Yesterday, my horn professor, Prof Danforth, informed me that he has been locked out of his rehearsals with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The article below is from a local news that I follow. Watch the news clip, very informing. Every year I go and watch the Yule Tide Celebration... and they are saying that production, something I look forward to ever single year is in jeopardy. It is very upsetting to Prof Danforth and other DPU Staff that is a part of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/31423486/detail.html
Monday, September 10, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Bobby McFerrin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gjreHt0tRI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Ej_A-CzDE&playnext=1&list=PL9C1B58B5E31E520F&feature=results_main
These two videos are of Bobby McFerrin, one of my absolute favorite artists of all time. You all may recognize him as the "Don't Worry Be Happy" man. He has done a lot of work regarding a 'common tonal center', so to speak. Everybody has a tonal center and has scalar awareness. This is demonstrated in the first video. The latter is a circle song, like the one we tried in class last week - Bobby McFerrin has a bit of a leg up on me ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Ej_A-CzDE&playnext=1&list=PL9C1B58B5E31E520F&feature=results_main
These two videos are of Bobby McFerrin, one of my absolute favorite artists of all time. You all may recognize him as the "Don't Worry Be Happy" man. He has done a lot of work regarding a 'common tonal center', so to speak. Everybody has a tonal center and has scalar awareness. This is demonstrated in the first video. The latter is a circle song, like the one we tried in class last week - Bobby McFerrin has a bit of a leg up on me ;)
Monday, September 3, 2012
Organized Babbling
The Scatman Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cnQCk0u49w
There's a big inside joke running through our high school concerning this video because one of my band directors started singing this song and was shocked how none of us had heard it. I think it applies to class because we've been working on improvisation and babbling. Although this is more organized, scatting is usually what is used in jazz music (personally, my favorite to play sometimes) for improvisation. If you can't tell why my band director thought it was so funny listen closely to the beginning of each phrase of scatting....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cnQCk0u49w
There's a big inside joke running through our high school concerning this video because one of my band directors started singing this song and was shocked how none of us had heard it. I think it applies to class because we've been working on improvisation and babbling. Although this is more organized, scatting is usually what is used in jazz music (personally, my favorite to play sometimes) for improvisation. If you can't tell why my band director thought it was so funny listen closely to the beginning of each phrase of scatting....
Actively Listening to the Classics
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/arts/music/30tomm.html?pagewanted=all
I found this delightful article in the New York Times about how the appreciation of classical music may be coming back (slowly, but surely, of course). The author discusses how those who do listen to classical music seem to be so captivated and fascinated but what it does. My favorite line in the article is as follows: "Structure in classical music is the easiest element to describe yet the hardest to perceive." I absolutely adore this statement because it is so true. For an individual, it is easy to feel the emotions and movement that classic music presents, but the real challenge is trying to understand what exactly these feelings signify and what story the composer is trying to tell with the music. The article analyzes what the listeners probably goes through when actively listening to a piece of music so I figured it would be nice to share. Enjoy!
I found this delightful article in the New York Times about how the appreciation of classical music may be coming back (slowly, but surely, of course). The author discusses how those who do listen to classical music seem to be so captivated and fascinated but what it does. My favorite line in the article is as follows: "Structure in classical music is the easiest element to describe yet the hardest to perceive." I absolutely adore this statement because it is so true. For an individual, it is easy to feel the emotions and movement that classic music presents, but the real challenge is trying to understand what exactly these feelings signify and what story the composer is trying to tell with the music. The article analyzes what the listeners probably goes through when actively listening to a piece of music so I figured it would be nice to share. Enjoy!
Your Server Hates You :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwiXCwHQ-Kc
This is a song that these two guys made stating the complaints that most severs have. I was a server at the restaurant Applebee's and I know how annoying people can get. It makes me laugh every time because it's so true. I'm not really for sure if they wrote it before or just made it up. It is just too funny not to share. Please enjoy.
