| Cue | Notes |
| What is contextual interference? | Change the pattern of the rhythm to make it more challenging. Focus on specific sections. |
| What is desirable difficulty? | Make everything a bit more difficult. Not to the point where you hit a “dreaded plateau” but just enough that isn’t to easy. |
| How to get to a desirable difficulty? | Find the areas that are the hardest and work on those so you can add them to the whole song. Practice 5-10 minutes so you don’t get overwhelmed. |
Month: March 2022
Making Motives with Triads
What I did for this project was go into online sequencer and pick random instruments and make a 3 note motive. It was a lot of fun and helped me come up with a lot of random little melodies!
Melody Terms and Definitions
In music, a triad is a set of three notes (or “pitch classes“) that can be stacked vertically in thirds.[1] The term “harmonic triad” was coined by Johannes Lippius in his Synopsis musicae novae (1612). Triads are the most common chords in Western music.
When stacked in thirds, notes produce triads. The triad’s members, from lowest-pitched tone to highest, are called:[1]
- The root
- The third
- The fifth
– Triad definition from Wikipedia
- Theme – a longer, more flowing melodic idea
- Motive – a short, rhythmic idea
- Period – 8 (ish/around 8) measures of music
- Phrase – 4 (ish/around 4) measures of music
- Antecedent (Question or First) Phrase – sets the music up and leads you to expect something
- Consequent (Answer or Second) Phrase – releases the tension built up by the first phrase
- Scale Degrees:
- Tonic Scale Degree – the note that begins and ends the scale, the note that releases the tension, one scale degree that creates a feeling of stability and resolution.
- Supertonic, Mediant, and Submediant Scale Degree – scale degrees with a moderate level of tension useful for transitioning and carrying on an idea
- Dominant, Subdominant, and Leading Tone Scale Degree – the notes that build tension, several scale degrees that create a high level of tension/the need to resolve the tonic
- Steps – any movement using half or whole steps
- Leaps – any movement using intervals larger than a whole-step
- Conjunct motion – melody built primarily out of steps that move smoothly (example: moving in a scale)
- Disjunct motion – melody built primarily using leaps
- Repetition (the god particle of music) – use repeated material to create a link between the two phrases of a period
- Contrast – write two phrases that contain contrast material to create tension and interest
- Variation – halfway between repetition and contrast. The two phrases include some recognizable material and some varied material.
Composition term definitions from Dr. Henke’s video: How to Write a Melody
- Dr. Jamie Henke, artsdivision.wisc.edu/staff/jamie-henke-jamie-henke/
My Motives
https://onlinesequencer.net/2586207
https://onlinesequencer.net/2588435
https://onlinesequencer.net/2588435
https://onlinesequencer.net/2590954
Feedback
“Everything sounded pretty cool for the resources you had.” – Carson
“I really liked the small random instrument parts in some of the songs” – Connor
What I Learned & Problems I Solved
Something I learned was how to use the motive making website. A problem I solved was creative block by just picking a random instrument and 3 random notes and going off of what ever comes out of that.
February 2022 SMART Goal Project
SUMMARY
Role
I am the one playing the guitar in the recordings.
Intention (SMART Goal)
My intention for this months project is to be able to do multiple different scales easily and work off of them to be able to write my own riffs. I focused on major scales so I could get the muscle memory of the shape I had to use. In the recordings I played A major scale.
PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY
Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)
I look up to Ira George and Dave Grohl.
Training Source(s)
Some of my training sources are my friends helping me learn how to play scales a bit easier and songs that fit with those scales. Also watching youtube videos that break down the scales.
SMART Goal Schedule
My smart goal schedule was to practice anytime I was in class and to put working on scales in my practicing at home.
PRODUCTION
SMART Goal Starting Point Evidence
SMART Goal Ending Point Evidence
POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION
21st Century Skills
Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)
Something that helps me be creative is to listen to music by people that inspire me and have a similar playing style to me.
Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)
Collaboration is really easy in this class. It helps sitting next to people you’re comfortable with that way you can ask questions or advice on an issue you’re having.
Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)
Some tools that are helpful are videos on youtube, my friends and teachers, and simply just thinking about how things work.
Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)
How I could apply these skills to real life would be by being able to learn new things but notice patterns in how things work.
Self-Evaluation of Final Version
I think that I did pretty good but it didn’t really change much.
What I Learned and Problems I Solved
I learned that I have a tenancy to only pick with my thumb instead of all my fingers. I’ve been working on not doing that and using all my fingers or just a pick. Anytime I notice that I start using only my thumb I stop what I am doing and start over with my fingers.
Grammar and Spelling
Pretty good.
Editor
Carson Cathy