GRADES

It will be Thursday before the grades get posted into Banner (I have a funeral to attend this afternoon).

HOWEVER:

1. All the grades - even the Kamien Connect grades, are in the Vista gradebook. You can type them into the downloadable gradebook [an excel spreadsheet I've placed in Vista]
2. The final exam has been graded as well.
3. The concert reports that were turned in have been graded - they are all in my mailbox in the MCA office, inside a folder. Ask the secretary about them - and be nice. She has a difficult week this week with all the end-of-semester stuff she has to handle! 

THE LISTENING:

1. Slow Ride in a fast machine by John Adams - on your CDs. 20th C. The syncopation and instrumentation were clues, as was the use of the synth [but that's a bit tricky to hear] .
2. "Great is Thy Faithfulness" on piano - JAZZ. I mentioned to someone that it was my recording, but that is NOT true [ I forgot which file I'd uploaded]. This is a recording by a phenomenal pianist named Cyrus Chestnut. Check him out @ http://www.cyruschestnut.net!
3. Concerto Grosso #1 1985 by Zwilich-Taffe. 20th C, built around a theme by Haydn... so is a mix of 20th C. and Baroque [a.k.a. "quotation music"].
4. "Mars", from THE PLANETS by Holst. This is late Romantic orchestral music, but does foreshadow some 20th C techniques, as some of you heard. Many of you saw it as a movie score - a very programmatic thing!
5. Minimalism #2, by.......THIS CLASS! This was the recording we did the other day. I was a bit surprised at the number of people who DIDN'T catch that. See http://www.last.fm/music/Tom+Rule/Music+Appreciation+Experiments to listen to all we recorded that day.

More news later.........

Our Recordings - online!

The Aleatoric and Minimalism pieces we recorded the other day have [finally!] been edited and posted online.

Surf over to

http://www.last.fm/music/Tom+Rule/Music+Appreciation+Experiments

This semester's tracks are at the top of the album. You can download them, stash them wherever, use them to annoy siblings/pets, etc. Share the links with your family/neighbors/pet hamster/favorite enemy......!

Feel free to compare your version with other class' versions!

Some notes regarding Vista, Final Exam

Some tidbits:

1. After signing into Vista, click on Assessments. You should see a  list of the exams. Click on one, and you can see the questions, your answer, plus the correct answer.
2. This is also how you'll see how you did on the Final Exam listening - I'll be adding text in the comment box for each listening question.
3. The gradebook in Vista is a bit annoying for you guys - it shows spaces for several years worth of previous tests. Basically, just look for items [tests, scores, etc] that have a number beside them. Ignore everything else.
4. I'd explain why it's that way, but you'd be bored, and we're dropping Vista in another week anyway!
5. There is a grade spreadsheet available in Vista where you can manually type in your grade and it will calculate it for you.
6. Final Exam: new questions from 20th Century after 1945 section, plus jazz, plus the Music Biz/Tech stuff covered over the semester.....between 1 and 34,745 questions.
1. 
   
7. Final Exam listening: Could be anything on the planet that has ever been recorded. This is the question you'll see on each one: "What era is this piece from? Why do you think so?"
8. Get a handle on the basic musical characteristics of each period - that will be a good starting place. More information about your thinking is MUCH better than less.
9. In other words: Longer answers are probably a better choice, unless you can positively identify the piece. That automatically gets you the points.
10. DO NOT PANIC!

See you Monday.

Vista Grades

I just updated the Vista gradebook with Concert Report scores, Presentation Scores, and number of absences.

Check them - if something is missing or incorrect, it is YOUR responsibility to let me know!

Concert Report Deadlines

Concert Reports are due at today's class [Wed]
EXCEPT:

1. If you attended Tuesday's MSC Chamber Singers concert, turn in your concert report NO LATER THAN 11:59pm Friday night [12/7/12]. Put in my mailbox in the MCA office, OR email it to me.

2. If you attend the Thursday night Joey Stuckey Band thing at the Sports Hall of Fame [$10/ticket, starts @ 7:30] turn in your concert reports at the Final Exam Monday.

Test 3 scores and comments

I just posted the test scores AND updated the presentation score, concert reports scores, and the absences in the Vista gradebook.

 Below are the comments about 20th century - interesting stuff!

When we come back we'll finish up 20th Century with the "After 1945" segment, then some jazz.....and possibly some recording!

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Did you like or dislike the 20th century stuff? Why?

I enjoyed the 20th Century music because it included a diverse group of artists that took other cultures music and blended them together in a new form. I delight in the music that can make me feel as if I'm traveling and exposes me to sounds of foreign lands. 
 
I enjoyed the 20th century listening a lot. My favorite composer would definitely be Claude Debussy. He music is just absolutely beautiful, and he really was the foundation for other impressionist artist. 

20th century music for me was difficult to understand. I did however develop a new appreciation for music because of it. 
 
I like some of it, but others like poeme electronique and shard where just a bunch of sounds are put together sound terrible to me. They just come off as annoying in my opinion.

I did like most of the twentieth century stuff, although, some of it I would not listen to on the regular, but I understand where there composers are coming from. I did enjoy listening to the music, even though I could not differentiate the different pieces as well as I thought I would be able to. I guess I need to restructure my listenning study technique. 

I didn't like what I heard, mostly. It seemed like the composers were focused on being different more than producing quality. There were some great tunes, but nothing that was transcending the times as was in Mozart or Beethoven's stuff. Experimentation is the defning feature of that era to me. 

Yes, i enjoyed the pieces. Well first off I was laready a fan of Copeland. I loved listening to "Fanfare for the Common Man" on long car trips. Also when I hear his music it just feels so "American." Secondly I am a sucker for brass and strings music. The Stravinksy piece relied very heavily on brass and in some ways reminded me of the theme from Jaws. Now while the Mendelssohn(sp) piece was a romantic piece I also enjoyed it because of the wonderful string orchestra working together. Lastly, without people like Stravinsky and Varese, I wouldn't be able to enjoy artists like Skrillex and Deadmau5. 

Yes, though it is not something I usually listen I have learned the beauty in it (well some of the pieces). It has really broadened my ear for music.

I did like the 20 century songs better than the romatic songs. They to me seemed to be easier to listen to than the songs of the romantic period. Some of the songs of the 20 century were very familar to me being a trumpet player and former member of high school and a colligiate marching band, so for me some I personally had experience in playing them in a concert setting. My favorite of all the songs would probably have to be Simple Gifts Variations because that was actually one of the songs from my freshmen year in high schhol that was a part of our halftime show. 

Yes. I liked the 20th Century better than any of the listening that we have done. My mom is sucker for 20th Century music. A lot of this I have listened to in my highschool mornings getting ready for school because she would have it playing throught our home. I am a sucker for alot of brass instruments. I love hearing some strong brass in concerts. There is something about the 20th Century that hits home about being an American. Do not get me wrong, I do enjoy the other composers and music as well, but just the fact that it is American I think I am partial. 

No because it had some off the wall stuff that made me want to bang my head. Yes because some things sounded familiar to me and just music that I could enjoy 

I liked some of the 20th century pieces like Aaron Copeland's pieces because of the ability of his works to express America as a nationality. The ability of expressing, not just an emotion, but a country is interesting to me. I disliked the more abstract pieces such as the Poema Elecronic because it's harsh dissonant meaningless sounds were cool but were NOT music. Some may consider it to be music but I did not. It was just electronic sounds. I really liked Chopin even though he was not a 20th century composer.. He is my favorite our of those we have studied in the chapter.  

It was ok. I liked the romantic music better because it was easier to identify. Then again, the 20th century was easier to follow along to. 

Yes! The 20th century period was very interesting and knowledgeable thanks to you. You helped me understand the different "isms" that took place. Learning about different Afro-American composers was very informative and understanding exactly where the music came from. 

I like the 20th century stuff because, it didn't sound alike! 

I enjoyed it because music began to modernize as the world was also modernizing. The influence that jazz music has had on the music industry to this day is amazing. 

I enjoyed it. Most of the music we had on our listening CDs were songs that I had somewhat already heard. I love the Symphonies that Beethoven produced they are some of my favorite. 

I liked it! I liked how it introduces in many ways the progression into todays genres. Jazz concepts played with an orchestra is very odd and interesting to me. Its cool. 

I like the 20th century stuff because it is more diverse and easier to tell songs apart from one another, although some of it was a bit strange. 

Honestly, I dislike all the 20th century material, even the Romantic material, as well as the Baroque, Classical, and medieval. It's just hard for me to get into the music. I can possibly say that the only true song that I almost enjoy was Erlking, other than that, it was just hard for me to get into the music and thoroughly enjoy it. Maybe it is because it is not like the stuff I normally listen to, which is to me a wide range of music (rap, hip-hop, R&B, country, etc.). It just has this truely old timey feeling that my brain just seems to want to reject my ears from really tuning into it. I did better in remembering the Medieval music better than I did both the Romantic and the 20th century stuff. What I will say is that I did like that in the 20th century, they did help pave the way for musicians today to be able to do what they do, with beginning the constraints of copyrights and being able to record music, as well as sampling music from the past eras.  

NO CLASS TODAY 11/12/2012

I have no voice! I have either bronchitis or a sinus infection or the "Macon Crud" or whatever....in any case, no class today.

TEST WEDNESDAY, in PSC 109

The test will be over Romantic & 20th Century up to 1945 - i.e. the section titled 1945 and after will be covered on the final [along with jazz].

 

Vista news

I just updated the Presentation scores and Absences columns in the gradebook. You might want to pop into Vista and make sure the numbers there are correct!


