I've been an on and off piano player for several years now. But this time, I'm determined to keep playing without giving up. The reason I'm so excited about playing the piano all of a sudden is that I finally know how to improvise. Improvising on the piano is beyond fun. Playing with the notes on the keyboard, making music out of just chords on a page... that's incredibly cool. I started out by just learning all the chords, so that I could play whatever song I wanted by just searching for the chords online, like at Ultimate Guitar. And once I got to know the chords, I decided to try out improvising, something that I've been so hecka scared to do.

For those of you out there who want to try out improvising on the piano, here is my how-to for y'all:

Pick a song you want to improvise on

It can be any song. It can be a pop song, a Broadway song... whatever. Just pick one and get the chords for the song. I personally started improvising with Titanium by David Guetta, one of my favorite songs ever.

Start by just playing the chords of the song, nothing more

Don't improvise just yet. Familiarize yourself with the key that the song is in. Remember which sharps or flats are in the song (though if you've studied music theory, like me, you would know which sharps/flats are present just by looking at the chords) and make sure your fingers are comfortable with the song. For something super easy to play, try find a song in the key of C, F, G, or D (the easiest keys to play in IMO) or, if you can, you can transpose the song you chose in the beginning to an easier key.

Listen to the actual recording of the song

Listen to the pattern of the music in the background. Pick up some ideas, pick up some notes that you want to try out. It's okay to copy exactly what the piano is doing in the actual recording. One good way to learn how to improvise is to copy other piano players.

Let your fingers and your heart do the work

Play. Just play. Don't think. Just play. Do whatever. Improvise with the notes on the piano. Improvise with some of the notes you heard over the recording. Copy from the original, make your own... Just play. There's just ONE rule to keep in mind: remember the key you're playing in. Don't go off key when improvising. You'll just make the song sound weird. For example, if you're playing in the key of D, you shouldn't play E# or F, you should play E or F# instead.

Now for the hard part...

Let yourself make mistakes

Here's a fact: you're going to sound horrible. At least at first. It takes a bit of time for your fingers to get used to improvising. Experiment on different notes on the piano, try different patterns... The key to improvisation is to make mistakes and learn from them. If you're too afraid to make mistakes, it's going to VERY hard to learn how to improvise.

Keep practicing

The only way to improve ANYTHING in life is to keep practicing. Don't give up and keep pushing on the notes on the keyboard. Play music, make heaps of mistakes, and improve more and more everyday.

P.S. I used to be an absolutely horrifying improvisor, but by following the steps above, I'm pretty good now. Of course, I still have a lot to learn and I need to experiment more, but I've improved quite a bit. So try out these tips. They really do help.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Knar Bedian Read more »

Whether you’re a regular cinema visitor or just like to watch one once in a while, we are all movie fans. Now despite there being many brilliant (or not so brilliant) movies coming out all the time. There are several things I wish were movies but alas are not likely to ever be made.

1) The Chrestomanci series

Ever since I first read Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones about a year ago, I thought that it would make a brilliant movie. But why just that book? Why not start at the beginning? With book number one: Charmed Life. The animated film Howl’s Moving Castle based on the Diana Wynne Jones novel of the same name shows that her work can work well on the screen. Why can’t we have an adaptation of the Chrestomanci books?

2) Whatever film this is advertising

It’s been nearly a year since My Chemical Romance's tragic break-up. What would be a better parting gift than a feature length movie based on the video for “I’m not okay”? Yeah, I’m being a bit too hopeful, but no My Chemical Romance fan would deny how amazing that would be. I for one am prepared to feel the romance.

3) The Subtle Knife

I adored the book Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman. In fact, I am currently re-reading my very, very worn out copy for the umpteenth time. The film adaptation for The Golden Compass was okay apart from the fact that IT FINISHED BEFORE THE ENDING OF BOOK!!! I was always disappointed that we never got to see the sequel and now at 19, Dakota Blue Richards has outgrown the role of 12 year old Lyra. I think people would notice the seven year gap as, if my memory serves me correct, The Subtle Knife starts about 3 days after the end of Northern Lights.


