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I have been singing in a (classical) choir for several years, including the occasional solo line, and am now seriously considering voice lessons. However, finding a good teacher seems like a daunting challenge. What should I look for in a good voice teacher?
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I've heard it said that, whilst on most instruments these notes are played with the same fingerings/technique/etc., there is a subtle difference.
This isn't specific to this particular note combination, but to all enharmonic equivalents.
What might this teacher have been referring to?
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Oftentimes major keys are called "happy" and minor keys are "sad". Why is this? Is it universal across cultures that use these scales? Do similar connotations exist in other scale systems?
(If this isn't universal, then perhaps someone could explain which cultures it is sad in and why.)
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Consider four cases:
A-flat major
A-flat (natural) minor
A-flat melodic minor
A-flat harmonic minor
I start them with the third finger on the A-flat key (both hands), but I have no idea how a professional pianist would do it. Help!
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I play guitar, and am attempting to teach myself the piano. Which notes from a scale form the chord on the keyboard? Is there a common rule for this?
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This seems like such a silly question, but! When playing the piano, I sometimes struggle to turn the pages of my music without noticeably sacrificing the sound of the piece or making the book / sheets fall. For a complicated piece where there isn't a break in one hand that would allow raising a hand to turn the page,... |
I have a piano that is out of tune, and I know tuning pianos properly is complicated enough to have its own profession. But I think it would be interesting to have a go myself, for fun.
But is this even meaningful? Could I spend a day with some instructions and get a half-decent job done? Or would I just damage the pia... |
It seems almost a redundant question, but the meat of it is this:
If one is using the three chord trick, is it stylistically required by rules of theory and phrasing to end the progression on the third chord? While it is pleasing to the ear to complete the phrase and repeat after three chords, will extending the phrase... |
What are some exercises or tips to help singers improve their breath support?
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I have been working my way very slowly through Bach's Well Tempered Clavier for some time now.
I have essentially just started at the beginning and worked on a piece at a time and so far made it about half way through the first of two books, to a standard I am happy with.
What approaches or disciplines could I adopt ... |
I know that one scale consists of 12 half-tones. But my question is still: Why? Why not 13 or 11?
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As a mostly untrained conductor, one problem I've always had is keeping track of problems with a piece as we work through it. Something will stick out and I'll want to go back, but all I could manage was a slash or other simple mark that isn't enough information to fully recall the issue.
Is there a common method for... |
I'm currently learning to play piano for 6 months and every time I learn a new piece I learn it like this:
learn the first line, play it until its pretty good
learn the next line and play the first line each time before it
when making a mistake repeat the whole piece
etc...
I wonder if this is the good way to learn... |
Often times we find ourselves enjoying a piece of music that, for whatever reason, we are unable to find appropriate documentation/tablature for. What are good practices for transcribing music by ear if one does not have perfect pitch? Is there a specific piece of musical anatomy (such as the key) that will make figuri... |
My piano skills are the weakest part of my conducting/rehearsal technique, so I'd like to work on them essentially starting from scratch. I don't have the option of a piano teacher, so I'm looking for method books or suggestions on what to practice that will help with my goals:
I'd like to be able to play through, say,... |
I'm currently learning to play Comptine d'un autre été from Yann Tiersen (Sheet music(pdf) - youtube video) and when I play starting from the 13th bar I barely hear the notes my right hand plays.
Obviously I should play my left hand less loud but this seems a hard thing to do for my brain as it seems to play both han... |
As is well known, this suite was composed for a cello with a scordatura tuning C-G-d-g instead of the classical C-G-d-a.
I have seen almost every possible combination:
edition for specially-tuned cello in "sounding" notation
edition for specially-tuned cello in "physical" notation
edition for normally-tuned cello in "... |
Western music has Scales (major, minor, etc.) while Eastern Music primarily has a large number of Raagas derived from some basic Thaats. Both these groups represent sets of notes on which actual song tunes are based, yet they have very superficial similarities.
Given the universal nature of musical notes and what quali... |
I'm a member of a small band, and a common problem that arises when playing faster-paced music is keeping everyone in sync, rhythm wise. It goes without saying that one person falling out of time can trip everyone else to disastrous ends. A few things to keep in mind:
1) The stage is hollow and acoustics are traitoro... |
I have years of vocalization practice, but I still start straining while singing—especially if I am not vigilant. It happens imperceptibly and is a hard habit to break.
