DEFINING MUSIC APPRECIATION
Class #1
What is Music Appreciation?
Or What does it mean to Appreciate Music? Would you say YOU use music everyday? What does it mean to USE music? ?? Listen = Use ?? ?? Does the Usefulness stop at mere LISTENING ?? What are some USES FOR MUSIC? or What is music USEFUL FOR? In other words.... ?? What is the INTENDED outcome we are hoping for by LISTENING to music ?? ...... Could this be looked at as a skill?? APPRECIATION: How do you fully appreciate something? How do you fully appreciate music? To me, Appreciating Music is a two part process of RECOGNITION and ABILITY In order to fully Appreciate Music: We must RECOGNIZE music as a necessary part of our everyday life AND We must have the ABILITY TO USE IT to our advantage |
APPRECIATIONWHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME ??
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU ??
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR EVERYBODY ??
Assuming it is something we USE..... What else do we USE? Try to think of some other THINGS/SKILLS we use everyday... Literacy skills…. Technology Skills……. Would you say we APPRECIATE these things? How? How would you define appreciate in regards to other everyday things/skills? Is listening to music a skill? Is it something you can be skilled at? |
Class #2
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Review:
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In-Class Review Activity:
Listed below are several activities. Imagine you were participating in these activities or in these situations and listening to music while doing so, What type of music would you be listening to? Give a (1) genre and possible (2) artist that YOU might be listening to. Example: Jon's Choice: Working - Acoustic Singer/Songwriter - Elliot Smith
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Doctrine of Ethos and the Music of Ancient Greece
Important Terms from Slide Show:
Doctrine of Ethos, Ethos, Imitation, Katharsis
Thoughts:
Doctrine of Ethos, Ethos, Imitation, Katharsis
Thoughts:
- The Greeks were using music just like we use it - Thousands of years ago!
| doctrine_of_ethos_music_in_ancient_greece.pdf |
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?? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN ??
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Intention:
2. The emotional/physical state we are in 3. The emotional/physical state we are trying to create
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Class #3
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Review:
Terms Test: Aiming for Wednesday Feb. 24 for Terms Test For each term to the right you you should be able to :
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Doctrine of Ethos, Ethos, Imitation, Katharsis, How to appreciate Music, How we Use Music
Today: Spectrum, Judgement |
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In-Class Activity:
Individually, rank the following songs from Best to Worst. Provide a brief explanation for why you put the composition where you did! |
Song List: SEND SONG EXAMPLES TO MY CCC ACCOUNT
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Class #4
New Music Response: Things to focus on
- Differences between the examples
- Terms we have discussed so far that may apply (instrumentation, Ethos, Uses for music)
- Judgements of the Examples
- Spectrums that may apply
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Class #5
Videos: Howard Goodall's How Music Works
Class #6: Elements of Music
Current Terms List: Music Appreciation, Doctrine of Ethos, Katharsis, Imitation, Instrumentation
To Be Introduced: Cover Song, Melodic Material, Accompanying Material, Pitch, Note Length, Note Length, Mode, Scale
To Be Introduced: Cover Song, Melodic Material, Accompanying Material, Pitch, Note Length, Note Length, Mode, Scale
Music is a play between tension and release:
-Like most good forms of entertainment, Movie, TV, Book,
-There is a beginning -----------middle,------------end,
-these generally a build up-----------conflict------------ resolution
-Music Plays on this tension and release
*we will discover how artists create tension/release it using music!
*It is just as effective creating AURAL tension as it is visual
The ELEMENTS OF Music are the TOOLS THEY USE TO DO SO!
ELEMENTS OF MUSIC: MELODY, RHYTHM, HARMONY, BASS
As humans, we have a constant need for the familiar, yet at the same time, a constant desire for change.
Our life is a constant struggle between these two things!
EX. Home is familiar, humans naturally want a home, but we would get bored if we were there all the time!
-Humans insist on doing things that interest them, to satisfy that need for contrast, but after all is said and done, we want to go HOME to that familiar spot
THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS IN LIFE THAT CARRY OVER TO MUSIC!
