Monday, October 14, 2013
My Favorite All-Time Oldies Hits
Monday, June 3, 2013
Musical Humor
I hope all of you enjoy this humor.......
a tempo (It. "back to (regular) time")
Going toward temporary work ("a tempo" actually means "back to tempo" in Italian.)
accent
Happiness.
adagio (It. "leisurely")
A type of Alzheimer's disease.
alla breve
In a style of a short play.
allegro (It. "lively")
A condition where weeds grow too fast.
amplifier
A firestarter.
appoggiatura
A type of absorbent sponge or towel.
arpeggiation
The act of jumping while playing the harp.
arpeggio
Jumping while playing the harp.
augmentation
The act of using an auger.
bagatelle
A type of notation.
bar line
An imaginary horizontal line that goes about chest level.
baroque
A type of barometer.
bass clef
Having long hair on one's back.
baton
A large baseball bat or a baseball bat in general.
bebop
A jail by way of electric shock.
blind octave
A type of octave played by those pianists who are blindfolded.
blue note
A note that triggers depression.
blues
Music that requires a blue-colored background.
bolero (Sp. "a slow type of 3/4 dance with triplets")
Overt sex.
bop
A pop of a large bubble.
bracket
Quiet, gentle type of kiss.
canon
A small cannon.
chord
A long string made out of wire.
clarinet
A sharp brightness.
classic rock
A rock that is at least a billion years old.
con espressione (It. "with expression")
Another way of saying "I want espresso coffee."
contrabass
Going against the bottom.
contrabassoon
Going against the grain.
contrary motion
A second regular ballroom dance position.
count-off
The act of not counting.
crash cymbal
The ultimate sex symbol.
cross-staff
A type of Kali or Escrima technique or techniques.
cut-off
A cul-de-sac.
cymbal
An instrument that triggers sexual arousal.
damper
A high-moisture environment.
damper pedal
A moisture producer.
diminution
The act of not using an auger.
distortion
The end of harmony.
dodecaphony
A type of dijeridoo technique.
dodecatuplet
12 babies.
doo-wop
A sound effect of someone slipping.
dotted whole note
Open space in the city.
down-bow
A regular recital bowing technique.
duplet
A clone.
étude (Fr. "study")
Having a French attitude.
Eighteen-Twelve (1812) Overture
A type of fireworks salute.
English horn
A trumpet that is often used in sad blues music.
espressivo (It. "expressive")
A teeny bit of espresso coffee.
extended beaming
Used on a ship to tie certain different knots altogether.
false octave
A form of schizophrenia.
fermata (It. "paused")
A maze.
Flutterzunge (Ger. "flutter-tongue")
A type of temporomandibular joint (or "TMJ") condition.
flute
A flop.
gavotte (Fr. "a type of 4/4 dance in a Baroque suite")
A type of veto.
glissando (It. "sliding")
A strong feeling for Latin music.
grace note
A type of note derived particularly by God's faith.Also: A note from Ms. Manners.
half-step
The first basic move in ballroom dancing.
harpsichord
A harp which has electronic chord symbols on it.
hi-hat
One wearing a hat that is at least 12 inches high.
ictus
A type of eczema.
imitation
A bad item.
impromptu (Fr. "capricious", "unexpected")
An important new ballet.
intro
The entrance.
jarabe
A Japanese jacket.
kick drum
A drum that is often used to treat impotence or erectile dysfunction.
lead-in
The inner part of the pencil.
legato (It. "binded", "smooth")
A hiccup sound.
major scale
Morbid obesity.
malagueña (Sp. "a type of fast 3/4 dance from Málaga")
A bad woman.
mambo (Cub. Sp. "a type of dance related to cha-cha")
A type of Cuban voodoo.
marimba
A place in India that had been known for good karma.
martellato (It. "hammered")
A billiard artist executing a "massé" shot.
matrix
A random musical generator.
measure
A type of rhythmic torture.
MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface)
A dwarf.
midi-note
A very long note.
minor scale
Underweight.
Moonlight Sonata (op. 27, no. 2, for piano, by Beethoven)
A type of music which would be perfect for a honeymoon.
movement
A new type of mint candy.
music therapy
A type of rhythmic massage.
musical
A type of musical.
new wave
A type of dance move inspired by James Brown.
nonet
Celebrating Tet New Year 9 times.
octave
A condition where a person is moved into action.
octet
Celebrating Tet New Year 8 times.
orchestra
A series of voices.
organ
An important part of a musical body.
outro
A walk-off.
overture
An oversized partition.
