Percussion instrument

While listening to the first piece of music, which I am familiar with, "What Child Is This?" that is written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865, using the method of active listening I have given my full attention. The more closely I have listened into, the more I felt it affecting me emotionally more than usually, because of the engagement the variety of different areas of the brain. Paying attention to the details in the well-known music like rhythm, melody, dynamics, harmonies, has helped me…

On Tuesday, October 6th, the Allen High School Philharmonia & Sinfonietta orchestra performed Concerto in D Major by George Phillip Telemann and arranged by McCashin. They also performed, The Explorers by Keith Sharp. The first piece Concerto in D major starts off with a unified chord that slowly transitions to a dissonant chord that the entire ensemble plays, to build tension, which almost instantly is released and becomes a consonant D major chord. The music then transitions into its…

When it comes to playing the piano, people get discouraged because of the long hours you have to input in order to learn the instrument, but it is not as arduous as it seems. After putting the negative mindset aside, she discussed the music notes, which are the ABC’s of music. The notes are marked by the letters ABCDEFG. After discussing the music notes, she taught the piano keys…

new, you almost always start from the bottom. When you enter high school, you’re at the bottom of the food chain as a freshman. When you start a new job, you begin your training knowing close to nothing about your position. When you learn a new instrument, you must learn all the parts and their functions before even touching it. When I was in high school, I was one of the best musicians in my concert band. Now, as I enter my first year of college, I’m one of the worst musicians in the wind…

As I am watching piano recitals played by different performances, I realize that each person has his or her own strength, and they also have many characteristics in common at the same time, such as concentration, professionalism of performance and so on. After I watched all five piano recitals, I know that it is important for a piano beginner to learn their skills, body movements and emotions. In the Bach's Italian Concerto, BWV 971 played by Andras Schiff, there are three movements with…

Eschewing hypothetical startles and unnecessary intricacies, “East 97th”, the encouraging debut album by Portuguese bassist Gonçalo Leonardo, provides agreeable listenings through the aggregation of well-composed textures within clarified structures. The record was recorded in New York, where Leonardo lived for a couple of years, and features an international quartet comprising the also Portuguese André Matos on guitar, Spanish Yago Vazquez on piano and Rhodes, and American Tommy Crane on drums.…

The inspiration for the clarinet dates back to the 1600s, where an instrument called the Chalumeau was used. It was used mostly in Europe, and its name was derived from Latin/Greek origins, meaning pipe. True to its name, it was a 20 cm long pipe, with 5 holes. It looked much like a recorder, and was not very important to musicians and composers back then. It was different from todays, clarinet, as there was no upper register, only a lower one. It has influenced today’s clarinet, as nowadays…

When I was preparing myself for my RCM Level 10 Violin Examination, I had agreed to do a solo performance of one of my pieces for an annual exhibition which my music academy organized. While it wasn't a competition, there would be an audience of hundreds of people - the students, the parents, teachers, and any friends they might invite. I had previously partaken in this yearly event but always as part of a group, never a performance of my own. This was foreign and completely daunting to me.…

symphony was limited with instruments, such as: cellos, double basses, violas, violins, bassoons, clarinets, flutes, oboes, French horns, trumpets, trombones and timpani. What gave the light weight and airy affect was the strings and the bassoons gave an accented popping sound. The string section build up though a crescendo. The small brass section consists of French horns, trumpets and trombones. French horns add a lively tune into Brahms musical vision. Each instrument has a specific sound…

This week I have been focusing on technique. My mentor said that was one of the most important things, when learning how to play the guitar. He said, since my fingers hadn’t learned the difference yet that I might as well learn how to do it the correct way. This is because as I continue it will be easier to play, and will in the end, sound better. He always says that anybody can pick-up a guitar and learn how to play, but to become a musician it takes practice and dedication. I asked my mentor…