Lunch with Shad

On Thursday afternoon, my friend and fellow piano teacher, Michelle, notified me of a free concert by Shad, a Canadian hip hop artist.

Born in Kenya and raised in Ontario, Shad is by no means a typical rapper. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a MA in Liberal Studies from Simon Fraser University.  And he beat out fellow Canadian rapper Drake for the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2011.  He has released 4 studio albums and the same number of mixtapes.

The free concert was hosted by CBC as part of their ongoing series CBC Musical Nooners, where local and international artists get one hour to perform on the CBC Plaza throughout the summer.

 

Funny thing was that the concert venue was right behind the Vancouver Public Library, so I’m pretty sure there was no “quiet reading time” during that hour!

After a quick interview, the concert started.

shad2

At first, there was only a trickle of people, but as the music blared during lunch hour downtown, it attracted more attention.

Shad rapped, sang (in falsetto sometimes), and even played on the electric guitar.

shad1

Shad recognized a fan in the audience and invited him up to the stage to rap one of the verses to his song. However, the fan loved the song so much he had made up his own lyrics, much to Shad’s delight.

For more info about upcoming performances at the CBC Plaza, click here.

Free Concerts in the Summer!

Did you know you can experience the VSO, k-os, Stephen Fearing, Jerrica Santos,  and more all for FREE this summer ?

All you need are a few blankets or fold-out chairs, and maybe even a picnic basket with snacks and you’re set!

Here is a list of some of the free concerts offered in the Vancouver and the surrounding cities (I’ll certainly be at the VSO Concert at Deer Lake!)

 

Sunday, July 14, 2013 @ 7:30pm

Deer Lake Park, Burnaby

Featuring conductor Gordon Gerrard and pianist Avan Yu

Friday, July 19, 2013 @ 8pm

Whistler Olympic Plaza

Featuring conductor Sean Newhouse and violinist Mayuko Kamio

Saturday, July 20, 2013 @ 8pm

Whistler Olympic Plaza

Featuring conductor Sean Newhouse and violinist Mayuko Kamio

Every Sunday at 2pm from July 7 – Aug 25, 2013

Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, on the PCT Performance Stage

Featuring free Blues, Soul, Funk, R&B and Reggae Concerts

July 20, 21, 2013

4 cultural stages at Holland Park in Surrey, BC: Concord Pacific World Music Stage, Coast Capital Savings Celebration Stage, Chevron Community Stage, G & F Financial Community Stage

Featuring a ton of artists and performers including K-OS, Jerrica Santos, Shweta Subram and more.

July 5 – Aug 23, 2013, 12-1pm

CBC plaza on Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Watch local and international artists, such as Shad, Melanie Dekker, David Sinclair, Kylee Epp and more!  Keep checking their website for updates as more artists will be announced!

Let me know if you hear about any other free concerts around the lower mainland in BC!

Enjoy the free music!

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/community/blog/assets_c/2013/06/IMG_1045-304944.html
http://www.cbc.ca/bc/community/blog/assets_c/2013/06/IMG_1045-304944.html

Stravinsky and Heavy Metal

I attended the performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, Petrushka and Firebird on Saturday evening. Who knew it has also inspired heavy metal bands?!

The Taruskin Challenge

I played “Bleed” by Meshuggah to my dad, who’s a massive fan of Stravinsky, and he asked me “How can you possibly listen to such tripe?” This pissed me off, because I strongly believe that metal and classical are 2 very very very closely related genres. In fact, some classical is heavier than most metal. I wish he’d see the similarities.  — M, on Yahoo Answers forum

I stumbled upon this post in a forum and couldn’t help but smile. Discovering a masterpiece of early-century musical modernism through the Swedish extreme metal act Meshuggah might not be the most orthodox path to a lifelong interest in classical music, but this kid is in no way alone. As a matter of fact, a Sony Masterworks reissue of a mid- 70’s recording of the Rite with Pierre Boulez was, at the age of 14, my first “classical” music CD purchase. Why this…

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How to Read Music like a Pro – Part 3 (last)

In Part 1 of How to Read Music like a Pro, I talked about what sight reading is, why it’s important, and why it’s a common challenge for many musicians.

In Part 2 of How to Read Music like a Pro, I mentioned the most common sight reading books used by teachers, and how to choose the material that is right for you.

In the 3rd and final part of How to Read Music like Pro, I will give you tips on how to successfully sight read material.


Now that you have determined your sight-reading ability and chosen material that is right for you, it’s time to play!

In an exam, you will get some time to look over the passage before you play.  Even if you play for a choir, you should have at least a few moments to look over the music you will be playing. Use this time wisely by preparing…

Preparation:

1. Look at the key signature and remember what keys are altered with a sharp or flat!

2. Also related to point #1, find out what KEY you are in. This will help you greatly because if MAJOR key, should sound generally happy and positive, if MINOR key, should sound sad and the leading notes will VERY LIKELY be raised

3. Scan the entire passage for what appears to be the most challenging part (ex. changing clefs, complex rhythms, accidentals, pedaling, changes in fingering, etc.)

4.  Look for patterns, such as sequences (a motive or musical idea repeated at a different pitch), chords, scales, etc.

5. Notice articulations (anything other than notes) such as staccatos, dynamics, slurs, ties, and other markings

6. Secure the beginning and ending of the passage (this will boost your confidence when you play)

MY BIG HINT: Most music feature A LOT of repetition, whether it be rhythmic or intervallic (ie. a pattern may be repeated at a different pitch).  Every sight reading exercise I have encountered from teaching books have some kind of pattern that can be discovered!  You just have to find it!  For example, look at the passage below from Paul Harris’ Improve your sight-reading! Piano: Level 5:

patterns revealed

Looks complicated, right? The worst thing you could do is think, “I have to find and play all those individual notes!”  Don’t make it harder for yourself!  Check out what I see:

patterns revealed1 Purple: This is a sequence (the rhythm and intervals remain the same; the only change is the pitch). Since the pattern moves one note down, you may not be able to reach all the notes in the second group, so be on the lookout to change your hand position, or alter your fingering (see how they suggest putting finger 2 on C sharp?)

Yellow: These are exactly the same

Green: This is the tonic broken chord of D major arranged in Alberti Style, and repeated 4x

Blue: This is the dominant 7th (a chord created from the fifth note of the scale) broken chord of D major, also arranged in Alberti style and repeated 4x

Last two bars: A perfect cadence in the key of D major

Realizing these patterns requires some analysis, so it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of music theory. This will greatly help you no matter what instrument (including your voice!) you use.

It’s Showtime:

1. The Golden Rule of Sight Reading (see below)

2. Start slower than what you think you should (most players begin too fast)

3. Don’t think about the names of the notes as you play – instead, you should be counting steadily in your head to maintain a steady tempo.

4. Try not to look down at your hands at all – use your peripheral vision as much as you can, and only glance down quickly if you must move your hands a far distance

5. Play with as much confidence as you can muster – believe you can do it!

The GOLDEN RULE OF SIGHT READING: Never stop playing!

Playing steadily without stopping > Playing all the right notes

Sounds simple enough, but it runs counter intuitive to how we practice the piano.  We have an instinct to try to fix or correct whatever we know we made a mistake on.  But what examiners (and your band or duet mates are looking for) is someone who can keep on playing without missing a beat.

Tip: when beginning to sight read, you may use a metronome to help you keep the beat consistent. This might stress you out in the beginning but it really is the best tool you have on your keyboard to help you keep a steady beat

So what should you do if you make a mistake (ie. something sounds “funny”)?

1. Ignore it and keep going

2. Focus on the material ahead – it’s too late to change anything you’ve done, but you can still complete the remaining material as best as you can

3. Do a quick mental check to see if you forgot the key signature or to raise the leading note in a minor key

3. If you can’t find a note quick enough, fake it and play a note near where you think the note should be

I end with this Confucius quote : I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

After all the tips and ideas, the only way to improve your sight reading ability is to practice it a lot! (like weight loss, there is no quick and easy solution!).  Great sight readers are those who have practiced and worked on it consistently and patiently. The only question is, are you content to be”okay” at sight reading, or do you want to be a master sight reader?

