Musical Memory

        When I was just browsing You Tube a few months or so ago, I came across a video of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A- 1st Movement. I played the video, I listened while I cleaned my room. Anyway, when the clarinet came in, I glanced at the screen. The clarinet player, was playing everything without music. The piece was not short. I wonder just how many times she had to play it before she had it down. Did she study the sheet music? Or rather did she listen to the piece over and over, memorizing the sound? Maybe some of both. I can memorize pieces, but only up to about 4 minutes, but the pieces are not too advanced. It seemed like she played for 10 minutes! Not to mention how difficult her music must have been. It was just amazing! Her tone was beautiful. How do you think those advanced musicians remember their music? Tell me what you think!


                            -K.T.

Jazz Band

  Date: June 27, 2012 (I'm sorry about the late posts)

 Hey Guys! So today I thought that I might talk about Jazz Band! Well, now that I play Alto Sax, I am eligible for it! With the lessons from Mr. T, I hope I will be able to become good enough to make jazz band. I have been practicing as much as possible, almost everyday for one hour to two hours. Yes, I confess, I didn't have time to practice today. But, I did play a little for my great grandma. I want to play in jazz band so so bad! The only downside is the fact that despite school starting already at 7:25, and catching the bus at 6:45, (yes, this is all A.M, amazingly!)Jazz band starts at 6:30am, plus the drive down to the school... But I am up early anyway, so why wouldn't I just wake up 30 minutes earlier so that I could do something really fun? So, I think that I am going to try out! 

   Anyway, I also have some news for all my readers! I was viewing the countries that I got hits on my blog in, and it turns out that I have hits in Germany and South Korea! I was exceedingly excited to hear that! Anyway, have a great day!!!!




                        -K.T.
  

My New Favorite Song

    I know that I said picking favorites of Adele songs is difficult- and it still is, but this one song I can not get out of my head is by Adele. It is in the album 19, not 21, the one I did a review on. It is the song Chasing Pavements. I especially love the chorus, however the whole song is amazing! If you have not heard it, make sure to check it out! I love it! 

    Yesterday I tried to buy this song on iTunes to put on my iPod, but unfortunately, and ironically, I was out of money from the last four Adele songs that I bought. No regrets on that though, because lately I have been listening to those songs on loop... Anyway, I am going to put more money on my account so I can buy the song ASAP!

     I just hope my neighbors like this song... And my singing voice... Haha! 


                           -K.T.

Commercial Jingles and Earworms

     All of us have heard a commercial jingle. Seems harmless, right? No, a commercial is not dangerous. But do you really want Sleep Country or Nationwide's jingle imprinted in your brain? While jingles are "fun" and "catchy," when hearing them especially at a young age, they can stick in the human brain for years. Not dangerous, but annoying. How does all this relate to music? Well, without the tune, it would not imprint.

     Mattress. I bet when you read the word mattress just now, you immediately thought of sleep country. Am I wrong? When you see a product, do you immediately think of the jingle? Why do I ask this? Well, because that is what manufacturers want to happen. Don't think they do not know that it will get stuck in our heads, because they do. And does this work? Yes. It does. In the 1920s, when commercial jingles began, an unpopular product was being advertised. What happened next? Well, in  the broadcasted areas, sales in the product increased. So the company decided to broadcast it nationally. I bet you can guess what happened next.

    What causes the song to get stuck in our heads? Earworms. No, it is not an actual worm, it is a piece of music, that when someone hears it, it tends to stick in their mind so that they seem to hear it, even when it is not being played. 98% of people have been affected by an earworm. Also, an ear worm is not just a jingle. It could be a pop song, a jazz song, or even a classical piece. If you have an earworm, my advice is to listen to another song, or turn on the radio. That is what my grandma did when I got "Ain't No Sunshine" in her head when I was practicing my saxophone. Now I know to mix up the songs I play a little bit more. 
 
                             -K.T.

Meeting Mr. T

     I'm taking alto saxophone lessons this summer. My first lesson was last week. It is a little frustrating sometimes,like when I have trouble reaching a note, but you can probably understand with starting something new. I am good enough for alto saxophone book two, having played clarinet for two years (Saxophone is similar to clarinet). My teacher (Mr. T) is extremely nice, and very skilled with the alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, and flute. Who knows what else he plays! When meeting Mr. T for the first time, he was in the practice studio. I walk in the door, saxophone case in my left hand, and from the practice room I could hear him playing. Glancing through the window, I could see he was playing alto sax. I was amazed at how great he sounded. I could tell he must love jazz music too, because of his playing style. He was just running through slurs. I want to play like that someday.

      I learned a lot from him, in just one 45 minute lesson. Like how he helped me go higher on the scale then I could do on my own. Now I'm not going to bore you with millions of stories or musical facts (or just facts in general for that matter), but I can tell you that trying something new is really fun! And, yes, I know that I must sound like an elementary school teacher right now... But it's true! What if you were a prodigy or something, and you never tried? You would never find out that you were amazing at that one thing. Whether it is sports, technology, art, academics or music. Wouldn't that be sad? For those of you who have heard me play, you know that I am no prodigy. I started average. But anyone can be average. It takes a effort to become good at something. So if you try, and become good, then you have a talent (which is hard to find these days). So if you have the option to try something, try it! Because you never know if you will like it or not unless you try.


                               -K.T.

The Colors of Music

    Do you ever think about how in a song we almost never notice the instruments in the background? I was thinking, what if one instrument from the background was gone? Whether someone took away the string bass or the piano, would I notice? Would you?

    I guess maybe music is like a certain color. Take turquoise for example. What if we saw the original turquoise on a dress that we loved. So we order the dress. And then... What is that? The color is different? Would I notice? Would you? Maybe there is not as much green as the original color. It is funny that we only notice it when it's gone, not when it's here. 

    If you think about it, what do you think we are really missing when we do not give all of our attention? Do we really hear what is there? Maybe it isn't just music, maybe it is just life in general. We have to stop and see the beauty in things. Listen to the violins.

                       -K.T.

Fashion On Stage

Dresses On Stage: Musician fashion "Do" or "Don't?"

          

       My opinion on female jazz musicians wearing bright and colorful dresses on stage? Fashion DO. My hero, Grace Kelly (Singer, Songwriter,Composer,and Saxophone player)age 20, is seen in almost all of her performances wearing a bright, very pretty dress(There is however one or two album colors with black shirt and pants). 

       

       In one of her videos posted on YouTube, there are one or two negative comments about her wearing a dress on stage. The comment said something about her wearing a dress on stage being a disgrace to jazz music. Only black suits acceptable. My opinion on that? I strongly think that is NOT true. Wear a dress onstage. Really very fashionable, and I love the look! 

       

       Go Grace Kelly, and please, don't listen to those negative comments. And to all my followers, what is your opinion? I would love to hear it. Anyway, in conclusion female jazz players have every right to wear a dress on stage. In fact, I encourage it because people need to know that it really is about the MUSIC, not the outfit.

                               -K.T.