Musica

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This is such a great lesson plan since it relates to music that some students listen to frequently. To be able to look at the music they listen to in a deeper way and then use these observations to make their own rap I think is amazing.

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General Music

I remember hearing in high school about how much people hated general music. Which is really sad I think. Most of these students don't play or think they're capable of playing a musical instrument and take this class. Yet from what I've heard it tends to be boring and bothersome. For a lot of students this is the first time that music is taught to them so it's kinda sad that they have this experience.

I think one of the ways to teach general music that would be awesome would be to teach it with and through technology. While students may not feel comfortable playing an instrument nowadays we feel really comfortable using technology. So why not learn how to make music with it?

That would be a very fun interactive way of teaching general music. Instead of just showing students instruments and telling them about it. Why not letting them hear what they sound like and using garage band and other programs to compose for them? The possibilities are endless. If anything I'd say general music is probably one of the best music courses out there to experiment with music technology. 

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Making Music Videos

I wanted to talk a little about the idea of making music videos.

I had thought about making music videos before but never really had the motivation or enough of an incentive to get started. Then in Mus 243 one of the projects we had to do was make a music video.

I was glad to get started. I was thinking very simply about making a video. Basically just record yourself playing and put it up. Then we learned about different types of music videos and I thought it was awesome. 

There are so many different things that you can do with music videos you can use special effects, multi track, create an interesting story. The possibilities are endless. You could even collaborate with someone from around the world if you wanted to. Amazing.

Once I realized this I started watching some of the music videos that other musicians put up on YouTube. It's amazing how professional a lot of these videos are and how creative and unique they are to each member. I'd definitely encourage every musicians to look into making YouTube music videos. Challenge yourself to make at least one so that you get a glimpse of the possibilities offered. :)

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Your Sound?

I remember one of the most interesting conversations I had with my cello teacher in high school. She was talking about how we each have our own sound as musicians in the same way that we each have our own personalities. It thought it was such a great idea.

If I'm listening to the same piece played by two different cellists. She explained how she could tell the difference between some of her favorite cellists. Because they have different sounds. Something about their sound that is unique to them and makes it possible to identify them. 

My cello teacher talked frequently about how the reason we practice and learn music is to find our sound. That is what we are searching for. I think it's such an amazing to look for your sound. In a sense to find your voice through an instrument.

She talked about playing cello as an exploration of oneself. I know this might all sound mushy and hippie like. But I really like the idea that we each have inside of us our own sound and that we are working to find it. Wouldn't it be awesome to think of our musical journey as discovering ourselves?

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Music = Life

Music is such an amazing journey. For me it was my support, my mentor, and my connection.

We've all gone through difficult moments through our lives. Most tend to be about a loss of control. For me it was no different. When nothing seemed to be going right and there was nothing that I could do about it I focused on what I could control. Music. I knew that if I practiced I would improve there was no doubt about that. So it become my anchor through difficult times. Because if nothing else music was something that I could do something I could control. And I think that for many of us that's what sports and the arts provide for us. Music supported me through difficult moments.

Music opens so many doors to different opportunities. Before I had joined orchestra in high school I had never really been aware of classical music. But once I had a little bit of it I immersed myself in it. I would go watch the Chicago Symphony Orchestra all the time, to the Grant Park Music Festival. It opened so many doors for me. And for each door I opened three more opened. It was amazing and the journey is endless. Music is a sanctuary where you can immerse yourself in so many different worlds. 

Music connects all of us. I think probably one of the most amazing things that music can do is allow us to experience something out of our lives or reality. I've never really experienced heart breaking pain but yet with some songs the lyrics reach me and make me feel the way they feel. The music allows me to experience a reality other than my own. That's by far the best. It connects so many people by connecting us by our emotions. Our ability to empathize and feel.

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Failure?

I remember how crazy I would get whenever I listened to a recording of me playing anything. Whether it be guitar or cello a classical song or a pop song. I couldn't help but notice all the mistakes that I make. I thought of it as failure if it wasn't perfect.

And it's so frustrating and almost kind of embarrassing to listen to myself through recordings. I think one of the best ways to deal with listening to mistakes and failure is to think of them in two ways:

1. It's just where you were then

2. A failure is an opportunity

The first is basically realizing that your mistakes don't define you. Even in the moment that you are listening to a recording of yourself you are not that person anymore. That was you in the past.

Music is a lifelong journey it isn't something that ever ends. Even the most amazing musicians were still learning till their last days. So any recording or audition or any other performance that crosses your path doesn't define you as a musician. It was only where you were along your musical journey at that time. If you look at things in terms of your whole life one performance where you made a mistake and think you failed doesn't seem so terrible huh?