We are at week #9 out of 14 in the semester. 

I have had ZERO concert reports to grade thus far.

This is not a good thing for either of us!

Those who have ears, let them hear.....

Test 2 news

It has been graded. You should be able to see your grade in Vista.

If you can't PLEASE let me know!

CURVE:
Vista says the test is worth 80 points. I'm curving this one [DON'T GET USED TO THIS!].
It will actually count 73 points.

So use 73 when typing in your score into the grade spreadsheet or when calculating your percentage score.

You HAVE downloaded the spreadsheet so you can keep track of your grades in this class, yes?

MusApp Test 2: Monday 10/15 in PSC 109

1. There are between 3 and 59,214.4 questions on the test.
2. ... and 18 listening items.
3. The extra credit is a piece you've never heard before. You are to decide which era it is from and tell my WHY you think so.
4. I suggest you know the musical characteristics of these eras, so you can make an intelligent decision!
5. I am sneaky and have been known to put different sections of the same piece on a test. You have been warned!
6. The listening is indeed online as before. It's at a different URL, so don't bother checking the previous one.
7. BRING EARBUDS / HEADPHONES!

Beethoven's 5th Symphony - 7 versions

As I said in class, the 5th Symphony - especially the 1st movement - has become extraordinarily famous. Nowadays we'd say this has become an internet meme, but obviously it predates the internet!

Here is some indication of how famous the 1st movement has become, as evidenced by these clips from youtube [of course!]

---

First, the Peter Schickele/PDQ Bach version - the live sportscast!

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2: Sid Ceasar, an argument done LIVE on camera in the 1950's.

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3: Three Redneck Tenors, from their America's Got Talent appearance.

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4: Again, the Three Redneck Tenors, in their live show

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5: There was even a DISCO version - seriously, it hit the charts and stayed there for a loooong time!

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6: ...and of course, the requisite DubStep version

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7: There was even an ELO version of "Roll Over Beethoven" that incorporated the theme.

Concert News

Tonight's Mercer Piano Concert CANCELLED due to illness.

MERCER
From http://www2.mercer.edu/Music/calendar.htm

October Mercer Concerts
18-20 - Thurs.-Sat. Mercer University Opera presents
The Toy Shop
Martha Malone, director

21 - Sunday Hallelujah, Handel
Choral Society of Middle Georgia and Mercer University Choir
David Keith, conductor
Mulberry Street United Methodist Church
719 Mulberry Street, Macon
Tickets: $10 general admission/$8 stuents, seniors and military - Purchase at the door

23 - Tuesday Guest and Faculty Artist Recital
Lenora Green, soprano
Carol Goff, piano

26 - Friday Fabian Concert Series
Emerson String Quartet
Eugene Drucker, violin
Philip Setzer, violin
Lawrence Dutton, viola
David Finckel, cello
Tickets: $12/One free ticket with Mercer ID
Reserved seating: Call (478) 301-5470 to purchase

30 - Tuesday Mercer University Orchestra
Ward Stare, conductor


GCSU
http://events.gcsu.edu/concerts

The Georgia Woodwind Quartet
Featuring:
Angela Jones-Reus, flute
Jean Martin-Williams, horn
Reid Messich, oboe
D. Ray McClellan, clarinet
Amy Marinello, bassoon
When
October 2nd, 2012 7:30 PM through 8:30 PM
Location
Max Noah Recital Hall
United States
Contact
Phone: 478-445-8289

David Johnson, violin; Gregory Pepetone, piano
When
October 15th, 2012 7:30 PM through 8:30 PM
Location
Max Noah Recital Hall
United States
Contact
Phone: 478-445-8289

Faculty Brass Recital
Christopher Probst, trumpet
Clifford Towner, trumpet
Joshua Crook, French horn
Maureen Horgan, French horn
Eric Bubacz, tuba
When
October 24th, 2012 7:30 PM through 8:30 PM
Location
Max Noah Recital Hall
United States
Contact
Phone: 478-445-8289


Something Completely Different
http://www.incredibox.com/?music=50730600DFE67

One Thurd Video....aaaaand....

http://youtu.be/HOPIduZWHYk

The whole idea of doing "rhythmic speech" is actually pretty old - here's a video of Rex Harrison, in "My Fair Lady", doing essentially the same thing.......sorta!

Rex was constantly being cast in musical, but he felt he could not sing that well, so he developed this type of rhythmic speech that worked quite well. The song really cranks up about 30 seconds in.

