5 Great Pieces of Music (and why you should listen to them) So Sayeth I

When a cool chick says via twitter, "we should swap music favorites sometime", one should pretty much just drop everything and set to getting the list together.  Being the nerd on the receiving end of the tweet, I've of course, turned it into a small 'project' leading to this blog.

Amy R. Martin is an idea maven, vision cruncher, and purveyor of positive vibes.  She writes a blog that typically oozes with enthusiasm and a hearty 'go gettem'  attitude that always seems timely and spot on.  She seems to constantly be evolving, traveling, reveling in foreign languages, and engaging in witty repartee. Learn more about her here and be sure to follow her on Twitter too - I promise you won't be sorry.


OK Ames , now for the songs.  I could have gone all "too cool for school" on you and provided a list of some of the hip musicians we know who are creating great new music.  But I chose instead to go a tad retro and explain why I think you should hear these songs again... for the first time.


These 5 pieces of music (and the albums they are on) have provided endless hours of enjoyment, intrigue, study, madness, glee, and in some cases... even angst.  They each represent a particular moment of personal history but as time has gone by, I've found that they stand up to ever increasing scrutiny and analysis, as well as repeated listening.  I've shared these choices and my analysis with family, friends, students, and colleagues.  And I am happy to share them with you...and the universe!


5. Tempted - Squeeze, 45's and Under
This song is a feast for the ears. If you don't get it in the first 6 seconds, you probably won't get  it at all. The chromatic movement and the chords are maddening, baffling, wonderful.  The song bounds along so coolly that you hardly realize it's about potentially being unfaithful and all that goes along with it.


Listen very, VERY carefully in the beginning (at 6 seconds to be exact) and you'll hear someone sing 'I bought a toothbrush baby'. On the out chorus at the end there is a repeated word that adds to the rhythm of the groove - it's almost imperceptible and sounds as if someone is saying  'sp' on the "and of beat four" in every other measure (starting at 3:22).  This is how intently I have dissected the song.  It's a curse, it's what I do. But I can also simply allow Tempted to wash over me as I sing along in glee - and that's the true test of a great song.


And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.


4. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
It could just be a guy thing, like The Three Stooges, or a guy from New Jersey thing, like The Sopranos, .... whatever...fughettaboudit.  From the drum lead-in to the sounds of Celeste and concert chimes the wall of sound at the outset doesn't just greet you, it barrels in, throws open the door, and hollers 'come on, let's go!'.


This song lays out all the hopes and promises of adolescence and uses every trick in the rock and roll book to pull it off.  The wall of sound mixing, the palm muted guitar in the verses, the 5 note sax solo (ok, there's really 6, but who's counting besides guys like me?), the series of suspended chords in the bridge, the giant chromatic scale in the middle followed by the obligatory break, and arguably the most famous "1, 2, 3, 4" in rock history (even if it isn't absolutely in time).


So go ahead, crank the windows down (man that sounds old school) and turn the volume up.  Before long you will be miles from your destination and seriously considering never turning back. 


And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.


3. The Loved Ones - Elvis Costello, Imperial Bedroom
OK this is out of left field I know, but it's MY list of 5 great pieces... remember? 'So sayeth I'.  There is more music happening in the first minute of this song than many people produce in a lifetime.  The guitar stabbing intro cleans the palette like the odd introductions in many a Bergman film. The bass enters as a tease, the drummer takes over and drives the band into wide screen mode. The piano seemingly plays more notes than is possible to hear and the walking bass line makes  me want to cry and shout at the same time. The diminished chords add momentary tension and release, propelling the song forward. I could easily listen to this song a thousand times, even if there were no words.


Ah, but the words!  They tumble out like waterfalls; overlapping, cajoling, prodding, "sarcastic", "elastic", "gymnastics", "match sticks"???  ...genius.  Who knows what he's talking about?  He's got 'tude' and that's good enough for me. He's got "poison", "needle", "thread",  "butcher, baker" and even "bass-line maker", don't stop him, he's on a roll!  And after everything, he's got P. P. S. I. L. O. V. E. Y. O. U. one of the greatest outtros of all time.  I never want it to end.


And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.


