Why Bother Reading Music?

Ok, so I didn't make up this title because I think Everyone should read music or because I happen to teach that little skill...
Rather than bore the reader with, do re mi's and a,b,c's? I want to share a fascinating experience that I had last week with a Grammy-Winning producer. Now you ask, how do those things even relate to each other? Gimmee a second I'll get there!

Here's the scoop:
Every Monday evening I go to Blair School of Music, (NOT because I am a nerd & I like school… maybe that's part of the reason) BUT really because I am taking an amazing class called the Blair Hit Songwriters Series hosted by the delightful and de-lovely (couldn’t not contain the Cole Porter reference) Deanna Walker. Each week a different fabulous songwriter, publisher, industry exec joins us to talk about their careers, answer questions, critique songs & there are even opportunities to pitch to publishers! This Class runs every fall and spring at Blair, & I say, the 2 hours each week is time well spent. It has been a wonderful opportunity to learn about the process of songwriting from the perspective of successful writers, tools for the muse, advice on succeeding in this mad hatter industry and to hear some famous hits played live by the actual writers! blah, blah, you get the point. If you're interested you can check it out here

Last week we were joined by a Grammy-Winning Writer/Producer named Hawk Wolinski (some of his credits include a little lady called Chaka Khan, a guy named Michael Jackson, this brilliant producer dude, Quincy Jones oh and Prince!!)
First I must say, What a Fireball, he was entertaining and shared bucket loads of information from the moment he walked in. It was fabulous!

How does this tie into Music Theory?
I want to first mention that he discussed a lot of varied styles of music including...
References to some great jazz cats like Coltrane and his approach to creating melody.
(a-hem...) Some of those Broadway writers I have mentioned (perhaps even endlessly expounded upon?) in previous posts.
I'm too cool for Broadway
Brilliance and Bawdy of Broadway Lyrics
Send In the Clowns

And even, one of most favorite people, J.S.Bach and how he orchestrated music. Amazing how the Baroque era (that's the 1700's?!?) is still making it's mark today? By the way, when I heard Quincy Jones speak last year, he mentioned a lot of classical cats as well...
It's fascinating to me how all of this stuff has influenced a successful, innovative, writer, & his arranging/process as an R&B producer. See, I don't make this stuff up because I like to talk about Music Theory!
It's important to take in knowledge from all Genres and to delve into understanding music.
Why? because it helps you to be a better writer and musician :)

Oh, one last thing...
At the end of the class Deanna asked him, “If there was something you would have done differently in your career, what would it be?” His answer, “I would have learned to read music sooner...” 'Nuf said (albeit he also mentioned watching his Business of Music more carefully)

Hmmm... I think next week? I'll share some his writing tricks. So stick around, I promise fun and fabulous-ness for all

What is the Circle of 5ths ? Part #3 - The 1,2,3 of figuring out Sharps

OK .... So we left off with our high-tech GPS device which helped us to navigate the Circle of 5ths.
We already understand:
How many flats and sharps exist in each key
IF you don't already know that?
Please read "What is the Circle of 5ths
Part 1, "The Key to Flats & Sharps" here
Part 2, "Navigating the Circle" Here


Let's continue our journey into the world of sharps after a quick review of our last adventure
G Major: 1 sharp
D Major: 2 sharps
A Major: 3 sharps
E Major: 4 sharps
B Major: 5 sharps
F# Major: 6 sharps
**Note Once again we are only talking about Major Keys here**

Now how do we figure out which sharps exist in each key?
Simple as 1, 2, 3!!!

Let's start with G (oh my those last 3 sentences rhymed unintentionally!!)
First Recall your musical alphabet A, B, C, D, E, F, G - G means GO back to A

1. Look at the Key Name
ex: G Major
2. What note comes before it in the alphabet ?
ex: Key of G
ex: F comes before G in the alphabet
3. Add a sharp
+ Key of G
+ F comes before G
+ Add a Sharp: F#
WHAT IS THE SHARP IN THE KEY OF G ? F# !!!!!
Simple as 1,2,3

Our next key in the circle is D ( 5 steps away from G = G, A, B, C, D)
We know that D has 2 sharps
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS D MAJOR
2. What letter comes before D in the alphabet? ANSWER IS C
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS C#

But Wait you said that D had TWO sharps?!?!
Well, remember I also said that sharp guy was a party fellow?
He travels from Bar to Bar and picks up Friends everywhere he goes!
In other words, as we travel clockwise from Key to Key,
For each progressive key we add our new sharp to the previous ones

EX: so we already learned that
The key of G has 1 sharp - F#
The key of D has 2 sharps - F# and C#
F# is already there from the previous key and now we add C#

Let's continue
Our next key after D is .... (count on your GPS)
So, thumb on D
Pointer finger on E
Middle finger on F
Ring finger on G
Pinky on A
VOILA! you have now determined your next key which is the key of A!

Let's go back to our 1,2,3 of figuring out the sharps
1. Look at the Key name: ANSWER IS A MAJOR
2. What letter comes before A in the alphabet ? ANSWER IS G
REMEMBER IN THE MUSICAL ALPHABET AFTER G WE GO BACK TO A
(this is the only instance where you have to remember something beyond the alphabet you learned in kindergarten - pretty simple because in that alphabet nothing comes before A, so just now commit to memory:
G comes before A, G comes before A, G comes before A)
3. Add a sharp - THE ANSWER IS G#
4. A Major has 3 sharps - Our new one is G# plus F# & C# because we've already picked them up from the last 2 keys.

