The Modern Period: Music History, Composers and Pieces

Music really started to split into different categories during the Modern era (1910-2000). This is where you get styles like Impressionism, Modernism, Ragtime, Jazz, Musicals and more.

The Modern Period

 

 

 

• Impressionism in music: Characteristics of the style and composers who created it

One aspect of modern (20th century) music is Impressionism. This style talks about composers such as Debussy, and goes through some history and examples of this style of writing.

• Modernism in music (Early 20th century classical)

In the 20th century, Western music began to fracture into many different styles. Modernism is one such style, which can be described as very odd and discordant. People who wrote in this genre definitely threw away the traditional rule book.

• A brief history of ragtime music

Ragtime music is such a fun and lively genre from the early 20th century, marked by composers such as Scott Joplin. This genre was exclusively for piano, and was a bit of a precursor to jazz.

• A brief history of the opera, part 2

Opera was a big part of the modern era, so it seemed important to plant this video here. The second video discusses opera in the romantic and modern eras of music.

• A Simple Guide to American Music History

American music is a vast topic, so this video serves as an overview on how American music developed from the 1700s to modern times.

Modern Composers

 

 

 

• A brief history of Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy, composer of Claire de lune, is one of the best-known Impressionist composers (though he hated that classification).

• Performer Spotlight on Glenn Gould: The Bach Wizard

Though not a composer, Glenn Gould is one of the world’s most famous piano performers. He recorded some monumental Bach, and was a Canadian legend.

• A Brief History of Rachmaninoff

Rachmaninoff was a late-Romantic, modern-era composer from Russia who spent many of his adult days in America. He was a piano virtuoso and pioneered an original sound.

Modern Music

 

 

 

• 12 amazing key changes in pop music

This is one of the few videos on this channel that discusses pop music. The topic is key changes, and I play through some of my favorites as examples.

• An analysis of Clair de Lune (for casual music fans)

Clair de Lune is one of the most famous Classical pieces of all time, written by the composer Debussy. This exploration is free of musical jargon, so you can enjoy it regardless of what level you’re at.

• The Music of Debussy

This video is a concise tour of Impressionist composer Debussy’s best music (according to me, not biased at all).

• Guide to the Blues: 1900s – 2000s

This video provides an overview of the development of Blues music, from its origins in the early 1900s to where it has ended up in the 2000s.

• The Music of Rachmaninoff

This video is a concise tour of early Modern era composer Rachmaninoff’s best music (according to me).

• Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto no. 2

A look at one of Classical music’s most loved compositions of all time, the wildly difficult Piano Concerto no. 2 by Rachmaninoff.

• Debussy’s Deux Arabesques (simple piano guide)

These two piano compositions are favorites among piano students (especially the dreamy first one). This video takes you on a tour through both of them.

Modern Tutorials

Beginner

 

 

 

• Red River Valley (F major chord and thirds)

This is one of the oldest tutorials on this channel, and therefore one of the easiest. It’s an arrangement of a very famous folk tune, and is playable at a beginner level.

• Land of the Silver Birch: Beginner piano tutorial

This is a Canadian folk song – and, as a Canadian, I had to adapt it for easy piano. It’s very haunting and expressive, and quite different from other beginner-style pieces.

• You Are My Sunshine tutorial

This lovable, sweet piece is made simpler with the addition of basic chords, appropriate for preparatory-level students.

• Bartok’s First Term at the Piano, no. 8: Staccatos

Bartok wrote tons of keyboard music for beginners and advanced students alike (he was a piano teacher, among other things). This is one of his beginner-level pieces, teaching the use of staccatos (light playing).

• The two-note slur (Bartok’s First Term at the Piano)

Another beginner-level study from Bartok’s beginner collection. This time the focus is on the two-note slur, a technique that you’ll be using throughout your piano playing life.

• How to play Greensleeves

Greensleeves has somehow solidified itself as a Christmas tune (What Child is This), though it started out as a folk song. It’s a very well-known melody, and this piano adaptation is suitable for those in their first year of lessons.

• House of the Rising Sun

This sad and somber folk song is one of my favorites for this level, and I love teaching it. It’s a preparatory-level arrangement, though it’s two pages and involves some leaps and broken chords.

• Canadian Boat Song: Beginner piano

Another Canadian folk song! This one is suited to those in their first year – it’s not particularly easy, so attempt the previous tutorials in this section first.

• Mikrokosmos 1: Complete practice guide (and Mikrokosmos 2)

This album by Bartok is suitable for beginners through a grade 1 level. In this tutorial, I play through the pieces and give a detailed learning plan on the accompanying blog posts.

• The Yellow Rose of Texas: Easy Piano Tutorial

At around a grade 1 level, this familiar American folk song is fun to learn, and tends to be featured in many beginner-level books.

• The Entertainer: Easy piano tutorial

The Entertainer is a ragtime piece by Scott Joplin, and is very well-loved. This adaptation is approximately at a grade 2 piano level.

Intermediate

 

 

 

 

• Rachmaninoff Prelude op. 2 no. 3 (Simplified)

This famous prelude has been simplified to be playable by a student at around a grade 4 level.