2. Girl from Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz Getz/Gilberto 
Your house is totally clean, everything is put away, your bills are paid, you are enjoying a great glass of wine with beautiful friends, you have not a care in the world.  Dreaming? No, you are listening to this song.  Infectious, cool, full of style and fashion, it beckons and disarms even the most jaded among us.


The text is pure poetry (in either the original Portuguese or English).  The story tells of a simple, fleeting, mid-summer moment.  It's a universal theme that might take place anywhere. Boy sees beautiful girl and she pays him no mind.


But the bossa groove ebbs and flows like waves gently rolling onshore. The soulful, phonetic singing of Astrud Gilberto is a perfect match for the intense yet beautifully relaxed tenor sax sound of Stan Getz. His solo in the middle is short but impeccably crafted and his background fills are absolutely spot on, weaving great lines behind the lilt of Astrud's voice. Even the chirping of an imperfect reed does not detract from the overall performance or listening experience...in fact, it adds to it.


And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.


1. Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra, Greatest Hits
Love him or hate him, you have to admit the cat could sing.  I saw him... 5 times (that comes with growing up Italian in New Jersey) and when he died my family burned up the phone lines as if we had lost our patriarch.


From the very first few beats of this track I am mush. My ADD melts away and I am completely engrossed in the groove. Led by the bass playing of Ray Brown (whose sense of time is downright confounding) and the cool zephyr-like organ sound, the intro sets the mood.  Along the way there is an ever increasing, percolating tension as the horn section builds and modulates and threatens almost to bubble over. The groove swims along like a shark that smells blood in the water from miles away. And when it finally reaches its prey... it simply passes by as Sinatra sings "My ffffickle friend...."


And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.

Be Well, Feel Good, and Make MUSIC!

The coolest thing about music is the people you meet through it and thanks to social networks (in this case Twitter), cool people are more accessible, 'closer',and  easier to learn about than ever.


Meet Kat Fulton.  She is a music therapist, drum circle facilitator, and the primary manager and therapist for Sound Health Music.  She's also the author of the blog 'Rhythm for Good' where she writes about music therapy, drumming, and wellness.  She also makes cool DVD's and fun videos and her motto is 'Be well, feel good, and make MUSIC!'


How could we not contact her?


We asked Kat to shed some light on her history, her daily activities, and some of the ways she uses technology in her field. Enjoy!


What instruments do you play?   My primary instrument is piano. I have a Bachelors degree in piano performance and music theory. But since grad school I've learned how to play the guitar and how to sing confidently in front of people. (I actually surprised myself with the latter, apparently, I can carry a tune!)


When did you start music training? I started banging on a piano when I was 5. My mother and sister tried to tame me into playing duets and listening. I began 'proper lessons' at age 8.


What is education background? I have a Bachelors degree in piano performance and music theory. I also have a Masters degree in music therapy.


Were you always interested in the medical use of music? My interest was piqued when I attended Florida State University for grad school. My professor there is an expert researcher in using music therapy for infants in an intensive care unit. When I first took on clinical hours at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, and I swaddled a tiny little baby for the first time, I knew that music therapy was my destiny and path for life. 


And now you work with children as well as adults and seniors, how receptive are these groups to music therapy?  The Sound Health Music therapists work with children at camps, early intervention programs, and corporate team-building. In fact, we are working with a team of 60 engineers this week!


Older adults do respond very well to music therapy. Every day something jaw-dropping happens. A resident with Alzheimer's may not be able to say their own name, but they can sing all the words or dance to 'Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue'. When a family member is comforted by watching their loved one become animated and engaged, or soothed and relaxed, it simply fills my soul with happiness.


I was working with a large group of 30 residents at a skilled nursing home. There was one resident Betty who had severe arthritis and very limited mobility in her entire body. She never clapped her hands, or tapped her toes in my sessions because she simply couldn't. BUT she could slowly move her lips to form words. One day I decided to play a song with the residents that included solos. I gave each resident a different instrument to play (shakers, scrapers, woods, metals, drums). Because of her very limited mobility, I used a bell with a Velcro strap to place around her wrist. I wasn't sure she would be able to make any sound, but we could try. If not, then I would gently use hand-over-hand assistance to help her play the solo.