This is a song that these two guys made stating the complaints that most severs have. I was a server at the restaurant Applebee's and I know how annoying people can get. It makes me laugh every time because it's so true. I'm not really for sure if they wrote it before or just made it up. It is just too funny not to share. Please enjoy.
Life Improv
I'm not sure if this constitutes as a post or not but I thought these two youtube videos were very cute and had to do with improv. Although they don't have to do with making music randomly together the idea to make life into a musical was a great idea. Making others happy with these "spontaneous" bursts of music is something that can relate to our class. We spend our time making each other feel good about themselves by playing music and telling them they're wonderful. Hope these make you smile!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnY59mDJ1gg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40qHb9uFpRI
-Rachel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnY59mDJ1gg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40qHb9uFpRI
-Rachel
Art is Dead
http://youtu.be/Eo9pU1q8sy8
This is art is dead by Bo Burnham. While it is technically comedy it does bring up common problems about modern artist. Mostly the disfunction of our idols how some people really do not deserve it.
This is art is dead by Bo Burnham. While it is technically comedy it does bring up common problems about modern artist. Mostly the disfunction of our idols how some people really do not deserve it.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Community Support
http://www.lomusicians.org/?p=686
http://www.lomusicians.org/?page_id=2
http://www.lomusicians.org/?page_id=76
Just a few short articles from the Louisville Orchestra Musicians Association website.
Personally, I feel like the musicians settled a lot, but I'm glad that they reached some sort of an agreement- I know they really needed the jobs and stability.
The orchestra is a big part of Louisville's history and culture, and the community outreach was amazing. Thousands of people supported Keep Louisville Symphonic, the group that formed from the remnants of the orchestra in order to continue to provide music to the city. People wrote letters, gave donations, attended concerts, etc. I am sure that the Indianapolis Symphony will find this type of support throughout the community, and look forward to staying updated on the situation.
http://www.lomusicians.org/?page_id=2
http://www.lomusicians.org/?page_id=76
Just a few short articles from the Louisville Orchestra Musicians Association website.
Personally, I feel like the musicians settled a lot, but I'm glad that they reached some sort of an agreement- I know they really needed the jobs and stability.
The orchestra is a big part of Louisville's history and culture, and the community outreach was amazing. Thousands of people supported Keep Louisville Symphonic, the group that formed from the remnants of the orchestra in order to continue to provide music to the city. People wrote letters, gave donations, attended concerts, etc. I am sure that the Indianapolis Symphony will find this type of support throughout the community, and look forward to staying updated on the situation.
Music At A Young Age
I saw this on the news the other day. It is amazing how music can influence people even at the age of infants. The parents in an interview said that they had exposed these twins to all genres of music. It just shows how music can tap into enjoyment at such an early age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7uIG8KYhg
Hope you enjoy!!! I know I sure did!
Becca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7uIG8KYhg
Hope you enjoy!!! I know I sure did!
Becca
Soundpainting!
Soundpainting is most often a horseshoe of people with a "soundpainter" standing in the middle. The main painter is armed with many signals that he or she can use. Examples include signals for: continuation, short notes, loud notes, long notes, solo, resting and cutoff. The more complicated and inherently more crazy signals include: laughing, just voice, stutter, polka in C, scooping, switching instruments etc.. Many times soundpainting involves elements of dance and speech as well. Soundpainting is hilarious and fun and also a great way to ease into improvisation while still having a structured environment.
The reason I bring this up is because a soundpainting may make a good addition to the DePauw School of Music, depending on interest of course. I guess it's just on more way to experience music.
So, watch any of these sound painting videos and tell me what you think :).
P.S sometimes soundpainting sounds hideous.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
New All Star Orchestra of NYC
Hi guys--I thought of this class while reading this, especially when somebody brought up LO's problems and said that at one point they took on pretty much anybody, even at lower levels of training. (Was that Marian? I was REALLY tired that day, so I didn't remember everything.) Anyway, I thought this was a sort of positive version of the same thing, with half of the members of this orchestra coming from outside NY and from other orchestras around the country.
