Free eBook:The Collection of My Music, Kids and Motivation Articles

Free eBook: The Collection of My Music, Kids and Motivation Articles By Sujanti Djuanda Here are the rights included for this eBook: [YES] Can be given away [YES] Can be published at your sites/blogs as long as you put the author resource box and do not change the articles [NO] Can be sold TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Programme Notes: Prelude and Fugue No 16 in A Flat major, BWV 862 (1722), The Well Tempered Clavier Book I (WTC Book I) - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)..........................................................................................2 2. Programme Notes: Nocturne No.15 Opus 55 No. 1 in F minor (1843), Frederic Francois Chopin (1810-1849) ..........................................................................3 3. Classical Music Review: Nocturne No.15 Opus 55 No. 1 in F minor (1843) Frédéric Francois Chopin (1810-1849) ............................................................4 4. Five Fingers Same Position Notes Reading Method .......................................6 5. The Wild Doberman Battered Down His Door Cage and Chased Me..............8 6. How to Create Your Music with Animations in DVD?.......................................8 7. My Best Friend was the Fetus in the Failed Abortion ......................................9 8. How to Choose the Good Education Games for Kids? ..................................10 9. Learn Piano for Beginner: How to Play Aura Lee? ........................................11 10. Help Piano Students in A Bad Mood Feel Better ...........................................12 About the Author (Author Resource box): As freelance writer, Sujanti Djuanda has written about music, kids, computer tutorial, etc. http://1stmyreview.blogspot.com 1 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Programme Notes (Concert Pitch): Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332/300k, Allegro–1st movement (1783) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (17561791) By Sujanti Djuanda "Oh, Papa, a piano sonata, but it isn't finished yet," Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began composing the sonata in his five and but in adult life, his piano sonata spanned the years 1775-1789 including this one. All Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart sonatas composed for the fortepiano, which was the smaller and less powerful predecessor than the modern piano, and written to be performed both by the composer and his students. This sonata was written at the same time with two others sonatas (K.330 and K.331) as a set, most probably during a visit to Salzburg where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart introduced his wife, Constanze Weber to his father, Leopold and sister, Nannerl. Then it was ordered by Viennese publisher, Artaria and published in Vienna (1784). It received its Carnegie Hall premiere on March 16, 1935, with Artur Schnabel as performer. The Allegro is longer than usual and seemed like a succession of unrelated ideas but appearing as a unifying thread throughout. The flowing melodious theme as the opening with a short imitation then changed to a cheerful march. Suddenly turn to a stormy minor-key with dissonances and off-beat accents then back to the major-key with a new 'quite sunny' material. The development is also given a new idea, hymn-like as the opening and mainly passages in thirds. The recapitulation is almost totally same with the exposition, only in F major. Programme Notes: Prelude and Fugue No 16 in A Flat major, BWV 862 (1722), The Well Tempered Clavier Book I (WTC Book I) - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) By Sujanti Djuanda "Thank God! I have learnt something absolutely new," said Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart when heard Bach’s hymn for the first time. Johann Sebastian Bach's music was most influential in the history of western music despite in his lifetime it was regarded as "old-fashioned". The growth of J.S. Bach music's stature continued in subsequent years since his "St Matthew Passion" was performed by Felix Mendelssohn in Berlin (1829). The WTC Book I, which considered as the Old Testament of keyboard works, seems to be inspired by the composition of the organist, Johann Fischer, "Ariadne musica neo-organoedum" (a collection of 20 preludes and fugues in ten major and nine minor keys) that published in 1702. However, Johann Sebastian 2 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Bach produced the mature compositions as first collection of 24 preludes and fugues in all keys. It composed for "musical youth desirous of learning as well as for the Pastime of those Already Skilled in this Study" as written on the title page. It appeared in 1722 when Johann Sebastian