Comments for Music ... playing and teaching

Comment on Brunswick Maine Naval Air Show by Brunswick Maine Naval Air Show

Brunswick Maine Naval Air Show — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:53:17 +0000

[...] Go to the author’s original blog: Brunswick Maine Naval Air Show [...]

Comment on Lesson Plan by standupfclef

standupfclef — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:28:34 +0000

Hi Tommy, Play in Pitch is an ear training method that I have developed for my violin, viola, string bass, and cello students. It is a simple and very effective way for my students to play along to a CD of scales and scale exercises to promote ear training. At first he student plays to match the pitch of the recorded scales and later moves on to harmonizing with the scales. I will soon have this effective method available to students and teachers of the violin, viola, and cello.

Comment on Lesson Plan by Tommu Dodge

Tommu Dodge — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:11:55 +0000

Hi, I’ve been a violin student for 6 years. I haven’t heard of the play in pitch method. Please tell me more about it.
Tommy D.

Later D

Comment on True Pitch by standupfclef

standupfclef — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:15:51 +0000

Hi Paul
Yes, a very good point. I am very aware of the need for proper warm up before accomplishing any physical task at hand. My wife is a personal trainer as well as a vocalist and she stresses all the time the need for proper warm-up before any physical task and that includes vocal work. As a working musician of close to 30 years I am aware of Dr. Comeau’s comments about improper technique and warm-up. To quote the good doctor;
“Many musical careers are ended because of limb and joint pain. Musicians can develop tendinitis, back problems and excruciating pain in fingers and hands, limiting their ability to work. These problems often start with students and are not restricted to professionals. We believe that we need an approach to this type of problem, and that’s why pedagogy is focusing on better posture and trying to promote better use of the body in general.”
As an up-right bass player of over 40 years I definitely am aware of warming up properly before executing the demands placed upon my muscles and skeletal frame when playing this physically demanding instrument.
Another very good read is from by Selma Gokcen with the article,
The Well-Tempered Cellist — Part 3. A must read if you’re interested in the physical aspect of playing an instrument. The article can be found at:
http://www.cello.org/Newsletter/Articles/tempered/tempered3.htm
The post you are commenting on was just an over view of my lesson plan. By this weekend I hope to post a more in-depth approach to a 30-minute lesson plan.

Comment on To Play It Sing It by standupfclef

standupfclef — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:51:42 +0000

Oh yes … this is not new and has been around longer then I’ll every know. Probably since the time of the beginning of thoughtful music.

Comment on To Play It Sing It by jamiahsh

jamiahsh — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:29:01 +0000

Imagine that…. I seem to recall a very similar technique back in the day

Comment on True Pitch by Paul R.

Paul R. — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:09:26 +0000

Hi, “standupfclef”
I know that what you said about warming up with scales and arpeggios is what we have all been doing, historically, but we need to revise it, nevertheless: dr. Gilles Comeau from Ottawa found in his research that doing scales and arpeggios for a warm-up is for the musician like starting with a sprint for a fast runner. (This research was done with respect to piano, but it’s the same basic idea.) To do so – safely – demands from us well-prepared hands in the first place. In other words, this tenet of instrumental learning looks like one of the direct causes of our playing-related health problems.

Comment on Happy Fathers Day by jamiahsh

jamiahsh — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:23:00 +0000

thanks for sharing that. I believe that everyone everywhere in whatever they do have someone who has had a huge impact on them.

Comment on Some More Talented Musicians by Manny

Manny — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:21:57 +0000

oh come on Dave that picture is horrible horrible. Ha Ha Ha

Comment on Spring Recital ‘08 by jamiahsh

jamiahsh — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:02:55 +0000

Humbling but exciting and rewarding all at once. And Mini-You, too.