What Music Means to Me

Saturday, Oct 27, 2007

Episode 7: Non-Harmonic Tones, Diversity, and Delayed Gratification

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Watson draws two important life lessons from an unlikely place - music theory. Much Western music has an underlying chordal - or harmonic - structure. But composers add much beauty to the surface of their music through the use of notes not in these skeletal chords. Hear what these Non-Chord Tones can teach us about life!

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 10:13 AM | 3 comments

Sunday, Oct 21, 2007

Episode 6: The Thing About Rhythm

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Of all the so-called "Elements of Music", find out why Dr. Watson feels Rhythm is king! In this episode, Watson painlessly explains what is so primal about rhythm using demonstrations from the world of acoustics and sound synthesis.

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 10:01 PM | 2 comments

Saturday, Oct 20, 2007

Episode 5: School Music Contributes So Much

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Depending on where you live, the music program in your local school district may be thriving or it may be facing cutbacks or even elimination. If the former, cherish your local school's music program for all the ways it enriches the life of its students, their families, and the greater community. But if the later, be an advocate for music in the schools.

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 12:06 PM | MAKE A COMMENT

Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007

Episode 4: When Copying is Good!

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Nobody likes busy work, and copying music by hand seems like the most mundane chore. Yet Watson shares what might be gained by copying music as in the days of old!

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 6:47 PM | MAKE A COMMENT

Monday, Oct 15, 2007

Episode 3: The Powerful Language of Music

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Many people compare music to a language. Where does the analogy hold up and where does it break down? If music is a language, must it communicate specifically, and does it have "bad words" as with the spoken and written word?

Posted by Dr. Scott Watson at 7:14 PM | MAKE A COMMENT

Monday, Oct 15, 2007

Episode 2: Marching Band

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Despite the common misconception, kids in marching band are some of the coolest kids in school. And participating in marching band has a lot in common with, and similar benefits to, playing a demanding sport. Go bandos!