So what musical characteristics does this share with rap?

http://youtu.be/EAYUuspQ6BY

 

In class presentations

Now that you've seen three of them:

1. The conversational aspect is typical. If I see you aren't going to cover something sufficiently, I'll ask questions about it..... at least until the midterm. By then you should know how this goes.
2. Sometimes we'll chase a rabbit. Just go with the flow!
3. Make sure you cover the list of things you should - see the syllabus!
4. Talk TO your audience.
5. Don't be afraid to say, "I think this is what it is, but I'm guessing."
6. Style: WHY is it that style?
7. Style: Sometimes the song is MOSTLY this, but also has a bit o' that and the other. That's OK - but explain what parts of the song sound like this or that or the other.
8. "I'm not sure I need some Help" is fine as long as you've seriously given it your best shot at figuring it out on your own.
9. Use your ears as well as the 'net research to tell what instruments are playing.
10. Come PREPARED. You can't prep for this in 10 minutes and expect a good grade. KNOW your stuff. Know what you don't know as well.....and feel free to ask!

Someone left a comment on the card today to the effect of "I knew the teacher would slam anyone doing mainstream stuff". 

Sadly, This person is mistaken on two counts: I wasn't slamming the presentation OR the song, and it had nothing to do with "mainstream".

What I was making the snarky comments on was the production of the song, not the song itself. The producers [who I presume were Babyface and Beyonce] made some seriously faulty choices in the orchestration of that tune - i.e. what sounds would be used. 

Yes, a live violinist and a real acoustic grand piano would have worked much better, but so would have a high quality string sample and a high quality piano sound on a keyboard - which are EASILY available.

The cheesy sounds they chose seriously detracted from the effectiveness of the song, and that's just sad! The song deserved better than that, especially given the quality of her vocal performance.

ENOUGH snarking for one day! See y'all Wednesday!

TEST 1: Graded, plus some notes

You should now be able to see your score in WebCT/Vista. Let me know if you don't.

Remember that your score is out of 79 points possible [NOT 100!].


Some interesting comments on the listening --> here are some highlights [anonymous and edited, of course!]. How long did you listen, how often, and on what?

• about 2 different occasions of at least an hour and a half on my computer
• I listened to the music for a week (2 times a day at home) 
• I listened to the CD in the beginning of class, when i first bought the book and the music together. Then i stopped for a few weeks and began listening to it again 3 or 4 days before the test. I listened to it in the car, my iphone, computer, headphones and speakers. 
• I listened through kamien connect....and if a piece wasn't on there I youtube'd it. I listened to each song a few times and tried to memorize the artist with the song.
• I listened to the music for about 30 minutes for about 4 days....in iTunes.
• I listened to the music for the test maybe three or four times this week.  I only listened to the CD one time through and took notes on things that stuck out to me on each song, so I maybe listened to the entire CD in 15 minutes from my computer. In actuality I do not believe it was enough.... 
• I listened to the music in about six segments but, not all of the songs at once. I would listen to just a few every now and then. I started listening last week. 
• I listened to the music every other day for about 3 hours. I listened to it on an ipod and no, it wasnt enough. 
• Honestly, I didn't really start listening to the music until last night. I listened to all the songs twice (except Britten) so that's probably about one and a half to two hours. I enjoyed the music but I know I should have spent more time with it. As far as what I listened to it with, I used iTunes. 
• I listen to the music a lot on kamien connect...could have listen to a few of the songs longer
• I listened to the cd about once a week in my car until the week of the test. I listened to the elements songs on connect over and over on Monday and the Medieval/Renaissance songs on Tuesday for the most part, but still reviewed over all of the songs together.
• I listen to the cds every night and in the car on my way to school while following along in my book and the notes I took to remember
• Not long. I listened to it at home on my laptop and playstation 3 and certainly it was not enough. 
• I did not listen well enough to the music.
• I listened to it for a couple hours per day this week. I listened to the cd while following along with my listening guide. I often quizzed myself on what song was playing. Yes, it was enough material to understand what each song was and it was very easy to follow along with the listening guide while listening to the cd. It was a bit overwhelming at first knowing there was 64 tracks on the cd but once I got to listening to them it was easy to figure out what song was what. It was just a little hard to remember the composers. 
• daily, stereo & iPod, almost 
• I listened to it for a little over a week and in my car and on my computer. I dont think it was quite enough time for me to remember all of them. 
• On my laptop - no it was not long enough.
• Either 5 or 6 days for 30 minutes a day. 
• I started listening to the music towards the end of last week. Yeah, I know I've should have listened to them way before! Actually, I really enjoyed them! I really didn't expect I would. I played them on my media player on my lap top.
• I listened to the music about 5 hours altogether in my home and car.

Note on the test grades....

Nope, they aren't done yet. Maybe later tonight {thurs}, definitely by Friday noon.

Once I get your listening score typed in, you'll be able to see your test grade. Your grade is NOT out of 100 points, though, so DO NOT PANIC if your grade is a 75.

There are only [I think] 79 points possible, so a 75 is actually 75/79,  considerable better than a 75%.

The Vista gradebook has listed how many points are actually possible.

Remember that there is a downloadable grades spreadsheet where you can type in your grades and keep track of your average.