We have a constant need for familiar sounds and repetition but also have a constant desire for change, and contrast.
*If we keep with the movie Metaphor, Now days there are only a small number of Plots, (love plot; guy meets girl, guy gets girl, guy and girl break up, guy gets girl back, guy and girl grow old together) – familiar plot, but what keeps us coming back is the variations!
This Need for familiarity and desire for contrast are EMOTIONS!!
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In Class Activity:
Listen to the following songs, trying to find: A. tension/contrast/new material
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Example: Space Oddity New Material : 1:25 - Signified by the entrance of the chorus, and the first vocals we here (This actually established the Familiar material) New Material : 2:13 - Signified by a different tone in the vocals, some spacey sound effects, and a different drum beat - return to familiar material at 3:04 New Material: 3:45 - Back to spacey section with different drum groove. NEVER TO RETURN!! |
Observe the following Clip:
What Are the CHARACTERISTICS of this clip?
What Makes it Seem Realistic?
What makes it Seem Real?
We have the LINES (words), the SET (and everything involved), and on top of that, the ACTORS' OWN INTERPRETATION (i.e. I could not make it seem that real)
All THESE ASPECTS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE SCENE SUCCESSFUL
ANY ONE OF THEM ON THEIR OWN WOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME SUCCESS
WE SEE THIS IN MUSIC: LYRICS, MELODY, RHYTHM, BASS, ACCOMPANYING MATERIAL WOULD NOT SOUND GOOD BY THEMSELF
- THEY ALL FIT TOGETHER TO MAKE A SONG COMPLETE -
What Makes it Seem Realistic?
What makes it Seem Real?
We have the LINES (words), the SET (and everything involved), and on top of that, the ACTORS' OWN INTERPRETATION (i.e. I could not make it seem that real)
All THESE ASPECTS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE SCENE SUCCESSFUL
ANY ONE OF THEM ON THEIR OWN WOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME SUCCESS
WE SEE THIS IN MUSIC: LYRICS, MELODY, RHYTHM, BASS, ACCOMPANYING MATERIAL WOULD NOT SOUND GOOD BY THEMSELF
- THEY ALL FIT TOGETHER TO MAKE A SONG COMPLETE -
Class #7
Melody
A sequence of musical notes that the listener perceives as a single entity.
-What does a single entity mean?
Rule of thumb: What is being sung OR what you would sing back
-by this definition, there could be multiple melodies, we are generally talking about the Main Melody
-In most popular music today, the melody is generally provided by the Vocalist, or the Lyrics
-Music Where the Melody is Provided by Instruments only is called INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Rhythm
Patterns in time that provide the pace of the music
Generally are provided by drums, but not always.
Rhythm is mainly FELT INTERNALLY
-Rhythm could be Implied rather that explicitly outlined
There is Rhythm to everything we do in life: We live on a certain rhythm, the clock, daylight, sleeping, eating, bodily functions, Chewing, Walking, Heartbeat, we feel our mothers heart beat.
Characteristics of Sound:
Frequency = Range
Duration = Note Length
Amplitude = Volume
Frequency = Range
Duration = Note Length
Amplitude = Volume
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Note
Definition: Any Single Pitch. The smallest unit of sound. Range Range deals with how HIGH or LOW a note is ---------HIGH---------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZLZ1NvZ5f4
---------LOW-------- |
Instruments: Generally with instruments, range is associate with size of instrument. As a rule of thumb: Smaller = Higher Here is an extreme Example of a Piccolo Bigger = Lower Here is an extreme example of an Upright Bass Solo This is also however in instruments of the same family, like an alto saxophone, and a baritone saxophone |
Interval
Intervals deal with how far apart notes are. They could be LARGE or SMALL
IN other words, we are talking about the RANGE between 2 Notes
Intervals
Intervals deal with how far apart notes are. They could be LARGE or SMALL
IN other words, we are talking about the RANGE between 2 Notes
Intervals
- Stepwise Plainchant with Music:
- Wide Intervals over the rainbow
Duration
Duration deals with how LONG or SHORT a note is.
This is a result of RHYTHM
Duration/Note length is important because it is used to create MOTION in music.
Example: Imagine honking your car horn. You could to short little stabs (like when the person in front of you doesn't realize the light is green) or you could lean on the horn for a long time (like when your in traffic and you are angry!)
Look at the videos below. Notice how the note the bass player is playing changes every beat.
Duration deals with how LONG or SHORT a note is.
This is a result of RHYTHM
Duration/Note length is important because it is used to create MOTION in music.
Example: Imagine honking your car horn. You could to short little stabs (like when the person in front of you doesn't realize the light is green) or you could lean on the horn for a long time (like when your in traffic and you are angry!)
Look at the videos below. Notice how the note the bass player is playing changes every beat.
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Now contrast that with this Beyonce tune. Sheet Music
Hear how to bass notes have changed? They are LONGER and no longer change every beat, but every 4 beats. We lose the pulsing motion from the other videos. Good example for how regularly changing rhythm creates MOTION What is a Cover Song? - AKA Remake Def: A new performance or recording of a previously recorded/released song by someone other than the original artist We will listen to a couple cover songs – Things to think about:
What is different? Did they add anything? Keep something but change it slightly? Keep something but change it completely? Were these by accident? Why would the new artist these changes? What is the same? What did they choose to leave the same? Were these by accident? Why would the new artist do this? This is important!! The first level is realizing that the changes are there, The next level is recognizing that these changes were a conscious choice by the artist, and asking WHY they did this. What does he change? What does he keep the same? And how does this affect our ethos differently? Different instruments, same song. This is called Instrumentation: The Combination of musical instruments used in a performance/recording. They can alter and make slight changes to certain parts – This has a big affect on the overall sound. Things we can change: Melody Rhythm Harmony Bass |
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Spectrums: Introduction
- Spectrums are a tool we will use to help us describe our judgements of music
- We have to assume that we will all have our own ways of judging music, and describing these judgements
- These are to give us a way to all get on the same page
Think of the amount of music we have around to us today...... Not just what we hear on the radio, have on our phones, ipods, cd's, records, all the music on itunes, but also the music going on around us at any given time: singing in the shower, your roomate singing in the shower, whistling in the car, humming a tune stuck in your head, an open mic night, a child practicing an instrument in the apartment across the hall.. The sheer volume of music is almost incomprehensible.
So then, when judging music, it is a little ridiculous just to say whether a piece is GOOD or BAD right? I mean, the 'worst' song on the radio MUST be 'better' than some guy singing in the shower right? Even if they are both 'bad' they must be different amounts of 'bad' right??
Good vs Bad Spectrum:
Bad --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good
- Where would our two examples plot on this spectrum?
- How do we measure or quantify levels of bad?
Consider the Source
But you say, "Well yeah, but I'm not going to judge a guy singing in the shower the same way I judge someone who puts a song on the radio! Would that really be fare?"
What is the difference between those two examples?
If i record you singing is that the same thing as going into the studio and recording a song?
WHY??
INTENTION!!!!
Does it matter if it is INTENDED to be art? To be a love song? Should this matter to us as listeners?
Consider these Spectrums
Whistling in the Car ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Philadelphia Orchestra Concert
Singing in Church-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A performance at the Grammys
An Ill Doots Concert -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A Roots Performance
THESE ARE ALL MUSIC
BUT ARE THEY GOOD MUSIC?
AND IF SO, HOW GOOD, AND WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
OR AR THEY ALL GOOD FOR DIFFERENT THINGS?
Example:
Which is better, This or This
What about the circumstances ?
I.e. Good for what?
MAYBE THEY ARE JUST AT DIFFERENT PLACES ON OUR GOOD/BAD SPECTRUM
NONE ARE ALL THE WAY AT EACH SIDE
So how do we decide which is BETTER?
Melody
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What is Melody??
