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Christopher Wills
United States
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 7 ก.ค. 2020
Welcome to SMASH HARMONY!
My name is Christopher J. Wills and I'm a professional composer, arranger, orchestrator and pianist of music for film, television, Broadway musicals and symphony orchestras. You can hear me in blockbuster Hollywood movies and televised concerts.
Many students know me as "Professor Wills," so I'm also an educator at two universities. My consuming passion is the magic of harmony (progressions, voicings), and I'd like to share that passion with you and thus empower you to expand your chord vocabulary and experience a new kind of expressive freedom.
This tutorial channel is designed in particular for music theory students and improvising keyboardists of any genre, though it may appeal to anyone who is interested in the language of music. Our videos aim to present material with clarity and hopefully a little entertainment along the way!
My name is Christopher J. Wills and I'm a professional composer, arranger, orchestrator and pianist of music for film, television, Broadway musicals and symphony orchestras. You can hear me in blockbuster Hollywood movies and televised concerts.
Many students know me as "Professor Wills," so I'm also an educator at two universities. My consuming passion is the magic of harmony (progressions, voicings), and I'd like to share that passion with you and thus empower you to expand your chord vocabulary and experience a new kind of expressive freedom.
This tutorial channel is designed in particular for music theory students and improvising keyboardists of any genre, though it may appeal to anyone who is interested in the language of music. Our videos aim to present material with clarity and hopefully a little entertainment along the way!
Live Piano Performance Montage - Christopher J. Wills
#piano #keyboardist #improvisation
00:00 Tommy Walker and band at Christian Assembly in Eagle Rock
00:30 LA Philharmonic violinist Ingrid Chun and saxophonist Mike Bagasao
01:19 Cellist Katie Tassos at Fullerton Free (1st Evangelical Free Church)
01:48 Orchestra Kentucky and Jack Wright, conducted by Jeffrey Reed at SKyPAC
02:17 Michael Martin Murphey, Ollie O'Shea, Gary Roller, Carin Mari and Bartlesville Symphony
02:46 Sergio Vellatti and Blue Note Swing Orchestra for "Returning to Sin City" at Candlelight Pavilion
02:58 Biola Women's Chorus conducted by Julie Ramsey at Lansing Hall, Conservatory of Music
03:32 Tom Boyd ("Hollywood's Oboist") and Carrie Jo Hubrich (American Idol)
03:57 Jim Curry, Chris Nole, Pete Huttlinger and Steve Weisburg at Red Rocks Amphitheater
04:21 Jim Curry, Pete Huttlinger and Richie Gajate-Garcia with Greensboro Symphony conducted by Bruce Kiesling
04:31 "The Rocky Mountain Way" concert with Joe Walsh, Amy Grant, Michael Martin Murphey
This video captures a few of my recent concert performances as a pianist working with various artists, orchestras, big bands, choirs and small ensembles. I hope you'll enjoy it!
My name is Christopher J. Wills and I'm a professional composer, orchestrator and pianist of music for film, television, Broadway musicals and symphony orchestras. You can hear me in blockbuster Hollywood movies and televised concerts. Many know me as "Professor Wills," so I'm also an educator at several universities. My consuming passion is the magic of harmony (progressions, voicings), and I'd like to share that passion with you and empower you to thus expand your chord vocabulary so you may experience a new kind of expressive freedom as you compose and improvise!
This tutorial channel is designed in particular for music theory students and improvising keyboardists of any genre, though it may appeal to anyone who is interested in the language of music. Our videos aim to present material with clarity and hopefully a little entertainment along the way!
00:00 Tommy Walker and band at Christian Assembly in Eagle Rock
00:30 LA Philharmonic violinist Ingrid Chun and saxophonist Mike Bagasao
01:19 Cellist Katie Tassos at Fullerton Free (1st Evangelical Free Church)
01:48 Orchestra Kentucky and Jack Wright, conducted by Jeffrey Reed at SKyPAC
02:17 Michael Martin Murphey, Ollie O'Shea, Gary Roller, Carin Mari and Bartlesville Symphony
02:46 Sergio Vellatti and Blue Note Swing Orchestra for "Returning to Sin City" at Candlelight Pavilion
02:58 Biola Women's Chorus conducted by Julie Ramsey at Lansing Hall, Conservatory of Music
03:32 Tom Boyd ("Hollywood's Oboist") and Carrie Jo Hubrich (American Idol)
03:57 Jim Curry, Chris Nole, Pete Huttlinger and Steve Weisburg at Red Rocks Amphitheater
04:21 Jim Curry, Pete Huttlinger and Richie Gajate-Garcia with Greensboro Symphony conducted by Bruce Kiesling
04:31 "The Rocky Mountain Way" concert with Joe Walsh, Amy Grant, Michael Martin Murphey
This video captures a few of my recent concert performances as a pianist working with various artists, orchestras, big bands, choirs and small ensembles. I hope you'll enjoy it!
