March 23, 2012

Chinese Music Critique: Wo Yao Hui Jia

Artist: Bai Hong
Song: Wo Yao Hui Jia
Album: Rough Guide to The Music of China

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Melody: Easy to sing but the vocal range is very high. Probably sung by a soprano. Was sung in Chinese.
Harmony: Starts off in the major but switches to minor.
Timbre: Alto sax, wood block, muted trumpet, voice, clarinet, doublebass, Tenor Sax,
Texture: Thin texture except in the solo part.
Form: Intro - Chorus - Versus - Chorus - Bridge (Solo) - Verse (minor) - verse (minor) - Chorus - Outro
Rhythm: It kept a steady beat. Slow tempo.
Style: It is still Chinese, but it has been changed a little bit. It doesn’t fit in one category. It has Western influences. The purist might like it a little bit because it is Chinese, but wouldn't like it because it has too much Western influence.

March 21, 2012

Pachelbel's Critique: Friends Forever

Artist: Vitamin C

Song: Friends Forever
Based on: Pachelbel's Canon

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Melody: Chorus is sung and the tune is sing-able. Sprechstimme (half talking / half singing).

Rhythm: Beat is pretty slow BUT the sprechstimming is pretty fast. Rhthms are repetitive and boring (ti ti ta ta ti ti ta ta)

Harmony: some major chords, some minor chords. Based on the harmonies of Pachbel.

Timbre: Drums, strings, percussion, choir, vocalists.

Texture: During the verse, the texture is very thin becuase we only hear voice, strings, and drum. The bridge is very thick because MANY instruments play there.

Form: Intro - Verse - Chorus - Verse - Chorus - Bridge - Verse - Chorus (...X) - Outro

March 21, 2012

World Music: Critique CANADA

Artist: Great Big Sea

Song: Hit the Ground and Run

Style: Country / Bluegrass

Melody - The chorus you can sing so it has a definite melody line. The verse is spoken so it’s very difficult to sing to the melody. If you wanted to perform this song, you’d have to figure out how you would speak it.

Harmony - Major - “Happy” - no modulations (didn’t change key)

Timbre - Banjo, Fiddle, Guitar, Harmonica, Double Bass, one lead singer and 2 backup vocals

Rhythm - Incredibly fast rhythms, particularly in the banjo. The banjo had a solo that was insane. VERY speedy song.

Form - Introduction featured voice, double bass and fiddle. Verse (sprechstimme (half speaking/half singing)), Chorus (lead singer with backups echoing), Verse, Chorus, Bridge (banjo leads solo), Verse, Chorus 2X, Coda

Texture - Relatively Thick

“How does this music communicate to me across time and culture?”

- I grew up in the country, so this is the type of music that surrounded me. I also really like the sound of banjo and fiddle because I find it very catchy and fun and upbeat. This is a song that makes my feet want to get up and start moving (but not today because my leg is sore).

March 13, 2012

Creative Cycle: Practicing

This is a picture of my group practicing today.

White Hat: What did you do today in class?
Yellow Hat: What went well about your practice?
Black Hat: What didn't go well about your practicing and how will you fix it?
Blue Hat: What strategies or plan did you use when practicing?
Green Hat: How are you making your music creative and beautiful?
Red Hat: How did you feel about today's practice?

March 13, 2012

Creative Cycle: Planning

You write about what your group is planning to do.

March 7, 2012

Creative Cycle Planning: Part 2

This is a picture of my group planning for our ensemble. We are in the planning stage of the creative cycle.

October 22, 2011

Amazing "I'm Yours" on Ukulele

This is a mystery child on YouTube: Navidad Chistosa. I found him when searching for "Feliz Navidad." He's singing "I'm Yours" instead. And he's *so* cute and *so* good for his age!

Enjoy!

Kindergarten I'm Yours.mp4

August 30, 2011

Ukulele Fretboard

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August 29, 2011

SmartMusic

No7OnParade.tiff

August 27, 2011

Super Mario Brothers

Here is a link provided by Raphael. It's showing Ukulele-hero Sung Ha Jung playing Super Mario Bros. on the ukulele.
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjk2OTkyMjI0.html

SunghaJung's Super Mario Bros

SunghaJung's Super Mario Bros

November 17, 2011

StaffWars Introductions

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This is my introduction to a video game called Staff Wars. My current best level is 161. If you want to play this fun (no, stressful) video game, please go to your music wiki.

August 23, 2011

Jake Shimabukuro

This link was sent in by Solange. She has recently discovered Jake Shimabukuro, who is a fantastic Hawaiian ukulele player. You can find his links on YouTube, TedTalks, and YouKu.

And here is the link Solange sent, featuring Jake playing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen: Jake Shimbukuro Plays Queen on TEDTalks

What I like about Jake is that he really demonstrates a huge enjoyment of his instrument and the act of performing. He's very cool.

August 23, 2011

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours - Ukulele

Daniel sent me links to an amazing Korean ukulele / guitarist named SungHa Jung (www.sunghajung.com).

You can find him on YouTube if you have a VPN available: I'm Yours on YouTube

Otherwise, look for him on YouKu: I'm Yours on YouKu

August 15, 2011

Tuning Your Instrument

They say that most people stop using mobile apps after the first three months and that you know you have a winner after six months of continuous use. Well, I've been using ClearTune for the past few years. It is truly an indispensable app for tuning instruments.

ClearTune costs $3.99 in the iTunes app store. It tunes every instrument (including the human voice, which is funny to watch) and even tunes in a roomful of grade 9s who are all warming up. That is pretty amazing!

I don't work for ClearTune and I'm not suggesting that people rush out and buy it. However, if you are looking for a high quality mobile app for tuning, this is it.

August 15, 2011

Epiphone Les Paul Electric Ukulele

Here is my new Les Paul Electric Ukulele, by Epiphone. Isn't it beautiful? I LOVE IT!

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Notice that it's got a pickup so I can plug it into an amp. Van and Daniel have already tried it out.

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August 12, 2011

Ukulele Chords

Need a quick and easy reference for your ukulele? Here are some chord tabs for you.

August 12, 2011

by How? What? Why? Questions for life and learning

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