Is there a reliable technique to make sure that I don't lose my effortless natural voice while quickly going from chest to head voice and back during ... |
Since there aren't many drumming or percussion related questions, I will start this out with one of my own. As a drummer of almost 20 years, I still have a weaker left hand (and arm), despite trying most tricks I have heard about. Anyone else have any ideas/methods for increasing ambidexterity for stick control? Not... |
As the title asks, I wish it could be clear to me. Can someone give me a good characterization? Do you produce them differently on a cello than on a violin or viola?
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What is the logic behind this ?
As the larger instruments have larger gaps between the strings, I would have expected a larger bow to accomodate more easily continuous bowing while changing strings.
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One of my struggles with playing the piano is that I have small hands. I can reach an octave - mostly. I can reach it, I just can't maneuver between octaves quickly. Often times a piece will have a running stretch of octaves that I am unable to play. I am completely unable to reach a ninth and above.
Are there any ... |
In a few pieces of music I have read through, I have come across double-sharps and flats.
To my understanding, they are two semitones above/below the note indicated. What is, then, the point of these notations? Why don't you just write the equivalent note and avoid these accidentals?
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I play Alto Saxophone, and I've been wondering this for quite a while now.
I've not played one single overtone yet, so what are your suggestions?
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In my edition of this piece, there's very specific (Ped) (*) markings, which suggests to me that the composer is laying out all the pedalling.
However, a bit after the Forte/fermata in the long section without measure bars, he seems to have slacked off, or forgotten a 'simile' -- there are eight arpeggios apparently wi... |
I heard that it becomes very difficult to learn to play violin after a certain age (14 IIRC). Is that correct? And what is the reason?
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I have noticed that some people are better at hearing music, e.g. they are better in distinguishing the notes or noticing mistakes when someone is play.
Is it possible to train oneself to hear music better? If yes, how?
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I would like to learn to play the flute, but it is nearly impossible to find a flute teacher around here. I have tried the music store and they don't teach the flute there nor do they know of someone who does. I looked online through a large number of directories designed to help people find a teacher and I seem to be ... |
I would love to be able to learn the flute by playing more popular music. However, all the free sheet music that I can find for a flute in the key of C is lame stuff like "Jingle Bells."
In my search for songs that I would like to play on the flute, I find music for clarinets, saxophones, etc... all written in differen... |
One's first public performance can be daunting in terms of the amount of anxiety involved. How should first time performers who have never been on stage (or performed in front of unknown people) deal with this? What are some good tips that seasoned performers use?
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Some teachers use them and some don't. I've heard that they can become a crutch and cause delayed ear training development, but others say they are necessary at the beginning.
Can they really cause problems? Has this been studied in any kind of way? Has it been addressed by a respected author? Should they just be used ... |
I'm working on the piano accompaniment to Schubert's "Trockne Blumen" variations for flute and piano. Variation 2 is all sixteenth-note octaves in the left hand. I began by practicing very slowly with the metronome and gradually increased the tempo over several weeks up to a quarter note = 80. This is fast enough fo... |
I taught myself to play the recorder (soprano) - just the basics - but I have trouble with the F. It just doesn't sound right. Sometimes it sounds too close to the E, sometimes it even sounds like it is lower than the E.
I have seen this fingering listed in a number of online resources, so I don't think that's the i... |
I'm studying music theory in the UK, aiming for ABRSM Grade 5, currently working for grade 3. I'm having trouble grasping the rules for when to beam quavers.
In my study book, by Eric Taylor, I see these "rules".
Beam together four quavers which could be replaced by a minim. Example: in 3/4 4 beamed quavers, followed ... |
I'm interested in playing the (diatonic) harmonica with the distorted sound they use in many rock and blues bands (Jason Ricci is one example among many others).
From what I understand, how you hold the harmonica together with the microphone (as long as you're using a bullet mic) is what matters most to get the sound ... |
While reading some of the questions about transcribing music here. I have come across these software tools that allow to slow down music and manipulate it freely. I think this is very interesting stuff and would like to dedicate this thread to make a kind of listing of the existing software with a description of what t... |
Are there any finger exercises I can perform even when I am not near a piano to improve my dexterity and strength of my fingers?
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I'm trying to learn to play the harmonica, and one thing I haven't quite figured out is how to consistently bend notes. (I can only hit two and three draw, inconsistently, for a semitone, and can only do it with my tongue "out of position".)
Do you have some tips on note bending on harmonica?
What are some good exerci... |
There are a lot of different opinions about Charles-Louis Hanon's "The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises". Some say it is unmusical and can even lead to wrist damage, while others think they are the best exercises around. I am a beginning piano player — how should I regard these exercises?
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The Thompson's books are divided by grade (first grade, second grade, etc.). Aside from that, I have encountered a pianist who says that he is considered to be an X grade pianist. What is this grading system exactly?