My name is Christopher J. Wills and I'm a professional composer, orchestrator and pianist of music for film, television, Broadway musicals and symphony orchestras. You can hear me in blockbuster Hollywood movies and televised concerts. Many know me as "Professor Wills," so I'm also an educator at several universities. My consuming passion is the magic of harmony (progressions, voicings), and I'd like to share that passion with you and empower you to thus expand your chord vocabulary so you may experience a new kind of expressive freedom as you compose and improvise!
This tutorial channel is designed in particular for music theory students and improvising keyboardists of any genre, though it may appeal to anyone who is interested in the language of music. Our videos aim to present material with clarity and hopefully a little entertainment along the way!
มุมมอง: 406
วีดีโอ
Ep 6 - The Sound of DEATH in Music: Phrygian Mode
มุมมอง 2.7K4 หลายเดือนก่อน
#phrygian #churchmodes #chords #harmony #musictheory #voiceleading #music #deathinmusic 0:00 Teaser 1:07 The Sound of Phrygian Mode 1:36 The Definition of Phrygian Mode - the Mirror Image of Major Mode 2:41 The Color/Highlight Tone of Phrygian 2:59 Transposed Phrygian (from E down a Major 3rd to C) 3:20 The "fa-mi" Phrygian Inflection 3:48 Phrygian as "mi" scale (Major Mode 3 Rotation) 4:36 Exa...
Ep 5 - How to Create HYPNOTIC Harmony (Ostinati, Pedals and Planing)
มุมมอง 1.2Kปีที่แล้ว
#chords #harmony #musictheory #voiceleading #music #modulation #hypnosis #riffs #ostinato #planing 00:00 Teaser Introduction 00:34 "Musical Melatonin" (tranquilizing music) 01:45 Ostinati (riffs) 03:13 Planing (parallel motion) 03:50 Pedal Points 05:30 Guitar Voicings with Open Strings 06:27 Examples of Pedals Points (three types) 06:40 Example 1 - Tonic (^1) Bass Pedal 07:31 Example 2 - Domina...
Ep 4 - Why does this Modulation WORK so well? (Common-Tone Modulation)
มุมมอง 1.3K2 ปีที่แล้ว
#chords #harmony #musictheory #voiceleading #music #modulation #arethafranklin #aretha #respect 00:00 Introduction (Teaser) 00:29 Listening - Otis Redding's "Respect" Modulation (from C Major to F# minor) 00:42 Definition of "Modulation" 1:04 Analysis of Common-Tone Modulation in "Respect" 4:49 Application - Modulation from C Major to E-flat Major (up m3) 6:35 Piano Improvisation - Amazing Grac...
Ep 3 - When We INTENSIFY the I IV V I Progression (Diatonic Harmonization, Part 2)
มุมมอง 1.4K2 ปีที่แล้ว
#chords #harmony #musictheory #voiceleading #music 00:00 Introduction (Teaser) 01:01 Techniques for Harmonization 02:43 Tech 1 - Add Seventh to V (=V7) 05:10 Tech 2 - Embellish with Passing Tones 07:03 Tech 3 - Revoice Chords (Closed to Open) 07:58 Tech 4 - Invert Chords 12:54 Tech 5 - Decorate with Suspensions 14:18 Tech 6 - Substitute Primary with Secondary 17:16 Tech 7 - Expand through Harmo...
Ep 2 - How to INTENSIFY the I IV V I Progression (Voice-Leading Basics, Part I)
มุมมอง 2.2K2 ปีที่แล้ว
#chords, #harmony, #musictheory, #voiceleading, #music 0:00 Introduction 02:27 Tension and Relaxation 03:51 Tendency Tones 07:13 Basic Phrase Model 09:18 Writing the Parts (SATB) 10:07 Error Detection/Correction My name is Christopher Wills and I'm a professional composer, orchestrator and pianist of music for film, television, Broadway musicals and symphony orchestras. You can hear me in block...
