May 19, 2012

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Making Musical Melodies With A Theatrical Production

Music lovers enjoy music of all kinds, genres, beats, and styles, right? Well, maybe not in every case, but as a whole, music is an area that unites people from all backgrounds and lifestyles. Musical productions are a popular way that many groups use to showcase musical style and abilities and to expose people to a wide variety music types. The best way to get as much attention as you can for a production is through marketing and advertising the musical event by using various channels. Word of mouth can carry the event along, or you may decide to use more concrete ways to advertise your music production.

Many communities, from small neighborhood gatherings to large cities, create musical productions for entertainment and enjoyment for the people. They’re usually advertised by using flyers or through radio or television media sources. In printed form, advertising through flyers is quite popular because it can be shared as is and it is in a permanent format.

On the flyer, you should prominently place the name of the theatrical production so it’s an attention-getter right away. If you have any big names or well-known local talent in the production, be sure to list their names prominently on the flyer as well. Sometimes, a key name alone is enough to draw the attention of a crowd of interested music lovers.

You can also enlist the help of the music community to aid in producing a musical. How? Using the same flyers that you used to distribute and pass out, give them to key members throughout the music community and the media, and ask them to distribute copies. To increase participation, place a number on each flyer for a drawing to give away a special prize. Ask for local businesses to donate a product or service for the prize, and announce the winning number on the day of the music performance.

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Studies That Support Classical Music’s Effect on the Brain

Many parents believe that classical music has a major role in the brain development of their children. This is evidenced by the amount of classical music CDs that are available for children and newborns. In fact, parenting experts often recommend that pregnant mothers play classical music and effort to develop the brain of their unborn child. While there is no evidence to support this claim parents still engage in plain classical music for their children. Here’s a look at some of the theories that surround how classical music can develop a child’s brain.

The Mozart Effect. A study that was conducted in 1993 college students who listened to Mozart while they studied. This study looked at the grades and study habits of the students who listen to classical music before and during class. This study showed that those that listen to Mozart had extremely high spatial reasoning scores on tests. The students also perform better in the classroom. It is believed that the Mozart music that they listen to had a direct effect on the classroom performance.

The Discover Magazine Study. University scientists studied the size and shape of musicians brains. The study looked at brain musicians in the brains of nonmusicians. The brains of musicians had a larger left hemisphere than those of nonmusicians. This is believed to be because the requirements and skills to play a musical instrument developed that section of the brain.

The Science Magazine Study. The science magazine said he showed that classical music often had an effect on whether or not the right and left parts of the brain interacting with each other. It is believed that musicians who studied classical music had a better connection between both sides of their brain that lead to higher scores on tests and better spatial recognition scores on tests. The only difference between the study participants is that one group was a musician and the others were nonmusicians.

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Examples of How Classical Music Shaped Modern Music

Although many people would not like to admit it classical music has had a major influence on popular music as well as rhythm and blues styles music. While it might not appear as if the instrument and musical arrangements are the same as classical music composers and types of music have had major influences on modern day music. There are two popular examples of how classical music has directly influenced pop culture in today’s music.

The first example of how classical music has influenced popular culture is the example of Walter Murphy’s song A Fifth of Beethoven. This disco classic show samples of Beethoven Symphony known as Ode to Joy. If it were not for Beethoven and classical music this disco hit would not have been invented at all. Walter Murphy is often quoted as making the hit a direct tribute to Beethoven was influenced many different musical styles.

The second example of how classical music has influenced popular culture is the song known as Roll Over Beethoven. This song is one of the earliest rock ‘n roll musical influences and shows how classical music played a major role in musical styles before the invention of rap and rock and roll. Musical analysts believe that this example was created in order to show how songs such as rock ‘n roll and rhythm and blues were taking over the world and replacing classical music. Composers such as Beethoven and Tchaikovsky were referenced in the song and told to roll over as if they were making way for the newer younger generation.

There are dozens of examples of how classical music has shaped the modern musical world. Many of today’s musical influences play background music of classical songs and composers which shows the classical music although not as popular still has influence in today’s society. If you listen closely many of today’s music will have undertones and backgrounds to classical music and their composers.

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Learning to Play the Harpsichord

The harpsichord is a very common instrument that is used in Baroque and classical music. While many people use another player during the 18th century many people do not know how to currently playing the harpsichord properly. Learning to play the harpsichord has become a lost art in the classical world. Here is an overview of how to properly play the harpsichord if you’re considering learning this lost art.

The first way to learn how to play the harpsichord is to learn how to play the piano or keyboard. Having prior experience in piano or keyboard will allow you to pick up learning how to play the harpsichord. Many people recommend that you have a few years experience with the piano or keyboard before you move on to the harpsichord. Playing these instruments is very similar to each other.

After learning to play on the keyboard or pianos you will be able to progress up to the harpsichord. The difference between the harpsichord and the other instruments is that the keys are more pronounced and require that you push on them harder. Is recommended that when you try to switch between the other instruments and harpsichord you practice pushing on the keys harder.

The hardest problem about playing the harpsichord is that many people tried blind the keystrokes together. Harpsichord need to have each key Bush separately so that the sound is distinct and different from each other. The first lesson you’ll have the harpsichord is learning to play each individual key separately. This allows you to learn how to properly push the keys and blend the sounds together.

Most difficult part about learning how to play the harpsichord is finding a room that will allow you to gain proper acoustics. Without the proper acoustics you’ll not be able to notice if you’re playing the harpsichord properly or not. Many people who are learning the harpsichord will be required to play and a practice room that has the acoustic set up properly.

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Differences Between Baroque Style of Music and Classical Music

When it comes to classical music many people do not know that there is a difference between classical music and Baroque music. To the outsider these two types of music sound almost exactly alike. However, the trained ear there is a difference between the two styles of music. Here’s a link at the difference between classical music and the Baroque music.

The Time Period. The time period of when each musical influence was around is different. The Baroque style and music dates back between 1600 and the 1750s. Classical music was invented and composed in the period directly after that and ranges from the 1750s and goes to around 1820.

Musical Instruments. There are various musical instruments that range from the Baroque style of music to classical style music. Theoretically all instruments can be played during either style of music. However, some musical instruments were used more often during the Baroque style and classical. The Baroque style of music concentrated more on the string instrument such as violins and cellos. The classical style of music also uses strings instruments like the cello or violent but it also takes advantage of brass instruments such as the Opel and the soon and allows these instruments to be used in their musical pieces.

Styles of Music. The styles of music differ from Baroque style to classical style of music. The Baroque style of music will usually start out with one type of music and carry that music all the way through until the end. This means if the piece was slow and sad the piece would remain slow and sad throughout the whole piece. Classical music can change in styles of music throughout a whole piece. If that piece of music can take a dramatic turn and have an extremely happy energetic piece and then end on a sad note again. This is the major difference between Baroque style of music and classical music.

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D.C. Area Saw the US’s Best Performances of 2010

Last year Washington DC saw so many excellent music artists that it’s hard to choose the best one. Here are descriptions of four that led the world to listen in quiet contentment and vigorous inclusion, all at the same time.

Marlboro Music goes to Washington DC three times a year during the summer programs at the Freer Gallery of Art. The first performance was a trio of musicians from Marlboro who’s concert combined Mozart’s clarinet quintet; a beloved name in chamber music; Jennifer Johnson’s mezzo-soprano voice led the participants on a musical voyage with a rich, calm tone; and K581, or Mozart’s clarinet quintet featured the best instrumental performance of the evening by Sarah Beaty.
Called unaffected with a meticulously detailed style of playing, Hungarian pianist Andras Schiff played the Washington Performing Arts Society on October 20. His recordings of Robert Schumann’s music are difficult to find and acquire; on that night he played a program honoring the 200th anniversary of the great German Composer. He opened with Waldszene, proving his talent as a gifted storyteller.

October 12 the Library of Congress held a magnificent concert by the Arcanto Quartet. Coolidge Auditorium was filled to capacity, as would be expected for musicians of this quality. It’s been said that they are four musicians who think and play as one; their playing never forced and always viewed as intensely satisfying. Ravel’s F major quartet featured some of the best viola playing ever heard at the venue, and was well done by Tabea Zimmermann.

Yuja Wang, Chinese born and only 23, has quite a following from her many incredible performances around the DC area. She gave accomplished performances of the Higdon piano concerto and Prokofiev second, she is coming back next year with the Baltimore Symphony Orechestra to give her best rendition of Rachmaninoff. It was said she appeared to allow a few slips from fatigue at the end of Prokofiev’s sixth sonata, near the end.

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List of the Top Ten Classical Notes

Tim Mangan, author of A Classical Music Blog, conferred with friends and colleagues about how to come up with a list of the best ten notes of all time.
Mangan’s first idea was to gather a bunch of top musicians and feed them lavishly – he even makes note that this is so important that the dishes can wait. What the artists came up with was a top ten list that was full of political correctness and a product of “group thinking,” so, he used his own list.
Here are the top ten notes he came up with, starting with number ten:
10.) E flat – Mangan feels this note is right in the middle, and unassuming and gorgeous at the same time.
9.) B natural – Between a C and a B flat, he considers this a sneaky note that gives the impression it has no direction.
8.) E natural – He calls this note decidedly independent and straight-talking, while being obvious, persistent and honorable.
7.) D flat – Mangan feels this note stays in the bottom of the standings; a note that has rarely been used well or wisely.
6.) C sharp – He finds this note useful in D major and A major, seeming to hold a certain and vulnerability.
5.) B flat – A near-equal to a C, yet a full step below. Played softly, it can be a mysterious note.
4.) F sharp – One of those notes that pricks the ears and flares with fragrance and tang, among other food descriptions.
3.) A flat – Often described in malignant tones, this note is necessary to the keys of G flat, D fat and E flat, both minor and major.
2.) A natural – nothing special, Mangan loves and cherishes the A natural and wonders where the world would be without it.
1.) C natural – Pure and versatile as a primary color that’s rich in potential.
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The Personal Side of Modern Miracle Yuja Wang