Bach, as a chapel master and director of chamber music at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen, just lost his wife, Maria Barbara (died suddenly in 1720) and married a soprano, Anna Magdalena Wilcke (1721). Many Johann Sebastian Bach manuscripts copies made by his pupils, were circulated to all Europe then finally WTC published 51 years after Bach's death (1801). The Prelude begins with eighth-notes in heroic and dance-like then turns into a more cheerful expression in sixteenth notes. The initial motive occurs in every bar of the piece, except two bars in the middle and two more near the end and all subsidiary thematic materials are in counterpoints. The Fugue likes a noble music which referred as the "cathedral" fugue includes hope, quite optimism and relief as its characters. It is called 'tonal' with the tonic replying to dominant and vice versa in the answer, in such a way the latter becomes totally different with the subject. The answers of subject which called countersubject appears first but subsequently takes other forms, the only material, which mostly appears, are flowing tenor of its groups of semiquavers. The numerous episodes are all founded in variations and developments of the counter subject. Programme Notes: Nocturne No.15 Opus 55 No. 1 in F minor (1843), Frederic Francois Chopin (1810-1849) By Sujanti Djuanda "Thank God--the goal is reached!" Theodor Kullak (1818-1882), the German pianist and composer, wrote on the last measures of this Chopin's nocturne, which composed in Oct. 1843 and published on Aug. 1844. It was dedicated to Mademoiselle Jane Wilhelmina Stirling, a pupil and close friend of the composer. In Frederic Chopin's early Nocturnes, his debt to John Field (1782-1837), the Irish composer is unmistakable. However, in this 'Chopin's late style' nocturne, as a friend of Vincenzo Bellini, the Italian opera composer, Frederic Chopin tried to capture Bellini's bel canto style (singing style) in his melodic line over a Field bass, complete with vocal derived ornamentation at climax points and extraordinary ability to renew accompaniment becomes very complex. As majority of his nocturnes, it is in ABA (ternary) form. The first is a melancholy dreamy style, sound tells about someone is dreamy in sorrow. All forward moving basslines feel like a march but are not quite. In middle sections suddenly 3 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) dramatic and anxious. An exciting 'syncope' stretto passage leads directly into the repetition of the opening theme, which assimilated with something of the second 'agitated' subject. A welcome harmonic change (from minor to the major key) as the coda progresses and a trio arpeggio chords made a firm conclusion, sounds like someone rise with a new hope and made Kullak wrote as above, "Thank God-the goal is reached!" Classical Music Review: Nocturne No.15 Opus 55 No. 1 in F minor (1843) Frédéric Francois Chopin (1810-1849) By Sujanti Djuanda History of Nocturne's term The term 'Notturno', in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, referred to vocal or instrumental compositions, which were generally played outdoors. For example, Haydn composed eight Notturnos for King Ferdinand IV of Naples, and Mozart a Serenata notturna (KV 239). At the beginning of the nineteenth century, John Field (1782-1837), the Irish pianist and composer, invented the Nocturne as single movement impromptu compositions for piano that maintain a single mood throughout. He gave this title to his sixteen short pieces (written between 1812 and 1835) in which his first set of three, widely circulated and reprinted throughout post-Napoleonic Europe, appeared from CF Peters of Leipzig in the autumn of 1814 (Brahms owning a copy of this edition). In Christmas Day 1832, Chopin heard Field played his C minor Seventh Concerto (forerunner of Field's own same-key of Andante spianato Op 22 [published independently as Nocturne No 12, December 1834]) at the Paris Conservatoire (the first complete performance) then influenced Chopin to develop this style by composing his 21 Nocturnes. About Chopin's Nocturnes, Franz Liszt said, "We have seen the shy, serenely tender emotions which Field charged them to interpret, supplanted by strange and foreign effects. Only one genius possessed himself of this style, lending to it all the movement and ardor of which it was susceptible. Chopin, in his poetic Nocturnes, sang not only the harmonies which are the source of our most ineffable delights, but likewise the restless, agitating bewilderment to which they often give rise." In Chopin's early Nocturnes, his debt to Field is unmistakable. However, in this 'Chopin's late style' nocturne, as a friend of Vincenzo Bellini, the Italian opera composer, Chopin tried to capture Bellini's bel canto style (singing style) in his melodic