UreMusic Education

The pedals of the piano each create a different effect when utilized. Composers tend to favor the sustain pedal, as it is the pedal that gives the piano the strongest reverberation between the notes. Pedals are not always depressed entirely; you can depress a pedal at differing degrees to create a stronger or weaker effect. It is mainly up to the pianist to use his judgment on how far to depress a pedal. Pedal Notation There are two ways to indicate a pianist should use pedal. The written method will place the word "pedal" at the point to depress the pedal. In most cases, this command abbreviates as "Ped." An asterisk (*) signifies the pedal release. Another method of indicating pedal notation is with lines. A horizontal line that extends beneath the music indicates to depress the pedal. Steep diagonal lines that go up and down indicate to quickly release and re-engage the pedal. Vertical lines indicate to release the pedal entirely. Some special pedal techniques wi...

The Ballet Russes was a Russian performance group that resided in Paris and toured internationally from 1909 to 1929 and included performers, dancers, and music. The artwork of the Ballet Russes was controversial and applauded for its use of actual artists instead of stage designers. This brought an entirely new element to the visual arts and dance genre. Colors were integrated and matched with the style of dance and music. For the first time in history, costumes and sets were coordinated to create an overarching visual theme. Style Primitivism and exoticism were primary elements in the artwork of the Ballet Russes. Artists would reconstruct basic, tribal costumes and use earth tones to create the tapestry of color for sets. The art, including costumes, used elemental and three-dimensional images of natural, outdoor scenes usually coupled with animals. The style was interested in borrowing colors and themes from other cultures, specifically, Chinese influences for the production o...

Playing with good intonation is one of the most important concerns for an acoustic band. Without proper pitch, the band will sound dull, lifeless and amateurish. Preventing pitch problems should be the number one priority of all acoustic bands. Several factors influence the ideal pitch of a band. Each one of them has specific methods that the band may employ to reduce and eliminate the pitch problems. Room Temperature The temperature of a room will greatly affect the pitch of an acoustic instrument. If the musicians fail to warm up before going on stage, the temperature of the instrument will rise during the concert. This creates poor intonation as the pitch of an instrument changes depending on its temperature. Not all instruments will change pitch at the same rate either, so this creates further tuning problems since each instrument will change pitch at a different ratio. The solution is to warm up before going on stage for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Individual Tuning Unless the grou...

Having the right tool to repair your French horn with will make a difference in the success of your own personal repair job without the need to go to a repair job. Each tool performs a specific function, and their cost is relatively inexpensive, possibly saving you a trip to the repair shop. Acquire the tools you need and keep them available so that when accidents happen, you will be ready. Mouthpiece Trueing Tool When performing, it sometimes happens that a mouthpiece will fall out of the instrument and land in such a way that it dents the lead pipe of the mouthpiece. A mouthpiece-trueing tool makes it possible to remove dents and restore the mouthpiece to its original form. The tool consists of stainless steel and a metal grip to make it comfortable to hold. Water Key Spring Installation Tool The water key spring installation tool makes it possible to install a new, more reliable spring in your instrument. Springs tend to lose their firmness over time, so it is important to be able t...

Finding the right gift for a cellist requires attention to items that a cellist needs to play her instrument. Most cellists will appreciate a thoughtful gift that shows you are interested in their music. Remember that musicians can be very passionate and particular about the components for their instrument. For this reason, it is best to find a present they can customize, or that doesn’t relate directly to their playing. Gift Cards Cellists spend plenty of money on supplies needed for their instrument. Gift cards can be a good solution for those who want to ensure their recipient receives exactly what he needs. The problem with purchasing supplies for them is that you can never be sure you have bought the right item. Cellists need rosin, bow maintenance, polish, music stands and several other items that a cellist needs to perform at a high level. Jewelry Jewelry can be an ideal gift if the recipient is a woman or a man who wears jewelry. Plenty of options are available for you to selec...

Writing music requires some talent and understanding of basic theoretical principles. Learning to write your own music is a challenging but rewarding experience. Beginning composers can learn to write music in a variety of ways ranging from free advice to paid professional instruction. There are talented composers are willing to help newcomers learn the ropes and start composing original music, but they can be hard to find. Still, even advanced composers can benefit from a second opinion. No matter whether you have never written a note of music in your life or are an experienced composer, writing original music requires a thoughtful and careful approach to composing. The College Path Study music theory by attending a college or university, or find a teacher through a local music store. It is also possible to study theory online. By studying music theory, composers can learn quickly about music that has already been created. To write something original, you have to first know what...

