I think the standard thing about saxophone vibrato you read from tutorials all over is moving the jaw up and down in a vertical motion. At today's pratice session, I realized that the way to generate vibrato is actually quite different across the registers - the low notes seems to do better with vertical motion of the jaw, but at the higher notes, doing that is very tiring - for me - and I actually found that rolling the lips forwards and backwards seems to be much easier, smoother and less wearing.
That said, I still have not yet reached the stage where I can actually do vibrato properly, only got taught the week before xmas. I'm still doing the vibrato practice routines against a metronome. Need to talk to my teacher about this.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Parallelisms: Flute and Saxophone - a newb perspective
It's been about 2 months give or take since I've properly begun flute lessons - 3 in total so far.One thing that stands out to me is how different the embouchures are between the sax and flute.
With the sax, is more about how I deliver the air against the mouthpiece by shaping my tongue, as well as the tightness of the sides of the lips. Changing the tone from piercing to a more mellow sound is again dependent on the airflow shaped by my tongue, and with subtoning, dropping the jaw.
Comparatively, the flute focuses more on the actual lips, in controlling the stream of air being blown against the cutting edge of the headjoint. Using the lips themselves to focus the airstream seems to be key here, and the more I experiment with the lips and placement of the joint, the more resonant a sound I get. The lips going dry here is a big issue though.
As either embouchures don't seem to get in the way of each other in terms of shape, I can see improvements on both instruments without seemingly affecting either in a negative way.
In practice terms, armed with this knowledge, I can focus my effects into getting a good strong focused airflow. Being the flute is my secondary instrument, I only dabble with it a few hours a week - like maybe giving it a quick blow whilst I fry some eggs or waiting for tea to brew.
---------
The flute also exposes me to a different side of music - classical. This was unplanned, as my main requirement was - I have flute, find teacher that is nearby. My teacher is from a pure classical (french, iirc) school, and is not at all into playing jazz. In retrospective, I think being exposed to different viewpoints would probably help expand my perspectives. I'm personally not that interested in classical music, but just a few minutes ago, playing Bach's Minuet in G just lit up my heart. A simple melody (obviously, I butchered it) - but the delivery of emotion is so strong.
Down the road, I intend to take the flute down the celtic side, which is why I got it in the first place. Celtic music just resides in another realm, and I wish I had the concentration and time to study that area of music as well. Perhaps down the road.
I leave you with a rendition of Yasunori Mitsuda's Time Scar played on Flute, accompanied by guitar. It is a piece I hope to be able to play a few years down the road.
With the sax, is more about how I deliver the air against the mouthpiece by shaping my tongue, as well as the tightness of the sides of the lips. Changing the tone from piercing to a more mellow sound is again dependent on the airflow shaped by my tongue, and with subtoning, dropping the jaw.
Comparatively, the flute focuses more on the actual lips, in controlling the stream of air being blown against the cutting edge of the headjoint. Using the lips themselves to focus the airstream seems to be key here, and the more I experiment with the lips and placement of the joint, the more resonant a sound I get. The lips going dry here is a big issue though.
As either embouchures don't seem to get in the way of each other in terms of shape, I can see improvements on both instruments without seemingly affecting either in a negative way.
In practice terms, armed with this knowledge, I can focus my effects into getting a good strong focused airflow. Being the flute is my secondary instrument, I only dabble with it a few hours a week - like maybe giving it a quick blow whilst I fry some eggs or waiting for tea to brew.
---------
The flute also exposes me to a different side of music - classical. This was unplanned, as my main requirement was - I have flute, find teacher that is nearby. My teacher is from a pure classical (french, iirc) school, and is not at all into playing jazz. In retrospective, I think being exposed to different viewpoints would probably help expand my perspectives. I'm personally not that interested in classical music, but just a few minutes ago, playing Bach's Minuet in G just lit up my heart. A simple melody (obviously, I butchered it) - but the delivery of emotion is so strong.
Down the road, I intend to take the flute down the celtic side, which is why I got it in the first place. Celtic music just resides in another realm, and I wish I had the concentration and time to study that area of music as well. Perhaps down the road.
