February 2012
8 posts
themanoctave asked: iReal b (google it) is an awesome smart phone app that's only $8. you download the changes from the app or the website, and you select the style, key, and tempo of the song and it'll play it back for you in the correct voicings and styles of the rhythm section. you can download like a pack of pop tunes or blues standards for free if someone has uploaded them, or put them in yourself. you...
Anonymous asked: any ideas for improvising over non-functional harmony in jazz? (ie. F minor 7 to D Major 7 to Bb major 7 etc...)
perfectdissonance asked: I think it's implying that it's in the key of C major, but it really just says "a tune based on F Lydian". It later states that substituting Cmaj7 for Bm7b5 would not be a good idea for implying B Locrian because it would force the key into C major.
perfectdissonance asked: Question! My jazz theory book says that a Cmaj7 would be a good substitution for a Bm7b5 when suggesting F Lydian because it "shares the same chord scale". Wouldn't the original chord be emphasizing the #4, therefore 'better'? I can't seem to wrap my head around substitution for modal jazz.
musicgeek5151993 asked: oh.. I thought you guys were going to go through like everything because that's what it seemed like at first. Thanks though :)
musicgeek5151993 asked: no more lessons? not to be problematic or anything... but did you guys do more than three?
Anonymous asked: Why are seventh chords so important in jazz?
More counterpoint tips! (This one's specifically... →
January 2012
99 posts
Those of you studying counterpoint might find this... →
one-rare-salad asked: Re: rhythmically challenged. Yes to the metronome, but here's another one-word answer: MOVE. Rhythm is a kinesthetic phenomenon as much as it is a mathematical one. The most basic thing you need to be able to do is walk to the beat of a song. Tapping your foot is okay, but it's that sense of shifting your weight to the beat which is essential. Foot-tapping doesn't achieve that. To...
idreamfartoomuch asked: I don't know if this related or not, but do you have any tips or advice for the rhythmically challenged? I'm desperate and even though I have a good ear and knowledge of note values, it really affects me while playing flute, piano, and singing.
seacowenchiladas asked: Uhm, for the person who was asking about what to expect form Music Theory AP: I am currently in it, and we do a looooooooooooot of figured bass and melodic dictation. We also do this thing where we listen for chord progressions. Lots of scales and we also have timed key tests EVERYDAY. This class is all about speed and efficiency.
smartisrelativemusicisrelevant asked: Hi! So I may possibly be taking AP Music Theory next year as a junior. I do play violin, piano, viola, uke, and I'm also in the choir, so what can i do to prepare for this class? (Besides follow this blog.. :D) I also have the idiot's guide to music theory if that'll help any? Thanks a ton~
the leading tone: The Picardy third (Fr. tierce de... →
leadingtone:
The Picardy third (Fr. tierce de Picardie) is the cadential appearance of a tonic major chord in a minor key, normally at the end of a piece or major section but sometimes also merely at the end of a phrase:
Historically and perhaps more properly speaking, it…
thisisjustajournal asked: so i was trolling musicproblems because it's my favourite blog everrr, and i saw a link to this ... free, quality, straightforward music theory lessons. i've always wanted to take music theory class but could never affod it, and because of this i can finally learn music theory :D i think i might cry :') thank you.
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Lesson #3
Elements of Rhythm
Rhythm- A general term used to refer to the time aspect of music, as contrasted with the pitch aspect.
Duration Symbols
After 32nd notes, the series does continue by multiplying the number by 2 (technically dividing the fraction by two, but you get the point). However, those values are uncommon. To denote durations other than these, modifying symbols must be employed. The...
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Writing for Four Voices: Part 1
Introduction
Writing for four voices is the essential to the construction and composition of music. Though we will refer throughout this post to voice parts as soprano, alto (the top 2 treble voices), tenor and bass (the bottom 2 bass voices), these rules can be applied to instrumental music as well.
To have a firm foundation in writing for four voices one must have a solid background and...
As I may have mentioned previously, I have been busy as it is the beginning of the season for FIRST Robotics and I mentor Team 533. I am currently working on lesson #3 and it should be up sometime tonight. Stay tuned for more updates.
-Nick
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Micro-Lesson # 2: Phrases and Periods by Keara
A phrase is most commonly defined as a relatively independent musical idea that is terminated by a cadence (Which was discussed in Pheme’s mini lesson). A phrase indicates a harmonic end, or shift in a piece.
Each phrase in a piece of music is composed of a sub-phrase, which is basically what it says: a portion of a phrase. It is not relatively independent, or terminated by a cadence, because it...
Those pesky sax solis....
Hey guys, has anybody transcribed big band swing tunes here? I’m transcribing the sax soli around 4:10 of Thad Jones’s “Groove Merchant” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZLvqXFddu0) and it’s driving me nuts!! Do any of our followers have tips for transcribing?
-Pheme
thesingingblackbird asked: Where is the bach invention assignment?
ouchbouch asked: OH! That makes much more sense! Since I play piano I'm use to seeing chords written out like that and when you wrote C-M7 or D-m3 I was thinking it was standing for the note and not dissonant or consonant XD Thanks for the clarifiation
ouchbouch asked: could you give better in-depth answers of the bach invention assignment? Perhaps a visual key to the first few measures. My answers were completely different and I can't even begin to understand where I went wrong
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Micro Lesson No. 1: Cadences- By Pheme
Cadences
The subject of cadences is one that’s pretty common sense, but it sounds complicated enough to trip up a lot of people. Essentially, cadences are a way to let listeners know that something’s happening in a piece of music. Often, they signify the end of a phrase, or a link from one phrase to the next. They’re like little musical periods and commas.