Another thing that caught my eye was the fact that they're making this into a TV show. While I'm not much of a television watcher myself, this may be worth a try for traditional orchestras to get publicity and audience members, since television is the country's premiere form of entertainment. Not sure either way, but it's nice to see that people are branching out.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/01/arts/music/all-star-orchestra-records-series-for-wnet.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=arts
Another thing that caught my eye was the fact that they're making this into a TV show. While I'm not much of a television watcher myself, this may be worth a try for traditional orchestras to get publicity and audience members, since television is the country's premiere form of entertainment. Not sure either way, but it's nice to see that people are branching out.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/01/arts/music/all-star-orchestra-records-series-for-wnet.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=arts
Improv Homework for Monday (Comment Required)
Hi everyone!
I hope you're having a great weekend. Just a reminder/clarification of the out-of-class improvisation experimentation for Monday.
Work with one or two partners. (We worked out the partners in class on Friday.)
The first step you can also do on your own. Just breathe in, raising your hands (as we did in class), and exhale as you let your hands descend and move forward. (Like you are conducting a chord.) As you exhale, not at the top of the breath but in the middle, sing any note. Your note. Whichever one comes out.
As Julie and David discuss in the recording you listened to, "ah" and "oh" are very good vowel sounds to make.
These sounds are what in Music for People circles are called "one quality sounds." You're making a beautiful sound, being at one with yourself as you do it. There is no right or wrong!
With your partners, do a number of these, making intervals (which may be consonant or dissonant), if there are two of you, or chords, if there are three or more of you. If you want the sounds to be more consonant, have one person start and then the other(s) join in.
The other thing to experiment with is freely-improvised melodies, which are a series of notes. Sing one note, and while you are singing, listen inside yourself for the next note that wants to be sung. And sing that note. And so on and so forth. At a certain point, you'll sense that there is a rest--which is fine--or that your melody has come to an end.
You can sing this melody for/to your partners.
You can also make this more interactive in a couple of ways.
One is for one person to do a vocal percussion groove while the other improvises a melody over it. Then switch roles. (If there are three or more of you, have two people do vocal percussion while one person does a melody.)
You can also do melodic phrases back and forth, like a conversation.
Do this with voices. You can also do it with an instrument. If you're an instrumentalist, be sure to do it with your voice first!
There are no wrong notes. (Sometimes there are surprises. Embrace them.)
Your voice is perfect the way it is, even if it cracks or the pitch wavers. You'll get more comfortable.
Bad dancing never hurts the ground.
If you have questions, email me. (If the question is some version of, "Is it OK if we also ________?" the answer is yes, as long as you don't hurt anyone or thing.)
Write a comment here about what you did and your experience.
I hope you're having a great weekend. Just a reminder/clarification of the out-of-class improvisation experimentation for Monday.
Work with one or two partners. (We worked out the partners in class on Friday.)
The first step you can also do on your own. Just breathe in, raising your hands (as we did in class), and exhale as you let your hands descend and move forward. (Like you are conducting a chord.) As you exhale, not at the top of the breath but in the middle, sing any note. Your note. Whichever one comes out.
As Julie and David discuss in the recording you listened to, "ah" and "oh" are very good vowel sounds to make.
These sounds are what in Music for People circles are called "one quality sounds." You're making a beautiful sound, being at one with yourself as you do it. There is no right or wrong!
With your partners, do a number of these, making intervals (which may be consonant or dissonant), if there are two of you, or chords, if there are three or more of you. If you want the sounds to be more consonant, have one person start and then the other(s) join in.
The other thing to experiment with is freely-improvised melodies, which are a series of notes. Sing one note, and while you are singing, listen inside yourself for the next note that wants to be sung. And sing that note. And so on and so forth. At a certain point, you'll sense that there is a rest--which is fine--or that your melody has come to an end.
You can sing this melody for/to your partners.
You can also make this more interactive in a couple of ways.
One is for one person to do a vocal percussion groove while the other improvises a melody over it. Then switch roles. (If there are three or more of you, have two people do vocal percussion while one person does a melody.)
