UreMusic Education

67% The Arban method is an acknowledged method intended to provide trumpet players with proper playing technique and develop their musicality. Private instructors have relied on this system for years to guide students in conventional methods of breathing, articulation, and technique. Students who triumphantly complete this method gain a solid technique and the ability to play numerous difficult trumpet works. Professional trumpet players refer to this method as the "bible" of trumpet technique. Posture The Arban method begins with an overture that discusses proper stance and how to hold the trumpet. The player should sit up straight or stand and keep the shoulders relaxed. The support for the trumpet comes from the left hand so that the right hand is free to manage the valves. Breathing involves taking the air into the diaphragm without trapping air in the chest. Proper posture is the source of exceptional trumpet technique. Articulations Arban’s method addresses legato, stac...

100 The musically gifted express four main categories of intelligence that others posses to a lesser degree. When assessing the musically gifted it is important to evaluate all of these areas of cognitive performance. Musically gifted individuals often show talent in the area of special organization and problem solving. Composers and musicians are typically able to recognize patterns easily. Discovering the basic characteristics of the musically gifted will help you to identify these traits in others and yourself. Pitch While it may be surprising to hear, not all people are able to recognize the difference between high and low pitches. The musically gifted will not only be able to recognize the difference between high and low pitches, they will be able to understand the relationship between pitches. When two pitches sound in harmony or melodic, they create an interval. The musically gifted can easily recognize the difference between intervals. Highly gifted individuals may even be able...

As with writing music, too many people believe that lyric writing is too difficult for most people and that it requires a supernatural skill to do so effectively. While the ability to write song lyrics does vary between people, talent is not the only factor that determines whether your song lyrics are going to work well with the composition. As with music composition, writing song lyrics is as much a craft as it is a talent. Lyric writing is a personal activity that requires the ability to express your thoughts with words and set them to music.  Write What You Know Prospective lyric writers are told to write what they know. This mantra is hammered into your head as a writer, but lyric writers fail to get much more direction beyond that. Writing lyrics requires you to express a thought, idea, or theme in a manner that makes them suitable for singing. It's more than simply putting words on a page, since if the lyrics are awkward or stilted, the music is going to b...

Chord progressions act as the harmonic basis for any musical work. Beyond the standard major and minor chords, you can create logical progressions without using traditional chords. Master composers think about chord progressions in a creative way and don't necessarily follow the standard procedures prescribed by music theorists. Increase the originality of your work and create new harmonies to support your melodies. Create something new and discover the realm of musical sonorities waiting for you. Master composers create more than simple chord progressions based on a theory text; they create contrapuntal lines that work to build new chords and sounds in their compositions. Chord Arpeggiation Arpeggiations create broken chords that allow you to separate traditional block chords and create a complex background. Arpeggiate your chords by breaking them into sixteenth notes and running from the bass note of the chord to the top note. Try rearranging the notes in your chord to make mo...

Extending the low range of your singing voice will improve your tone production and ability to hit high notes. By extending your range, the vocal cords expand and become more flexible. This makes it possible to extend your reach both high and low. Care should be taken to avoid extending the range too quickly. Daily practice is the key to slowly developing your voice to hit the low notes when singing. Piano Exercise Sing a note that is in the lower part of your comfortable range. This note should come easily. Once you have found it, locate the same pitch on the piano. Then sing on whole notes a major scale descending into your low range. Go as low as possible without straining your voice. This exercise will help to expand your range slowly over time. Always begin each practice session with this exercise to expand your range. Flexibility Developing vocal flexibility will help to loosen your vocal cords and expand your low range. Pick a note that is in the middle of your range and jump up...

The Classical period was a time in which the concept that the universe was rational and explainable became the predominant mode of thinking. Through scientific discovery, people believed that the answers to life’s questions were within reach. The laws of physics were revealing themselves, and concepts such as an elliptical orbit that binds and allows planets to revolve around the sun were formulating and accepted on a large-scale. In the past, people thought Earth was the center of the universe. In the Classical period, these ideas were starting to give way to rationalism. With this new rationalism, the power of God as an idea lost some of its credence among rationalists. Scientists were beginning to explore alternative explanations. Superstition somewhat gave way to rationalism and people started to trust in the idea that all events were explainable with science provided the observer asked the right questions. The belief in demonology and witchcraft declined significantly in this peri...