I leave you with a rendition of Yasunori Mitsuda's Time Scar played on Flute, accompanied by guitar. It is a piece I hope to be able to play a few years down the road.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Melody on Progression
Fooling around with voicing the chord progression from yesterday as well as creating a melody to sit on top. Logic/EXS24/Grand Piano
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
ii V I progression
Working through some harmony lessons, here's testing a basic ii V I harmony in the key of C, Finale with GPO
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Got a Jamie Aebersold's Book 54: A Maiden Voyage
Been quite sick (literally) this week, and didn't get any sax time at all due to a horrid, horrid cough in addition to overall feverishness. Still feeling meh though most of it seems to be gone.
I was well enough for saxophone lessons yesterday, and was recommended I pick up Jamie Aebersold's Book 54: A Maiden Voyage. These are simplified versions of the tunes - though not as simplified the versions I'm playing from "Jazz Method For Saxophone" - and have a good description and choices of notes for improvisation (e.g. scales, chord notes are given - take your pick).
After the jazz academy course, I think my entire world has been thrown for a loop, going to re-plan out all my practice sessions - teacher went over what I had learnt in the jazz academy course, and pared them down so a music newb like me can understand, and also be able to make use in a practical sense, e.g. connecting chord notes with chromatic runs.
Go away sick, I want to begin this new journey.
I was well enough for saxophone lessons yesterday, and was recommended I pick up Jamie Aebersold's Book 54: A Maiden Voyage. These are simplified versions of the tunes - though not as simplified the versions I'm playing from "Jazz Method For Saxophone" - and have a good description and choices of notes for improvisation (e.g. scales, chord notes are given - take your pick).
After the jazz academy course, I think my entire world has been thrown for a loop, going to re-plan out all my practice sessions - teacher went over what I had learnt in the jazz academy course, and pared them down so a music newb like me can understand, and also be able to make use in a practical sense, e.g. connecting chord notes with chromatic runs.
Go away sick, I want to begin this new journey.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Working on theory
I really enjoy... nah. I don't enjoy it at all. But what's really good about this book is it gives practice in music theory, something that I found missing in my day to day playing of my sax. Sure, it comes up in the books, but somehow it's not... really. Reading from sheet music is just that. Reading from sheet music.
Going through this exercises, makes one realize how to create the scales, what an interval is etc. The only downside I see is that the first few chapters have some quirks, e.g. wrong answers given, or answers that there is no way a student could have answered, for the concepts are taught in the next chapter! So far I'm about starting chapter 12, it's been smooth sailing. Whilst I can't say, play the G minor scale on the sax now, most of the sharp'd major scales come to my fingers very quickly. I can actually remember what E, F and F# major scales on my sax!
Next would be to find the time to work on the flatted majors. Ab major? Er.....
Sunday, January 1, 2012
12 Bar Blues Compo
Jumping in between books at the moment - this is one of the exercises from "Exploring Jazz Saxophone".
Friday, December 23, 2011
Gaia Stage
Gaia Stage
Have to get out of the theory stage and into the practical stage. Here's a quick test of one of the daiko drum elements and shakuhachi in the Garritan World library. Played a bit with the pressure channel to get some vibrato. And some ES2 pads.
Doing this quick shows how difficult it is to get some sort of accompaniment going, even if the pads are just straight chords. My feeble attempts to seek out the chords to fit the melody utterly failed. In the end, I went with single notes that seemed to work, and formed chords from those. Bleh.
Have to get out of the theory stage and into the practical stage. Here's a quick test of one of the daiko drum elements and shakuhachi in the Garritan World library. Played a bit with the pressure channel to get some vibrato. And some ES2 pads.
Doing this quick shows how difficult it is to get some sort of accompaniment going, even if the pads are just straight chords. My feeble attempts to seek out the chords to fit the melody utterly failed. In the end, I went with single notes that seemed to work, and formed chords from those. Bleh.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Can't hear ya
Been working on a jazz-ish arrangement for Silent Night, and have completed a first run of the sax, double bass, piano and drums. Piano will probably be removed as with my current accompaniment skill level (which is zero), doesn't seem to add to the arrangement, more likely a distraction.