"Fly" - A Love Story About Believing (directed by Jason Russell)
มุมมอง 3323 ปีที่แล้ว
#shortfilms, #peterpan, #USC, #jasonrussell, #KONY2012 Jason Russell directed this wonderful USC Masters Thesis film (you may recognize Jason as the founder of Invisible Children, and the record-breaking viral KONY 2012 video). I composed the score, recorded and conducted a chamber orchestra at the Spielberg Scoring Stage (now "John Williams Scoring Stage"). The film was screened at the Norris ...
Ep 1 - CONQUER Chord Theory in 15 Minutes (the Basics)
มุมมอง 3.6K3 ปีที่แล้ว
#chords, #harmony, #musictheory, #music 0:00 Introduction 1:27 Chord "Changes" 2:16 Roman Numeral Analysis 4:10 Nashville Number System 5:21 Diatonic Triads in Major and Harmonic Minor 8:13 Most Basic Progression (I - V - I) 8:32 Primary Triads 9:18 SATB Four-Voice Texture 9:56 Voicing (Closed vs. Open) 11:00 Voice Leading 14:57 Cadences (Perfect and Imperfect Authentic) My name is Christopher ...
"Wildfire" from Rocky Mountain Way (AXS TV): Michael Martin Murphey and Christopher Wills (IMPROVED)
มุมมอง 3.3K3 ปีที่แล้ว
#axstv, #wildfire, #joewalsh, #garthbrooks, #amygrant, #country This video is FAR SUPERIOR in visual and audio quality than that previously posted. This clip is from the"The Rocky Mountain Way," a concert televised broadcasts on AXS TV. It was a sold-out event with 20,000 fans at Fiddler's Green featured Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, John Oates, Joe Walsh, and many more. In this song I a...
Christmas Classics Ambience Montage
มุมมอง 7523 ปีที่แล้ว
#christmas, #christmasmusic, #christmascarols, #ambiencemusic 0:00 Hark the Herald Angels Sing (jazz) 0:57 Jingle Bells (swing, big band) 2:53 Deck the Halls (orchestral) 3:40 Angels We Have Heard on High (funk/orchestral) 5:09 Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (gospel) 6:18 Joy to the World (orchestral) 7:08 Jingle Bells (rockabilly/big band) Please enjoy this montage of holiday classics. It is a combi...
"Wildfire" from The Rocky Mountain Way (AXS TV): Michael Martin Murphey and Christopher Wills
มุมมอง 16K4 ปีที่แล้ว
#axstv, #wildfire, #joewalsh, #garthbrooks, #amygrant, #country, #michaelmartinmurphey Song performance from "The Rocky Mountain Way" concert televised broadcasts on AXS TV. The sold-out event with 20,000 fans at Fiddler's Green featured Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, John Oates, Joe Walsh, and many more. In this song I am playing keyboard with Michael Martin Murphey (Grammy-winning, Gold...
Breathe - Tribute to COVID Frontline Workers (piano cover)
มุมมอง 1.9K4 ปีที่แล้ว
My name is Christopher Wills and I'm a professional composer, orchestrator and pianist of music for film, television, Broadway musicals and symphony orchestras. You can hear me in blockbuster Hollywood movies and televised concerts. Many know me as "Professor Wills," so I'm also an educator at two universities. My consuming passion is the magic of harmony (progressions, voicings), and I'd like ...
Amazing video, Professor Wills! A very entertaining way to learn about a fascinating topic!
Great video Professor Wills, I'm very impressed by your editing skills!
I appreciate that!
Your talent is astounding!
So amazing Chris!! We hope you are doing well!!
This is really cool to see! Enjoyed it thoroughly!
Good Job 👏 Chris.
Very cool, Christopher!
really underrated channel
Mode and Scale are not quite synonyms. Modes are more versions of scales, for example the Octotonic Scale has 2 modes. I love the video though.
The term “pitch collection” might be more precise. Thx!
Some will say that “mode” refers to the particular interval pattern, whereas “scale” is more specific in that it indicates the tonal center upon which the interval pattern is applied. I can accept that. I don’t believe there’s total agreement about these terms. But I like to distinguish between tonality and modality, e.g., C Major. The mode is obviously Major and tonality is C. The term “scale” captures the entirety of the term.
I wish you were my college music harmony professor 50 years ago! Fantastic!
This is the most comprehensive and informative music theory video I’ve seen, and I watch a lot of them. Most of it was over my head but it tackled the subject from different angles then I’ve not seen addressed before. Thank you.