I will be posting another blog entry when all the grades get typed in, so keep an eye out for it!

Next week: BAROQUE

Kamien Connect issues last week

Received an email from the publisher about the issues that cropped up last week:

Between Thursday night, August 30th and Tuesday, September 4th, we had four system interruptions that impacted students’ ability to take their McGraw-Hill Connect assignments. ....... Please be assured that no student assignment data was lost and all other components of the Connect platform were available during these periods.

......these interruptions were not caused by either the volume of students using Connect, nor any problem with the software itself. The interruptions were caused by human errors in the configuration and monitoring of our hosting infrastructure. We are currently working with our hosting service providers to prevent any future occurrences. These measures include additional 24/7 monitoring of our systems along with an augmentation of the number of staff dedicated to this monitoring. 

 Just an "FYI"!

Please keep me posted about Connect and how it's working.

Concerts that count - one is this weekend

The Smithsonian has an exhibit opening down in Perry this weekend, and there is a lot of music associated with the exhibit. The exhibit celebrates roots music in Georgia.

September 8th @ 4pm–5pm PAC New Harmonies Exhibit officially opens to the public from 4–5pm. 

Here is the website if you need more information. www.perryga.com. There is a downloadable PDF with all the details about the exhibit AND a listing of all the concerts.

The concerts below would count for the class. NOTE THAT SEVERAL CHARGE ADMISSION - and that these are hardly the only possibilities!


Some info from the site - the capitalization errors come from the copy/paste process, but I don't want to take the hour to fix them all!:

 September 8tH • 6pm • perry HigH Auditorium 1307 NortH AveNue • perry

 Grammy nominated artist, Robert McDuffie, performs Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the McDuffie Center String Ensemble. Tickets for sale: $10 advance / $15 at the door. Tickets sold at Welcome Center and Perry Area Historical Museum.

 Robert McDuffie was born in Macon, Georgia into a very musically gifted family; his mother Susan and younger sister Margerie are pianists while Robert became a violinist. He went to New York to attend the Julliard School. Robert McDuffie has since become an internationally, renowned violin- ist, playing as a soloist in major orchestras around the world. He was also nominated for a Grammy in 1990 for his performance of concertos by Leonard Bernstein and William Schumann.

McDuffie founded the Rome Chamber Festival in 2003, an idea he had created the year before while on sabbatical in Rome. “Its identity adheres to a true international ideal by inviting musicians from all over the world.” The festival is a five-day musical event held in June that presents five different concert programs of both classical and contemporary pieces to sold-out audiences.

In 2004, McDuffie began serving as the head of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University and as a Distinguished University Professor of Music. The Center gives students conservatory-quality music training and opportunities to perform in festivals like the Rome Chamber Festival and the Aspen Music Festival. Enrollment is limited to 26 students: twelve violinists, six violists, six cellists, and two double bassists.

In December of 2009, McDuffie performed the World Premiere of Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 2, “The American Four Seasons” in Toronto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Peter Oundjian. The work had been composed for McDuffie and featured several solos for violin.


September 11tH • 12NooN 
Gene Salyer will perform on the saxophone, flute, and clarinet Gene Sayler of Perry is a professional musician who plays flute, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone. He has been a member of several different Air Force bands since his enlistment. He was accepted into the Air Force Academy band and performed with them for fourteen years. During thattime he was made woodwind supervisor of the Symphonic band, lead alto saxophone of the Falconnaires Dance Orchestra, and leader of the “Moods in Blue” show band. He has played with various famous singers like Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Rosemary Clooney.

September 22Nd • 2-4pm
Joey Stuckey Jazz Trio performs
Senate Records recording artist, Joey Stuckey, performs with his Jazz Trio a variety of standards, along with selections from his new CD “Mixture.”

I'm the keyboardist for the Joey Stuckey Band.

Mixture is the album that Joey and I

co-wrote/co-engineered/co-produced/co-probably several other things!

October 1st • 8pm - 10pm
Georgia Big Band will perform Dixieland music from 8 – 8:45pm
and Big Band music from 9 – 10pm
The Georgia Big Band came together in 1988 out of the Dublin Jazz Band. The band brings together professional musicians from all over Middle Georgia who want to preserve the big band tradition. Made up of seventeen instrumentalists and a vocalist, the band has many different musical backgrounds from band directors to former military



October 14tH • 3pm
FirSt metHodiSt cHurcH oF WArNer robiNS
205 NortH dAviS drive
Performance by Otis Murphy, a world-class saxophonist, Yamaha
Performing Artist, and Indiana University Professor. Admission $10.

"Music Biz" section - the plan

We're going to take about 5 minutes each class to talk about the music business today - some of the issues, some concepts, and some stuff to play with. You WILL be tested on what we cover in class, but NOT until the final exam [so take good notes!].