Warming up a middle-school choir will provide you with time to work on intonation and balance using simple chorales that are easy to sing. Basic and advanced choirs need a structured schedule for warming up. This will help prepare the students mentally and physically for the rehearsal. Long Tones Create an exercise where the entire choir sings long tones. Start with a G above middle C and have the students sing sets of three notes without taking a breath. For example, the choir could sing G – A – B or G – A – G. As long as they hold each pitch out for four beats and play the complete phrase without taking a breath, the warm-up will work. This will help students do two things: develop breath support and improve their intonation. Tell the students to listen carefully to each other and adjust their pitch as necessary. Scales Have the choir sing the same major and minor scale each day in rehearsal. When they are capable of singing major and minor scales without singing out of tune, add a 1...

Trumpets make use of various mechanical and the organic human element to create sound. Four basic components determine the sound of a trumpet. The embouchure, metals used in manufacturing, the valves and the breath support of the player all play a major and crucial role. These elements must work together to create the more than four-octave range of the trumpet. Embouchure An embouchure consists of the muscles in the face that come together to create tension between the lips. To mimic an appropriate embouchure for playing trumpet, pretend to suck through a straw. Your cheeks will tighten, your lips will come together and you will feel the muscles in your chin and the side of your face contract. A tight embouchure allows the player to increase the pitch, while a loose embouchure makes it possible to lower the pitch. Metal The metals used in the manufacturing of a trumpet directly affect the sound of the instrument. Trumpets consist of either brass or silver metals. The trumpets that use ...

Hi-hat technique involves learning how to use the foot pedal to play open and closed positions with the hi-hat. The drummer also must know the standard and non-standard hand position. Usually the dominant hand is used to play the hi-hat, while the non-dominant hand plays the snare drum. However, there are exceptions to this type of playing as well. Hi-hats consist of two cymbals that face each other and are controlled by a foot pedal. Closed When the drummer closes the hi-hat by pressing down on the foot pedal the hi-hat is said to be closed. This creates a muffled sound since the cymbals on the hi-hat are not free to vibrate unimpeded. Closing the hi-hat is often used along with a right hand steady eighth or 16th note rhythm to help provide the back-beat and tempo for a song. The drummer may also choose to turn a cymbal upside down and put it on top of the hi-hat to create an extra timbre. Open Open position is the natural position of the hi-hat. It is achieved by leaving the foot ped...

Listening to binaural tones can apparently have an effect on mental states. Binaural tones, or beats, are the audible results from two slightly different frequencies at the same time. There is anecdotal evidence, as well as some research, to suggest that these tones can have an effect on the mental state of the listener. There are several methods of producing these tones and the field of study has fascinating ramifications for meditation and brain studies. Overview Binaural tones may affect human performance. While there is still more research to do, studies into binaural tones show promising indications that listening to these tones through headphones can positively affect human performance. It is possible to create tones that stimulate beta, theta, alpha, and delta brain waves and to simulate the "psychomotor performance and mood" of the subjects. The results could provide better mood, improved concentration, and more accurate task-driven results. Stereo Headpho...

Music and movement are perfectly complemented pairs for teaching preschoolers abstract reasoning, coordination and music skills. Abstract reasoning skills are developed through the anticipation of the beat of the music. Coordination skills are developed by teaching children to use both hands to beat a drum in a controlled, rhythmic pattern. Music skills come from listening and responding to music using both physical and mental processes. Whether the child is listening and responding to a new song or walking around the room to the beat of that song, music and movement are two actions that complement each other well. Awareness Ask the preschoolers to sit in a circle on the floor. Place one child in the center, standing up. Have the child in the center close his eyes; instruct him to point in the direction that he hears music. Point to a random child in the outside circle and request that she sing a few notes. The child in the center of the classroom must quickly turn toward the singing c...

Many of the differences between the cornet and the trumpet have disappeared throughout the years. The modern cornet functions in much the same way as a modern trumpet. There are some structural, performance and timbral differences between the two instruments. Composers will typically use a cornet when a subdued passage is needed and a trumpet when the orchestration calls for a powerful sound. Mechanics The trumpet mouthpiece slants inward from the rim to the throat. The throat is the small hole just inside the mouthpiece that flares outward toward the mouthpiece shank, which fits inside the leadpipe. This gives the trumpet a direct, focused sound. The cornet, on the other hand, uses a mouthpiece with a cup-shaped interior. This smooths out the sound and creates a darker, less focused timbre. Cornets also have a conical bore, which means that the bore flares slowly outward from the leadpipe to the bell. Trumpets have a cylindrical bore that remains constant throughout until reaching the...

