Negotiable instrument

“First evidence that musical training affects brain development in young children”- The music increasing the cognitive and memory skills with children makes sense. A person needs coordination and the ability to maneuver hand and eye synchronization to be able to play anything but scales. A passion such as music is easily instilled in a child. All humans enjoy music in one form or another. The attention needed to stay in time with the other people playing, reading of the notes on the sheets of…

I attended the Metropolitan Opera Rising Stars Concert series on Sunday, February 28, 2016 in Wright Auditorium. The stars consisted of Janai Brugger a soprano, Sarah Mesko a mezzo-soprano, Sean Panikkar a tenor, Trevor Scheunemann a baritone, and lastly Brent Funderburk the pianist. These performers are apart of the S. Rudolph Alexander performing arts series. The audience consisted of a wide range of people; from college students to the elderly citizens of Greenville, NC. First, I would like…

a small twist in the wrist, slowly swirled in front of the orchestra, as if chanting a spell to lure the audience into a world of magic. At that moment, the harp began to sing with its angel-resembling voice, soon followed by the other stringed instruments creating a dulcet stream of notes. Piccolos and flutes…

La creation du monde is a 20-minute ballet for small orchestra composed in 1923, which outlines the Creation of the world, based on African folk mythology. Influences in the music come from blues and ragtime, particularly in the melodies, and African rhythms. The ballet is in six continuous dance scenes, as follows: 1) Overture 2) The Chaos before Creation 3) The slowly lifting darkness, the creation of trees, plants insects, birds and beasts 4) Man and woman created 5) The desire of man and…

Melody- There's this basic riff repetition being played. As simple as it may be, there is melodic contour which takes shape when the direction changes. This song uses disjunct motion, the intervals change quite a bit. A lot of the singing seems to be staccato, adding to the long pauses. There's also legato that's connecting the song. Harmony- There is no vocal harmony, when he continues the singing, for a breath of time, it adds an echoing effect. The chords are played in a pentatonic format.…

My experience at the Heartbeat workshop and Spirits Rising concert was both educational and enjoyable. These events explored the culture of the Native Americans of the Great Lakes area. The workshop included participation in traditional dance, an example of both traditional and arranged music, a version of the Native American creation story, and a summary of the culture throughout history. The concert was an excellent opportunity to learn through observation, but I mostly took the chance to…

confusion and disagreements about the origin of pipa in China. This is due to the fact that the word pipa was used in ancient texts to describe a variety of plucked instrument throughout the era of dynasties well as the differing accounts given in these ancient texts. As a case in point, the artwork Pipa is a stunning musical instrument from the Ming Dynasty during the late 16th and early 17th century. It is made from wood, ivory, silk, and bone. On the back of the pipa, there is hexagonal…

great energetic rhythm throughout the whole song. The cowbell, maracas, conga drums and xylophone that started playing at the very beginning of the song set the tempo for all the other instruments that came in during later measures. I found the Chips and Salsa piece…

“Last Stop: Chicago Union Station” As the annoyingly familiar woman announced her daily sermon of train stops, I incorporated the dissonant melodies of the outside world with the orderly ones of Richard Strauss’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra”. But it would most likely be known to those crowded around me as the famous introduction to 2001: A Space Odyssey. My ritualistic walk to the Chicago Fine Arts Building for rehearsal began as my violin clanged against my back. The songs of those wearing suits…

This arming cap is made of cotton and is thickly lined with fiber fill. Features quilted construction with a tie cord. Machine washable. This version of ancient Greece helmet is made of 18-gauge steel and has been plated in an antique bronze. Features black and natural striped horse-hair crest and a padded adjustable liner and chin strap. This classic helmet, one of the most popular versions depicted and worn during medieval times is made from 18 gauge steel. Features narrow eye slits for…