| There are basically two ways you can compose a | | | | recently lost interest in it. Not because it isn't good but |
| piece of music. The first and most traditional way is to | | | | because I don't feel like playing that way anymore. |
| write out the melody and then harmonize it. Some call | | | | Currently I'm leaning towards a softer sound that |
| this working from the top (as opposed to the chords | | | | comes from leading with the melody first. What I do is |
| on the bottom.) The second approach is where you | | | | get the first 2-bars down and then improvise the rest |
| create some kind of rhythmic harmonic pattern and | | | | till I fill up 8 measures. This way I can vary the chords |
| improvise (or compose) the melody on top. Now, | | | | and patterns without it sounding very repetitive |
| which one is best for New Age music? | | | | (minimalism). It's actually another style. You can call it |
| The answer is neither approach. Each has its own | | | | melodic while the other one (Harmony approach) is |
| merits and own special benefits. For example, if you | | | | more textural. IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR MOOD! |
| start with a pattern in your left hand and improvise a | | | | Don't let one style freeze you into something where |
| melody with your right, you are doing what most new | | | | you can't maneuver artistically! Remember that your |
| age composers/improvisers do. This is what George | | | | feeling must come first. Everything else is secondary. |
| Winston does most of the time. He has chords he | | | | Let your feeling lead you and your creation will be truly |
| sets to a certain rhythm and does his thing with that | | | | inspired, however, if you try to mold what you have to |
| amazing right hand of his. | | | | say into a specific style, the result may be less than |
| This is the style that I have been playing, but I've | | | | satisfactory. |