...
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Hey guys - the que's been acting up, so I'm just...
Stupid Tumblr >_<
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Assignment for Lesson #2- Adventurous Theorists-...
Measure 2: D-M7, C-M6, C-m3, D-P4, C-P5, D-P4, C-M6, D-m7, C-M3, D-M2.
Measure 3: C-P1, D-P4, C-P5, C-P8, D-m7, C-M6, D-M7, C-m6, C-P5, C-M6, D-P4
Measure 4: C-M3, C-P5, D-m2, C-m3, C-M6, C-P8, D-m2, C-m3, C-M3, C-P5, D-m7, C-P8
Measure 5: C-m6, C-M6, C-M6, C-M6, C-m6, C-M6, C-M6, C-M6, C-m6, C-M6, C-M6, C-M6
Measure 6: C-M6, C-m6, C-M6, C-m6, C-M6, C-m6, C-M6, C-m6, C-M6, C-m6, C-M6, C-m6
...
List of Good Sites for Self-Study
General:
http://www.teoria.com/index.php
http://www.tpub.com/eartraining/index.htm
http://www.musictheoryminute.com/Intervals-1.htm
http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~ebarndol/harmony_counterpoint.html
http://www.emusictheory.com/aboutStudent.html
Jazz:
http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/
http://www.jazzeducationdatabase.com/
...
My favourite theory site is MusicTheory.net. :)
noordinaryartist asked: I didnt want to bring this up on Music Discussions but- My high school music theory class is a complete joke and people either take the class for an easy A or because they didn't know it was a joke, and right now I do plan on pursuing music after high school so, what do you recommend me to do? I can only think of seeing if theres some online course or just reading along to things like this...
musicgeek5151993 asked: So I was going to ask what lesson three is on and when it'll come out. Sorry if it's a bothersome question.
Whoops, accidentally posted a personal thing on...
So, how do we feel about Sunday for the answer keys?
acooooley asked: Hi! I love this blog, and I just wanted to let everybody here know that I've just started a blog with stupid little drawings at "taken0te" on tumblr (sorry, I can't post links) that hopefully explains some bits of theory, in case anyone's interested. And I would love to help explain or elaborate on anything that is confusing...Just thought I'd put it out there! Thanks...
trampoliningoffofyou asked: can someone help me with the 5 stylistic practices of part writing??? i don't understand it at all, and all i've got to help me is my textbook...
saint-alfonzo asked: I couldn't imagine being a singer now without theory. Solfege, specifically. In my high school choir, learning solfege and sight reading is a main priority of ours. A majority of our warm ups revolve around it, we also have interval recognition quizzes. I think it makes us perform immensely better. Knowing solfege makes other general aspects of theory like chord progressions/functions,...
thecolonialwomanonthewing asked: I think people need to keep in mind that the point of singing in class and developing the skill is not in order to sound like a singer, but to make useful connections between solfege, your brain, and your mouth and ear. I like to think of solfege as being the singer's "valve" or "key," so to speak. It makes something very intangible, like singing, into something...
dielon asked: This is probably a little off-topic and may not help anyone, but in regard to the person talking about ability to sing, you can kind of just learn the basics and take that and run with it and become pretty decent. I just this year joined my school's chorus program with just some coaching from my mom, who takes voice lessons, and our director often recognizes me as one of the better singers....
moltovivace asked: This is exactly what I need. Why did I just find this blog right now? D:
ouchbouch asked: I was only joking. I wish I could sing, I've heard before that every can... I've yet to discover my potential I suppose XD
Hi! First of all, I’m really glad I follow your blog! Second, I’m really glad you’ve been about sightsinging because that’s something I’m trying to work on. I’ve been in choir since 6th grade and I’m one of the stronger sightreaders in my college’s women’s chorus (the freshmen women group). I want to get to the point where I can sightsing any...
ouchbouch asked: LOL please make your next project a "how to sing" blog for those of us who sound like dying cats
ouchbouch asked: But what if you can't sing D:
When I was in high school choir, my choir teacher drilled sight-singing and sight-reading into us, because he wanted us to be a successful choir who knew how to read music on a page. He also wanted to prepare us for any choir auditions in the future, whether it be for a professional choir, a college choir, All State choir, etc. And because of him, we (except those who were just there for...
kendralouisa asked: That does help, thanks! Also, compound intervals, or no?
thenameschristine asked: (con) of a class. This hinders them from really understanding the reason why we actually do it, and masks the benefits, and therefore making them hate it. I wish I would have had the opportunity to do sight singing before I came to college, it would have helped me out in growing as a musician in so many ways.
thenameschristine asked: Last semester was my first semester having to ever sight sing in my life. I hated it at first because I did not understand what it would do for me. Once I started realizing the benefits of it, I am totally all for it. It helps with a lot of aspects in being a proficient musician. From my experience and understanding of what my classmates tell me is that they don't like sight singing so much...
leadingtone asked: At the high school and college levels, students sometimes fail to see the point of sight-singing--in my experience, sometimes just because they don't want to sing. But in traditional conservatories, solfege is started very early in the program and continues throughout. It's an essential skill for any serious musician, not only for playing well but for being able to audiate scores...