Music Fundamentals: Week 1
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Objectives / Activities:
1. Review Syllabus 2. First Day Evaluation 3. Characteristics of Sound / Intro to Notation (frequency) 4. Intro to Garage Band Activity |
Homework:
1. Print and Sign Syllabus 2. Instrumentation Homework |
| Music Fundamentals Syllabus 2016 |
First Day Evaluation
This is meant to give me and idea of who you are as a musician, and also where our respective levels might be. No matter what the concentration is, in a college music class we all have varying levels of knowledge and practical skill, and this is to give the instructor and idea of where everyone is in order to get us all to the same spot .
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Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
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Characteristics of Sound
Duration Frequency Amplitude
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Rhythm Range Volume
These are characteristics that all sounds / notes / songs have
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Rhythm Range Volume
These are characteristics that all sounds / notes / songs have
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Duration / Rhythm
The Duration / rhythm of a note can be described in terms of LONG and SHORT |
Frequency / Range
The Frequency / Range can be described in terms of HIGH and LOW |
Amplitude / Volume
The Amplitude / Volume can be described in terms of LOUD and QUIET |
***Note: Many things in music can be described by 2 extremes : Major/Minor, High/Low, Long/Short, Original/Derivative, Boring/Exciting, Usually following somewhere in the middle of the two, closer to one end of the spectrum***
Generally speaking, we will see a combination of all of these characteristics in any given song.
Examples :
-Usually a melody will go up and down in range, not stay on one high stagnant note in the same range
- Songs are usually made up of long and short notes, not one long stagnant one
-Usually songs are loud at parts, and quiet at other parts, not one way the whole time
Example Tune : "You Are"
We can see Contrast in the characteristics of sound in even small moving parts of this piece
Ex. Long Sustained bass notes vs short stabby/slappy parts
Ex. Long notes in the melody vs. shorter more rhythmic lyrics
Generally speaking, we will see a combination of all of these characteristics in any given song.
Examples :
-Usually a melody will go up and down in range, not stay on one high stagnant note in the same range
- Songs are usually made up of long and short notes, not one long stagnant one
-Usually songs are loud at parts, and quiet at other parts, not one way the whole time
Example Tune : "You Are"
We can see Contrast in the characteristics of sound in even small moving parts of this piece
Ex. Long Sustained bass notes vs short stabby/slappy parts
Ex. Long notes in the melody vs. shorter more rhythmic lyrics
Musical Notation is important because it specifies all of these Characteristics of Sound in a Standard and Common Language
Notating Frequency / Range
This notation specifies how High or Low a note will be
Examples:
-Visual : Look at your Piano , The extreme Left side is LOW while the extreme Right side is HIGH
-We can also think of Vocal Range - As we all have a differently pitched voices (some deeper, some higher)
-We can also think of Instrumental Ranges, with LARGER instruments having a lower range, and Smaller Instruments having a higher Range
In Modern / Western Notation , We use the STAFF to specify Frequency / Range
Examples:
-Visual : Look at your Piano , The extreme Left side is LOW while the extreme Right side is HIGH
-We can also think of Vocal Range - As we all have a differently pitched voices (some deeper, some higher)
-We can also think of Instrumental Ranges, with LARGER instruments having a lower range, and Smaller Instruments having a higher Range
In Modern / Western Notation , We use the STAFF to specify Frequency / Range
Staff / Stave
Essentially, each one of these lines and spaces represent a specific musical note / pitch.
It is ordered logically from low to high , i.e. the lowest line would be a lower sounding note that the highest line.
Visual : if you look at your piano, each key would be represented by a different line / space
HOWEVER - There are 88 keys on the piano so obviously we would run out of space quickly
It is ordered logically from low to high , i.e. the lowest line would be a lower sounding note that the highest line.
Visual : if you look at your piano, each key would be represented by a different line / space
HOWEVER - There are 88 keys on the piano so obviously we would run out of space quickly
Grand staff
To further Specify Range, we use a specific CLEF
Treble Clef
Bass Clef
Depending on the RANGE of the instrument, you may see Either clef, or Both Clefs ( grand staff) in the music Notation
Trumpet Music
Piano Music
In Simple Terms, Because the piano has a wider range of notes ( can go higher/lower), It need MORE SPECIFICATION than the trumpet requires
Treble Clef
Bass Clef
Depending on the RANGE of the instrument, you may see Either clef, or Both Clefs ( grand staff) in the music Notation
Trumpet Music
Piano Music
In Simple Terms, Because the piano has a wider range of notes ( can go higher/lower), It need MORE SPECIFICATION than the trumpet requires
Terms to Know: Musical Notation, Frequency /Range , Staff, Cleff (bass and treble)
Intro to GarageBand Assignment
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Assignment Description:
This assignment is meant to give a very basic intro to opening, recording, and saving a project in GarageBand. You will record one major scale , in time, and send and mp3 to me. Depending on your background with the program, this could be very basic for you, or could be very new material if you have never used this program. We will do this as a group (unless you are proficient in GarageBand!)! |
Assignment Objectives:
1. Open a GarageBand Project 2. Record a simple song using GB 3. Use Research skills to find proper notes for a simple song (scale) and play on Midi Keyboard 4. Save and Export as an MP3. 5. Submit using email to : jshaw@faculty.camdencc.edu **FYI These are the same methods we will use for Opening and Saving all semester, so you can refer to this in the future - and be sure to ask questions if you don't fully understand these! |