How to Read Music like a Pro – Part 2

In my previous post, I talked about what sight reading is, why it’s important, and why it’s such a challenge for many musicians.

In Part 2 of How to Read Music like a Pro, I will mention the most common sight reading books used by teachers, and how to choose the material that is right for you. Once you have determined the appropriate level for you, check out Part 3 on tips for success!

Like any skill you acquire, you must devote time and effort to learn it. If you consider learning music as another language, (I do!), experts estimate spending approx. 10,000 hours, or about 10 years!  When you consider great composers/musicians such as Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, they may have begun composition early.  But their greatest masterpieces were not composed until after at least 10 years of musical study.

What this means for us is that anyone can be a fluent sight reader if one spends the time to practice it daily (yes, daily, not a 1 hr cram session biweekly!).

Below are several method books available in Canada and commonly used by piano teachers. They are by no means an exhaustive list, and I chose them based on my experience with them, and their general popularity in Canada:

  • Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests by Boris Berlin for each level from Introductory to Grade 10. They are arranged daily, you can complete one sight reading exercise a day. This is the standard examiners are looking for if you’re playing a Royal Conservatory Exam.

 

  • Practical Sight Reading Exercises by Boris Berlin and Claude Champagne.
    These are similar to the Four Star books above, but are older, and tend to be dryer and more difficult to read (due to small font size and lack of adequate spacing).  Levels 1-9 only.

 

  • Complete Series of Sight Reading and Ear Tests by Bennett and Capp have graded levels from 1 – 10/ARCT.  I find this series to be slightly more difficult than Four Star, and go up to the ARCT Level (highest level).

 

  • Sight Reading by James Bastien.These are used for beginner piano students as the levels only go from 1-4.

 

  • A Line a Day by Jane Smisor Bastien. (If her last name looks familiar, it’s no coincidence. She is the surviving wife of James Bastien (he passed away in 2005) and when he was alive, they performed as duos and wrote method books for piano students.). Her books range from Level 1 – 4 and are a more updated version from her husband’s, and feature literally one line a day you can play.

 

  • Basic Piano Course: Sight Reading by Gayle Kowalchyk and E.L. Lancaster.  For those students following the Alfred method books, levels 1A – 6.They contain cute illustrations (great for young beginners) and tapping and playing exercises.

 

  • Piano Adventures Sightreading Book by Nancy and Randall Faber. Faber and Faber have sightreading books that correspond to with their popular Piano Adventures Series, but so far only Primer and Level 1.  Level 2A and 2B (and I assume eventually all their levels) are coming soon.

 

  • I Can Read Music – A Notespeller for Piano by Nancy and Randall Faber. Only 3 books: Beginning, Elementary and Early Intermediate levels.

 

    • Improve your Sight-Reading! Piano by Paul Harris.  Harris has written sight reading books for many instruments including piano, flute, violin, and cello.  Levels 1 – 9. I like how he includes a practice chart, and reminds the player to remember the importance of conveying the musicality and character of the piece. This is important because if we neglect this, we are just typing, not playing music.

 

  • Sight Reading and Rhythm Everyday by Helen Marlais, Kevin Olsen, and Julia Olsen. There are only 11 books, and not graded according to the traditional piano levels in Canada. However, this is one of my favourite books because it focuses heavily on rhythm and is arranged in a way that the learner can systematically incorporate key signatures, intervals, and patterns.



How to choose the material that’s right for you?

This is difficult to explain without listening to you play.  I made recordings of myself playing this excerpt:

Sightreading

If the material is too difficult for you, this is what you sound like:

No awareness of dynamics nor key signature, articulation, incorrect rhythm throughout most, very slow and replayed some notes

If the material is too easy for you, this is what you sound like:

The passage was played without a single mistake at a relatively quick speed

If the material is perfect for your level of competency, this is what you sound like:

A few wrong notes and slight rhythmic inaccuracies, could improve on more dynamics

The ideal level for you is one where there are parts you can work on, but you are not struggling tremendously through the entire passage.  The danger with playing material that is either too easy or too difficult is that you will not improve much.