Pan flute
A flute that is in a shape of a circle.
parallel motion
A regular ballroom dance pattern.
parallel octave
Steel beams that are 8 feet across and are stacked 8 feet vertically.
passepied
A French flute.
piano (It. "soft"; "pianoforte")
A martian sound.
poco a poco (It. "litlte by little")
A stalker's movement.
polonaise (Fr. "in the Polish style")
A water polo person.
power ballad
Having two microphones to your hand to tell a story.
prestissimo (It. "as fast as possible")
A teeny fruit fly.
prima donna (It. "first lady")
A song about the Virgin Mary.
pyromusical
An event involving a musician or musicians being set on fire.
quadruplet
4 babies.
quarter rest
Moderate bit of utopia.
quartet
Celebrating Tet New Year 4 times a year.
quintuplet
5 babies.
rest
Utopia.
retrograde
A hippie.
retrograde-inversion
A hippie who looks to the future.
rhapsody
A jump in response to a balloon burst.
ride cymbal
The near-ultimate sex symbol.
rock
A musical instrument where you use two rocks to hit together to make a sound.
scherzo (It. "joke"; a fast 3rd movement from a sonata)
A polka galop turn in closed position.
serialism
The act of socialism.
serialistic
Being socialist.
septuplet
7 babies.
sextet
Celebrating Tet New Year 6 times.
sextuplet
6 babies.
shuffle
A blowing technique.
sixteenth rest
Extreme bit of utopia.
smooth jazz
Jazz played while someone is massaging or on ice.
solo
The sun.
soloist
One who makes the sun.
sound note
Having unorthodox instruments ready to play in drawers.
space note
A letter in a bottle that flies through the solar system.
spring song
A type of rhythm done by a jumping grasshopper.
staff
A strong Moses fan.
straight eighths
A person who is not gay.
subdivision
Dancing underground.
suite
A musical apartment.
swing eighths
A person who is gay.
symphony
A state of balanced happiness.
synthesizer
A type of skin lesion.
tarantella (It. "fast dance in 6/8 meter")
A type of twisting spaghetti.
tempo (It. "time")
A temporary worker.
tirade
A mortar shot.
tom-tom
An irregular line-drawing design.
tone row
A type of Basilica column.
treble clef
Having long hair on one's shoulders.
triplet
A small object that causes people to trip.
trio
A type of Morse code.
turnaround
A type of concerto cadenza.
twelve-bar blues
A short form of depression.
twelve-tone
A series of twelve tones used in a piece, usually used in a doorbell.
up-bow
Another recital bowing technique.
vaudeville
Derived from a certain French town known for vaults.
waltz
A gentler form of saying "watts".
whole-step
The second basic move in ballroom dancing.
xylophone
A microphone that is shaped either like the letter "Y".
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Basic Social Samba (for U.S. Rhythm and International Styles)
The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
It started out from its ancient days of capoeira, a play-fight dance by Brazilian slaves which is now still popular today. An offshoot of capoeira was a type of dance called the samba da roda (or "samba in the round"), where dancing movements usually focus on circular movements and part of the moves led to the famous conga line. The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
Later on, the other Brazilian dances, like the bataque, maxixe (a type of move where there is a side-step on the free foot, then a close on the trail foot, and then a side-step and point on the free foot again), and the semba, and its modern but slower version of the samba, the bossa nova (thanks to composer Antonio Carlos Jobim), all of this completed the circle of what is now the modern samba. The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
Carmen Miranda's dancing videos and the yearly Rio de Janeiro carnival parades added some more excitement to the samba dance. The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
Samba's Technique The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
One of the techniques used in modern samba that will allow for the common hip movements used in this dance is the bouncing action. The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
This bouncing action is used by way of the flexing and straightening of the knees in certain samba steps....but not all of them. The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
1. Start with feet together.
2. Now, go down slightly with upper body still straight,
and flex knees
3. Go up back to normal position, straightening knees.
The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
This will introduce you to the Rhythm Bounce, a samba figure that often sets you up to dance the basic steps of samba. Note that in this figure, you dance in place; you don't travel yet. Moreover, the leader and follower do exactly the same body actions so there are no natural opposite movements. The samba came from the South American counry of Brazil, known for the famous Amazon river.
Rhythm Bounce
Leader and Follower
1. Go down to flex knees at about a 1/4 squat 1
2. Go up into normal standing position, and
straightening knees
3. Go down to flex knees at about a 1/4 squat 2
4. Go up into normal standing position, and
straightening knees
Repeat steps 1-4 if needed.
