Piano Guidance
Piano Guidance
Photo: Charlotte May
Answer: First thing is to figure out the tonic. Usually a melody ends on its tonic. At any rate it will often return to it, and will usually "cadence" to it with a V-I chord pair. Less formally, the tonic feels like "home." Once you know the tonic, you can tell the mode or scale.
The major and minor scales are the basis for any melody in western music. These foundational patterns have strong links to basic emotions for most...
Read More »
The best guitarists in history: Jimi Hendrix. Eric Clapton. Jeff Beck. Chuck Berry. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Joe Satriani. Steve Vai. Yngwie Malmsteen....
Read More »
Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.
Learn More »Question: How do I know a tune is modal? How can I tell what mode it is in? - Fran Answer: First thing is to figure out the tonic. Usually a melody ends on its tonic. At any rate it will often return to it, and will usually "cadence" to it with a V-I chord pair. Less formally, the tonic feels like "home." Once you know the tonic, you can tell the mode or scale. First thing is to eliminate the possibility that it's just normal major or minor. The major scale you know: it includes a major third above the tonic, a major sixth above the tonic, a major seventh above the tonic. The minor scale has a minor third and minor sixth, and when in its "harmonic" form will raise an ascending 7th to make it like the 7th in major. The "natural minor" won't do that either ascending or descending, and could be called "modal" - it's the Aeolian mode. A commonly heard mode in folk music is Mixolydian: just like the major scale, but that seventh is a whole step below the tonic. The tune "Red Haired Boy" is an example. Another common one is Dorian: just like natural minor, except that the sixth is major instead of minor. Think "Scarborough Fair." You won't often hear Phrygian (starts with a minor second), but might encounter Lydian: Lydian sounds like a major scale except that the 4th degree is augmented - like the white keys of the piano starting on F. So: look in particular for a whole step below the tonic, especially if it's ascending. If the rest of the tune sounds major you're probably in Mixolydian. If the rest of the tune sounds minor you might be in natural (Aeolian) minor, but also could be in Dorian if the 6th is major. Those two will be the main ones encountered in traditional music.
Beginner flutes usually range in cost from $500 to $1000. Intermediate, or step-up flutes usually cost $1,400 to $2,500 and entry level pro flutes...
Read More »
Notes and rhythms, as well as music theory, are based on math. Reading music and counting rhythms require math skills. Studies have shown that...
Read More »Jazz running can allow performers to move greater distances while maintaining balance and without bouncing. In marching band and drum corps, the model used for step size is an 8 to 5 which means that 8 steps are taken to go five yards (the distance between yard lines).
Jazz Running is a unique technique used in marching bands and drum corps that is used to counter a dip in height commonly experienced when covering long distances at speeds that would not be practical for standard marching techniques. Although all marching styles are different, Jazz Running is done by pushing off with a leg, causing the performer to lunge forward, landing on their toes, and pushing off with that leg and so on. Jazz running is different from traditional marching techniques such as the roll step (also known as "glide step") which usually involve keeping both legs as straight as possible and leading each step with the heel and is used widely in corps and military branches. Another common step used by mostly college marching bands involves bending the legs and making sure that the toe is the first part of the foot to leave and to touch the ground. Jazz running can allow performers to move greater distances while maintaining balance and without bouncing. In marching band and drum corps, the model used for step size is an 8 to 5 which means that 8 steps are taken to go five yards (the distance between yard lines). A jazz run usually is not used unless the step size becomes 4 to 5 or larger, but if the distance covered with this step size is small enough, it is possible to traverse it using traditional marching technique but it may feel or look awkward.
There is no definitive reason why our current music notation system is designed as it is today with no B or E sharp, but one likely reason is due...
Read More »
Canada's grade levels compared to other countries Starting age Canada United States 14-15 Grade 9 Grade 9 15-16 Grade 10 Grade 10 16-17 Grade 11...
Read More »
Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.
Learn More »
Ivory tends to develop an attractive yellow-brown patina as it ages. Do not attempt to remove this patina as it is part of its history, similar to...
Read More »
No matter when you begin piano, you can have the enjoyment of playing an instrument, plus all the great mental, physical, and emotional benefits....
Read More »
Promotion
Promotion