Francis Lai https://www.francis-lai.com/ Academy of Music Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:57:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.francis-lai.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-Music-32x32.png Francis Lai https://www.francis-lai.com/ 32 32 What Songs Every Beginner Piano Player Should Learn https://www.francis-lai.com/what-songs-every-beginner-piano-player-should-learn/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:45:02 +0000 https://www.francis-lai.com/?p=3133 Most professional piano players today began with easier piano songs like those in this review. Gradually, they sustained enough motivation to keep their progress going.…

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Most professional piano players today began with easier piano songs like those in this review. Gradually, they sustained enough motivation to keep their progress going.

Get ready to discover new genres and explore other songs to improve your skills while practicing these songs. Below is a complication of beginner-friendly songs to help build your skills while playing music you truly love. Check them out.

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)

“Hallelujah,” a beautiful song by Leonard Cohen, is one of the best tunes to learn as a piano player. The song is based on the key of G major. It also includes simple chord progressions and gentle melodies that new players can easily master.

First, it introduces you to the piano’s “black keys.” But it also helps new pianists build hand coordination and smooth chord transitions. Add all these features together and you see why this is a pragmatic choice for early players.

Lastly, “Hallelujah” is an easily recognizable tune. So you can rest assured you’ll get motivation and satisfaction during practice. In the end, you’re more confident of making progress in your piano training.

Fly Me to the Moon (Bart Howard)

“Fly Me to the Moon” is one of the most enduring jazz standards in history. First, it offers an ideal entry point for new piano learners who are yet to master jazz songs.

But that’s not all. It also includes an enchanting melody supported by accessible arrangements and basic seventh chords. By presenting such crucial musical arrangements in a simple piece, this song becomes highly helpful for mastering jazz harmony.

There’s even more reasons why beginner pianists should check out “Fly Me to the Moon”. Its structure simplifies chords into manageable sections. On the right hand are intriguing chords, which are coupled with simple, steady bass lines on the left. By mastering the structure, learners can become more comfortable with more complex pieces in the genre.

Other interesting things to learn from Bart Howard’s “Fly Me to the Moon” include:

  • Scalar playing
  • Finger agility
  • The connection between scales and harmonies

If you’re keen about building a solid foundation for more complex jazz pieces in the future, consider adding this tune to your library.

Lean on Me (Bill Withers)

Thanks to its memorable melody and accessible arrangement, Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” is popular for being a go-to tune for beginner pianists. The piece welcomes you into a realm of melodic independence as both hands move together rhythmically.

Since each hand plays distinct notes, this song helps beginner pianists to develop coordination without overwhelming complexity. That way, pianists can create a fuller and more textured harmony. There’s also an interplay of melodies in each hand, which expose new players to richer musical textures.

My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)

Most people who have watched or learned about the Titanic may be familiar with Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”. It was the Titanic’s leading theme and features an approachable melody that’s both simple and emotional. Players can rest assured that the song will get them immersed in expressive phrasing from the first seconds.

The left hand includes bass movements that can easily become anyone’s favorite, plus a memorable lead line in the right. Working on both hands, learners have the chance to work on coordination and hand independence.

Moreover, the Celine Dion song is great for players who have never learned dotted rhythms and dynamic contrast. These tools are essential for building rhythmic precision and control. If you’re looking for a piece that helps piano beginners build confidence in their timing and build careful attention to detail, “My Heart Will Go on” is worth checking out.

The Wall (Pink Floyd)

Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” is another top choice to see if you want to master legendary rock music on the piano. Here, the right hand confidently leads the melody in an easily recognizable and satisfying sequence.

The right hand gets isolated as the song’s main theme allowing you to focus on crafting musical phrases and mastering the rhythm. That way, you can gradually and easily build confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

On the left hand, things are intentionally simple, so a straightforward technique can significantly help you through. Your left hand contributes a steady pulse and foundation for the music without competing for attention, in the most clever way.

Conclusion

Check out any of these songs whenever you want to feel rewarded as a beginner pianist. They contain catchy and repetitive rhythms that make things relatively easier to learn.