Interestingly, I can't actually here the double bass on my speakers - this is a 2010 mbp. On my reference headphones though, they come through clear as day.
Does this mean the frequency response of the mac's speakers don't have much low frequency response? Ponder ponder.
Interestingly, I can't actually here the double bass on my speakers - this is a 2010 mbp. On my reference headphones though, they come through clear as day.
Does this mean the frequency response of the mac's speakers don't have much low frequency response? Ponder ponder.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Patterns in Chords
Currently working through Chapter 2, and the 2nd exercise deals with forming chords a perfect 4th/5th apart, as well as those a 2nd and 3rd apart.
Spending some time on the keyboard seems to indicate a pattern of sorts.
Chords a 4th above/5th Below
For the chords a 4th apart, in their root position (i.e. no inversions), all one has to do is move the 2nd and 3rd notes one tone up to get to the chord a 4th away, to what I think is the first inversion.
E.g.
C to F (CEG -> CFA, 2nd inversion of FAC)
Dm to G (DFA -> DGB, 2nd inversion of GBD)
Em to Am
F to Bdim
G to C (GBD -> GCE, which is 2nd inversion of CEG)
Am to Dm
On the keyboard in the C Major Scale, with the left hand, it means moving the thumb and middle fingers one key to the right.
Chords a 5th above/4th below
Similarly, a pattern can be found for chords a 5th below.
E.g.
C to G (CEG to BDG -> 1st inversion of GBD)
Dm to Am (DFA to CEA -> 1st inversion of ACE)
so on and so forth....
Again on the keyboard, this is done by shifting the last and middle fingers on the left hand one key to the left.
Chords a 2nd above/below
Erm, no patterns here, since they are basically moving all the keys either one key to the left or right..
Chords a 3rd above
And here another pattern emerges
C to E (CEG -> BEG, which is the 2nd inversion if EGB)
Dmin to F (DFA to CFA, which is the 2nd inversion if FAC)
so on and so forth....
On the lefthand keyboard in CMajor, this is moving the last finger on key to the left.
Chords a 3rd below
The final pattern I noticed.
C to Amin (CEG to CEA, which is the 1st inversion of ACE)
Dm to Bmin (DFA to DFB, which is the 1st inversion of BDF)
so on and so forth....
So on the left hand keyboard in C Major, this is moving the thumb one key to the right.
Not sure how useful this is, but perhaps it could be down the road.
NOTE: This are my personal observations, and it could be correct, or incorrect. Use the information here at thy own peril.
Spending some time on the keyboard seems to indicate a pattern of sorts.
Chords a 4th above/5th Below
For the chords a 4th apart, in their root position (i.e. no inversions), all one has to do is move the 2nd and 3rd notes one tone up to get to the chord a 4th away, to what I think is the first inversion.
E.g.
C to F (CEG -> CFA, 2nd inversion of FAC)
Dm to G (DFA -> DGB, 2nd inversion of GBD)
Em to Am
F to Bdim
G to C (GBD -> GCE, which is 2nd inversion of CEG)
Am to Dm
On the keyboard in the C Major Scale, with the left hand, it means moving the thumb and middle fingers one key to the right.
Chords a 5th above/4th below
Similarly, a pattern can be found for chords a 5th below.
E.g.
C to G (CEG to BDG -> 1st inversion of GBD)
Dm to Am (DFA to CEA -> 1st inversion of ACE)
so on and so forth....
Again on the keyboard, this is done by shifting the last and middle fingers on the left hand one key to the left.
Chords a 2nd above/below
Erm, no patterns here, since they are basically moving all the keys either one key to the left or right..
Chords a 3rd above
And here another pattern emerges
C to E (CEG -> BEG, which is the 2nd inversion if EGB)
Dmin to F (DFA to CFA, which is the 2nd inversion if FAC)
so on and so forth....
On the lefthand keyboard in CMajor, this is moving the last finger on key to the left.
Chords a 3rd below
The final pattern I noticed.