The slur, phrase, and tie mark all look very similar. Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Knowing how to distinguish the difference between a tie, slur and phrase mark in music will make it possible for you to play music effectively. While all three symbols look exactly the same, they can be identified by looking at the characteristics of the underlying music. Learning how to tell the difference will require an understanding of how each symbol appears and affects the music. Tie  A tie looks like a curved line that attaches two notes together. Ties will never connect more than one note at a time; knowing this will make it possible for you to identify the difference between a tie and the other similar markings. When a tie appears, it means that you need to add the values of two notes together to create a longer value. For instance, a quarter note would normally be worth one beat. But if you tie that quarter note to another one you will now have to hold it for two beats. Slur  Slurs w...

The painting of Henri Matisse incorporates absorbing colors and hues to create lasting impressions of ephemeral moments in time. Matisse created an iconic and stylized mode of painting by integrating several elements of color and texture that have become synonymous with early-20th-century modern art. A great friend and rival of Pablo Picasso, Matisse had a strong influence on artists of his time. Fauvism Early Matisse paintings were representative of a style called Fauvism, which some critics described as the work of beasts. The basis for the style involved an unusual attention to color that obscured an object's natural image. For instance, a portrait of a green pasture with a house might use high contrast to create pink grass and a yellow house. Critics of the time viewed his approach and those that worked in this style as absurd and over the top. Nature Matisse's style incorporates several elements of nature. He created imagery of fields, homes, common fruits and nudes...

The most important element that defines a piano concerto is the instrumentation; a piano concerto is written for a piano soloist with an orchestra. Classical and traditionally structured piano concertos generally have three movements, although since the time of Beethoven it has become more common to include an additional, fourth movement. More recently, composers have written concertos in other forms, including single-movement works, but all concertos meet the basic requirement of a having a piano soloist and an orchestra. Movement 1 The first movement of a piano concerto is traditionally cast in sonata form with an added cadenza. Classical sonata form comprises three parts: exposition, development, and recapitulation; in a concerto, however, right before the recapitulation a cadenza is added; a cadenza is an opportunity for the pianist to show off her technique and improvisational skills, during which the orchestra generally stops playing to allow the pianist to play freely. After the...

Musical instruments are a large investment and it pays to consider your traveling options carefully before taking a trip to your next performance. Keeping your instrument with you at all times provides the best insurance against damage. However, airlines and buses often require that you check anything over a certain weight and size. Insurance You can purchase renters or homeowners insurance to provide financial compensation in case your instrument gets lost, damaged or stolen. In the case of theft, you must complete a police report and provide information to your insurance company immediately after the theft to ensure compensation. You can also purchase travel insurance that specifically covers your musical instrument. Musician performing rights organizations such as ASCAP and BMI usually provide discounted insurance for members. Preparation Prepare your instrument by wrapping it inside the instrument case using a lint-free towel and then packing any loose areas inside the case with pa...

Major and minor scales are the result of centuries of experimentation and careful observation of nature. This scale was created as a concept which was only vaguely understood at the time. This concept was later referred to as the overtone series and it consists of a series of pitches that gradually become closer together on a continuum. For more information about what it takes to be a composer, check out The Mystery of Music Composition. Fundamental Tone In the overtone series, the lowest pitch is called the fundamental. The fundamental is the lowest natural note that is produced by the instrument. If you strike a note on the piano, you can hear remnants of the overtone series. Hold down the pedal and you will hear it echo several pitches in addition to the fundamental tone. If you listen carefully enough, you should be able to hear this relationship to the fundamental tone. When playing a C, it is not just a single pitch that is sounded. There are a combination of pitches which sound ...