 

9/5 Legit: iTunes radio, store

9/10 Legit: iTunes – podcast/vodcast

9/12 TEST 1 PSC 151

9/17 Legit: rDio

9/19 Legit:Spotify

9/24  Legit: Pandora

9/26 Legit:Last.fm

10/1 Legit: Magnatune

10/3 Legit: Yahoo music/Google Play / Shoutcast

10/8 Incredibox

10/10 Why legit and not ill-legit?

10/15 TEST 2 PSC109

10/17 Copyright: Define / length of term

10/22 Copyright:Different licenses/ Public Domain

10/24 Copyright:Why Important

10/29 Royalties: define, examples

          130 rock  / 439 “Contemporary Hit” stations in US [wikipedia]

10/31 MusicTech: Sampling ­– CD/Incredibox/DS-I playback/iPod/Recording/phones

11/5 MusicTech: Multitrack recording

11/7 MusicTech:MIDI

11/12 MusicTech:Synthesis – analog vs digital / 1^st synths à Telharmonium, B3

11/14 TEST 3 PSC109

11/26 MusicTech:Synthesis –Portable à DSi, iPad, phones - ringtones, Pi / Softsynths

11/28 Workflow:

Record-MIDI-Edit__>External or Internal Synths-Mixdown-Mastering-Posting for sale or giveaway-Marketing

Writing / Recording Process: Stephen Rickard song

12/3 Record Labels – what they are, what they do, what they DON’T do

12/5 Music Biz – artists are Entrepreneurs, Do it yourself marketing examples [Amanda Palmer, Charley Langer, Mark Taylor] / big team behind them

Test and Schedule updates

FINALLY here's the official this-is-when-it's-gonna-happen testing schedule:

Test 1 Sept 12 - in PSC 151
Test 2 Oct 15 [Last “Drop with a W” day] - in PSC 109
Test 3 Nov 14 - in PSC 109
Final Exam: Mon Dec 10 1-3 pm in PSC 151

PRESENTATION CHANGES:
Angela F, your new presenation day is Sept 17.

Joshua R, Joshua D, and Craig C - two of you can present on Oct 1. The other will present on Sept 5. You guys flip coins, draw straws, arm wrestle, whatever to decide who goes when. Let me know.

I should mention that I grade the presentation MUCH more leniently at the beginning of the semester than that the end!

The Presentation schedule is at
http://maconstate.blogspot.com/p/presentations.html

The Syllabus - which has been updated with teeh new schedule, is at
http://maconstate.blogspot.com/p/syllabus.html

Presentation Schedule posted

I just posted the presentation schedule as it is at the moment on the blog at
http://maconstate.blogspot.com/p/presentations.html

The may be some changes, especially if you are signed up near a test date. I'll relay the news as it happens [more or less...].

ALSO:

The Kamien Connect link on the main page of the blog is correct. The one that was wrong was the bit.ly link at the top of the syllabus - that has now been fixed.

http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/t_rule_fall_2012_1


Thanks for letting me know about the problem!

Syllabus change

I modified the class schedule to reflect the test 1 date change - although that probably won't matter to you just yet.

I also added at the bottom of the syllabus [http://maconstate.blogspot.com/p/syllabus.html] a listing of what CD tracks will be on which test. Take a look at it - I suggest marking it in your textbook.

The tracks listed on each test are the ONLY ones that I will draw from for the listening portion. The only exception is the final exam - but we'll get to that later in the semester!

START FALL 2012

If you were in the class previously, you might want to UNSUBSCRIBE to keep me from clogging up your inbox!

Click the link, somewhere below this paragraph.

FW: Joey Stuckey - Friday Night at the GSHF!

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Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Newsletter Quick Links GSHF website Become a Member Join Our List Joey Stuckey Album Release - Friday, July 20    Joey Stuckey's new album, Mixture, will be officially released at a concert and reception at the GSHF on Friday, July 20 beginning at 7:30 PM.  Refreshments will be served with a cash bar.    Joey Stuckey is a blind guitarist, singer/songwriter, producer, inspirational speaker, and sound engineer.  Mixture is a collaboration with pianist Tom Rule that is somewhat of a departure for Stuckey from the edgier blues guitar featured in past work.  Dr. Monty Cole, Mercer University Professor of Jazz Studies had this to say about the album. "Smooth jazz is the latest frontier, and the legendary guitar virtuoso is blazing a trail of softer hues across the sound spectrum."   Proceeds from the event will benefit the GSHF and the Jazz Association of Macon.  Tickets are on sale now in the Locker Room Gift Store or by calling 478.752.1585 x 120. $15 per person or $25 per couple.  CD's will also be available for purchase.   For more information, visit joeystuckey.com. Save the Date! The 2013 GSHF Induction Ceremony will be held on Saturday, February 23 in Macon.  This is an event you will not want to miss! Please forward this message to your friends and co-workers so they too can learn about all the exciting things going on at the Hall!

and ONE MORE THING......!

