Jonathan Harnum's Blog, page 27
September 6, 2018
Conductorless Orchestra: Orpheus
Great sounds without a conductor! Big band jazz has been doing this for a century or so, and it’s de rigueur for free improvisers, but we don’t often think of classical musicians performing without that person up there waving a stick. Enter Orpheus. (spoiler: jazz/pop/classical musician Branford Marsalis makes an appearance in the later vids.)
This is a great video, not only for its ideas and the excellent music, or copious evidence that musicians (even classical musicians, gasp) are funny people. Right up front, you see musicians talking about, and practicing, and they use their bodies (and words) to convey musical ideas. It’s a form of mental practice that veterans use without thinking about it. Maybe you can incorporate some of these ideas into your own practice.
September 5, 2018
Transcribe: Not Just for Jazz Musicians!
Transcribing (either by writing or playing it by ear) is one of the most valuable things you can do in your practice. Jazz, folk, and most pop musicians at this point are saying, “Duh!,” so this is basically for classical musicians.
Case in point: Lizst’s transcriptions of all 9 Beethoven symphonies for piano. Classics (pun intended) in the piano rep. and some of the most challenging stuff you can find on piano. Here’s some history on how and why Lizst did it.
Transcribing means you strive to recreate every nuance of what you hear: not just the notes, but the timbre, dynamics, emotional content, the silence: everything. Written music shows only the notes, and the notes aren’t enough if you want to really make music that people with not only hear, but feel.
Here’s the 4th movement of Beethoven’s Symphony 9 (in 4 parts, with sheet music), as transcribed by Lizst, and played by Cyprien Katsaris.
When he started transcribing the ninth symphony Liszt ran into a problem in the 4th Movement, he did not know how to implement the choral parts into the music.
“After a great deal of experimentation in various directions, I was unable to deny the utter impossibility of even a partially satisfactory and effective arrangement of the 4th movement. I hope you will not take it amiss if I dispense with this and regard my arrangements of the Beethoven symphonies as complete at the end of the 3rd movement of the Ninth.” -Franz Liszt
But then only a few months later Liszt had figured out a way to implement the choral section, accomplishing what he thought would be impossible. The Symphony transcriptions that Liszt did are so revered that they are considered to be their own works rather than transcriptions.
“The range achieved by the pianoforte in recent years as a result of progress both in playing technique and in terms of mechanical improvements enables more and better things to be achieved than was previously possible. Through the immense development of its harmonic power the piano is trying increasingly to adopt all orchestral compositions. In the compass of its seven octaves it is able, with only a few exceptions, to reproduce all the characteristics, all the combination, all the forms of the deepest and most profound works of music. It was with this intention that I embark on the work which I now present to the world.”
-Franz Liszt
September 4, 2018
How to Read Music: Free Course (new lesson published: pitch)
The video course, Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music is FREE as I put it together.
So far there are 11 lessons up, with more every couple of days. Today, the lesson on pitch goes live. I’m still working out the design, production flow, and proofreading, so you might spot errors as I dial everything in. If you see something, say something! And thanks.
Even when the whole course goes live (meaning it’ll cost you $49), you’ll have lifetime free access as a small thanks for checking it out, spotting errors, and spreading the word. Or just enjoying it and learning something. No strings attached (musical pun intended).
Looking for more quality free stuff? Whenever I find something, I put it in the weekly newsletter: 6 Bullet Saturday (sign up and get a free book), and I’ll post the free stuff here, too.
September 3, 2018
Lifespan of a Musician: Bar Graph Edition
Each instrument, each musician – your life is mapped out.
Source: The entire lifespan of a musician, broken down into graphs – Classic FM
August 31, 2018
August 24, 2018
Allison Miller: Melodic Drummer
Allison was one of the generous musicians who shared her take on practice with me as I was researching practice for the book, The Practice of Practice.
One of the things she said that stuck with me is that sometimes, for a practice session, she’ll go into it with no plan, no goals beyond getting into “the zone” or a meditative state, or a trance state, or whatever you want to call it. Practice as just playing. A good practice, no pun intended. Everything in moderation, including moderation.
Check out her take on melodic drumming:
Free “How to Read Music” Course (During Development)
When I wrote Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music nearly 20 years ago, there was no book like it. There still isn’t. I gave it away (digitally) for free and I stopped counting years ago, once I’d given away over a million copies all over the globe. Yay, Internet!
Now I’m converting the book into a series of videos, and while I’m refining its look and presentation, it’s free once again!
Once I’ve finished, I’ll have dialed in the look and feel of the course, and I’ll go back and clean up earlier vids to give the whole course some polish, then it’ll be “pay to play.” But if you’ve signed up for the free version, you’re enrolled for life!
If you spot inconsistencies or errors, I’d love to hear about it! Thanks.
Jon
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Overstock Sale: 60% Off Signed Hardcover
Signed hardcover with free shipping for only 10 bucks! Get it here.
Just in time for back-to-school. Too many copies on hand. On sale until they’re all gone! You won’t find a better deal anywhere.
Not sure about what’s inside? Check out the “About the Book” tab above.
Or, get it as an Audiobook or a Kindle eBook. If you’re a first-time Audible customer, you can listen to the whole thing for free.
August 22, 2018
This is Your Brain on Piano – How Lessons Make You a Better Thinker
Piano is GREAT for your brain – check out this choice infographic about how awesome piano lessons are for your brain.
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Source: This is Your Brain on Piano – How Lessons Make You a Better Thinker