line over a Field bass, complete with vocal derived ornamentation at 4 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) climax points and extraordinary ability to renew accompaniment becomes very complex, sometimes ranging over four or five octaves. This Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1 was composed in Oct. 1843 and published on Aug. 1844. It was dedicated to Mademoiselle Jane Wilhelmina Stirling, a pupil and close friend of the composer. It was categorized as "late Chopin style" - the last years of his life, after 1840. Chopin's composing style between 1830 and 1846 in the following way: "No other composer so frequently slurred against the phrase structure of his music". Chopin unique use of the sustaining pedal merges chord tones together more freely than in an earlier music (occasionally resulting in some 'pre-impressionistic' effects). Also, in later pieces he abandoned strong effects and violent, direct emotional statement in favor of greater concentration (agitated and uncertain). Simultaneously, his tonal language became even more elaborate and distant from traditional patterns. It's tempting to liken their characteristics of his own temperament perhaps as the result of his ill. Music analysis As majority of Chopin's nocturnes, if consists of three sections A – B – A form which can be divided as sub-sections a-b-a-b-a-c-a plus two codas. The first slow opening phrase is divided into the sub-phrases of unequal length (2+2+4 measures) – an approach often found in piano compositions of the Classical period - in which the first sub-phrase as main theme, repeated twice in little varied by ornaments (such as acciaccatura, trills) and extended sub-phrase. The lyrical melody is in a melancholy dreamy Italian Bel-Canto (beautiful singing) style and diatonic in F minor despite he used extensive chromaticism and dissonance. It sound tells about someone that is contemplating. All forward moving bass lines (in single staccato notes and by block staccato chords) feel like a march but is not quite. Then first opening phrase is almost strictly repeated in the second phrase only have additional notes after trill. The second 'bright' theme comes with its sequence (up a minor third) then the falling melancholy notes with two sequences (down a minor third) in which the last sequence is varied with acciaccatura and repeated again in ritenuto. At measure 25-47, the main and second themes are re-sung, varied with some triplets in measure 27-28 and 43, polyrhythm in measure 44: seven of eighth-note in the right-hand against two of quarter-note in the left hand. All in a tempo only ritenuto near the end of the second theme. 5 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) In piu mosso, suddenly more dramatic in ff triplets notes and block heavy chords with the strictly repetition in second sub-phrase, only difference in the block chords. Then second phrase is the sequence (down a perfect four). No longer, suddenly piano in C part (measure 58-68), shows a three-voice texture, except the first bar. The lower voice is the accompaniment with broken seventh chords in triplets and quarter-note patterns, the first and second voice are contrapuntally. It's divided into two phrases and each phrase contents of two sub-phrases. The second phrase is the sequence (up a perfect four). The two first phrases sounds agitated (hurry) then became tranquil (calm down). Then the falling forte running16th chromatic scale and rallentando as a short bridge to the stretto marked in which the single melody sings with syncopation block chords in bass lines by turns until a fermata. In Tempo I marked, Chopin returns us to the main theme for the 4 first measures but at molto legato e stretto, it's changed became a three-voice texture for 2 phrases (4+4 measures) in which the two upper voices more chromatically in contrary motion. The first coda, the broken chords melody in triplets of f minor begun in root position in the first bar, second inversion in second bar then first inversion in third bar whereas the sustained semibreve chords in basslines. The second phrase is the sequence (up an octave). In this section, the melody climbs in a crescendo to a diminished at accelerando tempo. The second coda, back to the original tempo and using IV V and I chords perfect cadence of F minor in which the tonic chord is in arpeggios that repeated three times in f as second coda. It sounds like someone who wake up from his dreamy (contemplation) with a new hope and made Theodor Kullak (1818-1882), the German pianist and composer, wrote on the last measures, "Thank God--the goal is reached!" Five Fingers Same Position Notes Reading Method By Sujanti Djuanda There are beginner piano books begin by introducing five notes i.e. CDEFG in right hand (RH) and CBAGF in left (LH) by using the same fingers position such as on RH note C played by thumb, D played by index finger, etc. On LH note C played by thumb, B played by index finger, so on. I called as "five fingers same position". 