Q: Can you please tell me if there is a book of your harmonies and scales and what the titles of the books are? Harmonies are my weakest point and I need a lot of work to do in that area. Perhaps you could share your method of working on harmonies with me. This will be a big help to me. — Beka Gochiashvili

A: Hi Beka,
Regarding harmonies, I have published some books of my compositions. But for now, since it's all 'cheap advice', I can tell you that your abilities in harmony will develop as you continue to learn generally.

There is so much wonderful harmony in the compositions of classical composers - Bartok, Stravinsky, Debussy, Scriabin and more. Just keep experimenting: re-voice standard melodies, compose music trying to find the harmony that is right for your taste, listen to a lot of different music to check out what others have done and are doing - but mainly trust your own judgement when you are playing, practicing, experimenting and composing. Only you can ever know what "harmony" is the best.

That's an absolute. Have fun.

-- Chick

[Note: Beka is a young piano prodigy—here he is last year with a beautiful take on "Mr. P.C."]

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