'New Age' music sometimes gets a bad rap with 'serious' musicians, but the simple chord progressions and repeated melodies can calm and relax us- much like a tasty cheese dip.

So, what do you think about 'New Age' piano music?

It might bring to mind performers like George Winston, Jim Brickman- Yanni, maybe even, heaven help us John Tesh. The genre itself seems to focus on creating music that is pretty to listen to, non-threatening, non-challenging, and generally of a relaxing nature. I remember that, as a college student, I came up with the analogy that New Age music is to the piano repertoire as Velveeta is to the world of cheese. It's a comparison that still holds true in my mind, for the most part. But as much I love a good camembert, growing older has helped me to realize that a little salsa and queso dip with some tortilla chips can be a pretty enjoyable experience too- once in a while.

Many times, my junior high and high school age students already have a familiarity with some of these New Age piano artists, probably from being exposed to the music by their parents. It's sometimes difficult to teach these pieces, because the official sheet music publications are usually note for note transcriptions of the original recordings. Syncopated rhythms that sound completely natural and almost easy when you listen to them can be an absolute bear for students to figure out and reproduce themselves. Plus, I often find these compositions to be too long for the typical student. They enjoy learning the main theme, but their interest peters out before they finish the remaining eight to ten pages of subtle variations and transformations.

Fortunately, we're beginning to see some New Age arrangements cropping up in the teaching series of major publishers. These arrangements are generally edited down to a more appropriate length, and notated in a way that makes them more accessible to students.

Today, we'll look at one such arrangement, a composition by the popular New Age pianist, known by his stage name, Yiruma. Yiruma is from South Korea and unlike some of his colleagues in the genre, he possesses a classical training and even acquired a degree in composition from King's College London. We'll listen to what is probably his most well-known piece, "River Flows in You". It features some of the trademark features of New Age music- a simple, very repetitious chord progression, repeated melodic fragments with subtle variation, and an overall mood that allows it to be enjoyed without investing much mental or emotional effort. If you're cringing at that statement, just remember that Velveeta analogy. We all have our guilty pleasures.

"River Flows in You" is available in two versions designed for piano students, one at the early intermediate level, and the version that I will play for you, suitable for late-intermediate level students. The piece is also available in both the printed edition and a digital version that can be purchased and downloaded instantly online. Links to both can be found on the website for this podcast, www.RepertoireReview.com.

Until next Monday, this is Luke Bartolomeo. For the next three minutes, I invite you to get in a comfortable position, close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and enjoy "River Flows in You" by Yiruma. I'll see you again next Monday with another composition from the contemporary piano teaching repertoire. Until then, happy practicing!

Late Intermediate Version

look inside

River Flows in You (Showcase Solos Pops Intermediate - Level 5). By Yiruma. Arranged by Wayne Hawkins. Educational Piano Library. Intermediate. 8 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.296896) ...more info

River Flows In You By Yiruma. New Age; Pop. Piano. 4 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.182166) ...more info

Early Intermediate Level Version

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River Flows in You (Easy Piano Sheet Music). By Yiruma. Easy Piano. 8 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.110173) ...more info

River Flows In You By Yiruma. New Age; Pop. Piano. 5 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.198776) ...more info

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