Learning about the many factors that affect a tuba’s tone will help you to improve your understanding of the instrument and basic acoustics. The tuba contains a series of brass tubes, welded together to create resistance, making it possible to successfully direct air through the horn. The tuba works through vibrations that turn into audible sound and become colored by the vibrations from the materials of the tuba. Vibrations All sound starts with a vibration that creates a pitch. These vibrations travel through the air causing the eardrum to transfer sound vibrations to the three small bones called ossicles in the middle ear. Vibrations occur anytime you hit, move or act upon an object by force. In the case of the tuba, the vibrations initiate from the vibrations of the lips. Mouthpiece The mouthpiece of the tuba makes it possible to focus sound through a quick stream of air that moves through the instrument. Mouthpiece materials play a large part in the timbre produced. Brass mouthpie...

Church modes were used by composers starting in the 16th century. Sixteenth-century church music consists of seven different modes based on the C major scale. Each mode has different characteristics and had a specific purpose in 16th-century religious music. Each mode starts on a different degree and creates a different sound. Early composers felt that each mode could evoke specific emotions within the listener. For instance, the sixth mode had characteristics that were thought to induce sloth. Ionian and Dorian Ionian and Dorian modes use the first two degrees in the major scale to create their modes. Although there was no major scale in early church music, the equivalent and identical mode went by the name Ionian. This mode consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The Dorian mode started on the second degree of the Ionian (major) mode and consists of D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Phrygian and Lydian Phrygian and Lydian modes start on the third and fourth scale degree. T...

Requiring that children sing louder than their voices are capable of is dangerous to their voices. Avoid forcing children to artificially increase their voices, and select music that is appropriate to their range. There are many ways to increase the sound of a child’s voice, but always keep the health and best interest of the child in mind. Children’s voices are still developing, so use methods that allow the voice to develop naturally and healthily. Don't ever let them scream or sing louder than their voices can handle. Breath Support Teach the children proper breath support to increase their ability to sing with a full volume. Show the children how to breathe into their diaphragms by asking them to yawn. When we yawn, we take in a full breath and hold it in our stomachs. Make sure they are not breathing into the chest. Breathing into the chest creates a shallow and weak sound. One good exercise to improve this is to ask the child to breathe in for four beats and out for eight bea...

"Trombone" is an Italian word for “large trumpet;” the original trombone did not use a slide and was, in fact, a larger version of the trumpet. The modern slide trombone developed from an early English instrument called a "sackbut," and the first known European slide trombone dates from the 1420s. Over time, the trombone developed into today's modern instrument and finally became a standard part of the orchestra in the late Classical period. Rennaissance Due to the Italian influence in Renaissance music, the Italian term for "large trumpet" became the common word for referring to the trombone. The Renaissance period, between about A.D. 1400 to 1600, saw the trombone used in several settings, including secular outdoor gatherings as well as religious settings. Gabrieli, Giovanni, and Andrea, composed extensively for the trombone during this period. In the Renaissance, the trombone usually appeared in combination with other instruments. Baroque The Baroqu...

Music production libraries provide news agencies, department stores and film and television companies with music to create ambiance and add theatrical flair to productions. Production libraries can be created through the use of electronic music or acoustic music. Electronic music is created with a computer while acoustic music uses live players. Choosing between computer-based music samplers or acoustic music will depend largely on the skills you already possess. If you are unfamiliar with creating electronic music, purchase sheet music and hire musicians for a recording session. Electronic Music  Step 1: Attach your MIDI keyboard to your sound card using a MIDI cable. Most sound cards have a MIDI input and output connector. This connector is about the size of a dime and makes it possible to connect a MIDI cable, allowing audio signals to pass through to your computer. Step 2: Open your audio editing program. Audacity. Sonar and Peak Pro are some options you can use. Each of these ...

Classical music offers a variety of venues from soloists to orchestras. The piano concerto requires a massive ensemble of instruments to be performed, but it took a long time for these developments to occur. Classical music hosts a wide range of ensembles that have a specific timbre and purpose. Composers decide on the instruments that best communicate their ideas. For small intimate settings, an orchestra would be too large. To communicate large, expansive ideas, a small chamber ensemble wouldn't be large enough. Composers take into account the different instruments, musical techniques, abilities and sound when deciding on a piece for an ensemble or an orchestra. History The development of the orchestra has been a long process that saw its first developments in the 1600s. The Baroque period made extensive use of several small combinations of instruments. Towards the end of the Baroque period, composers started experimenting with using standard ensembles. Starting with the ...