C to Amin (CEG to CEA, which is the 1st inversion of ACE)
Dm to Bmin (DFA to DFB, which is the 1st inversion of BDF)
so on and so forth....
So on the left hand keyboard in C Major, this is moving the thumb one key to the right.
Not sure how useful this is, but perhaps it could be down the road.
NOTE: This are my personal observations, and it could be correct, or incorrect. Use the information here at thy own peril.
Flute class musings
Had my second flute class today, at my teacher's place over in Hackney central. From today's lesson, it seems like why I'm running out of breath quickly is because I'm blowing a massive stream of air - and I can barely support it for more than a few beats. The proper way, which still eludes me is to focus the embouchure into a tighter, small stream. Gonna take awhile as I find it quite difficult to adapt, but already I could manage about 2 bars at a reasonably slow tempo without fainting.
That said, I think there is an advantage of learning from different instrument with a different teacher - everyone has a different things to teach - one of the key points I picked up is about practicing with long tones. It's not just blowing long notes, but to figure out what is the best position for one's embouchure to be in per note.
With the saxophone, I didn't think of it this way, my understanding was "long tones" == "tone gets better". Time spent with long tones needs to be used to find out how to make that particular note as sweet as possible.
With the flute, it's finding the sweet spot with the various variables - placement of lip plate, roll in/out, embouchure etc. With the sax, in my experience it's more about the shape of the tongue inside to direct the air, as well as the firmness of the embouchure support.
This also brings up the point of doubling - the flute and sax use wildly different embouchures, and I believe that either won't interfere with the other much. Fingering wise, it's similar, but the flute seems to utilize overblowing to get to the next register, whilst with the sax it's a combination of keys and embouchure to get there.
Lots to think about and practice.
Onwards!
That said, I think there is an advantage of learning from different instrument with a different teacher - everyone has a different things to teach - one of the key points I picked up is about practicing with long tones. It's not just blowing long notes, but to figure out what is the best position for one's embouchure to be in per note.
With the saxophone, I didn't think of it this way, my understanding was "long tones" == "tone gets better". Time spent with long tones needs to be used to find out how to make that particular note as sweet as possible.
With the flute, it's finding the sweet spot with the various variables - placement of lip plate, roll in/out, embouchure etc. With the sax, in my experience it's more about the shape of the tongue inside to direct the air, as well as the firmness of the embouchure support.
This also brings up the point of doubling - the flute and sax use wildly different embouchures, and I believe that either won't interfere with the other much. Fingering wise, it's similar, but the flute seems to utilize overblowing to get to the next register, whilst with the sax it's a combination of keys and embouchure to get there.
Lots to think about and practice.
Onwards!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Chapter 01 Ex 8 - Wayward Rhythm
Wayward rhythm is the last exercise in the book, and apart from following the rules ("Basic Note Values") listed in the beginning of the chapter, no instruction apart from using an unpitched instrument.
The instrument I choose was the Pueblo Drum from the Garritan World library. I like it, and a quick google indicates it may be used for Native American drumming, so, woot! As I would love to write some sort of tribal style music and this is an instrument to consider.
Also had to figure out how to get Printmusic to switch to a percussion track, not to difficult just a setting away.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Chapter 01 Ex 6 - Abandoned Dwelling
This lesson features the E Phygian scale, with a melody that is supposed to sound dark and omnimous. Hopefully this brings the idea across. I've swapped out the concert flute with a Native American Flute sample from Garritan's World Instruments, to fit the vibe.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Chapter 01 Ex 5 - Morning Lake
Exercise 5 features the D Dorian mode, fixed rhythm and a melody expressing water. I went with this idea of a lakeside in the morning.
I also found the section in Printmusic where effects can be added, an added the AU MatrixReverb, one of my favourite reverbs.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Chapter 01 Ex 4
Figured out yet a few more bits with Printmusic - you'd need to enable one of the Human Playback styles in order to have the markings e.g. mf or the fermata played back. The rit marking doesn't seem to do anything though. Hairpin crescendos also seemed to work though I had to put the dynamics at either end of the hairpin.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Chapter 01 Ex 3
The third exercise focuses on "the row" where one must use a fixed sequence of notes, and repeats are allowed.
