2/25/2023 0 Comments Transcribe music![]() ![]() Let’s Do Something Rhythmic - I Got Rhythm What are the accompanying chords? (Simple melody invites simple harmony).What’s the starting note? (That’s right, it’s NOT do, it’s sol ).Where’s “ do ,” the root of the scale? (Usually at the end of the melody).Is “Happy Birthday” in a major or minor key? (Let’s hope they know it’s major…ha-ha!).What’s the time signature? (That’s right, 3/4 time, the pickup notes can make this a tricky question).Where’s the beat? (Their body language will likely show you that they can feel it).Musicians and non-musicians alike know and can sing “Happy Birthday.” But it’s the musician that can understand and analyze it.Įncourage your students to ask the following questions, as they begin to analyze “Happy Birthday.” You might have to prod them with some clues shown in the parenthesis. Have your students start with a familiar song from memory, such as “Happy Birthday.” Because they already know the song they can jump right to the second step of the transcription process-translation. Starting with the familiar is a good place to begin. If you can’t remember the music, there’s nothing to translate. Internalizing the music is the ultimate goal-that’s why listening is the most important step in the transcription process. ![]() Listening (ear training) + Analysis (brain training) = Successful Transcription In this post, I’d like to share some transcription tips from my new book, Reading, Writing and Rhythmetic: the ABCs of Music Transcription. Now, with more than 40 years of classroom teaching experience, I try to inspire my students using the same advice-transcribe! I know the challenges involved (transcribing is hard!) but I also know the rewards are well worth the effort. My teachers advised me to transcribe solos, and so I did, and they were right! I can still remember note for note my very first solo transcription-Miles Davis’ on “When Lights Are Low.” When I was a young, inexperienced newcomer to jazz, I wanted desperately to learn more about improvisation. I frequently tell my students that I have learned more about music by transcribing it than any book could ever have revealed to me. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |