As there are many genres of music, there are many styles of playing piano. This might be slightly technical, but is a good, if brief, overview that has answered many of the questions my students have asked. (One day I’ll put up a list of links at my site for audio examples.)
Four basic musical settings that piano is used are: (1) solo piano, (2) part of an ensemble, (3) soloist with an ensemble, like a piano concerto, and (4) accompaniment for a solo voice or instrument.
You can actually play any of these styles for any genre of music, though some are more genre-specific than others. For example, both hands playing melodies (main melody and counter-melody) is mainly heard in jazz and classical, whereas left hand bass note, chord, bass note, chord – right hand melody and chords, is largely heard in ragtime and stride music, as well as other genres.
• Left hand chord – Right hand melody
• Left hand bass notes/lines – Right hand melody
• Left hand melody – Right hand chords
• Both hand chords
• Both hands melodies (Main melody and counter-melody)
• Left hand bass notes & chords – Right hand melody and chords
• Left hand playing various accompaniment patterns – Right hand combinations of melody and chords
• Right hand playing various accompaniment patterns – Left hand melody and bass lines
• Left hand bass note, chord, bass note, chord – Right hand melody and chords
A good digital keyboard has different piano sounds, as well as other instrument sounds, such as organ, strings, and whatever else specific models have. Most starter-keyboards have a wide range of sounds as well as drum grooves, basses, orchestral instruments and synthesizer sounds. High-end, professional keyboards have a ton of features, from high-end instruments and sounds to anything you can imagine.
Marty B.
Email
(818) 242-7551
http://buttwinickmusic.com
