What Music Means to Me

Episode 38: So You Wanna Be a Music Major?

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:36:00 +0000

Over the years many aspiring musicians, and their parents, have approached me with various questions pertaining to preparing to major in music in college. I encourage anyone considering such a career path to check out this episode, entitled "So You Wanna Be a Music Major." In less than 20 minutes I present and explain six important things you can do to prepare for a university course of study in music.

Episode 37 - More Music Lessons: 1) Everyone Matters, and 2) Making the Most of Your Time

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:31:00 +0000

Music really has so much to offer even beyond the joy and satisfaction that comes from performing. In this episode, part of our continuing Music Lessons series, we take a look at two more important character lessons: #1 that EVERYONE matters, and #2 to make the MOST of your TIME.

Episode 36: Bad Boys of Classical Music

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:12:00 +0000

There are some very visible examples of classical musicians who get into some pretty silly situations in their personal life. In this episode of What Music Means to Me, which I’m calling “Bad Boys of Classical Music,” I’ve decided to focus on a couple infamous artist-musicians whose excellence in music doesn’t seem to carry over to their personal life. Listen in to hear the wild exploits of composers Carlo Gesualdo, Niccolo Paganini, Richard Wagner, Claude Debussy, and George Antheil. Perhaps there's even something we can learn from the conflicted yet remarkable lives of these diverse musical personalities!

Episode 35: Everyday Wisdom for Inspired Teaching (Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser)

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Music education speaker and author, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, discusses themes that run through his work, including his most recent book, EVERYDAY WISDOM FOR INSPIRED TEACHING (GIA Publications). Topics touched upon in our June 2, 2009 interview include: traits of great teachers, what even our toughest students can teach us, the relationship of action to attitude, the danger of getting too caught up in our programs, the importance of content and context, and important lessons learned through participation in school music programs. The next best thing to reading one of Dr. Tim's books or hearing him speak in person is to listen in on this informal, yet heartfelt, conversation with one of music education's most effective and encouraging advocates.

Episode 34: "Music Lessons" (Value of Things Bigger Than Yourself and Delayed Gratification)

Thu, 21 May 2009 17:14:00 +0000

In episode 32 I began a continuing series called “Music Lessons,” in which I'll highlight some of the life-lessons you are bound to learn when you formally study music. In this episode, as we continue that series, we take a look at two more important character lessons music teaches us. One of these is the value of contributing your efforts to something bigger than yourself. The other “music lesson” involves the benefits of delayed gratification. Tune in and find out why music is particularly suited to delivering these lessons in a subtle yet compelling way.

Episode 33: "What Music Means to Me" Welcomes New Listeners!

Sat, 02 May 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Recently, I’ve been hearing from newer listeners and subscribers to “What Music Means to Me”, which has prompted me to look back on why I started the podcast in the first place, and how it has developed thus far. Please join me as we look back and describe anew just what “What Music Means to Me” is.

Episode 32: "Music Lessons" (Tenacity and Diligence)

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:15:00 +0000

In this episode of WMM2M we begin a new series called “Music Lessons.” Aside from the obvious benefits of music study (pleasure and intellectual enhancements) music additionally teaches valuable life lessons. Stick with studying an instrument and years later you will have learned far more than how to play some songs. In the “Music Lessons” series I will share some of the lessons music has taught me which, looking back over the years, I appreciate so much. In this first installment of "Music Lessons," we look at two very closely-related traits that music teaches: The value of tenacity and diligence.

Episode 31: Copyright or Copy Wrong, Part 2

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:26:00 +0000

James Frankel is the author of THE TEACHER'S GUIDE TO MUSIC, MEDIA, AND COPYRIGHT LAW published by Hal Leonard Books (in association with the Technology Institute for Music Educators). In this episode, Part 2 of our conversation, Frankel discusses copyright issues related to recording, media on the Internet, and the ethical dilemmas before each of us working with students in this digital age.

Episode 30: Copyright or Copy Wrong, Part 1

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:50:00 +0000

Copyright - or, the right to copy - should concern anyone who listens to, performs, or creates music of any kind - especially in this digital age. In this episode, the first of a two-part series with Dr. James Frankel, we discuss Frankel's new book, THE TEACHER'S GUIDE TO MUSIC, MEDIA, AND COPYRIGHT LAW (Hal Leonard). In our conversation, we touch on topics including a relevant history of copyright, the concepts of "fair use" and "public domain," and a few scenarios that give life to the law. (This interview took place February 25, 2009.)

Episode 29: Interview with Robert Sheldon, Part 2

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:24:00 +0000

In this 2nd part of my conversation with noted composer, Robert Sheldon, we discuss more of his music for concert band, a little about his compositional work process, and his insightful outlook for the future of school band programs.

Episode 28: Interview with Robert Sheldon, Part 1

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Since this podcast began in Oct. 2007, I've been meaning to feature leaders in the field of music and music education as occasional special guests. We finally make that happen in this, the first of a two-episode interview with noted composer Robert Sheldon. In our conversation, Sheldon shares fascinating insights into several of his most-loved works, interesting anecdotes from his work in music, and his thoughts on building and maintaining band programs now and into the future.

Episode 27: The Baroque: All About Contrasts

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:12:00 +0000

The term Baroque may be defined in many ways, but one term that can help you to remember what Baroque music is all about is "contrasts." In this episode, we examine how contrasts in tempo, playing ability, timbre, formal organization, voice register, dynamics, modes, and texture help define the sound of Baroque music.