-Barista Ellen-

Images: via (The Chrestomanci series), via (The Subtle Knife) Read more »

Headphones are one of the most useful inventions ever. In fact, my pair of white in-ear headphones are one of the few things I can't go outside without. We all know the actual use for headphones, but are you aware of four other ways the headphones can be used?

Listen to music

Of course we can listen to music with headphones. After all, isn't this what headphones are for? How else could we pass boring hours without blissful music pounding in our ears?

Ignore people you don't want to talk to

When you spot someone across the street that you don't like, just stuff your headphones over or in your ears and pretend you're listening to hard-core music. Or better yet, ACTUALLY listen to music. When said person calls you over, pretend that you're so into the music that you can't hear him or her. The perfect excuse to ignore someone.

Look not so lonely when you are alone

Sometimes, inevitably, some of us are left all alone. Whether it's because you're waiting for a friend or because you've failed to make plans... when you're alone and you're feeling a little too self-conscious about this, put those headphones on and (pretend to) have the best fun ever all alone.

Block out noise when studying

I study in one of the loudest places on Earth. At home. At times when my brother is screaming at me or my mom is nagging, I put on my headphones and sound is shut off quite a bit. Of course, my in-ear headphones don't help as much as actual headphones might, but it's better than nothing. And by the way, with headphones, you can listen to music for real as a brain stimulant.

It looks cool.

'Nuff said.


-Barista Mia-

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One of the things I hate most in life are tangled in-ear headphones. Just thinking about them makes me want to crush something with my fist. It's frustrating, annoying, and totally scream-worthy. Like, to listen to music, I just take out my phone and in-ear headphones out of my purse to find that I have to untangle the mess my in-ear headphones have become. As if my life isn't a tangled mess already... Gosh. HOWEVER, about a year ago, I found a solution to my seemingly unsolvable problem. Watch this video, everybody, and be enlightened.


This is not a new trick. It's been around for the past 10 years or so and I am so sorry that I only got to discover it very recently. It's been a lifesaver to me and I am forever grateful for the person who has invented this technique of keeping our headphones in check. I do this every single time I pack my in-ear headphones now. And what's more? It's actually fun to wrap everything up after listening to some music. No joke! I re-do it often when I'm bored.

Anyway, that's my life tip for y'all lovely readers of LTC for the day. Good night!


-Barista Mia-

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Unfortunately, Christmas break is over. This means that we all have to pick up the books again (the ones that you didn’t look at for two weeks) and start studying. It is a fact that most teens find studying the most boring thing ever and I get it. Because it is. So, the solution is to have your phone playing your favorite songs from your favorite bands and artists, but this will not help. In fact, you will get distracted and start mumbling the lyrics without paying attention to your school books.

Scientists tell you that the best music to listen to while you’re doing annoying school work is classical music, which I totally agree with, but I understand that that type of music can be even more boring than studying. So, I decided to list a couple of alternative bands and artists that are fun and can make studying less exhausting.

If you’re studying subjects that require creativity and imagination like art and English, I would recommend the following bands:

1. The Black Keys – This band has some great songs that can make you want to dance for the rest of your life and can also inspire you on an essay. You will want to go back to the 80’s, I guarantee.
2. The Strokes - Another great indie rock band. You will fall in love with the vocalist’s voice.
3. The Black Lips – Their beats can make you feel all kinds of emotions.

For subjects like biology and history, I would recommend songs with great beats like:

1. Kings of Leon – It is impossible not to like them. Their songs are beautiful and I’m sure they will make you appreciate history in a way.
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers – They are crazy, fun and absolutely talented.
3. Arctic Monkeys – These lads are British, amazing and have the right songs for every subject.

For subjects like Math and Chemistry, you need a lot of concentration so I think you should listen to bands and artists that have calmer songs. So, we have:

1. Coldplay – Ok, I know you might think that this is not the appropriate band for studying but their songs are actually great for it.
2. Damien Rice - His voice is amazing. That’s all I need to say.
3. Bon Iver – I know you love “Skinny Love.”

