Welcome!
My name is Meredith Blis Sincoff – I am a pianist, songwriter, and vocalist – probably not a musical genius, but most definitely, a music theory nerd.
I decided to start this Blog Site for a few reasons
1. It gives me a chance to prattle about music theory and I like to do that. (we’ve already established that I am a nerd)
2. I have spent many years playing in, hanging out at and even booking music venues
Along the way, as you would imagine, I have met many many brilliant, talented musicians. Often the topic of music arises in conversation (imagine that!) and what I often see are people who are highly proficient on their instrument, they can play wonderfully, & some are even commercially very successful, BUT they still have some unanswered questions regarding the hows and whys certain things in music work & exist (or don't!).
3. I am awed by those gifted musicians who have never even picked up a book or studied formally!! I have seen firsthand, how one little answer can help open a completely new world of musical possibilities, increase confidence, and amplify (pardon the bad pun!) their innate musical talent.
4. I have also seen incredible musicians who are classically trained – they have a very high level of sight-reading ability and a vast knowledge of complex classical literature, however, they are unable to understand chords, charts and pop song structure.
One of my favorite stories here, is that when I was in the extension division of The Juilliard School studying composition and theory, a friend from class came to one of my live ‘pop’ performances. After the show she asked me for the music to one of the cover songs I had played. The next week in class I brought her the ‘chart’ -
(music slang for a chord chart - a piece of music that contains only chords/chord symbols listed, sometimes a chart will also have lyrics or actual music note notation for the melody, in this case it didn't, Just chords!)
She looked at me quizzically and asked “ where are the notes?”
This woman could have played rings around me any day of the week on the piano, but after 15 years at her craft, she had never seen a chord chart. We were both trained musicians, but in some areas, we spoke a different vocabulary.
It's like taking 2 chefs - one runs a chicest cafe in Soho, NYC and the other runs the most popular BBQ joint in all of Mississippi. Both Serve Fabulous Food, but they cook it up a different way
Different Skills are relevant for Different Genres (or Kitchens!)
OR maybe you're just beginning your Rock Star Journey, thinking about playing or recently started learning an instrument ?
Well, you've picked a good place to start!
No path for musicians is more correct than another -
it’s just a matter of filling in the blanks that our training & experience have left open. In an ideal world we know it all, but the important thing is to focus on the elements that will help us to grow & achieve on our own personal path. Different styles of music require different knowledge. We learn from what we use and from what we are exposed to. But sometimes we want answers, and it's important to fill in those blanks so that we can continue to excel at our craft.
That's where I come In! Yay!
My goal here is to fill in those ‘blanks,' to help other musicians excel at their craft and to debunk some myths…
Music Theory IS in everyone’s ability to learn and apply –
It is NOT some ancient secret that requires initiation, torture, struggle to learn and a lifetime journey to find the ‘Holy Grail’
The main problem that I have seen is that a lot of the available texts are very confusing, they are presented in a very intellectual manner with no practical application. Or we have encountered some scary person in our past who has made it appear that theory is so complex it is way beyond the grasp of the average human being. BULLSHORTS!
Also, lest we forget our Fans and Friends, you are often the most important members of the band :) YOU are the ones who come to shows, buy CD's & give us the courage to keep at it. So... after listening to all of our music & music career drama, might there be SOMETHING you are also curious about?.......
So, bring it on! Ask a Question and allow me (to attempt!!) to present concepts in the clearest possible format. And yes, I will purposely give credence to sophomoric tricks and anecdotes because, in my teaching experience – They Work! And there is no reason for anyone to feel that one must be on some high horse in order to learn.
The one stipulation is don't be Afraid to Click here & ASK THE QUESTION
Enjoy the bad humor along the way, because that's how I roll and it just doesn’t have to be boring! When you are finished,
my hope is that you will agree with me Music Theory is Fun. Maybe just a little bit? And it might just make you a better musician :)
Love, Meredith Blis
Click And ASK ME HERE!!!!!!!
