Free to be Creative at the Piano: A Revolutionary Approach to Music Making [Paperback]

Edward Weiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2010

Have you ever wanted to just sit down at the piano and play what you feel? Without worrying if it's good enough or if you have enough 'talent?' Edward Weiss, author of "Free to be Creative at the Piano" says you can! Note: Please read the reviews before purchasing this book. It is not a technical manual. It is a philosophy or approach to playing the piano.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (April 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451595247
• ISBN-13: 978-1451595246
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music as meditation, April 23, 2010

By 

Gerald Talandis Jr. (Toyama, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free to be Creative at the Piano: A Revolutionary Approach to Music Making (Paperback)

After having taken lessons from Mr. Weiss from his [...] website, I must say the thing I like best about his approach is that at its core its not really about playing piano- for me, learning to improvise has been more about developing creativity and conscious present-moment awareness. It has turned piano practice into a type of meditation. As I play and improvise, my mind becomes focused where it needs to be- on the here and now. Thoughts of "I'm not good enough", or anxiety over mistakes fly through my mind and then promptly fade. Other problems and worries also fade into the background, and I feel a tremendous sense of peace and excitement as I connect with the pure sounds flowing through me. I watch myself playing all these melodies and can scarcely believe that it's me who's doing that. It's quite a magical feeling, and the best part is that it is so accessible! After all, who on this earth doesn't want or need some increased self-confidence and peace of mind? I therefore encourage anyone interested in the piano and developing their innate talents to buy this book and give Edward's online course a try. You will not be sorry you did!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So cheap, for so much information!, May 1, 2010

By 

NLP Book Review (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Free to be Creative at the Piano: A Revolutionary Approach to Music Making (Paperback)

I've been a customer of Edward's for some months now. I do have a music background, although I never had the time to learn piano tunes, note by note, exactly as on the score.

This approach has really liberated me, and made piano playing fun again! Now I'm not just playing, I'm improvising and composing!

I can't speak for absolute beginners to piano, although I'm sure this book will be useful to people at all levels. If you already have a knowledge of harmony, and know the fingering for the most common chords, you'll get results immediately.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can now play Claire de Lune, April 23, 2010

By 

Quentin Pain (Cambridgeshire UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free to be Creative at the Piano: A Revolutionary Approach to Music Making (Paperback)

Edward's tuition is fun and carefree. Everything my school piano tutor was not, and what put me off playing for 35 years. However, although he teaches so called 'new age' piano, it is not really that. It is just free thinking, and I love it. Anyway, my goal was not to make up my own stuff, it was to learn to play the stuff I really love like Debussy, Sate, Joby Talbot (look it up if you are from the USA and haven't heard of him yet) and of course Einaudi.

The weird thing is, in between reading the notes, I find myself wondering off into my own dreamworld and playing whatever comes into my head. Here's my tuppence worth if you don't buy this book. Play everything on the white notes, simple 2 finger chords in the left hand, single note melodies in the right hand making each note not more than 2 notes apart. Just do it. You will love the effect. But read this book and you will know a) why it sounds so good, and b) how you can fly.

Finally, he has a membership website which I joined for six months and got me going. He will hate me for saying this, but you only need to join for a few months. If you are not confident by then, I will be amazed.

Thanks for the tuition Edward, here's to ya.