Also, many of them use accidental black key notes, introducing new pianists to the new concept. Beyond the melody each songs brings, playing them as a beginner helps you improve your playing skills and experience.

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The Hidden Effect of Music Speed on Your Brain https://www.francis-lai.com/the-hidden-effect-of-music-speed-on-your-brain/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:43:35 +0000 https://www.francis-lai.com/?p=3129 Music can affect our emotions, mind, and learning ability. Beyond the lyrics or melody, the genre and speed of a music can determine the sound’s…

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Music can affect our emotions, mind, and learning ability. Beyond the lyrics or melody, the genre and speed of a music can determine the sound’s impact.

In this review, we show you just what to look out for when seeking a specific mental/emotional ambiance. You’ll also see why online casino gamers prefer specific music genres when playing certain casino titles.

Music Genres and Online Casino Games

Choosing the right genre for your online gaming session can go a long way in impacting your mood and choices. If you’re planning an online casino night on NV casino, which we suggest reading more about at https://pl.polskiesloty.com/nv-casino-opinie/, here are some of the best music genres to look out for.

  1. Jazz

Jazz is a famous music genre linked with a relaxed and luxurious atmosphere. With typically soft rhythms and improvisations, a jazz playlist could make the perfect background for an online gaming session.

This music genre helps to create a sense of style and elegance around players so they can focus in a relaxed atmosphere. That makes it little wonder why many night venues use live jazz to serenade the atmosphere.

  1. Pop

Pop music is versatile for most online casino themes. The genre features easy and catchy tunes that are famous among music fans, thanks to its ability to create a friendly ambiance during online gaming sessions. Pop music also attracts a diverse followership, which ranges from young folks to elderly people, creating an entirely positive mood during your games.

  1. Classical

Consider classical music when you want to create a sophisticated atmosphere. It might be a great idea to fill your library with the songs from great composers like Bach, Mozart, or Tchaikovsky, transporting yourself into a world of high art and culture.

Classics are also helpful with promoting stillness and focus, helping gamblers make better decisions. By introducing classic songs into your online gaming sessions, you can transform your gaming sessions beyond mere gambling into an authentic cultural experience.

  1. Electronic dance music

EDM (electronic dance music) offers dynamic rhythms and energetic melody that raises player moods and agility during games. These sounds can become especially useful during fun gaming sessions or promotional activities. Also, EDM might be a great pick if you need some high-energy songs worth placing alongside your gambling adventures.

Music Speed and the Brain: The Science

Various researchers have found a connection between music tempo and the human brain. By extension, this speed-based impact translates to various emotional changes in humans.

Fast-paced music is frequently connected with liveliness, happiness, joy, and fun, while slow-paced music is often connected to dignity, sorrow, calmness, boredom, tenderness, or disgust. Scientists have also discovered that fast music can evoke positive emotion, and slow tempo is generally linked with negative emotions.

To arrive at these conclusions, researchers detected individuals’ electroencephalogram frequencies that matched various music tempos. They discovered that musical stimuli with different speeds caused neural changes in the motor and auditory cortices of the brain.

Meanwhile, another functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study linked music with positive emotions and large activations in the auditory cortices, motor area, and limbic systems. Other researchers have also found that musically trained ears (and brains) respond with more sophisticated emotions to music tempo.

Conclusion

Researchers have linked music tempo and genre with human emotions, decision-making processes, and brain responses. With Jazz’s soft music and improvisation, you can create a relaxed ambiance around your gaming experiences. Pop music, on the other hand, can help gamers curate a positive mood during their gaming sessions. Classical music from top artists like Mozart and Bach can easily help you curate an authentic cultural experience, while EDM could be great for fun and promotional sessions.

Meanwhile, music tempo has been linked with various neural reactions and emotions. Fast-paced music is generally connected with positive emotions, happiness, and fun. Slow music, on the other hand, has been linked with sadness or other unhappy feelings.

Knowing these facts can go a long way in helping you create the perfect playlist, whether you’re having an online gaming session, planning a hangout with friends, or just thinking up the right song for your mood.