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Soon I will have the pleasant duty of leading an amateur choir at a two-week summer camp. I am looking for warming up pieces that are easy, but fun. It should be possible to learn them without having to read the sheet music, but also a bit more advanced singers should have fun.
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I play the drums in a band, and the song has already been written and everything that the vocalist, guitarist and bassist will play. The drums were left out and I have to write them to fit the song.
The song is written quite systematically in that they follow the notes for chord progressions and movement, but the drums... |
I am 25 years old, and I started learning piano about 6 months ago. I really want to play the piano well, but it takes me so long to be able to play any piece of music. In the meantime, I'm using a pencil to write the note letter next to the note I want to play. What things can I do to improve my sight-reading?
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I have been trying to explore music theory concepts programmatically, namely through music21 software, but I've run into a lot of trouble. Are there any other frameworks for this?
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Are there usable free sources for (symphonic) orchestra scores?
I'm talking about legal sources for pieces that are now in public domain.
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I am currently a beginner at the piano. I know using the metronome is important, but I I'm feeling reluctant to use it often, as it is difficult for me to get the music coordinated with the clicks.
Is there any tips on how to get used to it?
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Baroque and minimalist music are two of my favorite genres. In particular, I like the repetitive note sequences with variations. J.-S. Bach's Goldberg Variations and Phillip Glass's Naqoyqatsi are good examples of this.
What similarities do these genres share in a way that might impact how they are performed? Do they h... |
I had a 10 year gap in my violin play and I'm still having trouble remembering the correct fingering (specifically for 4 and more sharps/flats).
Where can I find some fingering charts/schemes available on-line, or do I have to dedicate some to create them for all/most of the scales?
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I've practiced enough that I can recognize two-note intervals in isolation (sequentially), but this doesn't seem to help that much for understanding actual songs. What exercises would help to go beyond this?
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Ear training is a very important ability for any musician to develop. From intonation when singing or playing an instrument to playing and transcribing by ear.
What is the best way to improve this? Is software like EarMaster or GNU Solfege any effective? Or is it a non natural way to train your ear?
People have been l... |
With some score books, if you try to open it and put it on a support, it will close itself.
For the moment I have to force and fold it but it damages the spine of the book.
Do you have techniques to open those books without damaging them too much?
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I would like to know how to compose tuplets of odd numbers against even numbers on the piano (ie. 3 against 2). How would you go around composing something like this? I have been composing for some time (mostly small stuff) and whenever I try to write something like this, it is either hit or miss.
I'm sure professional... |
I have 24 sessions in which to deliver basic music theory to university-age students. Although they are likely to do some singing in their future careers, they are unlikely to receive further musical training apart from singing lessons.
I was introduced to the concept of Kodaly movable-do solfege comparatively recentl... |
I've heard that much music we think of as "baroque" was actually improvised, and only later set in stone. Is this true?
I'm currently playing baroque-style continuo/bass lines in a duo that riffs off of baroque and folk music, and the answer to this might help me interpret these pieces.
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I think by now most people agree that perfect pitch is not genetic. We understand that most people who do possess perfect pitch acquire it very early in life, (around the same time most people acquire language) which makes techniques for training absolute pitch very difficult to pin down. Just as it is possible, howeve... |
There have been several popular music games in recent years, but they seem to be most useful for developing a sense of rhythm. Are there any games that are helpful as ear training exercises? What would you recommend?
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In this piece, fourth of the five Images Miroirs by Maurice Ravel, there are three “double glissandi”, ascending then descending, over white keys of the piano. One of them uses a fourth interval, the next one uses a third interval.
What fingers would you use to perform those glissandi?
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Debussy's Étude pour les agréments focuses on all those small symbols in a score that indicate some intent from the composer: accentuation marks, hairpins (crescendi, decrescendi), pizzicati, appoggiaturas, rest commas, etc.
Do you usually read all of them and memorize them along with the notes without skimming a singl... |
This Étude is really painful for the right hand. Difficulty comes from medius, ring and little fingers playing chromatic scales while thumb and index fingers punctuate.
The thumb cannot be used as a pivot while playing it. After a single execution the muscles are painful, because we are not accustomed to producing lega... |
I learned solfège as a kid long ago, and have been playing ever since without interruption, but I seem to have forgotten quite a few things that I haven't really needed all those years, and might not be aware of many other interesting things since I haven't studied at the conservatory.
Is there any comprehensive book ... |
As a long-time chorister, I've always wondered what drives choirs to flat or sharp out of certain keys. For instance, the choir I sing with consistently fails to remain in the key of F, whereas shifting the music to F# fixes our tonality issues instantly.