NEXT
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS E MAJOR
2. What letter comes before E in the alphabet? ANSWER IS D
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS D#
4. E major has 4 sharps - D# plus the 3 from the previous keys: F#, C#, G#, D#

NEXT
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS B MAJOR
2. What letter comes before B in the alphabet? ANSWER IS A
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS A#
4. B major has 5 sharps - A# plus the 4 from the previous keys: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

NEXT
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS F# MAJOR
(because F has already been sharped in the circle he stays that way)
2. What letter comes before F in the alphabet? ANSWER IS E
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS E#
4. F# major has 6 sharps - E# plus the 5 from the previous keys: F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#

I will leave C# to YOU!

Now, here's another tip - or perhaps a trend to notice...
Look at your sharps as they line up
F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#
Holy Genius of Music Theory!!!! There's another pattern here...
Can you see it? Hint: GPS Hint: Circle of 5ths
Give up?
THERE IS A 5TH BETWEEN EACH SHARP AS WE ADD THEM! Check it out
So, thumb on F
Pointer finger on G
Middle finger on A
Ring finger on B
Pinky on C
Get it! the relationship between F and C is a 5th (and the same goes for all of the other sharps we are adding) What another nifty way to figure it out

EX: We already know that G has one sharp which is F and that A has 3 sharps
To figure out the sharps in A you can travel the circle Starting at F# to C# to G#
Magical!!


Now, for homework
1. Take a minute NOW to write out the sharps in each key using the 1,2,3 method
PLEASE close this screen and do it without looking. Then you can double check it here!
2. Tape it to your bathroom mirror and review it as you brush your teeth each morn and evening
3. Play through each key on your instrument
4. APPLY IT in the next tune you're writing, the next chart you look at, hear it as you play.

Have Fun!!! and as always, drop a line back with any questions!!
Contact@meredithblis.com

"Send in the Clowns"

Irony - Sometimes defined as an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected
For example, in 1975 a little song from the Broadway musical, “A Little Night Music,”
Won the Grammy for Song of the Year!!

Even more Ironic? This song is a brilliant use of Irony!
“What’s it called?" SEND IN THE CLOWNS

If I said, “Hey send in the clowns” You would think – what happened??!?! What’s so funny ? Yeah, some people find clowns scary, but for the most part, clowns are supposed to be silly.
But if you were reflecting upon the ironies and disappointments of you life? That would be a very different matter... And that would be a very ingenious twist on the typical picture…. Alas, Thank You once again Stephen Sondheim (who is probably my most favorite Broadway composer and "A Little Night Music is one of my most favorite musicals)
At the end of the song he states, "Don't bother, they're here." Which also means, the players are the clowns, or as he says it, clowns is a synonym for fools.

But which choice is more interesting? Fools or Clowns? I'll let you guess.
We can learn something here!
Songwriters, never say die! when it comes to exploring options for different words and images. Better said, never, rest in peace, succumb, give up the ghost, abate,
expire, wain, wither, succumb, pass on, lapse, weaken, ... you get the point!!!

This little article in Wikipedia is awesome. It discusses his writing process and the influence of his mentor (Leonard Bernstein, another one of my favorite people);
as well as the unique song structure (the song has 4 verses and a bridge) and the unusual meter/timing. Songwriters, I say it again Broadway Cats can be pretty hip creatures and we can learn a lot from them!
More Here

And who else thought this song was cool enough to sing?
Krusty the Clown (sorry I had to mention that)
Frank Sinatra, Kenny Rogers, Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA), Bryan Ferry, Tom Jones, Glenn Close, Van Morrison, Wil Ferrell, Steven Colbert (when he had Sondheim as a guest) And many others, One of my favorite versions is by Barbara Streisand
View it here

Singers, this one is for you. First watch her body, specifically the placement of her head and the long lines of her neck. This allows the voice to flow easily. If we reach our chin too far forward or the position of our head is crooked, this creates tension, makes it more difficult to sing and will cause problems (fatigue, hoarseness, etc). Also, note the relaxed jaw and how she opens, opens, opens her mouth! Free that beautiful tone! While she's doing this, take a look, notice how her tongue is beautifully relaxed. Also, her vocal control and tone are breathtaking. (hint: listen to where she breathes) Ok, I'm gonna stop here for this week...

I shall sign off with this gem of rhyme, imagery, and cleverness....
(also from A Little Night Music)
It's a push and a fumble and a tumble in the sheets, And I'll foot the highland fancy,
A dip in the butter and a flutter with what meets my eye, It's a very short fetch
From the push and the whoop, To the squint and the stoop, And the mumble.
It's not much of a stretch, To the cribs and the croup And the bosoms that droop
And go dry. In the meanwhile, There are mouths to be kissed, Before mouths to be fed,
And there's many a tryst, And there's many a bed, To be sampled and seen
In the meanwhile, And a girl has to celebrate what passes by."
(the Millers Son -Stephen Sondheim)