February 22, 2012

Music for Children

There are so many genres of music. The fantastic part is that there is creativity and innovative sound at every turn. However, despite updated sounds, recording techniques, and new music, the truth remains that classical music is the inspiration for it all. Developing music theory is the brain child of the original artists like Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Mozart. There are many more countless others, but these are some of the leaders of classic music innovation.

The

Image via Wikipedia

Music Design

The design of music is something that has been proven to be not just musical, but to be mathematically sound. It has been proven that children that listen to classical music have shown drastic improvements in their grades, test scores, and in their capability to process information. The other link that children have is that with language.

Some of have suggested that music works in conjunction with the language part of the brain, and that it stimulates the processing of the information developed during the formative years. The key is that the systematic function of the music design has provided a unique way for children to open a learning door.

Music Incorporated in the Beginning

When parents incorporate music into the normal part of their child’s lives, it has been shown to help cognitive development. The genres of music do create a diverse type of music to listen to, but nothing tops the original composers and true classical music. This means that children can have a rounded a variety of music to listen to while learning.

 

 

 

Ways Experts Identify a Sonata

There are five types of classical music. One of these types is known as a sonata. Musical experts are able to tell a sonata from the various other types of classical music just by listening to the piece of music. That is because sonatas have very distinctive forms of music and are set up in very similar ways. Here’s a look at how the sonata is set up and how experts with a well-trained musical year are able to pick out a sonata from various types of classical music.

The Introduction. Sonatas will sometimes have a small introduction. This introduction is a musical piece that will generally lead into the rest of the music. Sonatas do not require the use of an introduction. However, they are one of the only types of pieces that use this style of music in the beginning.

General Theme. The Sonata will have a generalized theme that is played throughout the song. This will usually start off in a different key that is considered the major key. The second part of the song will continue in a key that is contrasting to the first.

Codetta. This is often used at the end of the Sonata to wrap up the song and solidify into the music listeners mind. This will often repeat a major part of the song or highlight the best parts of the Sonata so the music listener knows what to take away with them.

Similar Themes. Sonatas will have a theme that will be expanded upon in the musical piece. The men are from a different parts there are the same name will always be visited and expanded upon with the many different musical instruments.

By taking these parts and understanding them musical experts are able to identify a sonata from the various types of classical music that is played.

Ways Experts Use to Identify Classical Music Pieces

Many classical music experts like to sit down and listen to a piece of classical music and be able to identify the composer or the musical time period in which that classical music is from. However, it could take years to develop this type of ability to identify classical music. Here is a look at some ways people are able to identify classical music by just sitting down and listening to the various elements of classical music.

Various Time Periods. Classical music has very distinctive time periods. Each part plays a major influence in the way that the classical music comes across to the listener. For example modern classical music often has a lot of symbols and triangles played throughout the piece as well as a wilder unrefined tone. On the other hand classical music that was in the romantic period often has a lot of piano sounds as well as slower more rhythmic music. By listing for these cues you can identify the timeframe of when the music was composed.

Instrumental Influence. Each musical piece has a lot of instrumental influence. The types of instruments that are used in a musical piece will often include a listener in to what timeframe the piece was. For example, the piano was often used during the romantic timeframe while stringed instruments are part of the classical timeframe baroque time. Harpsichords are also very popular during the Baroque time. By isolating and identifying the major instruments that are used in each classical music piece the musical expert will able to isolate the timeframe as well as the composer and musical influence of the musical piece.

Once the musical expert has isolated the time frame as well as the instrumental influence they will be able to figure out what classical music piece is playing.

Ways Teachers Can Influence Students to Listen to Classical Music

Many students in this day and age are unfamiliar with classical music. It is up to teachers and school districts to introduce classical music to the students. The introduction of classical music to the student is not an easy one. Many students are reluctant to learn about this new style music. Here’s a look at how teachers can introduce classical music to their students in a way that will encourage them to learn about classical music.

Field Trip. The best way to fill your eyes students with classical music is to take them directly to classical music experience. Many teachers will take their students to an orchestra event. This allows the students to see first hand classical music in action and could encourage them to learn more about this style music.

Pictures of Instruments. While the best way to familiarize students with classical music is introducing them to the various instruments first hand is not always possible to arrange a field trip or to get all the hype the classical music instruments into the classroom. Teachers can print out pictures and show students on the Internet the various types of classical music instruments.

Classical Music Themed Movies. Students love to watch movies in the classroom a great way to introduce classical music into my movie watching is to allow the students to watch classical music-based movies. This will encourage them to learn more about classical music and allow them to enjoy watching a movie.

