Monday, Mar 24, 2008

Episode 18: Musical Fusion

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Throughout music's history, right up to the current day, composers, arrangers and performers have sought to merge diverse musical traditions in order to create hybrid styles. Whether it's combining music from different cultures, genres, or even time periods, musical fusions have yielded some interesting results. In this episode we examine the idea of musical fusion.

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 12:05 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008

Episode 17: The Significant Role of Repetition in Understanding Music

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In this episode, we'll discuss the significance of repetition in music. Specifically, we’ll look at how the right mix of repetition and variation of musical ideas – on both a small- and large-scale – contributes to how music is understood by listeners.

Whether you want the "inside scoop" on some cool things to listen for when hearing music, or perhaps even want to compose yourself and are looking for how to make your music communicate more effectively, please listen in!

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 6:04 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Feb 15, 2008

Episode 16: The Interesting Intersection of Modern Art Criticism, Music Technology, and Philosophy's "Hegelian Dialectic"!

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Windows PC vs. Mac OS computers. Finale vs. Sibelius music notation software. Have you noticed that people tend to ally themselves to some consumer products with an almost evangelical fervor? In this episode, we look at the implications of this dynamic, in both broad and specific terms, for users of music technology.

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 1:35 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Jan 31, 2008

Episode 15: Music That Changed My Life, or, The Powerful Music of My Youth

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Recent studies show that what you listen to in your formative years and youth not only shapes your musical tastes, but the way your brain learns to perceive music. I believe it also helps define who you are, and who you are becoming. I know it did with me.

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 10:48 PM |  2 comments  

Saturday, Jan 12, 2008

Episode 14: Please...Don't Quit.

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The decision to quit studying an instrument should be approached with care and prudence. Maybe you’re a parent of a student in band or strings facing this decision and you’d like some insight, or maybe you’re a younger band or strings teacher dealing with students in this situation yourself and you’d like some perspective. In this episode, I hope to share some thoughts to give you wisdom and confidence in deciding.

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 7:31 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT