Music is made expressive and exciting and emotional by the skillful use of contrasts by its performers. Music that is all loud or all soft, for example, becomes sterile and boring, while music that builds to climaxes and retreats into serene quiet is highly expressive. One area of music that relies on contrast is that … Continue reading Understanding Musical Accents: Enhance Your Performance
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Choosing Mallets for School Band: A Complete Guide
For a non-percussionist teaching middle school or high school band, deciding what kind of mallets to use on various instruments, in various compositions, and for various effects can be confusing. The choice of mallet type and hardness has a profound effect on not only the loudness of the tone produced, but also of the timbre … Continue reading Choosing Mallets for School Band: A Complete Guide
Top Features of Dorico Pro 5 for Former Finale Users
Most people don't like change. A lot of people who have been Finale users, some for twenty-some years, don't like having to change from Finale to something else. To be honest, when I first heard that Finale was being phased out, I was upset, and even felt betrayed. What of all those over one thousand … Continue reading Top Features of Dorico Pro 5 for Former Finale Users
From Middle School Musicals to Broadway: The Impact of Arts Education
by Robert Adams One of the many joys I had while teaching middle school and elementary music was putting on productions of musicals in the Broadway Jr. series from MTI. Not only were these shows very successful, they pulled in the entire school community, even to the point where alumni would come back every year, … Continue reading From Middle School Musicals to Broadway: The Impact of Arts Education
Why Do Grand Pianos Sound So Grand
by Aidan Whelan, guest author Grand pianos are prized for their magnificent sound. What makes these instruments sound so extraordinary? Why do grand pianos sound so full and rich? What makes their tone so penetrating and robust? Pianos come in all shapes and sizes, so why don’t all pianos, big ones and small ones alike, … Continue reading Why Do Grand Pianos Sound So Grand
What Do Dynamics in Music Mean?
I recently came across an illustration of a relationship between dynamic markings in music and the emotions they may elicit. These relationships were presented in a table which I’ve included below. I immediately realized that all of the “suggested emotions” were positive. There was no anger, or fright, or grief. Are the only emotions we … Continue reading What Do Dynamics in Music Mean?
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