Yuja Wang, pianist miraculous and young lady, is 23 years old and has been to more countries than most kids have heard of. She began playing piano in China when she was only six and her mother was her first piano teacher. With a dancer/musician mother and a percussionist father, she was exposed to and allowed to experiment with music at an early age.
Having picked up the piano like a veteran at age 6, she went to Conservatory at the precocious age of 7. With plans to come to the United States at age 14, she moved to Canada (her parents remained in China and she moved in with a family) to practice the American language and get used to western ways. She didn’t get culture shock, in fact, she found it fascinating, as if a whole new world had opened up to her.
Yuja Wang on Her Own

After six months in Canada, she moved to Philadelphia where she auditioned for work at the age of 15. She lived alone and loved every minute of it without ever feeling fear being alone. Most 15 year-olds go through their rebellious stage as a natural part of growing up, but, Wang didn’t. Being on her own made her grow up faster and, by her own admission, she was so busy she didn’t have time to feel rebellious.
At first she still had a trace of her Chinese training left, but now, she doesn’t feel as disciplined, but Americanized, instead. Her travel keeps her so busy there’s no discipline time.
She has a natural curiosity that helps her learn as much as she can, about her surroundings, history, heritage, and all kinds of things. She learned American with almost no help, and she was so eager to get out in the world that she never considered fear.
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Bob Dylan Meets Classical Music in Evan Shinnerss

Chances are, most of everyone has heard the name Evan Shinners. A modern classical and popular music icon, the young man gave his first orchestral debut at the age of 12 with a Utah symphony. His life has been a studious, successful whirlwind of excitement, travel and music as fans have literally watched him grow up. He was a child prodigy with the imagination of a creator.
Now grown, in the past two years he’s been to every concert hall across the US and Canada, and he toured Ireland, Germany, Asia and more Canada as a classical artist.
Being a player of his own original music, he has a band called, the SUITS! that is very popular also, and with that band he toured the Canada, Sweden, England, and this past summer he toured the US again and was a guest on several Colorado Public Television shows and radio spots.
Evan Shinners Fills the House

Over 10,000 people were lucky enough to enjoy his presence in the ninth episode of the Performance Exhibition Series at the Museum of Modern Arts called, “Stop, Repair, Prepare: Variations on Ode to Joy for a Prepared Piano” (2008).
Shinners graced the cover of the New York Times’ Arts section and made an appearance on the CBS show, “Eye on New York.”
He also doubles as entertainment at RocketHub’s entertainment where he raises funds for the production, recording and release of his new album, titled, “@Bach” on January 28, 2011.
It’s not unusual for him to add original poetry and segments of artists like Bob Dylan, Charles Ives and Liszt to punctuate and balance his many Bach recitals. He’s been called the uncanny classical pianist by his Twitter followers; a mild statement about one who mixes Bob Dylan with classical music.
For all Shinner fans out there, visit this address to see his flickr photo collections and this website to see him personally.
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Music Class Runs Without Full Funding

Music is an important part of people’s lives. So important, that there are recordings of it, shows and concerts of it and awards and titles for it. Music is also a large part of growing up for most people. But, with the current economic downturn (worldwide), many school programs for music don’t exist anymore. There are no funds for extracurricular activities, whether they’re music, football or knitting. Kids everywhere are losing out more and more.
Dr. Anne Marie Lane, head of the music department at St. James Regional High School in Newfoundland, was an experienced teacher before she had gotten several degrees in music and getting hired at the school, where there was no music program. So, she started one. The first year was just General Music 101.
The Government Gives, Then it Takes Away

However, the second year St. James High got government money to continue the music program, so there was more she could do. The class size went from 15 the first year to more and more each year since. Then, the school district had to make some budget cuts and the music program was cut in half.
Part time classes meant students now had to find a way to fit a shorter class into their day, instead of scheduling in a regular class, and it made it harder for the kids to make time. One student had to take a science class as a prerequisite for graduation, but his schedule didn‘t fit in music. He didn’t let that stop him – he came every chance he could, even if it meant skipping lunch. And, he’s not the only student who comes to the music class even though it’s not on his schedule – and the students bring their own instruments and necessities.
At a time when the whole world is tightening it’s belt, this Newfoundland music class will run itself, even if the students have to teach themselves.
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