden,” he says. As we begin to compose a piece, Chilly reminds me that pop has recently become very reduced, with lots of songs only revolving around one or two very simple motifs. He advises trying to come up with a three-note motif at first, which gives you something to build on.One of the most intimidating things about playing the piano can be the sheer number of notes in front of you. Gonzales advises countering the fear by using only the white keys at first. “For me, it's all about a playful approach to piano; limit yourself and you start to think outside of the box all of a sudden,” he says. As we begin to compose a piece, Chilly reminds me that pop has recently become very reduced, with lots of songs only revolving around one or two very simple motifs. He advises trying to come up with a three-note motif at first, which gives you something to build on.
Tell your inner censor to back offTell your inner censor to back off
It can be easy to give up on an idea because your internal censor is telling you it's rubbish. Try to get to a psychological space where you're not judging yourself but instead trying to find something you're happy with, no matter how simple it is. Gonzales tells me that he almost stopped working on Never Stop – the song onthe original iPad advert – because he dismissed it as too simple. Now it's probably his best-known song. “Even if you're creating something simple, it doesn't take long before you're transported to another place where it's just you and the music,” he says.It can be easy to give up on an idea because your internal censor is telling you it's rubbish. Try to get to a psychological space where you're not judging yourself but instead trying to find something you're happy with, no matter how simple it is. Gonzales tells me that he almost stopped working on Never Stop – the song onthe original iPad advert – because he dismissed it as too simple. Now it's probably his best-known song. “Even if you're creating something simple, it doesn't take long before you're transported to another place where it's just you and the music,” he says.
Use practice to build up muscle memoryUse practice to build up muscle memory
If Gonzales isn't touring, he practises for an hour or two every day, to increase his muscle memory. It's not particularly fun or particularly musical – sometimes he'll even listen to a comedy podcast at the same time – because it's mechanical. But it's important – your muscles need to memorise the movements, and then when you play live, you don't need to concentrate solely on what you are playing, which means there's room for improvisation and “being in the moment”. By going through the mechanical process of practising, you'll be able to get a lot of muscle memory transferred into your temporary hard drive. If Gonzales isn't touring, he practises for an hour or two every day, to increase his muscle memory. It's not particularly fun or particularly musical – sometimes he'll even listen to a comedy podcast at the same time – because it's mechanical. But it's important – your muscles need to memorise the movements, and then when you play live, you don't need to concentrate solely on what you are playing, which means there's room for improvisation and “being in the moment”. By going through the mechanical process of practising, you'll be able to get a lot of muscle memory transferred into your temporary hard drive.
Learn to master the Woody Allen techniqueLearn to master the Woody Allen technique
Gonzales describes himself as "a cheating virtuoso", because he writes for himself, in the same way that Woody Allen writes a part for himself when he's directing a movie. The theory is that although Allen's not a great actor, he becomes good when writing for himself. And in a way, that's the kind of composer Gonzales has become. The great classical pianists know how to play the likes of Liszt and Chopin perfectly, but it's easier to write music suited to your own style of playing. “It's nice to have little tricks and flourishes that for me represent some kind of wish to live out a fantasy of being a virtuoso pianist, without really having to put in the work,” Gonzales explains. Gonzales describes himself as "a cheating virtuoso", because he writes for himself, in the same way that Woody Allen writes a part for himself when he's directing a movie. The theory is that although Allen's not a great actor, he becomes good when writing for himself. And in a way, that's the kind of composer Gonzales has become. The great classical pianists know how to play the likes of Liszt and Chopin perfectly, but it's easier to write music suited to your own style of playing. “It's nice to have little tricks and flourishes that for me represent some kind of wish to live out a fantasy of being a virtuoso pianist, without really having to put in the work,” Gonzales explains.
Don't be afraid to be humiliatedDon't be afraid to be humiliated
As you practise, you'll start to hit the right notes more and more, Gonzales says, and you'll be battling all the psychological demons of doing something badly for a while until you get it right. Once you get better and you've mastered one technique, you need to keep pushing yourself on, even if that means making yet more humiliating mistakes. “There comes a moment when you have to take that chance and try to make 'real music', and that's when humiliation might come.”As you practise, you'll start to hit the right notes more and more, Gonzales says, and you'll be battling all the psychological demons of doing something badly for a while until you get it right. Once you get better and you've mastered one technique, you need to keep pushing yourself on, even if that means making yet more humiliating mistakes. “There comes a moment when you have to take that chance and try to make 'real music', and that's when humiliation might come.”
Re-Introduction Etudes is out now. Chilly Gonzales will perform Masterclass – Presented in Pianovision on Tuesday 29 July, as part of Roundhouse Summer Sessions www.roundhouse.org.ukRe-Introduction Etudes is out now. Chilly Gonzales will perform Masterclass – Presented in Pianovision on Tuesday 29 July, as part of Roundhouse Summer Sessions www.roundhouse.org.uk