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Are Dalcrose Eurhythmics concepts appropriate for newly beginning instrumentalists or do they rely on instrumental techniques that are only acquired later? If they are appropriate, what are some of the benefits that have been said to come from beginning Eurhythmics at an early stage?
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I'm looking to learn how to better analyze music I am listening to, and I'm having problems identifying ii-V-I progressions, especially when they're the basis for improvisation. What are some hints or signs I can look for in the music to help me identify the progression?
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Possible Duplicate:
Software that slows down music to help in transcribing.
I'm looking to study specific soloes and improvisations from recordings of live performances - my ear, however, is not very well trained and I don't have perfect pitch. What tools can I use that will help me better analyze the music (possibl... |
We're experimenting as a Brass-Brass-Bass combo, and wondering what we can do to make the bass's job more interesting (besides throwing in more solos). Is it fairly easy to replace substantial portions with improvised walking-bass style lines and still retain the percussive properties of the bass sound?
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When I do finger exercises (e.g. Hanon's), my pinky finger is being raised after I play (press and release) a key with my fourth finger, and then is raised even more and is striated after the third finger plays a key. I try to fight it, in order to preserve a nice curvature of the hand. However, does every piano player... |
My bassoon teacher advises me to soak my reed in water before playing. Apparently water has properties that my saliva alone doesn't. Why would this be useful?
Also I have seen Oboe players doing this, but not Clarinettists, Saxophonists (or anyone else without a double reed). Why don't they do so?
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I know about true or false harmonics tones on various instruments but I do not understand what an altissimo is. Just very high notes? Can you produce them on every kind of saxophone? Can you play a melody with them?
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What are the steps to follow to unmount the hair from a bow and install a new set ?
What kind of tools and products do you need beside a new set of bow hair ?
How do you measure/adjust the length before mounting ?
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How would someone go about identifying chords quickly and efficiently? While sight reading, I would often come up to some strange chord and try to decipher it. It normally takes me (what feels like) ages to figure out what chord it is. I have seen other people look at complex chords and instantly identify it.
What is t... |
(a very good musicology question suggested by BenV, from the definition phase of the "Classical Music" area51 proposal).
Beethoven's ninth Symphony (opus 125) is one of the most well-known works of classical music. His last movement uses a choir together with the orchestra.
It is usually considered the first "choral" s... |
Specifically for music composed earlier than the third or fourth century A.D.
I have heard several reports about deciphering examples of ancient greek musical notation. And you can find CDs of "reconstituted" ancient music although I never had an opportunity to hear one.
Have we been able to reconstruct ancient instru... |
Recently I played my acoustic guitar after a couple months of only playing my classical guitar. My fingers have softened considerably compared to when I was playing the acoustic regularly, and it was painful for the tips of my fingers on my left (chording) hand.
Is there anything I can do to permanently toughen up my ... |
On Sunday I am going to take a entry level exam in music theory. They didn't give me any sample exam or references to where can I learn this stuff. All I have is a list of what will be in the exam (Translated from Hebrew):
Written Theory exam:
Scales - building and identifying the major and minor (natural,harmonic,mel... |
A standard snare drum rim shot, as I understand it, requires the stick to contact the drum head and rim simultaneously. I'm having trouble finding the appropriate angle (the majority of the time I just end up hitting the rim only).
Are there any tips I might want to consider in developing this technique?
Edit: One thin... |
As a composer, it's vitally important that I'm aware of what's happening in the contemporary music world. I find it very difficult to keep myself informed of a field that often flies below the radar of popular culture.
Are there any resources for keeping up-to-date on new art music, especially those that are validated ... |
I need advices to play between B♭1 and B♭2 on bass trombone with two valves.
I come from tenor trombone (only one valve) and already have position chart. What I would like is how to efficiently move using slide and valves. For know I have the feeling to play superbone with a clumsy left hand.
Do you have any advices?
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I am playing some works by Olivier Messiaen. Some of them are “extremely slow, extatic”, or “infinitely slow”.
Examples:
“Louange à l’Éternité de Jésus” (Quatuor pour la fin du temps), cello and piano.
“Regard du père” (20 regards sur l’Enfant Jésus), piano solo
I find it very difficult to keep a very slow tempo and ... |
I'm studying a string quartet by Haydn. This (obviously) doesn't have a basso continuo.
Why were basso continuos no longer used in the classical period? Was it something to do with the development of available instruments?
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My guitar instructor insists that, as part of my training, I set a fixed minimum amount of time each day for practice and make sure that I practice at least that much, with a fixed upper limit of 4x45 minute practice sessions.
