| Did You Know That President Truman Played The Piano? by Duane Shinn |
| Clinton was not the first or only President of the United States of America with musical talent. Harry S. Truman was also a piano player, as was Teddy Rosevelt and Richard Nixon. |
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| The Life and Songs of American Composer Stephen Foster by Duane Shinn |
| Stephen Collins Foster, the "father of American music," wrote songs in the nineteenth century that live on to this day. He was the forerunner of today's professional songwriter, though he died in poverty. He expanded the musical tastes of America like no other before him. |
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| Count Basie - the Count of Piano Jazz by Duane Shinn |
| One of the all time greats of jazz is William "Count" Basie. He was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Widely regarded as one of the most important jazz bandleaders of his time, Basie led his popular Count Basie Orchestra for almost 50 years. |
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| The Story of "Joy To The World" by Duane Shinn |
| Set to a score adapted from George Frederick Handel's "The Messiah," Joy to the World has taken its place permanently in the hearts of both Christian and secular society. This Christmas hymn remains a favorite no modern church would dare exclude during the holiday season. |
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| The Song From Heaven: The Story of the Great Christmas Carol "Silent Night" by Duane Shinn |
| It was a 'Silent Night' indeed when this beloved song was first composed. If not for a broken pipe organ, the world likely would have been without its most popular Christmas carol. |
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| Dashing Through The Snow: The Story of "Jingle Bells" by Duane Shinn |
| Many people are surprised to learn that "Jingle Bells" was actually written for American Thanksgiving. The song was originally published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh." Today there are few who can't sing at least the first verse of "Jingle Bells." |
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| Will You Become Smarter If You Play The Piano? Is Piano Study Good For Your Brain? by Duane Shinn |
| Will you become smarter if you play the piano? The question is whether there is a correlation between mastering a musical instrument and one's brain increasing in potential. |
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| Musical Theory: Do I Need To Know It? by Duane Shinn |
| Aside from the academic study of music theory, which explores the theories surrounding music issues, such as whether or not a piece of music fits into one category or another, music theory is really the nuts and bolts of music. |
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| What is Musical Syncopation And How Does It Work? by Duane Shinn |
| One of the most common music forms of musical syncopation is in ragtime music where the melody is often syncopated and the bass line isn't. Think of the music of Scot Joplin, and the memorable strains of "The Entertainer" and you've got a great example of syncopated music. |
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| How To Get Started In Beginning Piano Lessons by Duane Shinn |
| Maybe you've always wanted to learn to play the piano but never had the opportunity. Perhaps you're a parent with a child who has expressed interest in the piano. The question is: where do you begin? How to start depends on your age and your goals. |
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| What Piano Method Does Your Piano Teacher Use? by Duane Shinn |
| Learning to play the piano is about more than learning the names of notes. Students and parents have a variety of different piano methods to choose from. All teach the basics of playing piano. The differences lie in their respective emphases and their suitability for particular age groups and learning styles. |
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| Piano Playing: Wonderful & Nutricious Food For Your Brain by Duane Shinn |
| If you're looking for a perfect way to keep your mind sharp, piano playing is the solution. It exercises several different parts of the mind and body, while providing you with years of musical enjoyment. Whether you play piano currently or are thinking about starting, playing piano is great brain food. |
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| Oscar Peterson - Jazz Pianist Extraordinary by Duane Shinn |
| One of the most influential players of jazz that the world has known, Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was born on the 15th of August, 1925 in Little Burgundy, Montreal. He is considered the dean of jazz piano players by most fans and critics. |
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| Marian McPartland: The Grand Lady Of Jazz Piano by Duane Shinn |
| A born child prodigy, Marian Portland started playing the piano at the age of three. She is formally trained in both the violin and the piano. Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz radio program on which she interviews jazz pianists and plays duets with them is on National Public Radio and has been a favorite of jazz lovers for decades. |
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| Do Music & Presidential Politics Mix? You Bet! by Duane Shinn |
| People were surprised to learn that the former President, Bill Clinton, plays the saxophone. But, several other Presidents of the United States of American were musically gifted as well, such as Harry Truman and Richard Nixon, both of whom played the piano. |
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| How To Start Tickling The Ivories Again as an Adult by Duane Shinn |
| There are gazillion adults who took piano lessons as a child but stopped playing for various reasons. Some aren't the least bit interested, but many wish to return to piano playing at some point in their lives. |
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| Piano Instruction: Formal Versus Informal by Duane Shinn |
| When you think of piano lessons, the mental picture you get might be of child sitting at a keyboard. The instructor is probably sitting next to the child, tapping out rhythm with a baton or pencil. If the idea of being scrutinized by a piano teacher makes you cringe, consider some other forms of piano instruction. |
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| What Are "Gospel Chords" & How Do They Get That Sound? by Duane Shinn |
| Gospel music stays alive by remaining relevant, taking various aspects of the musical culture of the day and bringing those aspects into the spiritual fold. In modern gospel, jazz has been introduced into traditional songs. This has sparked the musical term "gospel chords." |
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| Music Scales For Beginners by Duane Shinn |
| Most beginners in music are introduced to the concept of scales very early in their training. Despite this, it sometimes takes a few years of training to get good understanding of how scales work. |
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| Music for Stark Beginners: How To Read Notes by Duane Shinn |
| New pianists learn notes first. An understanding of musical notes and their values is the foundation for learning any instrument. That includes the piano. The values of the notes are easy to remember because their names denote their values. |
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| Contemporary Christian Music: The Real Deal in Quallity & Passion by Duane Shinn |
| Christian music has come a long way from the church-sanctioned melancholy chants of centuries gone by. It has rich history going back several hundred years. In fact, the earliest music manuscripts were of church origin. |
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| Piano Practice Tips: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Practice Time by Duane Shinn |
| Even the most avid of piano players sometimes dread practicing. Sometimes that dread can sabotage your practice time. Don't sit down at the piano feeling negative before you even begin. |
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| I Took Piano Lessons As a Kid, But I've Forgotten Almost Everything... by Duane Shinn |
| There are literally millions of adults today who took piano lessons when they were growing up, but at some point along the way gave them up. Some couldn't care less, but many have an urge down deep to take up piano playing again someday. |
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| Music Therapy: Changing Lives for the Better by Duane Shinn |
| Music therapy, a relatively new method of therapy in the eyes of modern medicine, is an ancient practice. Since 1944, it has gradually been practiced more extensively in the United States. In the United Kingdom, music therapy was used in hospitals during both world wars. |
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| The Many Faces Of The 12-Bar Blues by Duane Shinn |
| Piano players and other musicians who desire to learn the foundations of purely American music should start with the blues. This music form began over a century ago. Today's jazz, hip-hop, rock-and-roll and rhythm and blues owes a debt to it. |
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