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Module 2
Anime & Ghibli Piano
The wistful, nostalgic, emotionally rich piano sound of Joe Hisaishi, Yoko Kanno, Yuki Kajiura, and Naoshi Mizuta.
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Complete
18 lessons
0 completed
320 min total
1370 XP available
Module Goals
- Master the "wistful 7" voicing characteristic of Hisaishi-style writing
- Use modal interchange (the borrowed iv chord) for nostalgic flavor
- Apply orchestral piano voicings (string-pad bass, melodic top line)
- Play arrangements of Hisaishi's "One Summer's Day" and "Merry-Go-Round"
- Understand the role of melody, counter-melody, and harmonic tension in anime music
- Compose your own anime-style theme
Module overview
What you'll learn
The wistful, nostalgic, emotionally rich piano sound of Joe Hisaishi, Yoko Kanno, Yuki Kajiura, and Naoshi Mizuta. Master the harmonic vocabulary, melodic phrasing, and orchestral-style writing that makes anime music timeless.
Lessons
Work through each lesson in order to master this module
1
The Ghibli Sound
2
The Anime Sound, Hisaishi, Kanno, Kajiura
3
The Ghibli Sound: Joe Hisaishi’s Compositional Signature
4
Pentatonic Melodies and Counter-Melodies
5
Orchestral Voicings on Piano
6
Learn: Merry-Go-Round of Life
7
Playing “One Summer’s Day” (Spirited Away)
8
Learn: Merry-Go-Round of Life: Howl’s Moving Castle: Complete Arrangement
9
Beyond Ghibli. Anime Composers and Styles
10
Composing Your Own Anime Theme
11
Beginner Anime Themes
12
Beginner Anime Themes: Sadness and Sorrow, Zankyō Sanka, and More
13
The Royal Roads Progression
14
The Royal Roads Progression: The Secret Chord Pattern Behind Anime and J-Pop
15
Advanced Anime Transcriptions
16
Advanced Anime Transcriptions: Tackling Animenz-Style Arrangements
17
Video Game Piano Crossover
18