Would you at all track mental practice, and, if so, would you include it as part of a general... |
Another question about playing octaves (as in Schubert's Erlkonig, Chopin's A-flat Polonaise, etc.):
I practice Hanon exercises, and Hanon recommends using the first and fifth finger on white keys and the first and fourth finger on black keys, so that's how I've always practiced them. But have you found that this is a... |
col legno or col legno battuto meaning : strike (the string) with the wood (of the bow) is commonly found in 20th century chamber music. But I have heard it might have been used earlier (at least 18th century).
I am curious about which early composers used this technique in his works.
Perhaps is there a first one?
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I have a nephew, eleven years old, who wants to start learning the flute next september.
I have seen that there are flute models with two central round keys either inline with the others or slightly offset towards the small fingers of the left hand if I understand well.
He does not have large hands for his age but it i... |
I did a music exam today.
one of the questions was build chord from the following shapes (with the root given on the staff):
mM2
AugM7
dimdim 6/5
Mm6
what is the algorithm behind this markings. I am especially perplexed form dimdim 6/5.
EDIT: I think I Added unnecessary confusion: by 6/5 i meant 6 over 5 (First inve... |
My right hand (picking hand) is showing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and is slowly, but surely, degrading. I continue to practice guitar, but it's beginning to be difficult to do so.
What can I do to reduce any (additional) damage to my wrist while practicing guitar, and to make my wrist last as long as possible in... |
Do you know of any software out there that will allow me to play in different musical temperaments (e.g. Well temperament and Meantone temperament)? I'm especially interested in software that accepts MIDI input.
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Different brands of mouthpiece manufacturers have different ways of naming the size of their mouthpieces. Is there some kind of common convention, like letters being the depth, small numbers meaning small width, and the like?
Bach's 1-1/2 C seems to match Yamaha's 16C4 according to this page, but I'm more looking for a... |
I took ballet and with ballet you gain something called muscle memory and if you learn incorrectly, it's almost impossible to become a great dancer. Because of this, you can't learn ballet out of a book or from a video -- you need an instructor to say "You're doing a great job" or "You need to do this instead."
Is lear... |
My piano is nearly 100 years old, and can no longer stay in tune. Repairing it would cost much more than the piano is worth, and I'm not ready to spring for a new one just yet. So for now I am stuck playing it. It's somewhat in tune with itself — within an octave is usually OK, spread two octaves and you'll notice a... |
Sometimes when I am not at practice, I will visualize playing scales or a particular piece on my instrument.
I know that visualization is often used by athletes, but is it often used among musicians? If so, is there advice on how it can be done most effectively?
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I am studying Music at AS-level - we have to harmonise a soprano line (in any style we wish I believe) with the alto, tenor and bass parts.
One possible perfect cadence I have been taught is the Ic-V-I progression. However I found the following graphic on a revision site. The two rules below it (about the bass being do... |
I would like to know if there are any tips on tuning drumheads; I keep hearing harmonics.
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In terms of 'spring-cleaning' and maintaining guitars, and asking with regards to those of the acoustic variety, just to specify, however not to eliminate any differences should anyone care to explain:
Is there a standard efficient method of cleaning / maintaining a guitar?
A broad topic this might be, but I'm wonder... |
I have a bunch of guitars of varying quality from unplayable to quite nice. I intend to hang some (or all) of them on walls for decoration, but I'm not sure if this is good for the guitars, so perhaps I should do something else with the better ones?
I assume that lying down in a hard case will be the best, but that tak... |
I played bass trombone at a pretty advanced level for many years. However, due to personal reasons I gave it up (I quit cold turkey). That was 15 years ago. I would like to get back into playing again, but I'm not sure of the best way to get my chops back without damaging them. I still have a ton of muscle memory, but ... |
Almost every teacher, expert, and book has informed me that I should disassemble my (clarinet / recorder / saxophone) each time after I practice.
However, it is difficult for me to see how this would prevent damage to the instrument, after I regularly grease the cork in the fittings, swab out the moisture, and remove t... |
I'm a classically trained pianist. Took lessons all through my childhood. I've continued to play and read classical literature all my life. But I never learned anything about jazz piano. I also know a lot about music theory, am a good sight reader and have a good ear.
At this point in my life (>40) what's the best app... |
I saw once the case of a beginner violinist who turned out to be allergic to a specific type of rosin that came with his student violin outfit. Another hypoallergenic rosin was purchased and they used water to try to remove the old rosin from the bow. Let's just say the bow hairs were completely damaged afterward.
Is ... |
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