making up for lost time...

You all will be glad to know that the great technology crisis of 2010 has been resolved here on Otero Place! So yes, I'm a recalcitrant blogger, but I do have some very airtight excuses, and I have dreamt up some fun consolation assignments for all of you (since clearly, I'm sure you all have been inconsolable for the past seven days...wink, wink).

Let us commence with the consolation! Let the healing begin!

I've never done this before, so I'm hoping it works...I'd like to assign some solmization/transcription exercises using the magic of youtube. Please drop me a line if a link doesn't work.

Rising Level 2's

Take a gander at these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsTk2xp0nvY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI0Q8ytD44Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwE-SLnLkqY&ob=av2e (not G-rated)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkWn69VBslw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6tV11acSRk&feature=related

Solmize as many of these tunes as you can...if you're having a hard time, shoot just for the chorus. Choose one of the five and transcribe it.

Rising Level 3's

Your instructions are the same as the rising level 2's.

Here are your selections:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyV60kTvEFE (one of the sweetest tunes I know)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUadW2eWsKg (don't judge....it's modal!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrxs-ILQPUU (disregard the sentimental skating video...the point is to get the transition from major to minor...but is it relative or parallel?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLQgjEhH400 (sing the instrumental interlude and the chorus)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5dN4OoYdb8 (Rufus rockin' the chromaticism...and celebrating his favorite operatic heroines)

Rising Level 4's

Your instructions are the same, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otx49Ko3fxw&feature=related (because I know how you love the macabre)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y-ey0LrmQI&p=B9021B158E344A75&playnext=1&index=5 (because I know how you love the highbrow....this is two examples in one, because you should solmize the choral melody and also the modulating instrumental melody)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Ommg4V8mA (because this is my favorite movie ever)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emdM2uX2CWA&feature=fvst (because my teacher made me transcribe it...there are sort of two melodies, so feel free to divide them)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FpUViFxXT8 (because I couldn't have you thinking I didn't want to give you anything profane or potentially offensive)

Week 2: obstacles

Despite technological woes (namely, the apparent comatose state of my computer), we find ourselves bravely forging ahead, gentle solfeggists!

So, given that my current state of affairs has me thinking on resourcefulness and how we as humans and musicians work our way around and through obstacles, I thought it appropriate to choose examples this week that lead you to re-examine some of the tools we talked about a few weeks back. I speak, of course, of tools of the trade that help us with chromatic passages, nasty leaps, troublesome ranges, etc.

Rising Level 2's:
Make chapter 9 of the Ottman your special study this week...V7 and the intervals derived from it, plus other diatonic seventh leaps are the challenge of this chapter. What can you use to help tame these beasties? How about harmonic savvy (and judicious use of the piano to play underlying harmonies), writing in syllables in one or two tricky spots, firm acquaintance with rhythm before you tackle pitches, audiating the dominant and tonic throughout the example, etc. Choose whatever 6 examples you like (1 per day), but at least take a stab at 9.38...it's wicked, but short and beautiful.

Rising Level 3's:
I would like for you folks to tackle some rhythmic exercises in addition to melodic exercises this week. Choose any 3 exercises from 10.65-10.79 and any 3 from 12.50-12.60 (one in alto clef would be fun, don't you think?). Perform the rhythmic duets as a solo performer (either each hand taps a line or speak one line and tap the other) and use the techniques mentioned under the rising level 2's assignment as needed for the melodic exercises.

Rising Level 4's
Look at canons 5, 6, & 7 in the Classical Canons book. Sing through one voice part per day (noting that #5 has one part, #6 has two, and #7 has three) and make observations about the difficulties of each: rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, etc. Be clever in the ways you overcome these challenges, engaging with your renwed acquaintance with music across time to decide what one might expect to discover in canons of this era.

As always, all are warmly invited to ask me for any help or advice you may require. Good luck!

Vivificus totalus!

Hello, solfa adventurers!

Here it goes...my big push to resurrect this here solfa blog...

First of all, I miss you very much! I feel really great about how this year went, and I truly hope that each of you feels inspired by what you learned during your summer studies...and that a week of normal sleeping habits has restored you to feelings of well-being. Yours truly has spent the week teaching music classes for vacation Bible school at my church gig and thereby renewing my admiration for general music and preschool teachers everywhere. I mean, I love three-year-olds a lot, but my pal Katalin Forrai wasn't joking when she said that group music lessons where everyone is basically paying some kind of attention should probably begin at age 4. This is a lesson I've learned and shared multiple times, but interestingly, this does not deter anyone from sending me large groups of 3-year-olds and thinking that's all gonna work out well. Perhaps I involuntarily slip into speaking Sanskrit when I share these pearls of wisdom with the world....oooh, which makes me wonder....

....nope, rats....no Sanskrit application on Google Translate. Crying shame, I tell you...

Ok, ok, back to the matter at hand:

Rising Level 2's
Step 1: Locate your Ottman and your tuning fork....aaaaaggghh, I know, I know, they are probably stowed away someplace where they cannot torment you, but humor me...
Step 2: Look through chapters 6-12 of the Ottman and select 3 examples in C major and 3 in
A minor and write them down on a sticky note (or leave a comment on the blog).
Step 3: Read one a day this week (minus a sabbath of your choosing). That's right, just one measly Ottman a day...in a key with no sharps and flats...just to ease into the habit, to get accustomed to the presence of Mr. Ottman and Ms. Rogers in your everyday lives, and to make sure that you keep up your tuning fork chops. It's like making your bed every day...if you get into the habit, it won't even seem like work after awhile.
Extra credit step: Call my cell phone and sing one example on my voicemail or call a classmate and sing for each other!

Rising Level 3's
Step 1: Locate your Ottman, your Classical Canons book, your tuning fork sheet, and your tuning fork...yes, I know it's painful...
Step 2: From the Ottman, choose 3 examples from any of the following chapters: 16, 17, 20; from the Classical Canons book, choose any 3 canons between #71 and #105. Write them down on a sticky note or leave a comment on the blog.
Step 3: Read one a day this week (minus a sabbath of your choosing). Focus on using the tuning fork to find the key, applying the correct syllable names to the correct notes (this is a crucial step to fluency, and the thing that will get you there is repetition over time), and feeling stable about diatonic pitches...the chromatics will take care of themselves.
Extra credit step: Call my cell phone and sing one example on my voicemail or call a classmate and sing for each other...this would be particularly fun with canons or duet examples, don't you think?

Rising Level 4's
Step 1: Heave a sigh of relief! This is totally just for your personal enrichment!
Step 2: Track down your Bartok xeroxes from the last full day of class
Step 3: Look at Ciposutes...sing through in key-area sections one at a time, using the tuning fork to re-establish the key between sections and check yourself. By the end of a week, see if you can make it all the way through one of the voice parts.
Step 4: Call a friend and sing small sections or the whole thing together...preferably while sipping a glass of something tasty...

Enjoy, and as always, feel free to seek clarification if needed...good luck!!!