How do we Define it? How do we Judge it? Melody VS. Accompaniment Characteristics of a Melody? Music VS. Lyrics What if we have Music , but no Lyrics? What if we have Lyrics but no Music? |
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Judging Melody
How can we judge MELODY? Is it good enough to simply say THIS is good while THIS is bad? How did you come to that conclusion? Is it just your Initial Recation or Gut Instinct? What specifically is good about it? What specifically is bad? How could it be better? EXAMPLE: WE ALL KNOW FRENCH FRIES ARE BAD FOR YOU, BUT DOES THAT MEAN THEY ARE A BAD FOOD? DO THEY TASTE BAD? IS EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM BAD? DOES THIS MEAN THEY HAVE NO PLACE AS A FOOD IN OUR SOCIETY? DOES THIS MEAN EVERYBODY HATES FRENCH FRIES? OR WE ALL KNOW KALE IS SUPER FOOD!! BUT DOES THIS MEAN IT TASTES AMAZING? DOES THIS MEAN EVERYBODY LIKES IT? DOES THIS MEAN IT IS HELD IN THE HIGHEST PRESTIGE AS A FOOD IN OUR SOCIETY? OF COURSE NOT!!!! ******JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH FOOD, WE MUST ACCEPT AS A SOCIETY THAT THERE MAY SIMULTANEOUSLY BE GOOD AND BAD HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME IN MUSIC.******* Terms.....Terms to know so far: Doctrine of Ethos, Ethos, Imitation, Katharsis, Melody, Accompaniment, Spectrum
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Spectrums of Judgement: Melody
Simple ------------------------------- Complex Grilled Cheese --------------------------------------------------------------- Filet Mignon Singing in the Shower ------------------------------------- Singing and original song at a loved ones funeral Repetitive ---------------- Original/Unique Watch me (WhipNaeNae) ----------------------------------- Bohemian Rhapsody Thought Provoking ---------Thoughtless Sweat pants, dress shoes, ------ Gym Shorts and T-shirt Tuxedo jacket and clown nose Old Man --------------------------- Who Let the Dogs Out IN CLASS ACTIVITY Split off into your groups (we will number off randomly in class) Each group will be assigned one of the above spectrums/planes of judgement. (STEP 1) First, think of a real life example for both ends of the spectrum (food, clothing, car etc). Then, (STEP 2) using your phone, computer or other life device, you are to find a musical example that best fits both ends of the plane/spectrum. (Listen in groups if there is someone with no phone/laptop) After finding your examples, (STEP 3) try to think of what characteristics of the song make it fit your spectrum. (Ex. For Whip and Nae nae, it is the monotonous repetition of each verse consisting of no more than a few words. ) GROUP 1 - SIMPLE ---- COMPLEX GROUP 2 - REPETITIVE ----- ORIGINAL/UNIQUE GROUP 3 - THOUGHT PROVOKING ----- THOUGHTLESS GROUP 4 - SIMPLE ----- COMPLEX GROUP 5 - REPETITIVE ----- ORIGINAL/UNIQUE GROUP 6 - THOUGHT PROVOKING ------ THOUGHTLESS |
But What does it All Mean Basil??!!??
Real Life Metaphors:
Think of a car. The engine is the most important part, but would it go forward and backward without wheels? Without fuel? Without a transmission? Without a body? Imagine your favourite scene in a movie. Is there just an actor standing in a blank room? NO!! The whole scene is multiple things working together: the set, the props, the actor, the lines etc. Think of your favourite sandwich. Would it be as good if you were merely eating the meat out of it? NO!! The very essence of the sandwich is that there are multiple components working together: the meat, the bread, the cheese, the vegetables etc. Think about your phone. Would it be as useful if it only had texting capabilities, but you could not make phone calls or check your email? What bout if it ONLY HAD PHONE CALL abilities? but you couldn't go on the internet, text, or take pictures? |
Why learn about fundamentals at all? It's not like we are ACTUALLY PLAYING MUSIC!!!
What we hear on the radio is the FINISHED PRODUCT of a piece of music - we hear it after it has been fully cooked. However, if we intend to judge or criticize it, it is important to know the cooking process and the components of the meal! This is especially true if we intend to UNDERSTAND, JUDGE, and EVALUATE !!