The second point is looking at every mistake as an opportunity. Instead of thinking "man I messed up real badly" think "what do I need to work on there?". Make failure an opportunity for learning and growing. Our lives are full of failure and each one is an opportunity to grow. To get up on your feet dust yourself off and keep going. 

Failure isn't failure until you give up.

Keep trying. Anything worth having won't come easy. :)

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Want to Jam?

The other day I was thinking about how in high school most of my music activities were very informal and fun. They were people who were doing these programs to have fun and enjoy themselves. I'll tell you guys a bit of two of them.

ASM- We brought instrumentalists and singers togethers. Depending on the theme such as Soul Train, Gospel, Brazilian, and other styles we picked songs to fit. We arranged parts for the instruments that there wasn't music for. Singers worked to be great performers and get the audience going. At the end we would put on a performance for friends and family which was always fun and amazing.

Rondalla- We played a variety of romantic mexican songs. We worked on creating interesting harmonies in the voices and short melodies on the guitars. It was a lot of fun and we played at several parties and some church events. A lot of fun. 

I think the amazing thing about both these musical activities is that it was very important to have fun and to get the audience to have a good time to. Both were very chill. Programs like these are so essential and important.

Music is fun. And sometimes in more formal settings the fun can be lost. I think that as music educators we shouldn't look at these programs as a waste of time that students could be spending practicing on their own. Instead we should see these programs as a way to foster a students love and passion for music as well as ability to play and work with other musicians. We have a lot to learn from these programs.

If we want students to take interest in music education we should take make it interesting for them. What better way then to learn from the programs out there that students are already involving themselves in?

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Go Beyond a little bit more.

Since coming to the University I've been to focused on catching up with everyone that classical music was all that was in my sights for a while. And it seemed to be all that was taught for the most part. Then one day I happened to hear Sunshine of your Love from one of the neighboring rooms. I remembered how we played an arrangement of that song in my orchestra in high school.

The reason orchestra in high school was so fun was because of the variety of music that the orchestra teacher let us do. We did classical of course but we did some jazz, rock, and folk music too. It was awesome. 

It was so great because it took classical instruments out of their contexts and into more popular mainstream contexts. Because of that people felt more comfortable playing their "classical" instruments in more chill setting like jam sessions and coffeehouse.

I think that if as music educators we go beyond teaching classical music to teach other styles that the students are interested in not only will we motivate and inspire our students. But we will also let the music reach more people. Let's spread music to everyone. :D

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Practice

Dread. Worry. Pressure.

These may be some of the feelings that pop up when you hear the word practice or realize you haven't done it for the day. I know for me this is definitely true. It's interesting how despite the fact that I love music practicing seems like such a chore for me.

I've thought a lot about how to get over the idea I have of practicing. I think the best way that I've been dealing with is by remembering why I want to practice. If you ask yourself why? It makes things easier. Do you want to play well to communicate your feelings to your audience? Do you want the notes to ring and make people turn their heads? Once you realize your objective practicing stops becoming so tedious.

If you think of it as "ugh I have to practice today" it seems that practicing is the objective and because it isn't the most enjoyable thing to do you'll drag your feet to get started. But if you think of it as "I'm going to go work on making people's heads turn" it sounds much more appealing.

This is how I manage to motivate myself to practice. Another great way of doing it is start small. With scales or a piece you feel comfortable with so that the dread goes away then get to work. I think practicing is a lot like doing any chore they're not that bad once you get started.

So what are you waiting for? Go practice. :D

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I really like this song. I love the rhythm and variety. And the melody is catchy. It makes want to dance. I like Ottmar's flamenco it's considered newer flamenco. I really like it. And the guitar rhythms and melodies just make me melt. In case you guys haven't noticed I have a sweet spot for amazing spanishy guitar music.

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This is probably one of my favorite songs. It combines two things I really like. Yo Yo Ma's playing and Astor Piazzola's music. It's heaven. 

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I remember thinking at one point that cellists couldn't look cool playing. Then I came across these two. Man was I off. Awesome music. Ridiculous skills. Check it out. 

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This is a great song. It's merengue. It's one of those songs that whenever it plays at family parties everyone breaks into song and starts dancing. An amazing song. I don't think they've ever not played it at our family parties. Enjoy! Dance!

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This is a great song! I played this at one point in a guitar ensemble. It was a lot of fun. I love the break in the middle where it sounds really jazzy. Gets to me every time. :D

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This is one of the first songs I learned on guitar. And my mom's favorite. I like the guitar in it. It's a bachata song. Hope you guys enjoy it.

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Luis Fonsi- El Corazon en la Maleta

This is a song I've been listening to recently. (I kinda have it on repeat right now) It has such a catchy beat. And I love the chorus. Check it out. 

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This is such a great article that brings clarity to some misconceptions about teaching singing to young children. It talks about having children learn how to sing in schools the way the did before. I think this is a great article. Enlightening and interesting.