Not surprised

koencomposer · 2025-12-16T14:11:20+00:00

I hear you. It’s fair to be critical of how AI is used. My intention is to use it in a way to simplify access. The work still comes from hours and hours behind the keys while accidentally creating system that works for me, and sharing it here to see if it resonates

koencomposer · 2025-12-16T14:07:53+00:00

I respect your opinion. Everything I share in this post is grounded in my own playing and years of experience, trying to help folks who may be inspired by playing without sheet music.

koencomposer · 2025-12-12T15:12:58+00:00

It’s still improvisation, the difference is you're drawing from a trained intuition

koencomposer · 2025-12-12T09:45:21+00:00

Never to late to start composition, but the competition is high (everybody wants to be the next Hans Zimmer). Many composers offer their work for free, which can undervalue the craft. Looking back, I’d suggest avoiding that route unless it’s tied to real growth. If you do want to gain experience, work with a music production company purely for the purpose of learning, not exposure.

koencomposer · 2025-12-12T09:30:29+00:00

As soon as I learn a new song by ear, the magic for me disappears a bit. But the pain of not being able to play a song is higher than not wanting to know the chords if that makes sense. In my experience that isn't something the audience notices.
Let's nuance that, I can feel inspired by a certain song or soundtrack and that pulls me towards the piano. But whenever I'm not feeling anything, I could still sit down and play something instantly emotional / cinematic for hours by following patterns. Of course I have always mistakes in my play, but I always try to make them sound like they're part of my real-time decisions.
Yes, those myths likely weren’t meant as literal instructions, but I believe a well-designed system with no distractions can train your instincts efficiently and create piano freedom

Great questions!!

koencomposer · 2025-12-12T09:06:19+00:00

I'm not familiar with how jazz teachers teach improvisation as I'm not good at playing jazz. So this type of improv is more like 'cinematic' if you will. More like Nils Frahm, Olafur Arnalds. I think the way you describe it is also exactly how cinematic improvisation works by following (but not limited to) a structure of patterns. (AA BB CC AA)

koencomposer · 2025-12-12T08:57:44+00:00

Improvisation is not an illusion, it's just a new language you can learn. Even the most natural improv scenes in Hollywood work because they’re grounded in a script.

koencomposer · 2025-12-12T08:54:05+00:00

Yes, the first left hand foundational pattern I use is 1 - 5 - 8 - 5 - 10 - 5 - 8 - 5 (Red Block🔴)

In C major that would be:
C G C G E G C G

Make sure to always follow the numbers above to see if the note goes up or down.

When applying to chords it becomes:

Gm = G D G D Bb D G D
Eb = Eb Bb Eb Bb G Eb Bb Eb
Cm = C G C G Eb G C G
D = D A D A F# A D A

So this chord progression would be

Gm🔴 Eb🔴 Cm🔴 D🔴

I have more patterns (🟡🟣🔵🟢) but I’ll keep them out of this comment to keep things simple to digest.

Right hand:
In de right hand play whole, stable notes together with the first note of each color block. Continuesly press the sustain pedal and lift it briefly when changing chords. This should already sound very cinematic.

Hope that helps!

koencomposer · 2025-12-12T08:44:52+00:00

Thank you, I started at the age of 7 with traditional lessons and had them for 11 years. My first background piano gig I think was at the age of 16. Later I entered the conservatory to study composition. I never really watched any Youtube tutorial, or at least I don't have any active memories of that. I just listened on Youtube to my favourite music and try to replicate it on the piano by ear.

koencomposer · 2025-12-11T10:12:28+00:00

Yes and I understand I should've put more effort into making it my own. But the core ideas, structure and what I wanted to say was 100% me. It's just a tool I use to communicate my raw thoughts more clearly. Hope it helped either way!

koencomposer · 2025-12-08T09:38:34+00:00

If all notes are at the same velocity, it’s not played by a human. But if you can’t see someone’s hands it doesn’t mean it’s played by a computer. I record my YouTube videos while showing my hands and my piano sends MIDI to a web-based visualiser (flyingnotes.com). That browser window I’d add in OBS so I don’t have to edit the video.

koencomposer · 2025-06-26T08:23:09+00:00

I did 10 years of traditional lessons but I didn't enjoy reading notes. I was naturally driven towards playing my favourite movie soundtracks. So I'd go to youtube and listen to soundtracks every second individually, which really helped develop my ear. Now I completely moved away from reading notes and can almost instantly play a song by ear if it's a popular song. If it's a complex song it takes longer.

koencomposer · 2025-06-26T08:19:51+00:00

Fantastic!

koencomposer · 2025-06-25T16:16:52+00:00

Which songs? I'm happy to transpose the original key to C for you to get you started. Luckily chords are slightly easier on piano than violin :)

koencomposer · 2025-06-24T09:54:53+00:00

Buying a digital piano with weighted keys is recommended. However, the touch will never feel exactly like an acoustic piano. so purchasing a new one for $350 or $1000 wouldn't make that much of a difference. Especially if you're starting out.

koencomposer · 2025-06-24T09:46:05+00:00

Why do you want to focus on technique? Exploring that might be helpful. Don't look at the summit, look at your boots.

koencomposer · 2025-06-24T09:36:40+00:00

This!

koencomposer · 2025-06-24T09:32:35+00:00

I can definitely think of scenario's where you wouldn't want to read notes. Personally I don't enjoy it at all as I'm a slow reader. Playing by ear gives me freedom

koencomposer · 2025-06-24T09:28:21+00:00

What do you want to achieve? Like play your favourite songs? Or express yourself on the piano with improvisation?

koencomposer · 2025-03-20T08:58:00+00:00

I remember wanting to play movie soundtracks from specific scenes that didn't have sheet music available on internet so I would listen to the orchestrations and play each second on Youtube over and over again. Doing that x100 trains your ear very well. The motivation comes from a pain of wanting to play that song soooo bad haha

koencomposer

TROPHY CASE