Theory Joke

One of my students told me a new theory joke today (with some embellishments by me).

A theory professor fell asleep on the couch after a hard day at work. But nightmares about his students' sight singing exercises made him toss and turn, eventually causing him to roll off of the couch. He stood up and announced:

Mi Fa La Fa Sol Fa.

Time killers

Even though Eszter didn't label this as one of her Time sinks, it still is. The harmonics variations and microtones are particularly interesting. The former create very subtle melodies in the upper partials. I also like the hand cranked variation, playing backwards and forwards.

Ballad to friendship

I'm listening to Billy Joel's "James" from Turnstiles. It is about his childhood friend who he hasn't seen for several years. The music is a 70's style ballad, a style that is usually used for romantic lyrics. Is anyone aware of other ballads devoted to platonic friendship?

FriPod: La La Land

I offer my apologies for the lack of posts this week. I've been interviewing candidates for the music librarian position, having meetings and reading files for the dean of the School of Music search, and advising students for next semester's courses. I should be back online more next week. In the meantime, I've decided to provide helpful links to my iPod listings.

La bella Franceschina King's Singers
La Bignani Giovanni Cavaccio
La bomba Mateo Flecha
La Création Du Monde, Op. 81 Milhaud
La Feliciana a 4 Adriano Banchieri
La Fiesta Chick Corea
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin Debussy
La Gentile a 4 Andrea Cima
La Guerre Clément Janequin & Philippe Verdelot
La Malvezza a 4 Antonio Mortaro
La Marchande de Fleurs Turina
La Mer Debussy
La Morari Giovanni Cavaccio
La morra Heinrich Isaac
La Novella Andrea Cima
La Réjouissance George Friedrich Handel
La Traviata - Variations Maurice André/Verdi
La Tricotea Samartin la vea King's Singers
La Vie En Rose Louis Armstrong/Mack David-Louiguy/Edith Piaf
La, la, la ie ne lose dire Pierre Certon

How to use a textbook

As part of my natural Satan-spawned evilness, I assigned my seminar students to write reviews of their textbooks during their week-long fall break. One thing I realized is that I don't emphasize how to use textbooks enough in class. Here are things the students should be doing, and usually aren't.

1. Play the examples on the CDs while following the score excerpts. If CDs aren't provided, look in the well-stocked music library.
   
2. Even better, play the examples on the piano or sing them.
   
3. Then read the descriptions again, check to see if you understand.
   
4. Work on the practice exercises and check your answers in the back of the book.
5. Look up words you don't know in the glossary or in other reference books.
6. Look up composers or pieces you don't know, listen to recordings and look at scores.
   
7. Read the explanations in the beginning of the chapter, especially if you are struggling with the topic. (For the first-year students, that would be the Aural Skills book.)
8. Don't wait for an invitation from the professor to read from the book. Read ahead, or behind, as your curiosity and/or confusion impell you.
9. Also read the next chapter before the professor lectures on the topic, and then read it again after the lecture.
   
10. Highlight, underline, or write in margins. It is your textbook, so don't be shy.

Civilized debate

From Michael Bérubé I found out about Chris Clarke's plight. I had read a few of Chris' posts before, especially the haunting one about his step-father, the serial killer. In my seminar class we talk about how to discuss music, including a formal debate as part of the class. Real life does not usually use the rules of competetive debate, yet we do agree on certain socially-acceptable rules. One is that threats of violence are taboo. These threats are attempts to censure, and censure always stems from fear. Thus a person entering a debate/argument/discussion should be unafraid to be confronted by an idea. The commentor on Chris' blog clearly was not ready to wrestle with the ideas Chris expounded, and unfortunately Chris and his readers have to pay the price for that commentor's fear. My condolences to all involved.

FriPod: Random edition

"I Got Rhythm" - Lester Young
New Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 65 - 3. An Jeder Hand Die Finger - Brahms
"At the End of the Day" - Les Misérables Original Broadway Cast
Wissahickon poeTrees: 8.clocking Through Time - Jennifer Higdon
Capriccio Espagnol - Rimsky-Korsakov
The Creation: Day 5 - Haydn
Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima - Penderecki
Concerto no. 3 in D: II. Vivace - Telemann (Hardenberger)
Ave verum corpus, K. 618 - Mozart
English Suite No. 6 in D minor: Double - J.S. Bach
Sonate: 2 Sostenuto e pesante - Bartók