In addition, I also learned a few tricks with Finale and the Garritan samples. Figured out how to lock it to 4 bars per line - been working on 12 bars as standard - and that using the "Notation" version of the instruments e.g. n-flute plr 1 vs flute plr 1 - it's the correct instrument for use with Finale, and allows the articulations like legato and staccatos to be properly played back.
Lucky read on the garritan forums - wonder if its the same for other scoring programs as well.
In addition, I also learned a few tricks with Finale and the Garritan samples. Figured out how to lock it to 4 bars per line - been working on 12 bars as standard - and that using the "Notation" version of the instruments e.g. n-flute plr 1 vs flute plr 1 - it's the correct instrument for use with Finale, and allows the articulations like legato and staccatos to be properly played back.
Lucky read on the garritan forums - wonder if its the same for other scoring programs as well.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Chapter 01 Ex 2
Gah has it been a week since I worked on this?!
Foxes curiously look around, sniffing the air for signs of humans. Oh no! What is that! Hide hide hide! Oh, it's just a cat. La de la, look around, foxes all around!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Chapter 01 Ex 1
Straight export from Printmusic with "Classical" humanization. This begs the question - am I allowed to use rests? The general rules seem to say yes, but the exercise itself says to use the rhythm given. Mmmm.
Personal review:
a) Should have added in performance markings, as indicated in the general rules
b) No rests is correct
c) Should have titled the piece.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Finale Printmusic and Garritan GPO
I'm currently using Finale Printmusic to digitize my scores. It's a great piece of software, but has a pretty steep learning curve. Thankfully, the included video tutorials make using it much simpler. Took me awhile to figure out how to notate rests, until I went through the tutorials :3
Now I'm using this on OSX, and because Garritan were recently running a 30% of sale on their virtual instruments, I picked up the Garritan Personal Orchestra (I have grandiose dreams of remixing music, orchestrally) and Garritan World Instruments.
I understand that the full blow version of Finale comes with the GPO built in, but it's far to expensive for my newbie purposes. Connecting Printmusic to GPO is quite straightforward though - with a score loaded, go to the MIDI menu and switch from "Play Finale Through Midi" to "Play Finale Through Audio Units". Next, in the MIDI menu, go to "Audio Unit Instruments", and by default, channels 1-16 should be loaded with the finale soft synth - switch that over to the Garritan Aria Player. A little button to the right of the drop down list can be pressed to bring up the Aria interface. Load up the instrument in the matching channel and you should be set. The Window -> Instruments list can tell you which channel is assigned to which instrument.
Sadly, the GPO does not have saxophone sounds - as I think saxophones do not exist in traditional orchestras, woodwind or not. In any case, the book suggests working with either Strings Or Woodwinds for the melody, and the wind choices in the Garritan Personal Orchestra do sound much better than the softsynth.
Well that's it for today.
Now I'm using this on OSX, and because Garritan were recently running a 30% of sale on their virtual instruments, I picked up the Garritan Personal Orchestra (I have grandiose dreams of remixing music, orchestrally) and Garritan World Instruments.
I understand that the full blow version of Finale comes with the GPO built in, but it's far to expensive for my newbie purposes. Connecting Printmusic to GPO is quite straightforward though - with a score loaded, go to the MIDI menu and switch from "Play Finale Through Midi" to "Play Finale Through Audio Units". Next, in the MIDI menu, go to "Audio Unit Instruments", and by default, channels 1-16 should be loaded with the finale soft synth - switch that over to the Garritan Aria Player. A little button to the right of the drop down list can be pressed to bring up the Aria interface. Load up the instrument in the matching channel and you should be set. The Window -> Instruments list can tell you which channel is assigned to which instrument.
Sadly, the GPO does not have saxophone sounds - as I think saxophones do not exist in traditional orchestras, woodwind or not. In any case, the book suggests working with either Strings Or Woodwinds for the melody, and the wind choices in the Garritan Personal Orchestra do sound much better than the softsynth.
Well that's it for today.
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