How can we expect to fix the car if we don't know what or where the engine is? How can we make a movie scene better if we don't know the lines? How can we expect to make a great sandwich if we don't know what it's supposed to go on a bun! |
Harmony
In everyday language, Harmony means Closeness, Friendliness, or Agreement
Dictionary: "A consonant, orderly or pleasing agreement of parts."
Musical Definition: "The combination of simultaneous pitches"
Dictionary: "A consonant, orderly or pleasing agreement of parts."
Musical Definition: "The combination of simultaneous pitches"
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Ingredients
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Finished Product
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Harmony = The sum of all individual/different parts, coming together in agreement to a make a whole
Familiar VS. Contrast
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As Humans, we have a constant need for the familiar,
while also having a constant desire for contrast. Example: Think of where you live: For most people, HOME is where we feel most comfortable. It is the easiest place for us to relax, and where we feel safest. This is because it is the most Familiar place. But does this mean we want to spend every waking minute at home? NO!! We have this constant desire to leave, to GO OUT, to GO TO WORK, to GO ON VACATION. This is to add Contrast to our life! To Spice things up a bit! But after all these activities, where is that we long to go? Back home! Back to Familiarity! |
Uncomfortable VS Comfortable
Unpredictable VS Predictable Tension VS Release Familiar VS Unfamiliar We see this carry over to many forms of art. Whether or not we LIKE the art can depend heavily on this balance: Too Unfamiliar, we think it is weird Example Too Familiar, it is boring Example Example: Film/Literature: Familiar plots with Unfamiliar twists/variations. |
The Chord Progression: A Device of Familiarity
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How can Composers/Artists create feeling of familiarity? How do they create that "home" that we want to deviate from?
One Device is a Chord Progression. Chord: Three notes played Simultaneously Chord Progression: A specific, repetitive arrangement of chords intended to provide familiarity to the listener. |
There are DOZENS of chord progressions engrained into your ear that you are already familiar with, without even knowing it! This is something composers count on!!
Common Chord Progression: I V vi IV |
Spectrum: Consonance ------------------------------------- Dissonance
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Consonance --------------------------------- Dissonance
Uncomfortable ----------------------------- Comfortable Familiar --------------------------------------- Contrast Predictable ----------------------------------- Unpredictable Release ---------------------------------------- Tension |
Consonant
A simultaneous combination of tones conventionally accepted as being in a state of repose (at rest/at peace). Dissonant A simultaneous combination of tones conventionally accepted as being in a state of unrest and needing completion. ******What is Conventionally Accepted? How do we Know******* ?????HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?????? Too much? Not Enough? What about in Popular Music? Beatles Black Sabbath If Dissonance is meant to be uncomfortable, why would artist CHOOSE TO USE IT? |
Analysis: Getting Started
Describe what you are hearing:
What picture does the song paint in your head?
What emotion does the song make you feel or think of?
What style/genre do you think it is?
What instruments do you hear?
Describe what you think it means
What do you think the song means? What does it represent to you?
-What (specifically) gives you that impression?
Is this something you can relate to ? have you shared similar experiences?
Is that what you think the composer wanted you to feel?
-If not, why do you think you feel that way?
Why do you think the composer wrote this song?
Rhythm Spectrums
Intense VS. Subdued
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Around The World - Daft Punk
-Provided by drums, and multiple synthesized sounds (claps) -Rhythm is center of attention, take precidence over all other parts of composition (even vocal/melody) - |
Daydreamer - Adelle
-Provided by guitar plucks -Can be heard most obviously on the lower plucks of strings -Takes back seat to the melody/lyrics |
Explicit VS. Implicit
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Lovers in a Dangerous time - Barenaked Ladies
-Rhythm played by multiple instruments: bass, drum symbol, piano, guitar -No question about who is providing it or where it is |
Fix You - Coldplay
- Very present Rhythm, but not overtly played by any one instrument (can hear a little bit in organ/bass, but only because of the periodic change of notes) -Still a very heavy/present beat to move to |