Graham English Official Site » piano

Ralph van Raat Plays Rzewski’s Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues

Graham English — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:31:46 +0000

Dutch television gets this. I get American Idol.

Don’t Follow Me

Graham English — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:45:44 +0000

If you had a way to catch a falling star
You would make the save to prove how big you are
Doo doo doo doo
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Don’t follow me
’cause I wouldn’t follow you
Don’t follow me
’cause I wouldn’t follow you

Maybe you’re the fool who won’t believe it’s done
Maybe I’m just cruel and always on the run
Doo doo doo doo
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Don’t follow me
’cause I wouldn’t follow you
Don’t follow me
’cause I wouldn’t follow you

P.S. This has nothing to do with following me on Twitter.

Coins In The River

Graham English — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:51:12 +0000

This is my first attempt at composing generative music. All four harp parts were generated by a set of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic rules. Minor editing was done after the fact. I improvised the piano in real-time. The drone was performed using Camel Audio’s Alchemy. Tim Conrardy, a member of the talented Camel Audio team, passed away yesterday. So I dedicate this piece to Tim.

Christmas Time Is Here

Graham English — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:25:24 +0000

Getting into the holiday spirit with Christmas Time Is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Music by Vince Guaraldi.

Watch on Christmas Time Is Here by Graham English
Watch on Christmas Time Is Here by Graham English
Watch on Viddler Christmas Time Is Here by Graham English
Watch on Google Video Christmas Time Is Here by Graham English .

Servitude

Graham English — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:36:42 +0000

Their minds seem like clean slates upon which we can write.
—Dr. Cyril J. C. Kennedy and Dr. David Anchel on the benefits of electroshock therapy, 1948

I had just one goal—to stay alive until the next day…But it wasn’t just to survive, but to survive as me.
—Mario Villani, survivor of four years in Argentina’s torture camps

From The Shock Doctrine.

Quiet Wonder

Graham English — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:58:08 +0000

I wrote this for my nephew who is due to be born in 15 days.

Update: Elliot English was born on December 7, 2008.

Quiet Wonder

I Think I Crashed The Economy

Graham English — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:51:43 +0000

Sorry.

I Think I Crashed The Economy

One Of These Nights

Graham English — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:32:33 +0000

Song A Week 2008 Rules: Start to finish in 7 days.

Play:
Download: One Of These Nights
Last.fm: One Of These Nights

One of these days, I’m gonna buy a big old mansion
One of these days, I’m gonna drive a fine car or two
With all the things I want
How can I enjoy them too
If I can’t share them with you
You think about it, ’cause I got to have it
I need to know that you’re ready to go
’cause it’s almost first class take off time

One of these nights
You and I will get right down to the things on our mind
And the time that I spent
Telling everybody ’bout us baby
Won’t be as long as the time I spend with you

One of these days, I’m gonna travel ’round this great big world
One of these days, I’m gonna dine with some real important people, like Stevie Wonder
With all the places in this world
I’ve got to have me a girl
Who ain’t afraid to see something new
You think about it ’cause I’d love to have it
For the rest of my life I would love to wake up next to you

One of these nights
You and I will get right down to the things on our mind
And the time that I spent
Telling everybody ’bout us baby
Won’t be as long as the time I spend with you
As the time I spend with you
As the time I’ll spend with you

What Are You Waiting For?

Graham English — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:21:42 +0000

Song A Week 2008 Rules: Start to finish in 7 days.

Play:
Download: What Are You Waiting For?
Last.fm: What Are You Waiting For?

A day since I unpacked
There’s no going back
Every time I pick up the pieces
I notice all the cracks

I thought a different place
I would find some grace
A chance to smile when I look in the mirror
But this is not the case
I think it knows my face

What are you waiting for?
It’s all up to you
So pick yourself off the floor
And just see it through
I’m not not gonna change to who
You think I should be
You know what it’s time to do
Stop waiting on me

The crash has just begun
I have come undone
I can’t foresee my place in the future
Or know what I’ll become

The stars are out tonight
At the speed of light
If they can shine through space ever after
And make the darkness bright
Then I won’t quit this fight

Chorus

If this what I choose
Nothing left left to lose
Then what on earth is so worth protecting
Afraid that I my might bruise
Hiding from the muse

Chorus

The crash has just begun
I have come undone
I can’t foresee my place in the future
Or know what I’ll become
I have come undone

Midnight In This Lonely City

Graham English — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:11:26 +0000

Download: Midnight In This Lonely City
Last.fm: Midnight In This Lonely City

The storm it keeps me up tonight
The thunder thrashes any peace
A clouded mind I’m thinking through
Sometimes it’s hard to see the truth
The hero always finds a way
To save the world and get the girl
But I’m a man who’s lost this fight
There’s no hero here tonight

