A Stop Motion Animation called Flower. I created this video to show my piano students how to combine a video with music. Creating Stop Motion Animations and Time Lapse Videos are great fun, and an excellent way to give students a practical avenue for their creativity. I like to do projects with students, so they can learn to think for themselves and enjoy the satisfaction of completing something they have personally made. A music keyboard and a camera can inspire a world of adventure.
Hiromi Uehara, commonly known as Hiromi, is a jazz composer and pianist from Hamamatsu, Japan. She is recognized by her incredibly virtuosic technique, high energetic performances and the blending in her compositions of musical genres such as new bop, progressive rock, classical and fusion.
Hiromi began classical piano at age six. Her piano teacher introduced to jazz when she was eight. At 14, she had already performed with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. At 17, she met Chick Corea by chance in Tokyo, and was invited to play a concert with him the very next day.
She worked as a jingle writer for several years, and then enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts to study music. At Berklee, she was mentored by Ahmad Jamal. By the time of her graduation, she had already signed with a jazz label Telarc. Since 2004 debut, Hiromi has toured the world and appeared in numerous jazz festivals. She has played live at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival.
A live video performance by Lang Lang. Chopin Waltz Brilliante in A Flat Major.
Lang Lang was born in Shenyang China in 1982. He is a famous classical concert pianist. He currently resides in New York City. Lang Lang is known throughout the world, having played concerts in Europe, North America, and Asia. He has also made numerous television appearances and has recorded many albums. Lang Lang began studying keyboard lessons at the age of three. Two years later, he played his first piano concert and placed first. His flashy style and thunderous keyboard playing have garnered both praise and criticism. His music has been described as having great communicative power. His career has had superstar qualities, and he is often described as being a “classical prodigy phenomenon”. His appeal to young people is undeniable as he can conquer young crowds with his youthful bravado. His playing has also been described as “blazing speed and thunderous power”, “daredevil tendencies” and “extremes of dynamics and rhythm”. Through his foundation, Lang Lang spends much time working to bring classical music to children all over the world.
A video with Ben Fold playing a cool piano solo. Lots a fun to watch. Recorded during a live concert performance.
Ben Folds is an American keyboard and piano player, and singer-songwriter. He also is a record producer. His first band, Ben Folds Five, recorded albums from 1995 to 2000. Their piano heavy, alternative rock style was new and fresh, and his band gained much notoriety. He left the band to continue a solo career. He has since toured as a solo artist throughout the world. He has done live appearances with William Shatner and other celebrities. Folds has also recorded music for film. Ben Folds took piano lessons for a couple of years, beginning at age nine. He also learned to play by ear, and this enabled him to set a course to become a singer songwriter. He studied music in college in Miami, and perfected his playing technique. He left college just before he was to graudate. His song writing career continued from there.
Some Ben Folds Songs:
Ben Folds Five
Whatever and Ever Amen
Fear of Pop: Volume 1
Rockin’ the Suburbs
Ben Folds Live
Songs for Silverman
Way to Normal
Fifty-Five Vault
This video is of Randy Newman singing “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” and playing piano live at Jazz Open, Stuttgart, Germany. The song is from the movie ‘Toy Story’ and is about the friendship of the film’s characters Andy and Woody. Randy’s unique style of singing, keyboard playing, and lyric writing have made his performances easily recognizable.
Randy Newman spent his youth in Los Angeles, California. His family later moved to New Orleans. Newman began piano lessons when he was six.He began his successful and longstanding songwriting career at the when he was 17. He states that Ray Charles had the biggest influence in the development of his music style, and that you can easily hear in his singing.
Randy Newman has been in the music world his entire life, singing, songwriting, playing piano, and composing and arranging for film. He is best known for his work scoring such films as “Toy Story” and “James and the Giant Peach”. He has been recognized with two Academy Awards, and numerous other accolades, including an Oscar, 3 Emmy awards and 5 Grammy’s. With his enormous contribution to American music, Randy Newman is truly a national musical treasure.