Excellent marks guaranteed!


-Barista Alexandra-

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For days preceding the concert, I was too excited for words. I was going to see 30 Seconds to Mars for a second time. To make matters even better, they were going to be supported by You Me at Six. My two favourite number-related bands under one roof! Now that roof was exciting too. In October, the city's new concert venue, the Hydro, opened and I had heard stories about how good it was, how high up the seats were and how you could see well from any seat (I was really, really hoping the last one was true because I was in row V, which I later discovered was the very back row of the place!)

When I first heard about the Hydro, I was sceptical. What was the point of building a brand new concert venue directly beside the one we already have? I was also worried the very large building would block the view of some of the buildings in the Clyde Waterfront, which contains some of Glasgow's most iconic buildings. But as soon as I saw the Hydro from the train window, I knew it was going to be a very special place. I had not seen it since it was still being built, but what a transformation there had been! It glowed, flickering from green to blue. The only word to describe it is: magical! You Me at Six played brilliantly and I jumped about like I was on a trampoline despite most people in the seated section doing as the name suggests—sitting. Thanks to Scotrail (Scottish railroad)’s unreliability, I missed half their performance. But I thankfully caught all their best songs and I plan to get tickets to go see them when they return to Glasgow in April.

When 30stm started, it was one of those rare moments that is completely magical and stays with you for the rest of your life. The place went dark, the curtain dropped, the music began and there stood Jared Leto. But he wasn't standing on the stage. He was standing on the rigging above the stage! He was lowered down to stand beside his brother Shannon who began beating on his drums and Tomo who began playing his guitar, creating 30stm's amazing sound.

The whole concert was jam packed with brilliance: enormous balloons thrown into the crowd, so much confetti I couldn’t see the stage, and two acrobatic routines involving a hula hoop and a seesaw! But it was the music that I came for of course, and what amazing music it was. The real highlight was without the theatrics. Shannon and Tomo had left the stage and Jared stood there, one man and an acoustic guitar, taking requests—all the oldies like Hurricane and my old favourite: The Kill. There was also the most unenthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday I have ever heard.

The night did have some slightly worse parts. For one, 30stm kept us waiting twenty minutes before arriving onstage. Also, they never sung This Is War, which is currently my favourite of their songs as well as From Yesterday.

All in all, it was a magical night and my only wish is that I arrived at the train station a minute earlier so I didn't have to travel on the next train (AKA the snail express). I hope the next concert I see, which will hopefully be You Me at Six, will be equally amazing.


-Barista Ellen-

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Now I know the official album release date for Midnight Memories is November 25th, but iTunes managed to muck things up and accidentally leak all the songs to One Direction's new album. Yes, that means everybody got to listen to the songs before anybody got their hands on the actual physical copy of the album.

As soon as I caught a whiff of the hysteria that was all over Twitter when everybody found out about the leak, I just had to rush over to YouTube to have a listen. Seeing as I managed to free two hours of my time, I listened intensively to each of the songs and now... here's my review:

I am a Directioner. But the problem is, I don't really like any of the boys' songs. Sure, their tunes are catchy and such, but they weren't songs I would download onto my phone to listen to while on the subway or bus. Nope. They were just bland pop songs that I couldn't care less about. Don't you glare at me, people! I still was and am a Directioner. I loved the boys, just not their music.

Anyway, when I heard that Midnight Memories is supposed to have a new sound for the boyband, I got a little curious. And the fact that the boys had more control over this new album of theirs really made me look forward to the album. I mean, considering all their interviews, the boys actually have a good taste in music! Ironic that their songs aren't as good as the bands and singers they always mention.

So, like I said, when the album leaked online, I took a listen to all of their songs one by one. What I heard absolutely shocked me. Almost every single song was completely different! Not only from their previous albums, but also from each other. And that's not a bad thing. The juxtaposition of pure pop to rock to folk rock was absolutely gorgeous. There's a song on the album for everyone. I guess all five of the boys have different tastes in music. The songs they wrote really bring out their individual music styles.