We played and sang Blue Suede Shoes, with repetitions of the chorus and rhythm guitar to frame each solo. For each solo, all the residents became quiet so that the soloist could come through loud and clear with his/her unique contribution to the musical piece. When it came time for Betty to take a solo, I sang "Let's hear it Betty! Play play those bells for us!" She turned towards me slowly, and it probably took about 10 seconds for her to form the most beautiful big smile. Then she wiggled her wrist as fast as she could to make those bells jingle! It was like the clouds opening up to see the heavens. All the residents whooped and hollered, cheering Betty on as if she were scoring the winning run in a baseball game. It was magical. I had never seen Betty so happy before. Sometimes, my clients amaze me so much, it's hard to hold my happy, proud tears back.

Are there new therapies and ideas in your industry? Research is consistently being done at some of the 75 colleges and universities that offer music therapy as a degree program. The field of music therapy as we know it today dates back to the 40s and research in the medical setting has really boomed over the past 20 years. We're finding new ways to help our clients year after year.

How do you use social media in music therapy? I use social media as a means to share information with colleagues, educate the general public, and connect with professionals in the healthcare industry. The initial purpose of my blog was to educate the public, then I realized that I was connecting with more music therapists than random internet users. Now I use social media and the blog to share, educate, and connect. Music therapists are regularly using iPad and iPhone apps, GarageBand, and other music software to assist clients in writing music, improvising, mixing... all for the purpose of achieving therapeutic goals. Social media and technology: It's a beautiful thing.

We agree - thanks for sharing Kat!

To learn more about Kat visit Rhythm for Good and be sure to check out her cool new video Firework on Boomwhackers.

How to Choose and Instrument

On June 23 with tongue placed firmly in cheek, we decided to have some fun on Twitter with a series called ‘How to Choose and Instrument”. Upon our very first ‘tweet’ the replies and guffaws started coming in and before long the re-tweets began circling the globe.

Many responses were positive and we even got a few ‘OMG that is soooo spot on!’ messages. The series spanned 3 days and we only heard one grumble – from a French Horn player (figures!). Note: see below, we've likely been ‘un-followed’. PS -if you really want to know what we said about banjo, shoot us an e-mail.  :)

These tweets were meant to be funny folks and in no way a sweeping generalization of all musicians.  After-all, I even poked fun at myself as a saxophonist; Lord knows we bear the brunt of many inside music jokes.

Here is the entire list – find your instrument, find yourself, find a friend and enjoy!

How to choose an instrument:

Did you have a beard in 8th grade? Have you ever worn sneakers with a suit? You may enjoy Double Bass

Asked for a bike and got skates? Asked for a car and got a bike? You may enjoy Glockenspiel

»

When you hear 'Heard it Through the Grapevine" do you clap on beats 1 and 3? You may enjoy Violin

Do you enjoy minutia? Complete Sudoku or NY Times crosswords in pen? Oboe might be for you

Did you buy an i-pad1 a week before the i-pad2 was released? You may enjoy the Synthesizer

Straight A's, Honor Society, Valedictorian and still not prom queen? You might enjoy the Flute

Do you have a bumper sticker that says 'My other car is a Porsche'? Try Bass Guitar

Are you competitive?... even when there's no apparent contest being played? Try the Trumpet

Do the sounds of a blender or a distant lawn mower tug at your heartstrings? You may enjoy Alto Sax

Do you often looked surprised, even when you sleep? You may be a natural for Clarinet

Were you the last kid chosen for the cross country team? Try Baritone Sax

Are you soft spoken, shy, reserved, and can really hold a grudge? French Horn may be for you

Do you keep more than one un-sharpened pencil on your desk? Try Percussion

If you take more than 3 seconds to answer 'boxers or briefs?' Try Jazz Guitar

Do you think a bicycle has one too many wheels? Try English Horn

Do you consider shoes... or clothes that fit properly optional? Try Trombone

Are you a pro at 'whack-a-mole'? Try Marimba

Have you always wanted to make ships in bottle? Try Bassoon

Do you feel your intellect far surpasses that of anyone you know? Viola may be for you

Do you enjoy long periods of quiet contemplation followed by bombastic bursts of energy? Try Percussion

Can you read 2 books at the same time, one with each eye? We suggest Piano

Phish bumper sticker? Still don't own a cell phone? Have whittled within the past 3 years? You may enjoy Fiddle

Thanks for all the great feedback on twitter. Now choose one and let's get started! goo.gl/DdFx0

Practice Like You Cook

So you signed up for music lessons and now you're trying to fit that mystical 1/2 hour a day of practice into your busy schedule. But eek! You haven't touched the instrument since last week. So I guess you'll call to cancel your lesson, right? No way!  