You’re most welcome! Thank you so much for your comment.
But that's the western understanding of the mode. In Arabic music, the very same same sequence of tones together with traditional melodic progressions is called "maqam kurd", and is traditionally used to express feelings of "freedom, romance, solitude, enchantment, mysticism".
Yes, indeed, you’re correct. My focus is on the western, occidental perception. Perhaps a part two video is warranted?
I learned about phyrgian half cadences in my music theory class last year but I never understood WHY it was called that, just that it was a iv6 to a V in minor. Thanks for explaining!
Nice! another example of Phrygian (neopolitan progressions) is in the death scene of Mozart's Don Giovanni, which also got picked up by Beethoven in his Neopolitan use in Moonlight Sonata.
That ending was godlike.
I think that I need to learn a lot more music theory in order to have any chance of understanding this video
Hi Eric. Yes, the video does assume a certain basic level of music theory comprehension. I’m hoping some of my earlier videos, like episodes one through three, might help provide some of that foundation. I might need to go back and fill in some gaps.
Great content and editing!
Much appreciated!
Awesome video!! Super enjoyed it!
So glad!
I really enjoyed this.
Very cool! What software do you use to animate the staff notation?
Thanks so much, Bryan. Oh it was a whole mixture of different software programs. Primarily CapCut, but also PowerPoint, Finale, Logic Pro…
Very cool! Thanks, Chris!
Glad you liked it!
love this so much
Great video
Beautiful Song, great musicians. Thanks Chris for sharing it. I can hear it over and over.
As always, you're stretching my brain to the outer limits of comprhension! I get it. Just don't ask me to pass a test on it. Some things are best left to those in the stratosphere of genius
Hi Prof. Wills! I enjoyed your tutorial so much. It's so informative and entertaining. Your handwritten notation is impeccable as always!
Gary knows how to support Mike
I love how you broke this down! It really made my ear pay attention to each pedal in all of your examples.
Chris Great Sound (Mix) Brother . These Guy's are SHININ '
He's going to be with his Soulmate that he had not met in this realm but will in the next Realm
Best version!!
Brilliant and fun. And a really eclectic range of examples. This is something unique you're doing here ..
Who are you dude? Very well made video .
I recommend separating this video into 10 different videos and slow the parts down. Most people don’t got PHDs in this stuff lol
Buuut I really do appreciate how you get down to business. Even better if you could make many of this video quality rapidly but would be difficult
I very much appreciate your thoughts. Thank you so much.
Very well done and explained. I wish I would of had you as my theory and harmony professor in college! Congrats and great production value as well!
Very helpful 👍 and love the editing
Thank you so much!
Beautiful!!!
Wow Mr Murphey still sounding powerful as ever beautiful voice this song never gets old and will never get old dint matter how many years have passed I think he deserves to be in the RRHOF he deserves it keep singing Mr Murphey.
How this song stopped at #3 in 1975 and never made it to the top, forever baffles me!!
Awesome sound, MMM still has that perfect enchanting melody. words and poetic tone‼️
I used to go see Michael Murphy at Cafe York on E Colfax back in 1971. He was terrific then too. Has it really been half a century? (smh)
looked and looked and finally found this Bro. Chris .As always so beautiful and anointed . It just flows out of you like rivers of living water. Praise God for your gift. Collegue at First Presbyterian Covina choir.
Hey Chris! Good to see you! You've done well for yourself, my brother! Sorry I missed the Brady Reunion. Hope to run in to you someday! God bless!
I appreciate your clever teaching methods and the use of light hearted humor to teach. It makes for a memorable lesson. Nicely done Mr. Wills. Great editing as well. 👍🏻
You are amazing, Mr. Wills!!! Brilliant!
Thank you for the subscriptions everyone!
Very cool! Please shoot more modulation videos, Mr. Christopher!
Thank you so much!
This concert was held 5 years ago today and it’s Dan Fogelberg’s 71st birthday
Love this beautiful song but the sound was messed up. No bass whatsoevet. ☹️
I know, this is not the best recording. But would you check this: th-cam.com/video/FzLY61c-s-I/w-d-xo.html
Fully deserved sub
Aww, thank you!
....... just so sensitive this music. I am thrilled 🤩 and want to thank you . Greetings, Lolo🎼👏
Thanks!!
Nice Intro!
Thank you so much! I hope that it was interesting.