This post is a blogged draft excerpt from The Author Training Manual (Writer’s Digest Books, March 2014). Read the previous blogged excerpt, here. Remember Alice from Alice in Wonderland? She didn’t have a map. No destination. That’s why she wandered around and didn’t care where she ended up. If you have been following along as I’ve blogged this book, at…
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The Energetic Piano, Week #2 Welcome to week two of piano interpretation, our theme for June. This week, we’re turning up the heat on the piano, turning it into a living thing that is full of energy and zest. In every song this week, the piano does a great job catching up with the artist and giving us all a…
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This post is part of the “I Know I Can” WNFIN 10-Month Training. As we wrap up our first week of piano interpretation, I’m pleased to end on a high note and give a glimpse into next week. Today’s writing prompt features a classic by an African American singer, songwriter, and pianist – the incomparable Alicia Keys. Her song features both…
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Piano Interpretation: Background Accompaniment, Week #1 As we wrap up our first week of piano interpretation, I’m pleased to end on a high note and give a glimpse into next week. Today’s writing prompt features a classic by an African American singer, songwriter, and pianist – the incomparable Alicia Keys. Her song features both a meek piano and a riveting performance…
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Piano Interpretation: Background Accompaniment, Week #1 This week, we celebrate the piano as a gentle giant – – a nonthreatening background accompaniment to popular songs with lyrics. No piano theme would be complete without a mention of the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel. Interestingly, news sources focus on Billy’s most popular hits when describing or defining his musical style. In typical…
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