1. Starting the Assignment: Opening a Project
1. Open Garage Band
Double Click to Garage Band Icon
2. Select "New Project" and " Empty Project"
3. Select input : We will use "Record using a line or Input"
4. If there is not a track added already, Go to "Track" and select "Add a Track" and repeat step 3.
We will use the default instrument, Classic Electric Piano
5. Testing: Play a couple notes on your Midi Keyboard. You should hear sound (make sure volume is up).
1. Open Garage Band
Double Click to Garage Band Icon
2. Select "New Project" and " Empty Project"
3. Select input : We will use "Record using a line or Input"
4. If there is not a track added already, Go to "Track" and select "Add a Track" and repeat step 3.
We will use the default instrument, Classic Electric Piano
5. Testing: Play a couple notes on your Midi Keyboard. You should hear sound (make sure volume is up).
2. Recording
1. Simply push the record button
2. YOU MAY PLAY AS FAST OR SLOW AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE!
You Will hear a "count -in" , You are not required to play In time for this assignment so you may disregard or turn of ("Record" - "count-in" - "turn off")
3. To Stop Recording, Simply hit the Stop button, Play button, or Record Button
4. If you make mistakes or want to re-record, simply right click, delete, and start over.
1. Simply push the record button
2. YOU MAY PLAY AS FAST OR SLOW AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE!
You Will hear a "count -in" , You are not required to play In time for this assignment so you may disregard or turn of ("Record" - "count-in" - "turn off")
3. To Stop Recording, Simply hit the Stop button, Play button, or Record Button
4. If you make mistakes or want to re-record, simply right click, delete, and start over.
3. What to Record
You will be recording a major scale today (refer to Music Vocab section) . You may record ANY major Scale you want, however the EASIEST BY FAR IS THE C MAJOR SCALE (I would suggest using this!)
You will need to research to find out:
1. Which notes are in the C Major Scale
2. Where those notes are on the Keyboard
***** Part of this assignment is using research skills to find this information. It is amazing how easy this is to find on Google/Wiki/Youtube with a simple "How To" search*****
You will be recording a major scale today (refer to Music Vocab section) . You may record ANY major Scale you want, however the EASIEST BY FAR IS THE C MAJOR SCALE (I would suggest using this!)
You will need to research to find out:
1. Which notes are in the C Major Scale
2. Where those notes are on the Keyboard
***** Part of this assignment is using research skills to find this information. It is amazing how easy this is to find on Google/Wiki/Youtube with a simple "How To" search*****
4. Saving The Assignment
There are a couple ways to save on GarageBand. One is to save as a GarageBand file so we can re-open in the program, and the other is to save as a sound file like what we would open in iTunes.
When you submit a project/assignment, unless otherwise instructed, we will always submit as an MP3 Sound files, as if this were a real professional project, and you are sending me a finished project!
1. Always save as a GarageBand File first . This is a failsafe in case something goes wrong when bouncing as and MP3.
"File" - "Save As"
2. The Next step is to "Export" or "Bounce" to a sound file.
Go to the "Share" tab, then at bottom of list hit "Export Song to Disk"
3. When to Window Pops up, make sure to select "MP3"
Name the file, and Click "Export"
There are a couple ways to save on GarageBand. One is to save as a GarageBand file so we can re-open in the program, and the other is to save as a sound file like what we would open in iTunes.
When you submit a project/assignment, unless otherwise instructed, we will always submit as an MP3 Sound files, as if this were a real professional project, and you are sending me a finished project!
1. Always save as a GarageBand File first . This is a failsafe in case something goes wrong when bouncing as and MP3.
"File" - "Save As"
2. The Next step is to "Export" or "Bounce" to a sound file.
Go to the "Share" tab, then at bottom of list hit "Export Song to Disk"
3. When to Window Pops up, make sure to select "MP3"
Name the file, and Click "Export"
5. Submit Using Email
Submit as an attachment to an email.
Always use jshaw@factulty.camdencc.edu.
Submit as an attachment to an email.
Always use jshaw@factulty.camdencc.edu.
Homework: Instrumentation and Style
For this assignment you will be researching different styles and their respective instrumentations.
Instructions:
1. Research and give a definition for "Musical Style"
2. Research and give a definition for "Instrumentation"
3. Come up with a list of 15 Musical Styles and give their standard Instrumentation
Example:
Style : Rock
Instrumentation: Rhythm Guitar, Lead guitar, Bass Guitar, Drum Set, Piano, Vocals
**remember to use your resources (wiki/google)
***remember to SITE YOUR SOURCES ESPECIALLY FOR THE RESEARCH/DEFINITIONS
Instructions:
1. Research and give a definition for "Musical Style"
2. Research and give a definition for "Instrumentation"
3. Come up with a list of 15 Musical Styles and give their standard Instrumentation
Example:
Style : Rock
Instrumentation: Rhythm Guitar, Lead guitar, Bass Guitar, Drum Set, Piano, Vocals
**remember to use your resources (wiki/google)
***remember to SITE YOUR SOURCES ESPECIALLY FOR THE RESEARCH/DEFINITIONS