So why can’t I be stronger for you
I try to live my life with virtue
It’s midnight in this lonely city
I want your love and not your pity please

I lay my head down on the bed
And wonder how it came to this
There’s not a dream I haven’t lost
There’s no desire without a cost
And all my plans to make a change
Are only rumors in the wind
But I’m afraid that what is real
Will turn my heart to solid steel

So why can’t I be stronger for you
I try to live my life with virtue
It’s midnight in this lonely city
I want your love and not your pity please

Most Inspiring 30 Minutes I’ve Invested In A Long Time

Graham English — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:03:02 +0000

With subtle accompaniment by longtime friend Herbie Hancock, and a slide show that has opened the minds (and pocketbooks) of CEOs across the country, artist and youth activist Bill Strickland tells a quiet and astonishing tale of redemption through arts, music and unlikely partnerships.

31 Days To Better Practicing

Graham English — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:14:58 +0000

The Collaborative Piano Blog started 31 days to better practicing on October 1st. I’m only just finding it but so far it looks like some really good advice. It would probably go well with my schedule to turbocharge your practicing.

A couple tips gleaned from his blog:

Mental Rehearsal: Harness the language of the right brain and the subconscious and practice doing it right in the mind first.
Record Yourself: Something I advocate in Turbocharge Your Playing.

Fmin 82bpm

Graham English — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 22:54:11 +0000

I’ll stand by you to the end.
I’ll never desert you.
I’ll be the one you depend on.
The one you can talk to.

Music for 12-29-06

Graham English — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 23:48:31 +0000

This is me sketching out an idea on the piano in the key of F.

solo piano composing ballad 77bpm ToWrite

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Graham English — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:49:39 +0000

I’m trying to learn how to use my EastWest Symphonic Orchestra and I’m feeling in the holiday spirit so I decided to experiment on a Christmas tune. The good news is after much troubleshooting I’ve got it figured out.

60bpm C piano orchestra strings french horns acoustic bass

Music from 12-06-05

Graham English — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:58:34 +0000

I’ve taken a few months off of posting music here but I’m back in the saddle now. It took a while to get my work flow down after my move to Boston. So I’ll be archiving all my new and old music again.

This is an iPod recording of a 60bpm slow blues in the key of G. It’s got a nice and easy gospel feel.

1:40 – frenetic and spacious piano solo with lots of chordal experimentation.

4:50 – Part of a Charlie Parker solo.

6:15 – Working on a turnaround or ending.

LIVE piano blues acoustic bass piano trio

Is Your Ear Suspect?

Graham English — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:35:25 +0000

If your ear can’t understand whatever it hears, then it’s suspect. Whatever the application — composing, songwriting, singing, playing the guitar, piano, or any other instrument — there is a logic to becoming a spontaneous musician. Your goal as a musician should be to get your musical intellect to the point where it becomes intuitive.

Dick Grove has taught music to well over 25,000 musicians! He teaches stuff you won’t get in music school. And he understands how to give you a strong musical foundation so you don’t fall for the dangers of intellectualizing your music… and you can become a truly spontaneous musician.

Watch and learn…

The six different ears a musician must have
The “tree” approach to musicianship
Why you should know at least some piano or keyboard
The logic to being a spontaneous musician…

Click here to find out more about Dick Grove’s music theory and ear training.

Learn to Play ALL Your Favorite Christmas Songs by Ear in Virtually Minutes!

Graham English — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 03:53:29 +0000

The Christmas season, my favorite season of the entire year, is ALMOST here — and courtesy of Jermaine and HearandPlay.com, I have a PERFECT gift idea that YOU or one of your relatives would LOVE to see under the tree (…or better yet, on top of their piano)!

Jermaine just let me know about his brand new 3 H-O-U-R Christmas course, Christmas Keys Vol.1 – “Conquering Christmas Classics”, which has just been released.

After he takes you through his UNIQUE song learning process, you’ll not ONLY know how to conquer those songs but tons of other Christmas songs since most songs follow familiar patterns.

Christmas Keys Volume 1 is LOADED with tons of powerful tips, easy-to-do tricks, and techniques that will have you playing like an expert by this Christmas season – GUARANTEED!

In this course, you’ll…

Learn how to play every song, step-by-step, with no guessing (whatsoever) or any information left out! By the end of this course, you’ll have what it takes to fully play all of these Christmas songs by ear!
Learn several variations of each song so you can play these Christmas classics a different way very time!
Beginners: How to play an entire song with only three-fingered major chords (…also known as “major triads”).
Discover the power of “inversions” and how changing one note in your chord can totally alter the way a progression sounds!
How to add fuel to your bass by understanding how “power” chords work in holiday music.
How to play Go Tell It On The Mountain in a churchy praise style! I’m talking about bass lines, runs, fill-ins, and more (…similar to our other GospelKeys courses)!
And tons more!

