Tune Into Tone

Tune Into Tone

Carlos Santana exploring his guitar tone

Scritch, scratch. Snap, crackle, pop. Hoo-rah! Clang, clang, clang. Velvet. Loo-loo-loo. Boing!

The sounds made by our musical instruments are limitless. Not only does each instrument have its own particular sound, or timbre; they also have a variety of ways to express those sounds.

This week’s Musician’s Motivator is all about experimenting with your tone. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become an explorer in the land of tone color.

Your Mission

Bring your curiosity to the task. Ask yourself, “how would my tone change if I…?” Read the full post »

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by on March 9, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Exercises, Lessons, Musician's Motivator ezine, Practice Tips
Posted by Mary Ellen on March 9, 2011

http://gracenotesmusic.org/blog/2011/03/09/tune-into-tone/

How Do You Do, Dear Clarinet?

buddies bump fistsA father scoops up his young daughter and spins her around in his arms. She squeals with delight.

Two buddies bump fists and smile in greeting.

European friends meet one another with a kiss on each cheek.

Two 13-year-old girls clasp forearms and jump up and down with excitement in seeing one another.

tender embraceA couple of lovebirds share a long, tender embrace.

These are all ways in which we greet one another – with happiness, pleasure, and fun. Read the full post »

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by on February 23, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Musician's Motivator ezine, Practice Tips, Truly FUNdamentals
Posted by Mary Ellen on February 23, 2011

http://gracenotesmusic.org/blog/2011/02/23/how-do-you-do-dear-clarinet/

Play, Write, Listen, and Create Music at 1000 MPH

Last night, before I went to sleep, I asked my dreamself to help me write today’s ezine. I woke up with this headline on the tip of my tongue and the skeleton of an actual article in my mind. I quickly wrote it all down.

Courtesy of my subconscious, here are four ways we interact with music. Some of us PLAY music by singing or playing an instrument; others CREATE music by composing or arranging melodies and harmonies; still others WRITE music by recording rhythms, pulses and beats; and all of us LISTEN to music and consciously or not, analyze what we hear.

And yes, some of us engage music in all of these ways. So choose one or more of the activities below and have some fun today being musical. Read the full post »

1 Comment
by on February 9, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Exercises, Music Notation, Musician's Motivator ezine, Practice Tips, Songs
Posted by Mary Ellen on February 9, 2011

http://gracenotesmusic.org/blog/2011/02/09/play-write-listen-and-create-music-at-1000-mph/

Literary Works Influence Musical Life

Since I have been putting so much energy into finishing my forthcoming method for wind instrumentalists (more about this in a bit), I thought today’s ezine will be a bibliography of sorts. Here are some books that have influenced and informed my life as a musician and teacher, in no particular order.

This book was a Christmas gift from my spouse when it came out in 1990. She (my spouse) really gets me and did from the beginning! Ms. Judy writes about being an adult amateur musician and how to keep it enjoyable.

A recent purchase, I devoured this book in a few days and then went back to re-read sections. Hearing Mr. Wooten play bass at a Béla Fleck performance and meeting him afterward are what prompted me to purchase the book. As the subtitle says, the book is about A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music.

Read the full post »

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by on January 26, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Accessories, Musician's Motivator ezine, Quotes
Posted by Mary Ellen on January 26, 2011

http://gracenotesmusic.org/blog/2011/01/26/literary-works-influence-musical-life/

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