Louis and Liam seem to have a rock fetish. Harry seems to have a love for the most unconventional music style--folk rock. The songs Niall co-wrote were very cutesy and pop-y. As for Zayn, well, as the quiet man he is, he didn't co-write as many songs as the other boys, so I can't say much about his music taste.

Midnight Memories was a big shock for me. I was so used to listening to normal pop from these boys that I wasn't expecting much musical growth from them, but oh my. This album is amazing. Sure, there are some songs that I didn't enjoy listening to like Diana and Best Song Ever, but the majority is actually good music. Even my dad who normally hates music listened to Happily and Midnight Memories and at once asked me who sings the songs. He was absolutely flabbergasted to hear that it was co-written and sung by One Direction of all people.

I feel a little guilty writing this review before the release of the album, so I'm not going to give any more deets about the music. I'm just going to close this blog post now with a: GO BUY THE ALBUM EVERYBODY! It's good music, yo! (I'm planning on buying my own copy although I've already had a listen. Yeah. It's that good.)


-Barista Mia-

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We were all a little surprised last June when Andrea- remember the partially-sighted Northern Irish contestant with the emotional, angelic songs?- won the second series of The Voice UK instead of the act who was expected to win, namely Leah McFall.

I, for one, was chuffed to bits that Andrea won- her natural, beautiful style of singing is right up my street. Apparently Will.i.am had a bit of a tantrum that Leah didn't win, though... The pressure was on for Andrea!

Last summer I almost completely forgot about Andrea. I listened to her audition song "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan so many times that the words could actually influence me in hard times, but I couldn't find any other music of hers. That's because there wasn't much until a few weeks ago.

 
Andrea's debut album has come out! I officially announce, it has been released! And it's as lovely as she always has been. People have been saying it hasn't lived up to expectations.

Now, I'm no blind fan, but I don't know what they're talking about. Each song is mesmerising and pretty. Some are slow and mournful, some upbeat and lively. And her amazing voice! It's like a waterfall or a flower meadow, seriously. So pure and fluid.

So that's where she's been all summer and autumn- writing and recording her album. She has also been featured in a few newspapers and magazines, but I've always missed out on those. 

Oh, and she has published an autobiography. That was quick, wasn't it? Only in her twenties and been famous for, what, six months, and she's got down to the desk already. It's called "I Didn't See That Coming". 

I just hope the harsh critique she's been getting (for selling only 2000 copies of "The Message" in the first week) isn't bugging her too much, and that she's coping with the stress of fame well enough.

-Barista Sabita-

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If you've been keeping track of the music nowadays, you might have noticed something a little different. 'Cause in the charts is a 17 year old who's been killing me with her good music and intelligent humor. Who is she and why do I like her? Well...

She's a freaking Kiwi

No, not the fruit. A New Zealander. Which, coincidentally, I am as well. If you have read my Jamie's World post, you would know that I really do like to cheer on my fellow Kiwis. Seriously. There aren't enough talented people that come from that quiet country. What fun can you expect from a country with more sheep than people, for goodness sakes? But then! Jamie Curry and Lorde just popped up with the best stuff ever. Jamie with her hilarious videos and Lorde with her amazing music.

She actually has a good taste of music

Okay, okay. I am in love with One Direction, I listen to some Taylor Swift, but that doesn't mean I think what I'm listening to is good music though they are catchy songs. I know good music when I hear it, but I have to keep on track of the trends too, you hear me? Gosh. Anyway, have a listen to this:



Yeah! Alternative music. *faints* So good. And here's another.



This girl here is a true artist, yo.

She writes

Yes, she writes her music, but she used to write short stories too (like me!). My connection with Lorde runs deeper than our origins. Haha. And it's not stupid stuff she writes like Friday or Chinese Food. She writes about stuff that really matter. It's no surprise she's such a good writer though, not with an award-winning poet as a mother.

