No doubt you have at least heard of it. The opera singer belts out a note and, all of a sudden, people find their tuxedos and dresses soiled by the champagne that just spilled out of their broke glasses. Yes, it can be done. But the question is how. What elements is it in a human voice that is capable of accomplishing this feat? Disclaimer: Although I am giving you information on how to break a wine glass with your … Continue reading
Chances are you have heard of metronomes. Perhaps you have even used one. But where did they originate, how do they work, and what are they really used for? Different Types of Metronomes There are a few different types of metronomes on the market today. Mechanical Metronomes: These types of metronomes could very well be considered “classical” metronomes. They typically come in a pyramid shape and use an inverted pendulum to keep the beat. Electronic, or Quartz, Metronomes: When electricity … Continue reading
For many people, key signatures can be a somewhat daunting prospect. You look at a piece of music with 5 flats on a page and you have no idea what to say. Maybe you have been playing this song by yourself and now you are playing it with a group. They ask you what key it is in, and you can’t answer, you don’t know. Well I am here to tell you that there is a second way to do … Continue reading
Walk through any semi-crowded area and you are bound to see several people with headphones in, on, or somewhere in between. Back in the day, music wasn’t portable. There was no way to carry around a band in your pocket. Now there is. People have taken this option. Now we as a society listen to music far more then we used to, and much of it is through tiny ear buds. And yet a very small percentage of us actually … Continue reading
What I Learned From Going Without Blogging for 1 Month, 8 Days, 19 Hours, 49 Minutes, and 51 Seconds
Yes, it really has been that long since I last posted. And yes, as unlikely as it may seem. I have returned. Life is full of roadblocks. Although I can’t give you exact details. I hit one in September. It fundamentally changed my day-to-day life. Blogging got pushed out. But now I am back. Here are a few things I have learned in the past month or so that will hopefully help my blogging career. I really, really enjoy blogging … Continue reading
The short and simple answer is no. The Edge of Glory is not Lady Gaga’s true masterpiece. Neither is Bad Romance, Poker Face, or any other of the numerous songs that she has recorded over her six years as a pop artist. At least not yet. If there is one thing people tend to forget about a musician or band it is that the music of an artist evolves dramatically over the course of the years and albums. One band … Continue reading
In part 1 we examined home audio. Now, in part two, I would like to take a look at two big parts of speaker systems. How the speakers themselves work, and how systems are put together when focusing on live sound. Live Sound There are 3 basic parts to any sound system Soundboard Microphones Speakers These three are all it takes to get stage music going. In theory, nothing more is required. However, there are subcategories, and a few other … Continue reading
If you are in a choir, you have probably sung in a least two parts. You have probably sung in three, and there is a good chance you have sung in four. But have you ever sung in 40? Chances are you haven’t but, for some of you, the answer just might be yes. Enter Spem in alium. A 40-part (although there are versions with just three or four parts)Latin motet written in late 16th century by Thomas Tallis. … Continue reading
We love our music, and chances are we want it to sound as great as possible. But great music requires a great sound system. But how exactly does it work? And why do some sound better then the others. Any sound system (beyond, say, just a couple of computer speakers, has two basic parts. The subwoofer, and the satellite speakers. Each server their purpose. Although this blog is geared particularly towards music, it can be easily applied to home theater … Continue reading
[This is part of the Ensembles for All Series] Ah yes, Choirs. Chances are at some point in your life you have sung with some sort of choir, most likely a school choir. They can create beautiful (or chilling) harmonies, with three, four, or even more different parts at the same time. It’s not easy, but that is not what we are concerned with. We are curious as to how they are structured. Much of my musical experience has come … Continue reading