Crescendos and decrescendos work together to increase and decrease tension in a composition. These dynamic markings create compositions that avoid sounding dull and lifeless. Without these dynamic attributes, a composition would stay the same volume throughout the work. 8-bit music, certain types of techno, harpsichord music, and music played with a celeste usually contains no dynamic contrasts. Composers use dynamics in music for various reasons. Crescendos consist of a gradual increase in sound throughout a composition while a decrescendo slowly decreases the sound over a specified length of time. Musical Climax Composers often use crescendos to create the climax of a composition. In order to create effective climaxes, composer's increase tension by increasing the volume in a steady manner. Maurice Ravel's  Boléro showcases how a composition can start quietly and increase the intensity and volume to the final climactic point. However, the continual build and dramatic incr...

A singing birthday party can use musical themes as decorations. Use a treble and bass clef design on your cake and music-themed party bags for the guests. The halls and tables can be decorated with music notes and famous singers. However, none of these ideas will be sufficient to entertain the guests if you don't have enjoyable singing themed games. Each game can last 20 minutes, with the winner receiving a prize. Between games, you can serve cake, open presents and play music to let the guests mingle. Improvisation Play a chord progression on a piano that repeats. Something simply like C major, G major and back to C major. Repeat this progression and let singers individually improvise the tune. If you don't have piano skills, get a recording of a well-known piece like "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." Play the instrumental version only and let the singer sing along to this and other familiar tunes while making up her own lyrics. This is a great way to pass the time, and yo...

The timpani only tunes to a single pitch at a time. Mallet instruments make up a meaningful portion of the percussion family. Instruments that use mallets come in two basic types: pitched and nonpitched. Several other approaches exist for identifying the types of percussion instruments, including categorizing them by idiophones, membranophones, chordophones and aerophones. However, in the context of mallet instruments, the distinction between pitched and nonpitched creates the most clarity. Mallets Mallets are sticks with heads made of varying parts including felt, rubber, wood, metal and yarn. The material used on the head greatly affects the sound of the instrument. Percussionists must choose the heads carefully to decide the type of sound desired. Mallets made from hard materials provide a penetrating sound while softer materials create mellow, soft timbres. Percussionist training includes instruction in determining the correct mallet to use as composers don't always indicate th...

The tenor sax features 24 keys. Having to study all of the fingerings on the tenor sax may seem like an unconquerable assignment; however, with the right exercise technique and fingering chart, you can memorize the fingerings and develop your craft. There are five ranges the saxophonist must remember to become skilled. Master each of these ranges by practicing major and minor scales daily while using a fingering chart. First Octave The first octave of the tenor sax fingerings are the ones most often used in music. They extend from an A below middle C to the C-sharp an octave above middle C. Play the lowest note by holding down the first three keys of the left hand and the first three keys of the right hand along with the low C side key. From this position, you can use your fingering chart to memorize the rest of the notes. Second Octave The second octave isn't used as much, but is important to learn. Using precise pitch notation, C4 is middle C right below the treble clef. Each C a...

If you're interested in learning about the future of music, make sure to check out the latest blog post over at http://www.kevinure.com, The Future of Music Is Up in the Air. Developing a better understanding of the concepts and elements of music through education can greatly improve one's musical appreciation. Just as you can come to better enjoy fine cuisine, art, dance, and theater by cultivating a foundation of knowledge and familiarity on the subjects, music is a vastly more rewarding experience when you know how to listen actively. By becoming aware of the five fundamental disciplines within a musical composition, it is possible to open your ears to a piece of music and hear the beauty within that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Music Theory Music theory teaches musicians how to read and write music. Music theory encompasses melodic elements such as major and minor scales, chords, chord progressions and non-tonal scales. With music theory, students begin to ...

The Baroque and Early Classical periods saw a great divergence in musical styles. The Baroque period came before the Classical period and had great composers such as Bach, Handel, and Corelli. The Classical period sought different aims and included the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Both time periods saw drastic developments in music and sought to improve and clarify the medium with which music was conveyed to the audience. Baroque Music The Baroque period came before the Classical period, from 1600 to 1750. The Baroque period developed music that was highly ornamented. Similar to a Christmas tree with its ornaments, the classical period dressed up and enhanced its basic musical lines with extra notes and complex rhythms. Composers started to write for specific instruments and experimented with new structures and forms. Baroque music was largely responsible for the establishment of the Opera genre and gave rise to larger forces of musicians. Early Classical Music The Classical ...