Category Archives: Theory
Theory exams when the student is ready
Imagine. Writing a theory exam when the student is ready – and at their convenience. Not being tied to those May/August/Dec or Jan scheduled exams. One more reason to choose Conservatory Canada as an exam system in Canada. New are … Continue reading
Posted in Examinations, Theory
Tagged Classical music, Conservatory Canada, Music theory, theory exams
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Okay. I’ll share my secret.
None of my students ever get the interval of a minor sixth wrong on the ear test portion of the exams. Ever. Forget the sappy Love Story tune. So not appealing to anyone under the age of 40. Maybe even … Continue reading
You don’t have to understand music…
…to enjoy music. A warm, inspiring video about the enjoyment of music. A reminder to those of us who teach to not let the theoretical stuff crowd out the love and beauty and joy. _________________________________________________________ Thank you to pianoaddict for … Continue reading
Posted in General, Inspirational, Theory
Tagged Circle of fifths, Classical music, enjoyment of music, Music, Music theory, music video, resonance
11 Comments
Yes. I’m the geek.
__________________________________________________________ Image source: flutesbringit
Posted in Music Humour, Theory
Tagged Christmas, christmas music, Music, music humor, Music Humour, music notation, Music theory, sleigh ride
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Slow down, guys
Ritardando [It.; abbr. rit., ritard.]. Gradually slowing in speed, also indicated by rallentando. Ritenuto properly calls for immediate reduction in speed. (Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music) Image: A Composer’s Thoughts
Posted in Music Humour, Theory
Tagged harvard concise dictionary of music, music humor, music terms, rallentando, rit, ritardando, ritenuto
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The stratospheric note
I learned a new word this week. Apogee: n. 1 the point in a celestial body’s orbit where it is furthest from the earth. 2 the most distant or highest point. apogean adj… away from earth. (Oxford) “…she had herself learned … Continue reading
Posted in Theory, Uncategorized
Tagged Celine Dion, Jennifer Rush, Power of Love, the blue light project, timothy taylor
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Do I deserve to play a game?
One of my new students is insatiably curious. He catches on instantly and is able to extend(?) his knowledge and transfer(?) – infer(?) – extrapolate(?) the new bits of information (there’s an educational term for this – it escapes me). … Continue reading
Posted in Games, Piano pedagogy, Theory
Tagged Harpsichord, note names, Piano pedagogy, Pianotekneek notebox
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Jaws and Trills
Friday night, with my daughter, I watched Jaws for the first time in my life. It came out when I was in my teens and simply everybody went to see it – standing in line-ups that went around the block … Continue reading
Posted in Piano pedagogy, Practice Tips, Technic, Theory
Tagged Finger exercises, Mozart, Music Humour, Piano pedagogy, Practice Tips, Rhythm Drills, Theory, trill exercise
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On the “lowering of standards”
The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), Canada’s largest exam system, recently announced changes to the theory requirements for their diploma, the Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT). I jumped for joy, in a manner of speaking, when I … Continue reading
Posted in Business of Teaching, Examinations, Theory
Tagged ARCT, ARCT Theory Requirements, RCM exams, Royal Conservatory of Music
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Pre-music* and the devil’s interval
The tritone – that interval of 3 whole tones (augmented fourth/diminished fifth) – harsh, dissonant, one of the cornerstones of our music since about 1600 because of its tension and then demand for a sweet release. Those two notes (F-B) … Continue reading
Too. Much. Paper.
Walls are re-painted. Most stuff on the walls has been stashed away. Music has been sorted, culled, and given away. Time to tackle the paper. And ditch the guilt. The plethora of music theory resources – so much of it … Continue reading
Posted in Business of Teaching, Method Books, Performance Classes, Theory
Tagged Circle of fifths, Music theory
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