Click here if you’re ready to finally learn your favorite Christmas songs by ear:

Please note: Due to the high demand and moderate supply, this incredible offer for Christmas Keys will only be around for a short time. So…

…Don’t waste time! Order TODAY!

Click here for more details

Piano Voicings Part 6: Clusters

Graham English — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:00:19 +0000

Clusters usually span no more than a fifth and include both half steps and whole steps. Clusters increase tension and when preceding open chords can make them seem wider. Clusters also sound good when rolled.

Piano Voicings Part 5: Kenny Barron Voicings

Graham English — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 15:17:24 +0000

Kenny Barron voicings are composed of two perfect fifths in each hand and separated by a minor second:

This symmetrical voicing can also be played with a major second between the two hands creating a completely different chord quality. Notice the increased tension from the #11 at the top:

Piano Voicings Part 4: Upper Structure Chords

Graham English — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 15:13:12 +0000

Upper structure chords consist of a triad-or triad inversions-over a tritone. Here’s a chart of common upper structures:

Piano Voicings Part 3: Fourth Chords

Graham English — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:35:13 +0000

Fourth chords create harmonies reminiscent of McCoy Tyner’s playing. Stacked fourths have a wide open texture and are complimented very well by pentatonic scales. Begin on the third of a major scale and keep adding fourths as your taste dictates. Most voicings include a tritone as well as fourths. Fourth chords, similar to So What chords, can be moved around all scale degrees creating either new chords or variations on the root.

Piano Voicings Part 2: So What Chords

Graham English — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:09:34 +0000

So what chords get their name from the song of the same title on Miles Davis’ record, Kind Of Blue. This voicing consists of a series of three perfect fourths with a third on top:

So what chords can be moved up and down all scale degrees of all modes very successfully. Try harmonizing melodies using so what chords:

Piano Voicings Part 1: Left Hand Voicings

Graham English — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 02:28:13 +0000

Left hand piano voicings enable you to play the basic progression of jazz harmony, II-V-I, with good voice leading while freeing your right hand for soloing. The most important notes in these chords are the third and seventh because they determine the chord quality. The root and fifth of the chord don’t require much attention because they are implied by the rest of the chord. Here are the basic left hand voicings in first position:

Here are the left hand voicings in second position:

Try substituting the tritone (augmented 4th/diminished 5th) for the V chord. This substitution is sometimes called a Valt (#5,#9) chord (depending on the root in the bass):

Try altering other scale degrees:

The Musical Genius of Oscar Peterson

Graham English — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:53:44 +0000

Listen to the Oscar Peterson Trio ripping at tempos upwards of 320bpm! Let it inspire you to practice.

Music for 07-19-06

Graham English — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 05:36:19 +0000

I’m learning the changes to Infant Eyes by Wayne Shorter. I have to memorize them so I can really let go.

solo piano jazz piano ballad

Music from 10-20-05

Graham English — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 04:24:55 +0000

This is me composing a ballad on the piano with a beautiful haunting melody in the key of G. I might put lyrics to this one.

chord progression:

||: G | D/F# | Emin C/E | Bmin7 | Csus2 | Bmin | Amin9 | Dsus13 : ||

3:22 – Nice modulation to F. Amin9 | Dsus13 C/E || F | C/E… ||

4:20 – Modulation again to F. Correct chord progression this time.

5:20 – Playing with the modulation.

5:50 – Beautiful modulation to A.

7:49 – Nice Amin9 vamp here. Could this be an intro too? Could the song end on the Amin9 like that?

solo piano LIVE

Music from 10-07-05a

Graham English — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 22:04:27 +0000

This is a short chord progression in the key of Db. It’s dark, pensive, and introspective. Approximately 65bpm.

piano:
||: Db/Ab | Db#5/A | Db/Ab | Db#5/A | GbMAJ7 | Bbmin | Db/Ab | Db#5/A |

Music for 07-3-06

Graham English — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 04:35:47 +0000

A couple choruses of Nostalgia in Times Square by Charles Mingus.

I’m trying to memorize the changes.

Music for 06-27-06a

Graham English — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 02:49:00 +0000

Baby I’m a Star by Prince. I took my new Blue Snowball out to the garage today to try it out. I scratched up some vocal tracks for about an hour. It’s all first and second take stuff. It turned out pretty good but I need more time to get a feel for it. That’s part of the reason I’m covering this song. To get time on the mic. 140bpm in the key of D.