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Module 4
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
12 lessons
0 completed
222 min total
940 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
2
The Anime Sound — Hisaishi, Kanno, Kajiura
3
Learn: Merry-Go-Round of Life
4
Pentatonic Melodies and Counter-Melodies
5
Beginner Anime Themes
6
Orchestral Voicings on Piano
7
The Royal Roads Progression
8
Playing “One Summer’s Day” (Spirited Away)
9
Advanced Anime Transcriptions
10
Beyond Ghibli — Anime Composers and Styles
11
Video Game Piano Crossover
12