Rhythm Bounce Rotating to L
You will do the same steps but you rotate a 1/4 turn or 1/2 turn to the L on the 4 steps.
Leader and Follower
1. Go down to flex knees at about a 1/4 squat 1
2. Go up into normal standing position, and
straightening knees
3. Go down to flex knees at about a 1/4 squat 2
4. Go up into normal standing position, and
straightening knees
Repeat steps 1-4 if needed.
Rhythm Bounce Rotating to R
You will do the same steps but you rotate a 1/4 turn or 1/2 turn to the R on the 4 steps.
Leader and Follower
1. Go down to flex knees at about a 1/4 squat 1
2. Go up into normal standing position, and
straightening knees
3. Go down to flex knees at about a 1/4 squat 2
4. Go up into normal standing position, and
straightening knees
Repeat steps 1-4 if needed.
Samba Basic
This had been used in both American and International Samba. In International Samba is known as the Alternate Basic Movement.
The whole effect of the Samba basic is almost like the Forward and Back Hesitation steps in Waltz, but with a weight change forward and back, each of them in place.
Start and end in Closed Position.
Leader
1. Forward LF, slightly flexing knees 1
2. Close up RF to LF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Step LF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
4. Slightly straighten knees and
5. Back RF, slightly flexing knees 1
6. Close up LF to RF, slightly straightenig knees a
7. Step RF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Follower
1. Forward RF, slightly flexing knees 1
2. Close up LF to RF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Step RF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
4. Slightly straighten knees and
5. Back LF, slightly flexing knees 1
6. Close up RF to LF, slightly straightenig knees a
7. Step LF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Repeat ad lib.
Samba Basic Rotating To Left
This has the same movements as the Samba Basic, but you rotate a 1/2 turn to L on the 8 steps. If the 8 steps are repeated, you rotate another 1/2 turn to the L.
Start and end in Closed Position.
Leader
1. Forward LF, slightly flexing knees 1
2. Close up RF to LF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Step LF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
4. Slightly straighten knees and
5. Back RF, slightly flexing knees 1
6. Close up LF to RF, slightly straightenig knees a
7. Step RF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Follower
1. Forward RF, slightly flexing knees 1
2. Close up LF to RF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Step RF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
4. Slightly straighten knees and
5. Back LF, slightly flexing knees 1
6. Close up RF to LF, slightly straightenig knees a
7. Step LF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Repeat ad lib.
Samba Basic Rotating To Right
This has the same movements as the Samba Basic, but you rotate a 1/2 turn to R on the 8 steps. If the 8 steps are repeated, you rotate another 1/2 turn to the R
Start and end in Closed Position.
Leader
1. Forward LF, slightly flexing knees 1
2. Close up RF to LF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Step LF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
4. Slightly straighten knees and
5. Back RF, slightly flexing knees 1
6. Close up LF to RF, slightly straightenig knees a
7. Step RF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Follower
1. Forward RF, slightly flexing knees 1
2. Close up LF to RF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Step RF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
4. Slightly straighten knees and
5. Back LF, slightly flexing knees 1
6. Close up RF to LF, slightly straightenig knees a
7. Step LF in place, slightly flexing knees 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Repeat ad lib.
Promenade Walks
Oh, yeah! Now here's a move that will travel a little bit on the floor. Modern samba had been known for
advanced travel movements like the Promenade Runs, but this move is much easier.
Start and end in Promenade Position.
Leader
1. Forward LF, slightly flexing the knees 1
2. Rock back in place RF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Rock forward in place LF, flexing knees again 2
4 Slightly straighten knees and
5. Forward and across RF, slightly flexing the knees 1
6. Rock back in place LF, slightly straightening knees a
7. Rock forward in place RF, flexing knees again 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Follower
1. Forward RF, slightly flexing the knees 1
2. Rock back in place LF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Rock forward in place RF, flexing knees again 2
4 Slightly straighten knees and
5. Forward and across LF, slightly flexing the knees 1
6. Rock back in place LF, slightly straightening knees a
7. Rock forward in place RF, flexing knees again 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Repeat ad lib.
Note: On every fourth step (on every "1" count), the free foot will always step across the trail foot.
The reason for the description of the knee actions in the steps is to create that samba bounce action.
Promenade Walks---Alternate Version
Start and end in Promenade Position. This move gives a little bit more of an International Samba feeling.