First of all,  where did the mystical '30 minutes a day' number come from?  Is it kind of like the old adage 'wait 30 minutes after you eat before going swimming'? Speaking of eating...

The Food Network has done a brilliant job of presenting and even romanticizing the process of cooking. Far too often in music, we (both students and teachers) focus on the results and fail to embrace the process of learning which includes of course - practicing.

Here's a fresh approach to practice by the musical sous-chefs of The Dallas School of Music and Discover, Learn, and Play.

Prep

Let's face it, there are no magic bullets - you will at some point need to put time in on your instrument if you want to have any measure of success. However, we've found that most people spend what little time they do have unproductively and without a plan of attack.  This usually means simply 'playing' songs or exercises from beginning to end or 'noodling' without consciously applying any musical ideas.  

Don't get us wrong, we're all for noodling! But if you're stretched for time, you'll benefit from a little planning when you do have the time to practice.

 Ingredients

If the fridge and pantry are bare, there's a good chance you'll go hungry. You've got to acquire ingredients before you can eat. We sometimes call this 'paper-practice' and encourage busy students (especially adults) to read lesson material and/or take quizzes before they actually 'practice'. 

As time allows, practice like you might make a nice dinner. Assemble the ingredients, prepare the spices, then follow the recipe until you have a completed dish.  Repeat that process and eventually you'll have a full course meal. Repeat it often enough and you can begin to get creative and add your own touches!

These same ideas can apply to your music learning process. A good teacher or method will present musical concepts (ingredients) in the proper sequence, and communicate specific ways to apply them to your instrument  - that's your musical recipe. If need be, spend some lesson time reviewing your ingredients and preparing your recipes. It's time well spent that will pay off down the road. 

Slow-Roasted versus Stir-Frying

Think of practice as being more like making a turkey rather than a quick wok dish.  There are many steps of preparation that must be completed before the oven is even turned on.  And this line of thinking is valid at every musical level; from beginners naming notes and clapping rhythms, to more advanced learners practicing tempo or meter changes. 

Knowledge precedes results in almost every endeavor and any 'practice' time spent with your instrument should be time spent applying the knowledge that you've gained. If you don't have it upstairs (in your head), it won't come out downstairs (on your instrument).

We know you're busy, so a little planning can really go a  long way toward helping you get the most out of your musical journey. And now it's time for dessert - bon appetit!

Are You Still Winding Your Metronome?

Every generation needs to come to grips with the reality that some new ideas may in fact just be better than the status quo. In music (and in particular, music education) we often go kicking and screaming reluctantly into the future with gnashed teeth and angst. 

Come on, admit it.  You still think that wind up metronomes are better than the new, digital varieties.

And how many parents cringe when they hear their kids' music? 

You grew up listening to 80's hair band rock and your Woodstock parents hated it. You listened to 50's Rock and Roll, and your Big Band era parents hated it. And on it goes...

One way or another though, each generation learns to accept, adopt , and utilize new ideas for the better of all.

If you're teaching (or learning) music with outdated materials and are bored with the same old method books...

OR

If you or your students are losing interest ...

We have something new for you.

You can instantly bring your studio up to date by using  Discover, Learn, and Play.  It's the only 'cloud based' music method that comes with full support from a team of professional educators;  and they're the folks who actually developed the product.  Try that with the method book you're currently using!

Quality material and a proven 'process' for learning makes The Kore Series a solid choice for your next music curriculum.  There are 20 Lessons available for 39 instruments including mallet instruments, guitar, and keyboards. 

And hey,  we know that some old school ideas do remain valid, so we'll teach you to actually READ music and understand theory.  We'll even quiz you on musical concepts and ear training as well. But you won't be learning Old MacDonald or Twinkle-Twinkle, you'll be playing original songs with amazing background tracks.

We know that today's savvy learners want information in ways that they have become accustom - and that's digital delivery and 24/7 access for starters. So ask your teacher if they're using The Kore Series and if not, why not?
 
Individual memberships start at just $9.95 per month. Group memberships are also available.

Welcome to Discover, Learn and Play. Let's get started!