I think there are a lot of people who are aware that music within schools are experiencing funding cuts. People throughout the country have deemed that physical sports should be funded more, and i'm honestly not so sure as to why this is. So many people have pushed for more physical activity within schools that funding for sports has skyrocketed. But why is this? Families seem to agree that going to a sporting event creates bonds within family, or going to a football game and having a few with the guys is just a Sunday you cannot miss. And that's completely true! People love to unite in the form of a game and rivalry. But music does the same thing too. What about going to a Luke Bryan concert with the girls or a group of friends? That's a bonding experience with the people you're going with and the wonderful drunk people beside you.
On a serious note, funding towards music departments is a serious matter. Not everyone thinks that music is that important. Maybe you have never sang in choir or played an instrument before in your life. The people who create music for your beloved Family Guy TV show, or How I Met Your Mother, all went to school to become composers and learn how to write music. I want you to start listening to the music behind the scenes of your favorite movies like The Avengers, Thor, Game of Thrones, and just sit and listen. People have created that music on paper and have made it come to life for your emotions to sore. Music tells a story. Listen to that story.
Another thing that people don't understand is participating in music classes such as Theory and Ear Training, actually can improve your test scores. In an article by the Pacific Standard: The Science of Society, claimed that in a recent study in canada that "It is possible that the kids who stay with the music lessons were the smartest and most motivated of this smart, motivated group." And I can agree with that. For someone who has to practice constantly, you need to have that motivation. Also, from another recent study that I read about, music can decrease your chances of being diagnosed with dementia. People have no idea how much music us musicians have to memorize. I have become so good at memorizing music that I can learn a four minute piece in two days if I was motivated enough… There are so many benefits to the art of music with other school subjects and your own health.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Friday, June 27, 2014
Vocal Fry may be hurting you in more ways than one!
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/05/employers-look-down-on-women-with-vocal-fry/371811/
Recent studies have shown that the way you speak can actually be hurting your voice, and also your ability to being hired.
As a music student, vocal fry is probably the worst thing you can do for your voice. You should always be speaking at the natural timbre of your voice. Meaning, not anywhere below, and not forcing your voice too high. If you follow the link above, you can read this small article all about the studies they have done and even listen to participants speaking in the regular timbre of their voice, and when they "fry" it, making it sound crackly.
Vocal Fry is something that happens usually at the end of the sentence you are saying due to the lack of air in your lungs. Once this air runs out, your vocal chords aren't receiving the air needed to continue through the vocal chords to make a clear sound. It's the same with singing. If you don't have enough breath support to push all your air out to sing a phrase, you either are breathy or cannot finish singing that phrase. But who ever knew that talking in vocal fry could impact you getting a job? We've all met those ditsy girls who talk like babies and laugh like it's fake, but little do they know that talking like that can lead to serious vocal health such as vocal nodules. Little cyst like bumps on the strings of your vocal chords that hurt, and if not treated can lead to complete voice loss and/or surgery. This article is a must read for when you are doing job interviews for future employers!
Recent studies have shown that the way you speak can actually be hurting your voice, and also your ability to being hired.
As a music student, vocal fry is probably the worst thing you can do for your voice. You should always be speaking at the natural timbre of your voice. Meaning, not anywhere below, and not forcing your voice too high. If you follow the link above, you can read this small article all about the studies they have done and even listen to participants speaking in the regular timbre of their voice, and when they "fry" it, making it sound crackly.
Vocal Fry is something that happens usually at the end of the sentence you are saying due to the lack of air in your lungs. Once this air runs out, your vocal chords aren't receiving the air needed to continue through the vocal chords to make a clear sound. It's the same with singing. If you don't have enough breath support to push all your air out to sing a phrase, you either are breathy or cannot finish singing that phrase. But who ever knew that talking in vocal fry could impact you getting a job? We've all met those ditsy girls who talk like babies and laugh like it's fake, but little do they know that talking like that can lead to serious vocal health such as vocal nodules. Little cyst like bumps on the strings of your vocal chords that hurt, and if not treated can lead to complete voice loss and/or surgery. This article is a must read for when you are doing job interviews for future employers!
BBC Music Magazine
BBC Music Magazine is both an online magazine and one you can subscribe to. It is found at classical-music.com. This magazine mostly consists of news from the classical music throughout the world, rather than pop artists such as Rhianna or Paul McCartney.
Within the magazine, you will find a lot of news on what is happening with the classical music throughout the world. Such as who is performing what, where they are performing, many concert reviews, articles about composers and professional performers, and a few articles about some on-going issues of the classical art dying.
We often get articles from this magazine sent to us from our instructors at school, and also a few from The Atlantic magazine. It's news that in some way impacts students going into music, and also gives us a chance to read concert reviews. I think that is the best part of this magazine. As a music student, you are constantly being reviewed by your peers. It's constructive criticism and it's important that you welcome those reviews. You also get to listen to podcasts they have posted from orchestras throughout the world, and famous musicians playing certain pieces as well. The layout of the page may be a little confusing as you scroll down, and I would like to see more news related topics of composers and musicians under their News heading. If you want to keep up to date with your classical music and who performed what piece recently, this is a great magazine to do so.
Within the magazine, you will find a lot of news on what is happening with the classical music throughout the world. Such as who is performing what, where they are performing, many concert reviews, articles about composers and professional performers, and a few articles about some on-going issues of the classical art dying.
We often get articles from this magazine sent to us from our instructors at school, and also a few from The Atlantic magazine. It's news that in some way impacts students going into music, and also gives us a chance to read concert reviews. I think that is the best part of this magazine. As a music student, you are constantly being reviewed by your peers. It's constructive criticism and it's important that you welcome those reviews. You also get to listen to podcasts they have posted from orchestras throughout the world, and famous musicians playing certain pieces as well. The layout of the page may be a little confusing as you scroll down, and I would like to see more news related topics of composers and musicians under their News heading. If you want to keep up to date with your classical music and who performed what piece recently, this is a great magazine to do so.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
My Field
For my first post I will tell you a little about my field. I'm a current Music major at NDSU pursuing another degree in Speech-Language Pathology at MSUM. I will mostly be referring to my degree at NDSU. In my field, there are many things you can do. You can go for a general music degree, performance or a teaching in either instrumental or voice and you can recieve up to a doctoral degree in both. I actually just finished the general requirements for a general music degree this past year. A day for me in the music department consists of pretty much all music classes including: Music Theory, Music History, Vocal Pedagogy, Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, voice lessons, Conducting, Ear Training and Sight Singing, Opera class, Diction, Piano, and if I'm lucky, maybe a couple Gen. Ed requirements.
Being a Music major, I have no free time. I'm lucky enough to have a part time job. People in my field practice every day whenever they have free time. We are either singing for four hours a day, or playing an instrument four hours a day. Some other things we do in our field is of course, make music. We can write music, play music, sight read music, and turn black notes on a page into something so much more. Some of the values we share are respect for our instructors, fellow musicians, and the struggle of music in schools throughout the world. We value this art more than anything. It's like every person in this world is searching for some meaning in their life, but little do they know, the music nerds have already found it. It's hard work and dedication that goes into this field, and it's something that anyone persuing music understands. It may be work, but it's also my get-away.
A lot of people assume that our major is easy. No way! For a general Music major, it's 122 credits. Not counting our required minor which is another 18 credits or more. For an education major, its over 165. With how many hours we spend in the practice room, it's equivalent to having a full time job plus overtime. Another thing people don't know about music is that it encorporates both math and science. Music Theory is all about math believe it or not. And with pitches, we learn all about the velosity and speed of the sound waves in order for a piano or instrument to make that sound. It's how instruments were first made in the medieval times.
Music plays such a huge role in our world. Think about what life would be like without music? No scary movies with the intense music, making you anticipate that random lady getting stabbed. Or what about those sappy love movies when they're running towards each other in the field of waving grass and no strings playing at fortissimo during that climax of the movie. It's all about what you feel. Music is all about feelings. Pouring your soul into Mozart's Symphony No. 40, or Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 4th movement. You'd have to be insane without enjoying any type of music. Music is constantly changing because our world is changing everyday. You wouldn't believe what people can do now-a-days with technology and how electronic music has taken over. But we also have to remember that people and children get inspired by music that they hear either in school or by a play or musical. They feel the movement of the music just like you and I, and that's something that can change the world.
Being a Music major, I have no free time. I'm lucky enough to have a part time job. People in my field practice every day whenever they have free time. We are either singing for four hours a day, or playing an instrument four hours a day. Some other things we do in our field is of course, make music. We can write music, play music, sight read music, and turn black notes on a page into something so much more. Some of the values we share are respect for our instructors, fellow musicians, and the struggle of music in schools throughout the world. We value this art more than anything. It's like every person in this world is searching for some meaning in their life, but little do they know, the music nerds have already found it. It's hard work and dedication that goes into this field, and it's something that anyone persuing music understands. It may be work, but it's also my get-away.
A lot of people assume that our major is easy. No way! For a general Music major, it's 122 credits. Not counting our required minor which is another 18 credits or more. For an education major, its over 165. With how many hours we spend in the practice room, it's equivalent to having a full time job plus overtime. Another thing people don't know about music is that it encorporates both math and science. Music Theory is all about math believe it or not. And with pitches, we learn all about the velosity and speed of the sound waves in order for a piano or instrument to make that sound. It's how instruments were first made in the medieval times.
Music plays such a huge role in our world. Think about what life would be like without music? No scary movies with the intense music, making you anticipate that random lady getting stabbed. Or what about those sappy love movies when they're running towards each other in the field of waving grass and no strings playing at fortissimo during that climax of the movie. It's all about what you feel. Music is all about feelings. Pouring your soul into Mozart's Symphony No. 40, or Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 4th movement. You'd have to be insane without enjoying any type of music. Music is constantly changing because our world is changing everyday. You wouldn't believe what people can do now-a-days with technology and how electronic music has taken over. But we also have to remember that people and children get inspired by music that they hear either in school or by a play or musical. They feel the movement of the music just like you and I, and that's something that can change the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)