Episode 26: Special 2008 Holiday CD Edition

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:34:00 +0000

Each year my high school music production class puts together a CD of holiday classics and originals which is sold for a charity they select. This year the charity is "Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund" (www.cfsrf.org) - providing scholarships and other aid to the kids of soldiers killed or injured in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. In this episode we get into the holiday spirit by sharing some of the great tracks on this year's CD. Perhaps you'll want to purchase your own copy to help our cause. To order the CD, please visit our blog at: http://seasonforgiving.blogspot.com Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Episode 25: A BAND DIRECTOR’S DIAGNOSIS BOOK. A Guide to Instrumental Diseases and Conditions.

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:44:00 +0000

In this episode, we take a break from loftier topics to have some fun with the idiosyncrasies of the various instrumentalists in band. In our BAND DIRECTOR'S DIAGNOSIS BOOK, tongue planted firmly in cheek, we'll examine the symptoms of conditions such as Male Flute Syndrome, Saxodema Legitimitis, Trumpet-tude, Losteo Hornosis, Hyper-glissemia, and more. If you're in a school band, or have ever been in one, you'll no doubt appreciate these conditions which I'm sure you've seen in fellow band members. Enjoy!

Episode 24: The Things That Truly Satisfy Are Greater Than Ourselves

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:37:00 +0000

Would you spend your entire adult life working on a service project for your community that wouldn't be complete in your lifetime? Would you spend your artistic efforts and energy creating music that you knew was good, but that many wouldn't appreciate? If you play in a school band, chorus, or orchestra, is it fair that you have to spend years in training just so you can be lost in the sound of the ensemble? In this episode we use examples from the lives of the Renaissance artist and architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, as well as the composers W.A. Mozart and J.S. Bach to examine how involving yourself in a cause that is bigger than yourself can bring great and lasting satisfaction.

Episode 23: Modal vs. Tonal Music

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:55:00 +0000

There are about a dozen "modes," which are like major and minor scales only more subtly diverse, and with exotic names like "Dorian," "Phrygian," and "Mixolydian." These ancient scales date back at least to 500 B.C. and were the bread and butter of composers during the Middle Ages and Renaissance until the Major-Minor tonal system took over as the Baroque era approached. While the major-minor tonal system has served Western art music well for centuries, it is a shame to overlook the many shades of tonal color that the church modes allowed.

Episode 22: Classical Order and Drama

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:53:00 +0000

What is "Classical music"? Classical music is more than just fancy concert halls, symphonies, tuxedos and evening gowns! In this episode, we'll examine what makes music "Classical," by examining its two seemingly contradictory characteristics: 1) order, and 2) drama. Most of our discussion will focus on the flagship construct of Classical music style: sonata-allegro form.

Episode 21: Get Your Groove On

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:22:00 +0000

Groove is one of those extremely important, yet somewhat ambiguous, concepts in music. Groove, which involves complimentary rhythmic patterns played by members of the rhythm section, gives a song its personality and drives it forward. Groove is the DNA of a song. In this episode we look high and low, spanning decades and great stylistic differences, in search of the meaning of groove.

Episode 20: What Music Means to the Number 20!

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:06:00 +0000

In this special 20th-episode celebration, I share an interesting musical factoid or story connected to each of the numbers from 1 through 20. The stories these numbers tell includes various hidden meanings in compositions, becoming an expert on your instrument, key moments in the evolution of Western music, and even a musical "death curse"!

Episode 19: The Craft of Composition ("Fantasy On An Old English Air")

Sun, 25 May 2008 21:53:00 +0000

Many folks imagine that composers are suddenly struck with a lightning bolt of creativity as they sit at their pianos, enabling them to pour out divinely dispensed notes onto the page. In reality, inspiration plays a much smaller role than you'd think. It's the 'craft of composition' - the nuts and bolts work that transforms a small idea into a cohesive and musically satisfying whole - that takes up the majority of a composer's time and energy. In this episode, I'll share some of the craftsmen-like decisions at work in a piece of mine, Fantasy On An Old English Air, in an effort to demystify the process of composing music.

Episode 18: Musical Fusion

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:05:00 +0000

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.

Episode 17: The Significant Role of Repetition in Understanding Music

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:04:00 +0000

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!

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

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:35:00 +0000

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.

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

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:48:00 +0000

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.

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

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:31:00 +0000

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.

Episode 13: Holiday CD Project

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:14:00 +0000

Get into the holiday spirit with excerpts of seasonal music produced by students in Dr. Watson's Music Production class. These tracks are from their CD, entitled "Parkland: A Season for Giving." Proceeds from the sale of the CD are donated to a local charity, this year a homeless shelter.

Episode 12: When Rules Foster Freedom

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:28:00 +0000

When it comes to artistic expression, you would probably think parameters and constraints stifle creativity. "Au contrair, mon frere!" says Watson in this podcast about using rules and guidelines when working with students on compositions and other creative projects.

Episode 11: Eight Principles for Unlocking Creativity

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:21:00 +0000

Having worked with students on creative projects for some time now and in a variety of scenarios, I’ve arrived at a series of principles I use to shepherd kids along in the process of composing, arranging, and producing music. Follow these eight guidelines and I guarantee that you’ll be impressed by the creative products turned out by students of any age.

Episode 10: Intersection of Life and Music

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:50:00 +0000

From a rough high school trumpet lesson, to reflections on Plato's famous "cave" analogy, Episode 10 discusses both how life informs music and music informs our understanding of reality...HEADY STUFF INDEED from the fellow who in an earlier episode vaunted the virtues of marching band!

Episode 9: Encounter with Excellence

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 04:05:00 +0000

Having a vision for excellence and beauty - for a perfect ideal - enables us to reach higher, achieve more, and appreciate goodness. When we have experienced excellence and beauty, we want it more for both ourselves and others. Music is a great medium in which to strive for excellence and beauty, and should be encountered often, if only in a small way.