I’m inspired by Kenny Drew Jr., one of the best living sight readers today – able to master anything put in front of him almost immediately.

How to read music like a pro – Part 1

sightreading

Last year, I had an adult (a voice teacher in fact) come to me for lessons on how to sight read better. She was an amazing singer, and could easily accompany herself and her students on the piano by playing chords, but found it difficult to sight read, even pieces at the grade 2 level.

This year I taught two adult students with a background in music (had lessons as a child or in high school band) who want to re-learn the piano or learn how to play their favourite songs.

Finally, I’ve had transfer students who had an astounding ability to memorize the sounds of the pieces but struggle with playing new material that had not been demonstrated before.

What do these learners have in common? They are all weak in their SIGHT READING.

What is sight reading?

Sight Reading is the ability to play written music on your instrument of choice without having seen it before.

Why should I learn how to sight read?

Today’s pedagogues and musicians agree that the ability to sight read is of the utmost importance.

Anyone who have played in a group/band can tell you that if one person stops to correct a mistake, this will throw all the other members off.  Furthermore, wouldn’t it be incredibly freeing and exhilarating if someone could “plop” any written piece of music in front of you, and you could pick it out right away?

Why is sight reading such a challenge to most musicians?

Sight reading is like reading a book, except you are expected to read something and play the instrument at the same time. Many musicians attempt to sight read material that is too difficult, and end up simply “decoding” the music (imagine how a 5 yr old sounds out words in order to read).  This is not reading.  The fact is most musicians devote their time to practising their technique and repertoire, but allot very little time and energy to developing their sight reading ability. Furthermore, as a teacher, it may be difficult to cover technique, repertoire, theory, ear training and sight reading in a 30 min session.

Interesting scientific fact:

Studies have tracked the eye movement of skilled sight readers and they have found more eye movement, especially ahead in the music where they are playing.  Conversely, poor sight readers tend to look exactly where they are playing, or backwards.

This skill of looking ahead is what everyone who reads books can do.  When you are reading a sentence, your eyes are automatically scanning what is coming ahead (if you don’t believe this, open a book and cover the last part of the sentence you are reading.  You will likely be able to say the rest of sentence).

How do I become better at sight reading?

I will go into more detail in Part 2….in the meantime, if you have an iPad or iPhone, check out these apps:

1. Piano Reader (free to download, but you have to purchase the music in the app)

Pros: Gives you time to preview the music. When you play the music, you have the option of using the metronome, which keeps the beat to help YOU keep going. This is an excellent teacher when you don’t have one.

Deletes the previous bar as you play, forcing your eyes to look AHEAD

Cons: You have to pay for the music in the app.  if you want all the material, it is a whopping $119.99

Contains music for sight reading for the curriculum of a limited number of schools of music: ABRSM, Australian Music Examinations Board, London College of Music, Rockschool,  Royal Irish Academy of Music, Yamaha play for Keeps. They are missing the largest music school in Canada – the Royal Conservatory of Music

2. mynotegames (free to download, but $6.99 to unlock all the levels)

Pros: You can select the difficulty level, and arranges the notes systematically so you can easily learn how to read all the notes on the staves.

The app picks up on the sound you produce from the instrument, and the notes fade away once you play them, which gives you immediate feedback on whether you played the correct notes or not.  It also rates you on your ability to play the rhythms accurately (gives you a gold, silver, or bronze on your attempts).

Good for beginning students. and its “Tap that Note” allows you to practice reading the correct note when you are away from the piano.

Cons: The sight reading excerpts are either treble or bass clef so you don’t get the chance to play music hands together.  It is a bit simplistic for students above grade 2 RCM level.

I personally use both apps as well as written material in books in my teaching 🙂

In Part 2, I will mention material (books) that you can look into for sight reading material, as well as tips on how to pick the material that’s RIGHT for YOU.

Part 3 will be about what good sight readers do, and the GOLDEN RULE OF SIGHT READING.