Playing Classical Music in the Classroom. Teachers can subtly introduce classical music by playing classical music before and after school in the classroom. This is a great way to influence the students by playing this type of non-offensive music in the classroom. Students will become familiar with it and start to adapt with.

Examples of Studies That Show Classical Music May Help in Learning Verbal Language

Many students and professors believe that classical music can have an effect on what the students learn. While there is no scientific evidence that classical music actually enhances the brain many preliminary studies have been conducted and showed that classical music does in fact have an effect on the brain. Even though there is a lack of scientific evidence some professors have done well known studies that look at whether or not classical music could have an effect on the students in the classroom. Here’s a look at two of the case studies that were performed using classical or baroque style music and classroom study.

The Foreign Language Professor. A professor who taught students a foreign language developed a course of study that involved using baroque or classical music in the background. This professor designed a course that focused on half of the semester’s vocabulary terms in one day. He would teach the class the new language and terms in one day while playing classical baroque style music in the background. The discovery of the study was that students who had this style of teaching learned all the terms within 85% accuracy. Some students even had a 100% accuracy of learning the terms just after one day.

Verbal Tests. A study that was conducted in Hong Kong looked at students between the ages of six and 15 who had previously learned how to play a classical instrument. These students were tested on their verbal scores. They showed that students who have learned how to play classical musical instrument scored higher on vocabulary and verbal tests than those that had no previous knowledge of any classical musical instrument.

These studies show that classical music or baroque style music may actually have an effect on learning and the brain.

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.

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.

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.

What is Classical Music?

Have you ever needed to listen to music to relax before? Many times you choose music that is instrumental and light, which often improves your mood and gets you to relax. What you are most likely enjoying is classical music.

Many people think classical music is the stuff you hear in the elevator. While that may be true, classical music is so much more.

Classical music is defined as music produced in the Western world between the years of 1750 and 1820. This type of music often included opera, and other music that required the use of a full orchestra.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a famous composer of classical music. Among others were Bach and Haydn, who are also well-known for their beautiful music.

The instruments used in classical music were mostly those used in an orchestra, with others mixed in such as the piano, organ and harpsichord.

Music in this time period didn’t have elaborate names for their songs. It was usually something like "Symphony No. 5" or another simplified title.

Classical music consists of mainly instruments and often went according to a formula called sonata form, which became the most popular form for keeping the structure of the classical music pieces.

Classical music was not immensely popular during its time. Only the rich and wealthy people enjoyed classical music, while the poorer people were denied this form of entertainment.

Symphonies were a form of classical music that were broken down into movements. The first movement was usually fast, while the second movement in the symphony was slower and more melodious. The third movement was quite short, while the fourth movement was fast and light-hearted.

Many people still enjoy classical music to this day for its fun and entertaining qualities. It is definitely music that you can listen to without having to think.

The Unexpected Correlation: Classical Music and Athleticism

Woodwind musical instruments from the Baroque ...
Image via Wikipedia

It is the most unlikely of sights: a child stands, slight and unassuming. He is defined as unremarkable by his peers, chosen last in all games (not because he is hated but simply because he is forgotten). He is not the common perception of an athlete. He lacks the necessary form, the muscles barely contained beneath his sleeves, the speed recognized in every motion. There is nothing to recommend him. There is nothing to perceive. He is ordinary by all standards… until he shatters those standards with coordination and strategy.

Not every child can be blessed with the ability to throw perfect spirals or bear the slam of skin to skin while tackled. Strength is not a trait passed among the masses. It’s instead fickle. It is not, however, always needed to become a better sportsmen. Music instead can be the unexpected ally.

Those who understand notes and melodies will find themselves with more than the ability to play an instrument. They will instead discover new advantages with games. Athletes can be made through songs and a classic education can become a great aid.

1. Motor skills. Instruments demand precision. No clumsy hands or weak fingers can master them; and this translates into an advantage on any field. Children who are classically trained will find their coordination improved and sports more easily played.

2. Breathing techniques. Those who practice with wind selections (such as flutes, cornets or clarinets) have quickly learned the importance of breathing. Air is precious and must be given carefully, with each moment dedicated to offering only the purest of sounds. And such techniques apply well to sports. Exertion can be decreased and exhaustion can be avoided. Stamina instead will be discovered.

3. Logic. Music is more than an art. It is instead a machination. It must be studied and understood – and this requires highly developed analytical skills. Such skills can then be transfered to the field, with plays and strategy made quickly.

A classical education provides more than the expected elegance. It instead allows a child to meet the demands of games and succeed.

Enhanced by Zemanta