Leader
1. Forward LF, slightly flexing the knees 1
2. Rock back in place RF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Draw LF back to RF, flexing knees again 2
4 Slightly straighten knees and
5. Forward and across RF, slightly flexing the knees 1
6. Rock back in place LF, slightly straightening knees a
7. Draw RF back to LF, flexing knees again 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
Follower
1. Forward RF, slightly flexing the knees 1
2. Rock back in place LF, slightly straightening knees a
3. Draw RF back ot LF, flexing knees again 2
4 Slightly straighten knees and
5. Forward and across LF, slightly flexing the knees 1
6. Rock back in place LF, slightly straightening knees a
7. Draw LF back to RF, flexing knees again 2
8. Slightly straighten knees and
As before in the regular Promenade Walks, the knee actions are described also to create the samba bounce action.
To "draw" means to pull back the lead foot to close up to the trail foot.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Statement of Teaching Philosophy--Several Music Areas
My inspirations for teaching came from several areas.
First, I played in a lot of piano recitals, so I know what it means to teach in front of an audience. I get inspired every time I play a piece.
Next, I also saw a lot of master classes in piano and voice, where several teachers do different styles of lecturing.
In addition, ballroom dance also helped me to be inspired to teach. I had been under several ballroom dance teachers and I can understand their different teaching methods and procedures. I also know that there is a great correlation of ballroom dance to music because this dance form has many cultures of music. Also, with my strong musical training while I was at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I was able to teach one student salsa dancing in only 40 minutes, and another student ballroom and swing dancing in about 45 minutes. Finally, I was able to show a samba rhythm on the congo drums to a drum circle group.
Moreover, John Barry, a Spanish teacher from Roosevelt University of Chicago, was my biggest inspiration for teaching. This was because when he teaches, he doesn't just use a blackboard and a lecture to teach people. He often uses other ways, especially music, to get students to enjoy learning.
Finally, my last inspiration for teaching was being in a doctoral program at the University of Illinois. It was like an internship in knowing how to research and do a lecture-style teaching which included instrumental performance as well. When I successfully completed the program, my teaching ability became very strong.
As a teacher, I want to make the students feel more at ease about the intricacies of music, and help them to figure out the best way to deal with musical problems that will help their confidence.
PART B: Summary of My Teaching Deliveries
In my teaching during both instrumental and choral conducting, my emphasis is using my strong sight-reading skills to quickly spot interpretative errors as well as musical errors. I also err on the side of using hands only and not use the baton unless circumstances warrant it.
In instrumental conducting, I will use my arm styling skills from my enjoyment of ballroom dance to my advantage. In addition, when I am cuing, I tend to lean my body more forward and not just use the face to indicate something, just to make the players know that a certain musical emphasis is needed.
In choral conducting in particular, I often would create my own vocalises for the singing group and not use traditional vocalises for warm-ups unless absolutely necessary. If a song is in a foreign language, I often will use my language skills from my vocal accompanying to do a “say and repeat” of the foreign lyrics or text. I also use my acquired pitch to my advantage and have the unusual ability to determine if a note by the chorus is too sharp or too flat.
In my piano teaching, my style is a gentle one. In one-to-one engagements, especially private piano lessons, I use a mixture of techniques…the “play” and “imitate” from Suzuki, tactile correcting of a technique (for example, assisting the piano student to cross over or under the thumb in a major scale), and clapping from the Dalcroze and Orff teaching methods. Also, I focus mainly on more interpretation problems than technique problems, although I can balance both genres with ease. In master class piano teaching, I developed a mentality of not interrupting a student and let the student finish the performance before I make any comments…unless there are flagrant mistakes. In group piano classes, I had borrowed a technique inspired by Phyllis Hill, a teacher in my past Keyboard Skills class at Roosevelt University….walking around to see if students are playing the correct notes, fingerings, etc.
In chamber music teaching, especially in conducting, my philosophy focuses more on the adherence to the indicated tempo of the composition more than anything else in the chamber music score. However, I am willing to adjust to the skills of the performers…if the performers wish to not perform exactly as the tempo markings indicate (e.g., 116 beats per minute to the quarter note instead of 112 beats), I can willfully accept this deviation. I often have an extrovert style in the chamber music repertoire of the Romantic period, such as the Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor.
In music theory teaching, I will often use my compositional skills mainly through Finale Software, and often give out exercises on Finale. The style is very extrovert…I often will step away from the lectern to attract more attention to my students….especially in contemporary music concepts, after I prepare for the class discussion.
In music appreciation teaching, I use several techniques….handouts, visual presentations such as PowerPoint, the blackboard with musical staffs, and piano demonstrations.
Finally, in music seminar lectures, my general lecturing style focuses on my strong skills in Powerpoint, which I use as a great visual tool. If the lecture involves playing musical examples on the piano, I often would keep the piano close to the lectern on my left side, and if a lectern is not available, I often would use a music stand as a lectern, also on the left side of the piano. I am willing to keep up with teaching technology with this matter, trying to cut back on the traditional projector.
In chamber music teaching, especially in conducting, my philosophy focuses more on the adherence to the indicated tempo of the composition more than anything else in the chamber music score. However, I am willing to adjust to the skills of the performers…if the performers wish to not perform exactly as the tempo markings indicate (e.g., 116 beats per minute to the quarter note instead of 112 beats), I can willfully accept this deviation. I often have an extrovert style in the chamber music repertoire of the Romantic period, such as the Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor.
In music theory teaching, I will often use my compositional skills mainly through Finale Software, and often give out exercises on Finale. The style is very extrovert…I often will step away from the lectern to attract more attention to my students….especially in contemporary music concepts, after I prepare for the class discussion.
In music appreciation teaching, I use several techniques….handouts, visual presentations such as PowerPoint, the blackboard with musical staffs, and piano demonstrations.
Finally, in music seminar lectures, my general lecturing style focuses on my strong skills in Powerpoint, which I use as a great visual tool. If the lecture involves playing musical examples on the piano, I often would keep the piano close to the lectern on my left side, and if a lectern is not available, I often would use a music stand as a lectern, also on the left side of the piano. I am willing to keep up with teaching technology with this matter, trying to cut back on the traditional projector.
In music theory teaching, I will often use my compositional skills mainly through Finale Software, and often give out exercises on Finale. The style is very extrovert…I often will step away from the lectern to attract more attention to my students….especially in contemporary music concepts, after I prepare for the class discussion.
In music appreciation teaching, I use several techniques….handouts, visual presentations such as PowerPoint, the blackboard with musical staffs, and piano demonstrations.
Finally, in music seminar lectures, my general lecturing style focuses on my strong skills in Powerpoint, which I use as a great visual tool. If the lecture involves playing musical examples on the piano, I often would keep the piano close to the lectern on my left side, and if a lectern is not available, I often would use a music stand as a lectern, also on the left side of the piano. I am willing to keep up with teaching technology with this matter, trying to cut back on the traditional projector.
In chamber music teaching, especially in conducting, my philosophy focuses more on the adherence to the indicated tempo of the composition more than anything else in the chamber music score. However, I am willing to adjust to the skills of the performers…if the performers wish to not perform exactly as the tempo markings indicate (e.g., 116 beats per minute to the quarter note instead of 112 beats), I can willfully accept this deviation. I often have an extrovert style in the chamber music repertoire of the Romantic period, such as the Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor.
In music theory teaching, I will often use my compositional skills mainly through Finale Software, and often give out exercises on Finale. The style is very extrovert…I often will step away from the lectern to attract more attention to my students….especially in contemporary music concepts, after I prepare for the class discussion.
In music appreciation teaching, I use several techniques….handouts, visual presentations such as PowerPoint, the blackboard with musical staffs, and piano demonstrations.
Finally, in music seminar lectures, my general lecturing style focuses on my strong skills in Powerpoint, which I use as a great visual tool. If the lecture involves playing musical examples on the piano, I often would keep the piano close to the lectern on my left side, and if a lectern is not available, I often would use a music stand as a lectern, also on the left side of the piano. I am willing to keep up with teaching technology with this matter, trying to cut back on the traditional projector.
Explanation of The Time Signature: 4/4 and 6/8 meter
In music, we keep time by using a time signature. It is also called time, as in 6/8 time or 3/4 time. The time signature looks like a fraction, as indicated below:
4
-
4
The upper number indicates the no. of beats to a measure.
The lower number represents the note value (for instance, in 4/4 meter, each quarter note will be one beat in 4/4)
Note: 4/4 meter is also designated sometimes with a "C" symbol instead of the usual "4/4" fraction.
This symbol is called common time, so called because most of the time, 4/4 meter is the most prevalent of all other meters.
Here is another example of a time signature:
6
-
8
This means that there are beats to a measure (upper number, "6"), and each eighth note (lower number, "8"), receives one beat.