If you find a musician who plays how you dream of playing and beyond,
who makes you want to be a better musician and a deeper listener,
who communicates their knowledge creatively and articulately,
who practices and believes seriously in magic, inspiration, and growth,
AND is willing to work alongside you to raise you up on your own musical journey,
Anyone can produce music at this point.
Anyone can learn the basics of how to play an instrument, free on YouTube. Even a lot of the advanced techniques.
Millions of musicians with good, even great chops, putting out tracks that sound professional.
All of those well played, well produced tracks also sounding exactly the same as all the others.
What they lack is what you're here for. The origin in originality.
You know enough "how to play". What you need is to conceive of your own "what to play". That doesn't come simply from reference to great musicians, but from a clear understanding of the foundations that music operates on.
Most "music theory" actually obscures this clarity with a kaleidoscope of conventions and assumptions that are theories of particular styles, not theories of music or harmony itself.
Musical styles and great musicians are wonderful manifestations, but the source gave birth to them all.
You have your musical heroes, but you are not content to be their greatest cover artist, nor to sound just like them rather than your deeper creative self, conscious of and in tune with the source.
What you seek is access to a deeper musical understanding that will allow you freedom to explore and move on your own ear's terms. Hoping to get anywhere really interesting by reitterating common songwriting tactics, instrumental tricks, and/or "music theory" memes, has not, and likely cannot grant you this access.
What can are Keys to the Halls of Harmony.
Hi, I'm Troll Hart. A composer, pianist, and director of progressive music.
I'm not here to position myself as some guru, or act like I'm the most amazing teacher. I do enjoy sharing my knowledge to uplift my community, however my primary passion, work, and artistic love is composing, performing and producing music.
I have released 9 full length albums of my own compositions since 2013. Got a few more fully produced and ready to drop when I feel like it.
I have performed over 500 gigs in progressive rock, progressive metal, jazz fusion, progressive death metal, folk music, classic rock, psychedelic rock, and jazz bands since 2014. Many of these bands I was/am the director of, many of them I was/am simply a player within.
At the start of 2023 I began my solo project, where I perform fully improvised operas on piano and voice. Just piano and voice. I've found that even audiences accustomed to electronic bedazzlement are astounded, emotionally moved, and pay me well despite my humble setup by today's standards.
No looping pedals. No backing tracks. Just in-earnest magical ability in the realm of harmony and instrumental performance.
Not magic like tricks or sleight of hand. Not magic like some people are wizards and some people are muggles. Gross.
With curiosity, belief, and discipline, someone from any background can learn this real magic. Training your ear and mind to transform what's in your heart and your dreams into artifacts of harmony in the real world. Fundamental training, not just stylistic training. That's what I'm talking about when I say
"Access to a deeper musical understanding that will allow you freedom to explore and move on your own ear's terms."
I do not have your all-encompassing course on how to get good at your instrument. There are plenty of those all over the internet already.
What I do have is the discipline and desire in creating a growing community and curriculum for explorative, capable, creative, chromatic musicians. What I do have is the need and the system to teach my abilities as a composer that the vast majority of musicians have not begun to unlock... yet.
