Our posts this week represent the huge diversity of music today! If you want to learn out about minor chord progressions, develop your ear for rhythm or get tips on hearing the difference between the bassline or melody we have you covered.
For performers who struggle with stage fright we’ve got some tips for you to be more comfortable on stage, and if your goal is to be a great performer but you are not sure how to get there, we have a fantastic post on the two types of goal you need to know about. We also interview music therapist Kat Fulton for insights on the power of music to heal and nurture. Let’s start there!
Unlocking Natural Musicality Through Music Therapy
Music is unique in its power to to move us literally and emotionally. Music therapists take advantage of this special power and use musical activities to help heal, teach and nurture people. This week we interviewed Kat Fulton founder of MusicTherapyEd.com to gain some insights into the world of music therapy. Read her interview to find out who becomes a music therapist, what kinds of situation can music therapy be useful in, and why is it that music has a power for therapy in Unlocking Natural Musicality Through Music Therapy.
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a music therapist is like? Chiltern Music Therapy takes you through a typical day in this video.
The healing power of music reaches even the most seemingly hard-to-reach people. The Ms. Print Online Magazine points to the incredible story of dementia patient Henry Dryer’s remarkable response to music therapy.
Stage Fright!
It can happen to anyone, even professional performers. Even though we all wish we didn’t feel any anxiety when performing, did you know that adrenaline pumping around our bodies which causes the symptoms of stage fright can actually help enhance our stage presence? Read these five tips on how to become more comfortable on stage.
You know the feeling: you either want to run away or stay and fight. Anxiety on stage is no different. Musician’s Way gives some helpful advice for understanding the physiology of stage fright and how to overcome it.
And as comedian and jazz singer Rosemary Watson put it: “if all else fails, just remember nobody died singing a song.” Get more great advice from her on how to be comfortable on stage.
Minor Chord Progressions
Although most popular music is based around major chord progressions, minor chords are commonly featured and are often what makes the music more interesting. Whether you are planning to write a scary movie soundtrack or simply want to spice up your major compositions get the basics of minor chord progressions here.
If you are interested in learning more about natural minor chord progressions, have a look at this online lesson from Fretjam including color-coded chord charts and some great ear training exercises. Guitar Habits can also guide you through the building of minor chords with easy formulas to create your own chords.
Developing Your Rhythmic Ears
Rhythm is the gas in the music engine that makes your body move and your head nod. Honing our rhythmic perception gives us greater enjoyment and clarity as we create and listen to music. Join us in exploring aritists’ use of rhythms, from simple to wild, in Developing Your Rhythmic Ears.
For more rhythm ear training, have a look at this ear training video from Gregg Fine. In it, you are given exercises to hear if a rhythmic pattern is ahead, center or behind the beat.
Tenor saxophonist Bill Plake knows firsthand the importance of having a good ear for pitch in music, especially jazz. But what about your “other” ear? Your rhythmic ear? Is that being trained as well?
How about a wee bit of rhythm theory fun? Have a go at this quiz from String Quest and see if you can complete the measure!
Process Goals vs. Outcome Goals
Goal setting is an important skill to learn to focus your musical practice and become the musician you dream of being. Often the destination is clear but the journey seems misty. Learn how to set process goals that will lead you step-by-step to your dream destination and get on track: Process Goals vs. Outcome Goals for Musicians.
The importance of goal-setting cannot be understated. The Bulletproof Musician lays out clear principles for effective goal-setting and Notable Values advises: “The more you align your goals with your values, the more you will be motivated to work towards your goal”. Get more advice in their blogpost Goal Setting for Musicians.
Bassline or Melody?
You might think that distinguishing the bassline from the melody in a given piece of music is an easy task, but the two often blur together making it difficult to pick them apart. There are some tricks though to help you separate the two. Here we have four ways to help you hear the difference and some real music examples to practice with.
According to Study Bass, the Bass is the most misunderstood instrument because of its wide range of pitches. In this lesson they discuss the difference between the bassline and melody.
I hope you are inspired to set some goals to help your ear training and musicianship develop this week. For more free resources and some more light-hearted musical fun, don’t forget to like the Easy Ear Training and Musical U Facebook pages or follow us on Twitter.