1. If you are interested in how albums are recorded and you have some time Thursday afternoon / Friday afternoon [May 10-11, 2012], swing on over to

http://presonus.com/community/presonuslive/

from Noon - 6pm Eastern time

Presonus is Livecasting the recording session for the latest SwampGrease 2 with Terence Higgins in New Orleans. It's some really good funk played by real professionals, and the audio is EXCELLENT coming downstream - you can really hear what's going on.

It's a chance to see what a session looks like.

2. The recordings we did in class are now available for listening and downloading at this site:

http://www.last.fm/music/Tom+Rule/Music+Appreciation+Experiments

Enjoy!

Final Words for Spring 2012

Some final thoughts - it's a bit of a tradition.

In no particular order:

1. Final Listening: #1 was the Little Organ Fugue by JS Bach. Baroque. It was amazing how many wrote about a harpsichord. It was an ORGAN!
2. Final Listening #2: Duke Ellington, C Jam Blues. Jazz, of course.
3. FInal Listening #3: Zwilich Concerto Grosso 1985, so 20th Century. A quotation piece that uses a theme by Handel - and a HARPSICHORD....that would explain why part of it sounded Baroque.
4. FInal LIstening #4: Ravel, Romances for Saxophone: Prelude. NOT one on your CDs, adn a bit tricky. The sax meant it was probably 20th C [which it was], but it did have a Romantic-type vibe going on. There were some interesting observations.
5. Final Listening #5: Classical. Surprised? Several put that it had to be 20th C. because of the guitar and the synth buzzy sound [not a bad conclusion]. This was actually a Concerto for Mandola and Jaw Harp by Albrechtsburger [who taught Beethoven composition lessons.]
   
6. You can see what you got points for on the listening - if it was a good conclusion, I copied a word or two into the comments box. Go look at the test in WebCT to see them.
   
7. It really was an interesting semester. Thanks for making it so by participating, jumping in, etc.
8. The recording we made will be posted sometime in the next week at http://www.last.fm/music/Tom+Rule/Music+Appreciation+Experiments. You'll be able to download all of them - use them to annoy your younger siblings!
   
9. It fascinates [and aggravates] me every semester at the number of students who refuse to go to the 2 concerts. That's a whole grade and a half - and every semester I have people fail the class because they didn't go to any concerts. Amazing.
   
10. Don't forget that there is an absolute world of music out there. Get outside your little box and experience it - it's freakishly easy to find music now that you've never heard of. If you don't like it, try to figure out WHY. If you do, likewise!

Now, go forth and LISTEN!

 

An afterthought:

Speaking of listening - I was recently interviewed on AudioStyle audio magazine, which airs on the ArtistFirst network.  CLICK here to check it out.

WebCT: Almost all grades posted

Everything [except your final exam grade!] has been posted - so you can now easily see where you stand gradewise, and can play "what if" using the spreadsheet downloadable from WebCT [inside the "Start Here" folder].

Download and open the spreadsheet. Call up the gradebook on WebCT and manually type in your grades plus the points possible on the tests - and the number of absences.

The spreadsheet will calculate your grade - then change the final exam grade to see what happens to your final grade.

Then GO STUDY!

Last Day Spring 2012: Notes, Vids

"Third Stream" - combining "Classical" and "Jazz"

  [is this jazz? is it classical? is it both?]

Dave Brubeck Quartet & RNO
To Hope! A Celebration Mass Moscow 1997

http://youtu.be/r2FNC66gBJ8

Jimmy Giuffre -- Suspensions (Gunther Schuller Orchestra) 1957 

 http://youtu.be/MAk_GBSX9iw

In the album liner notes, Schuller, both a composer and a critic, discusses such 'third-stream music'-- a term he popularized, perhaps invented-- while avoiding the application of that, or any, label for the "intermingling of influences in the jazz and nonjazz [ie, classical] fields". He asks rhetorically, "[I]s this still jazz, and is the intermarriage of two separate kinds of music valid?" The ultimate answer is the listener's reaction. About Giuffre's composition specifically, Schuller writes-- "'Suspensions' is another one of Jimmy Giuffre's attempts to compose and notate, as exactly as our inadequate musical notation will permit, music that represents his particular viewpoint on the jazz and blues feeling. In this respect, the present work is an extension of the kind of thing Giuffre has been doing for some years with his own small groups. In 'Suspensions' he has also once more used percussion, not as a rhythmic foundation and backdrop, but as an integral melodic voice [hear The Jimmy Giuffre Four, 1955, 'Tangents In Jazz', Capitol LP T634] within his contrapuntal structure. Giuffre also attempted to write for the players in an individual manner 'with which they can express themselves as they would in a solo'-- to quote Giuffre from his own notes for the Brandeis concert-- which partially explains why there is no improvisation in this work." 