She embraces her individuality and keeps classy at the same time

Yeah, apparently, Gaga and Miley Cyrus are embracing themselves, but what the heck? If stripping naked means being different and special, I don't want to live on this planet anymore. Thankfully, Lorde has come to rescue this fallen music industry by bringing her own individuality and keeping COVERED UP. It embarrasses me as a female when I see girls twerking on stage with nothing but latex underwear on. It's not right. But then... Lorde comes along to the stage wearing gigantic shoes and a long dress. Yay!

She can actually sing




Yes. Yes, she actually can. The ability to sing is very rare in the music industry nowadays. It makes me flinch when certain people try to sing. Lorde, on the other hand, doesn't lip sync, doesn't use playback, and uses her raw voice to bring good music to our ears. Sigh. It's about time someone like Lorde popped up. Maybe there's hope yet for our generation.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Lorde's Instagram Read more »

Yeah, this music video's puh-retty old, but I had to rewatch it recently as I was planning my lesson for an ESL student. She does this thing where she fills in the missing words I print out while listening to the song. Anyway, I was rechecking the lyrics for "Just the Way You Are" by watching the music video for the first time.

"Aw," I thought. "I want a boyfriend like that."

Here's the music video for you guys who want to watch it, so we're on the same page here:



I was passively watching the music video as I was checking the lyrics when it hit me:

THAT GIRL IN THE MUSIC VIDEO IS FREAKING PERFECT! She has a face FULL of makeup on, she clearly has had her hair done by professionals, she's wearing flattering clothes, she's got, like, THE perfect body any girl could ask for... ARE YOU KIDDING ME, MR. BRUNO MARS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Sorry. *breathes in and breathes out*

Okay. I'm calm now.

But let me show you what I am talking about. Shall we take a look at a couple lines of the song to illustrate?

Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shinin'

Yeah. Thanks to pollution. Next.

Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her tryin'

If I had hair that was professionally done every single morning, my hair would fall perfectly without my tryin' either.

etc.

And not only that. Bruno could have just used a normal-looking girl who just got out of bed, but no. He had to use a perfectly perfect model who's just basking in all of her perfect-ness. Even One Direction used gorgeous models for "What Makes You Beautiful". Being beautiful is what makes those models beautiful, thank you very much.

I dunno.

Maybe I'm feeling a little bitter because I look like poop today. But don't you girls agree? I mean, it's easy to sing about the girl being amazing just the way she is if she looks like THAT. Sigh. Life, man.

Seriously, though. I would be really happy if a male singer actually invited a normal non-model to star in his music video as he sings about how perfect she is although she may not think so.

It's time to petition something like this. Imagine how much this would lift the average teenaged girl's self esteem! Well, here's to hoping a music video with a normal girl will come out one day! *clinks glasses*


-Barista Mia- Read more »

I’m not going to write about Take Me Home, or Little Mix’s new (uh, fairly new) album, although I do love these and they are great for rocking out to whilst eating chocolate with your friends. 1D are terrific, but they’re not, well, deep, are they? Do you really want to listen to them singing about having parties with girls whose daddies are dentists when you’re feeling down and out? It’s my opinion that we all get the miseries from time to time, even if some people are more, unfairly, lucky than others. If you ever want something new to listen to that’s still uplifting but not so in-your-face-we-have-everything-cheerful, look up Sara Bareilles' new album, “The Blessed Unrest” on YouTube. After one listen, I was in love. It’s a beautiful combination of creative ramblings like the ones normal people don’t actually do but that I think everyone should, and your classic love gumph; “Cos Ah caaaaaaaan’t have youuuuuuuuu.”

No, these songs really are inspiring. The single, “Brave” pretty much voices exactly what I need at the moment...



Then there’s the song “Satellite Call”, which reminds me of the night sky and the universe and a whole lot else.