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The Future of Music Education: AI Tools, Apps, and Online Lessons https://www.francis-lai.com/the-future-of-music-education-ai-tools-apps-and-online-lessons/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:41:59 +0000 https://www.francis-lai.com/?p=3124 Human beings are not good at keeping pace with technological change in creative fields. If anything, the process of traditional music education has primed us…

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Human beings are not good at keeping pace with technological change in creative fields. If anything, the process of traditional music education has primed us to believe that learning instruments requires years of in-person instruction and rigid practice routines.

To a normal human, skepticism about AI-assisted learning will always feel justified because music seems too human, too emotional, too creative for machines to understand, no matter how sophisticated the technology becomes.

Because of this, many music educators have resisted AI integration entirely, only for them to end up watching students struggle with outdated methods while more adaptive tools exist. To stay relevant in music education, it’s compulsory to understand what AI can actually do in 2025, and there are a couple of transformative developments worth examining, as explained below.

AI Tools That Actually Work for Music Education

When you examine what’s available now, you’ll see how these platforms support When you examine what’s available now, you’ll see how these platforms support learning in the following way:

  • Suno AI enables text-to-song generation with lyric integration, customizable styles and genres, plus royalty-free outputs, which is a good sign if you want students experimenting with composition ethically.
  • Udio provides advanced text-to-music capabilities, vocal synthesis, remix tools, plus integration with DAWs for instant song prototypes.
  • Google MusicFX offers generative audio from descriptions, style transfer, plus educational prompts that help students uncover patterns across genres.

What connects all of these tools is a common benefit: they lower the barrier to musical creation without eliminating the need for understanding. A student who’s never written a song can generate one from a text prompt, then analyze why it works or how

Apps That Transform How Students Practice

Music learning apps in 2025 emphasize gamification, sight-reading, plus vocal training, with AI enhancements for real-time progress tracking. Piano-focused apps dominate, but expansions into singing and theory are notable, and top apps now include VR elements for simulated performances.

Among the most popular options, Flowkey offers interactive piano tutorials with sheet music scanning, AI tempo adjustment, plus community challenges, perfect for self-paced classical learning.

In terms of structured instruction, ArtMaster provides comprehensive piano instruction with video lessons, AI feedback on technique, plus genre variety; tested as highly effective for home practice.

For students looking for more flexible learning, Simply Piano added bite-sized lessons with microphone analysis, now including collaborative multiplayer modes for duets.

When it comes to vocal development, SingWell Apps like Pitch Trainer focus on vocal warmups, range expansion, plus pitch correction; top-rated for beginners in 2025 singing education.

Together, these tools reflect a larger trend: they promote adaptive learning, especially for children, with studies showing improved retention through AI personalization, which is a good sign if traditional methods haven’t been working for certain students.

Online Platforms That Actually Deliver Results

Online platforms in 2025 offer hybrid models blending live sessions with AI-assisted content, high-res audio, plus global instructor matching. New LMSs like EdisonOS cater specifically to music with multimedia assessments. Trends include immersive tech and affordable certifications that weren’t possible even a year ago.

One standout in this space is ArtistWorks, which provides video exchange lessons with professionals across instruments like guitar and drums, AI feedback on submissions, plus structured paths ideal for adults.

Another major player is TakeLessons, which offers one-on-one live sessions across instruments, with flexible scheduling and progress tracking; expanded AI integration for prep work between lessons.

From the educator’s perspective, platforms like OnMusic Companion and Learn Worlds support multi-instructor environments.

Although free platforms like YouTube still play a role, premium hybrids now dominate for those seeking depth and personalized feedback.

Conclusion

The future of music education isn’t about choosing between traditional instruction and AI tools. It’s about combining the best of both: human mentorship, emotional connection, plus cultural context from teachers, paired with personalized feedback, instant composition tools, plus adaptive practice from AI.

With that in mind, the technology exists now to make music education more accessible, more engaging, plus more effective than ever before. The ethical frameworks exist to be used responsibly. The platforms exist to deliver results.

The real challenge now is this: who will actually integrate these tools thoughtfully and gain the benefits, while others debate whether AI belongs in music education at all?

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