You can also do melodic phrases back and forth, like a conversation.
Do this with voices. You can also do it with an instrument. If you're an instrumentalist, be sure to do it with your voice first!
There are no wrong notes. (Sometimes there are surprises. Embrace them.)
Your voice is perfect the way it is, even if it cracks or the pitch wavers. You'll get more comfortable.
Bad dancing never hurts the ground.
If you have questions, email me. (If the question is some version of, "Is it OK if we also ________?" the answer is yes, as long as you don't hurt anyone or thing.)
Write a comment here about what you did and your experience.
The ISO situation is leaving me depressed
Since our discussion on Friday, I've been reflecting on the insurmountable task of reversing the cultural shift away from classical music. It seems to me in addition to the general degradation of culture over the years, musicians have also facilitated this problem. Unfortunately, an attitude of superiority has been pervasive in western music for years. Whether it's a social darwinistic attitude that the only true kind of music is of the European tradition or the actual cost of attending concerts (which probably doesn't affect those who can pay DePauw's tuition but is too steep for many) music has been elitist for too long. How about the accessibility of the actual music? I for one would have a hard time maintaining attention to piece if I couldn't follow sonata form, analyze the changes in texture, recognize recurring motifs, ect.
For so many people, classical music is simply uninteresting. I believe a more inclusive and open attitude in years past could have improved our current struggle to keep the music relevant but regardless, we now find ourselves facing quite a challenge. Unless our generation starts getting revolutionary soon, I'm not optimistic that our music will survive. We need to strip down the bureaucracy that classical music has become and get back to what we love about the music and find ways to bring it to everyone. More than anything, we need to start getting self-critical enough to figure out what we, as musicians, are doing wrong.
Start brainstorming... this is our Capstone project.
For so many people, classical music is simply uninteresting. I believe a more inclusive and open attitude in years past could have improved our current struggle to keep the music relevant but regardless, we now find ourselves facing quite a challenge. Unless our generation starts getting revolutionary soon, I'm not optimistic that our music will survive. We need to strip down the bureaucracy that classical music has become and get back to what we love about the music and find ways to bring it to everyone. More than anything, we need to start getting self-critical enough to figure out what we, as musicians, are doing wrong.
Start brainstorming... this is our Capstone project.
Music and the Brain
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,46157,00.html
http://www.cracked.com/article_18405_7-insane-ways-music-affects-body-according-to-science.html
Something about the brain fascinates me. I mean, it's almost comical to think that my brain wants to know more abut my brain. Brain-ception. Anyway, I've done a fair deal of research regarding the effects of music on the brain and wanted to share with you guys a few articles/websites that are absolutely gripping! The first is a time magazine article briefly discussing the effects of music on the brain that provides lots of great facts and statistics you all can use as ammunition when someone tells you music is not important. The latter is most definitely geared toward our age - this is meant as a "disclaimer" of sorts. Some inappropriate language may appear, so beware. Although, given that you've made it to college, I'm sure you've heard those words once or twice. The important thing is the content - take some time, if you have it, to arm yourself with this information, it may come in handy one day. I know it has for me. Ciao.
http://www.cracked.com/article_18405_7-insane-ways-music-affects-body-according-to-science.html
Something about the brain fascinates me. I mean, it's almost comical to think that my brain wants to know more abut my brain. Brain-ception. Anyway, I've done a fair deal of research regarding the effects of music on the brain and wanted to share with you guys a few articles/websites that are absolutely gripping! The first is a time magazine article briefly discussing the effects of music on the brain that provides lots of great facts and statistics you all can use as ammunition when someone tells you music is not important. The latter is most definitely geared toward our age - this is meant as a "disclaimer" of sorts. Some inappropriate language may appear, so beware. Although, given that you've made it to college, I'm sure you've heard those words once or twice. The important thing is the content - take some time, if you have it, to arm yourself with this information, it may come in handy one day. I know it has for me. Ciao.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)