Then there’s “I Wanna Be Like Me”, which I think a lot of us could find something worthwhile in. Lying in bed eating ice cream and thinking you wanna be like yourself is sure to cheer you up, as soon as you realise it’s true!

Overall, the album has a brisk but dreamy tone, as if Sara is talking in a stream of conciousness out of her brilliant creative mind (which, may I add, I know nothing of except what she shows in this album,  because I had hardly even heard of her before finding it.) Oh, and “Brave” has even been compared to Katy Perry’s “Roar”, yes! In actual fact there’s not much similarity except that the opening bars of music sound the same, and loosely, both the songs are about getting guts and bein’ brave. And magically turning into animals. Well, that’s just Katy. Sara, on the other hand, is perfectly happy with descriptions of gravestones and constellations and little black dresses.


-Barista Sabita-

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So everybody's pretty much watched Britney's new "Work B**ch" music video. And you know what? She looks freaking amazing! Anyway, for me, on top of ogling over THE Britney Spears, I can't help but think of the past decade or so of Britney's career. I mean, she started from "Baby One More Time" and all the way to "Work B**ch", winning a billion and one awards along the way.

Well, now that her new single is out, the time has come for us to take a look back at our favorite Britney music videos.



No list of Britney's best music videos would be complete without her first. Look at her! 16 and already fabulous.



The sheer weirdness of this just makes me fall in love.


IT'S A CIRCUS! Need I say any more?



The first time I watched this video, I fell off my chair in shock at seeing a naked person on my computer screen. That pretty much makes this entire music video memorable to me.



Ah. The classic Britney Spears music video. The diamond sparkles, the air hostess uniform, the sexiness oozing out of every single move Britney makes. Sigh.

Ugh. This woman and her pure awesome-ness is going to kill me one day. I swear.


-Barista Mia- Read more »

Oh wow. Will you look at the date? The year is almost over! Although I’m really sad because all my procrastination is catching up to me and now I have a billion things to do before the year ends, I’m glad at the same time. Why am I not full-time sad? Because the albums I’ve been waiting for are nearing their release dates! *screams* Now here is a list of some of the upcoming albums that will be released later this year because we all need to put these dates onto our calendars and start counting down.

Justin Timberlake – 30 September

THE 20/20 EXPERIENCE PART 2

I had never really listened to JT until Mirrors came out. Some cover artist, I forgot who, was singing it and I absolutely fell in love with the song. Since then, I’ve been listening to his music more than I should.

Miley Cyrus – 8 October

BANGERZ

Oh, hey look! Even the album title is alluding to her twerking skills. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the album, but “Wrecking Ball” is actually a pretty good song.

Paul McCartney – 15 October

NEW

Whoop! Sir Paul McCartney is coming back! About time! It’ll be featuring new songs too (see what I did there?). *adds NEW to to-buy list*

Katy Perry – 22 October

PRISM

Not the biggest fan of her music, but what the heck. There are many Katycats in the world and her album release date is not to be ignored.

Kelly Clarkson – 29 October

WRAPPED IN RED

Argh! It seems like forever since she released a new album! I still have a hard time getting rid of “Because of You” out of my head, but that’s probably because I was karaoking (is that a word?) a few days ago. Can’t wait to see what new material she has.

Lady Gaga – 11 November

ARTPOP

After spending about an eternity under the radar, she’s finally making a comeback. I don’t know much about her new album, but the cover art is awesome. And this is Lady Gaga we’re talking about, I can pretty much guarantee #1 songs.

One Direction – 25 November

MIDNIGHT MEMORIES

So apparently 1D has a new sound now. Has anyone else listened to their leaked song “Just Can’t Let Her Go”? Sexy animal, it says. SEXY ANIMAL? What the heck happened to “chinny chin chin”?

There are about a hundred more albums that are coming out this year, so just keep checking out your local CD store or iTunes. Which album are you looking forward to most?

-Barista Mia-

Images:  Peter Dutton, JJ Duncan, Realtor Action Center, José Goulão, Bryan Horowitz, TJ Sengel, Eva Rinaldi

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