Latin Jazz

Timba Latin Jazz Quintet - Descarga Cachao - Roma AlFellini 2008

 http://youtu.be/SohfAqfggoQ

Chicago Latin Jazz Festival - James Sanders & Conjunto 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqhzjBYt7Dg

  

Free Jazz 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llGKDA6oBww 

Fusion

Herbie Hancock - Cantelope Island 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrgP1u5YWEg 

Vocalese

Manhattan Transfer

http://youtu.be/jkRXl52gHRQ

The original recording:

http://youtu.be/5rm0kbF2XbE

 

Last notes

If you weren't in class, you missed the study suggestions for the final exam! 


Make sure you doublecheck the grades posted in webCT - contact me BEFORE THE FINAL EXAM if there are problems, particularly with the presentation grade and the absences.

Check your grades in webCT!

I've updated my record of absences, presentation grades, and concert reports - so what is on the screen is exactly what I have on paper.


CHECK YOUR SCORES - and if there is a problem let me know BEFORE the final exam.

Music should be free?

I referenced this in class Wednesday - there is a huge "movement' that says no one can own anything intangible, that all art should be free to consume, etc etc etc. I think my position is clear on this matter [I hope so!!!] - but here is a MUCH more entertaining presentation of why music SHOULDN'T "be free"....and why that isn't a sustainable position for a society and it's art.

 The article: [read it first - or at least scan it]

http://www.philipbrocoum.com/?p=601

The rebuttal:

http://youtu.be/EwAiLICevc4

Grades, Test scores, and misc. stuff

1) Test Scores are posted.

2) I am CURVING this test. (Don't get used to it, though!) In the spreadsheet where you are keeping track of your scores, INSTEAD of setting this test worth 92 points, make it worth 82 points.

3) The gradebook will be updated by the time you read this with current attendance, concert report grades, and presentation grades.

3) Next week: JAZZ. This will be outside the book, mostly. I strongly suggest you take notes. It WILL be on the final exam.




Here is everyone's comments - an interesting panoply of opinions!

What was most surprising about the 20th C music to you?

Kind of strange how the first half, everything sounded so distorted and uncomfortable, and then near the end people got sick of it (thank God) and went back to tonality. It's almost like it was two different eras.

It surprises me that 20 Century music hasn't gone out of style. You still hear it today in commercials, on the radio, and in movies; sort of multi purpose.

There seemed to be such a huge step apart from "classical" sounding compositions.

It jumped quickly to change.

The odd sounds that they considered to be "music" no matter how dissonant they sounded!!
 
How atonal and dissonant it was. I was thinking it would be more similar to the late 20th Century music.

The Most Interesting would be the fact that it so different and open ! There is true expression and none sounds alike I love this era !

I was surprised by the fact that it didn't sound pretty. All of the music that I listen to sounds good, some of the 20th Century just sounded like noise to me.
 

Where a lot of songs I have heard before came from.

The sharp sounds, the music that sounded like it was from a sci fi movie or slasher flick.

Nothing really.

How there were so many sounds involved. Also how quickly the technology developed. And what was surprising they was how they still didn't use the sound effects that much until later on.
 
The way in which they just changed from the norm of every other era of music. The completely overhauled the system just because they could. I was shocked at how they changed sounds by destroying a perfectly good piano, or how they flipped scales to make more of a certain tone. everything dealing with the 20th C shocked me, because I was expecting more of a gradual step to modern music.

Having the different sounds and how it was all structured surprised me. I thought some of it was sort of weird but as i focused more on it all they wanted was something new that can fit in the music

The most surprising part of the 20th C music to me was, that I’m surrounded by it in everyday life and never realized how weird and different it sounds. 20th C music has taken music to greater standards of music.

Most surprising about the 20th C music is the prepared piano. How could composers just stick any and everything they got their hands on and insert it into the piano. To me it's disrespectful to a pianist to tamper with the sound but I also can understand that they were trying out new ways to change sound like no other composer before them have attempted to try. Composers in the 20th C were bold and I applaud them for that.

How much I wanted to go back to Classical music. The listening had been improving consistently up until Romantic and 20th century, I didn't like it so I listened to the pieces a lot less. It surprises me that people would pay to listen to this stuff.

personally, it wasn't very surprising to me. I guess living in the 20th century and 21st century exposes me to many of the different techniques and styles used in early 20th century music

I was surprised at how much music was out there that I didn't particularly care for. I am a lover of music, and I'm up for giving anything a try, but this music was hard for me to take at time. I did love the Jazz portion of 20th century music, but all of the atonal, dissonant, crazy music that was all over the place (particularly Schoenberg's) was not music to my ears at all. Other than that I was surprised to learn how wide of a variety of music there was. I consider myself to be pretty well rounded when it comes to instrumental music, but there was a lot of stuff I had never heard of that we listened to for this unit.