Pianote - Matthew Whitaker Learns La La Land Piano Theme On The Spot
Matthew Wer, a blind musician, showcases his exceptional ability to learn and play music by ear. During the session, he is challenged to learn a song he has never heard before, demonstrating his active listening skills and musical intuition. He emphasizes the importance of letting go and being oneself in music, even if it initially sounds imperfect. Matthew's process involves focusing on the right chords, bass notes, and melody, and he highlights the value of making the music one's own, a common practice among jazz musicians. The session also promotes a 7-day free trial for a piano learning platform, which features resources and performances from renowned pianists. Matthew's final performance of 'Mia and Sebastian's Theme' from 'La La Land' is praised for its emotional depth and technical skill, underscoring his talent and passion for music.
Key Points:
- Matthew Wer learns and plays music by ear, showcasing his talent.
- He emphasizes the importance of being oneself in music, even if imperfect.
- Matthew uses active listening to understand song structure and melody.
- The session promotes a 7-day free trial for a piano learning platform.
- Matthew's performance of 'Mia and Sebastian's Theme' is emotionally impactful.
Details:
1. 🎹 Introduction to Matthew's Musical Gift
- Matthew demonstrates exceptional auditory learning abilities, enabling him to memorize melodies quickly without visual cues.
- Matthew plays multiple instruments including piano, drums, keyboards, and percussion, highlighting his versatile musical talent.
- Matthew encourages a mindset of letting go of perfectionism in music learning, suggesting that one should proceed even if initial attempts sound imperfect.
2. 🎼 Learning and Playing a New Song
- Matthew quickly adapts to learning a dynamic new song, emphasizing the importance of versatility and rapid learning in music.
- The selection of a specific piano for the task highlights the significance of choosing the right instrument to suit the musical piece.
- Matthew demonstrates an iterative process of playing and refining, illustrating that practice and continuous improvement are key to mastering new songs.
- He addresses challenges by playing the song multiple times, showing persistence and the value of repetition in skill development.
- Techniques such as breaking the song into manageable sections and focusing on difficult parts first are implied in his approach.
3. 🎧 Active Listening and Practice
- Matthew is practicing active listening to understand the song's form, melodic movements, and energy, which involves dissecting the music and personalizing it, a common practice among Jazz musicians.
- He concentrates on playing the right chords with the correct bass notes and quickly memorizing melodies through ear training, enhancing his auditory skills.
- Matthew's practice includes using all available keys on the instrument, following his father's advice, to gain versatility.
- Piano enthusiasts can access a 7-day free trial of resources featuring renowned pianists like Jesus Molina and Jordan Rudus, offering practical insights and advanced techniques.
4. 🎵 Final Performance and Resources
4.1. 🎵 Final Performance
4.2. 🎵 Resources Discussion
5. 🎬 Inspiration and Reflection on La La Land Theme
- The segment highlights the impact of the movie 'La La Land' and its music, particularly 'Mia and Sebastian's Theme' by Justin Hurwitz, showcasing its emotional influence and inspiration for creativity.
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of letting go and being authentic in creative expression, suggesting that even if the outcome is not perfect, the process of creating and being true to oneself is valuable.
- There is an expressed admiration for composer Justin Hurwitz, with hopes for a future collaboration, indicating the aspiration to connect and create with influential artists.
- The narrative underscores the storytelling power of music, reflecting on its ability to evoke emotions and provide creative freedom.
6. 🙌 Closing Remarks and Gratitude
- The performer expressed gratitude to the audience for their support and attentiveness during the performance.
- The performer played 'Mia and Sebastian's Theme' from La La Land for the first time, highlighting a new addition to their repertoire.
- Encouraged the use of bloopers to show a behind-the-scenes, authentic look at production, fostering a more casual and relatable connection with the audience.