6 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) The benefit is before added the new note, beginners have practiced some similar exercises so they, especially kids will not confused by rhythm, names and positions of notes. Because of many exercises that using the same fingers position, mostly kids tend to read the fingers numbers as notes positions. For instance, they mean no. 1 on RH is C - always played by thumb, no. 2 is D - always played by index finger and so on, likewise on LH. In early lessons, students seem fluently in notes reading but the problem comes when start playing pieces with no "five fingers same position". If students have to use "five fingers same position" books, as teachers, we have to explain from the first lesson that one note can be played by any fingers and fingers numbers are never changed such as on RH no.1 always for thumb, no. 2 always for index finger and so on, likewise on LH. To make students remember the fingers numbers quickly, we can ask them to play as fast as they can such as "Play C with finger number 1 …. Now play C with finger number 2 and so on". The kids will love this fun game! Then ask them play the same piece with any fingers by writing a new fingering on their book. For instance, for RH play C with finger number 2, D with finger number 3 and so on. There is no perfect method in notes reading, as teachers, we can only find the suitable one for each student by merging one method with another. I prefer using "five fingers same position" book at first lesson by using any kinds of fingers positions, not just as written in book. It is much benefit and easier to learn right at first than re-learn after made mistakes. However, if students have made misunderstandings on notes reading, no matter with our ‘own’ students that have been taking lessons with us since their first day on piano lesson or transferred ones, just do not ever blame them, their old teachers (for transferred ones) and ourselves especially beginner teachers. It will not make notes reading of students better. The solution is re-teaching them as first lesson. Of course, it needs much time, patiently and often rather difficult to train ‘a new habit’. The students could be frustrate and complain but with fun game as I mentioned above, kids usually enjoy the lesson again. If happens on teens or adults (so far, I never found yet), we can support them by positive words so that they have ‘new spirit’ to continue their lesson. Moreover, as teachers, we should not ever stop learning. 7 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) The Wild Doberman Battered Down His Door Cage and Chased Me By Sujanti Djuanda As pet owners, we should care our pets' health, food including their behavioral. If we are keeping the dogs such as Doberman, we must put them in the strong steel cages in order to when our guests/friends come to our house, our dogs do not endanger them. I have bad experience about the Doberman. When I was a traveling piano teacher, one family was keeping the big wild Doberman. He was about 39.4 in (1 m) tall at his head (I can estimate his height only if it's measured to his head, not to his shoulder as the true height of the dog) and always barked at unknown people, including me. They put him only in the simple cage, made from the plywood. The trellis door cage was nailed on the plywood and used the simple small lock that measured about 5 cm (1.97 in) width and 2 cm (0.79 in) length as the opener-closer. (To lock the door, use the opener-closer to move up then left to the lock hole. To open, use the opener-closer to move up then right). Brief story, one day when I wanted go home suddenly the dog battered down his door cage and chased me. Thank God, there was their car that was unusually parked with door opened. As soon as possible, I entered the car and closed the door. The wild dog was waiting in outside by barking until the father of students secured him in the garage then I got out from the car safely. Though this family had apologized but I didn't want to teach them anymore even I heard, the dog had bitten their servant. I hope my bad experienced can be a worth lesson for all pet owners to keep their Dobermans or other wild dogs carefully in order to this case won't be happened to your guests/friends. How to Create Your Music with Animations in DVD? by Sujanti Djuanda If you have composed and recorded your music, you can put them in the CD then let your family and friends enjoy it. Now, how if you also create your music with animations then put them in the DVD? It would be great, Right? The following tips will help to create your music with animation in the DVD. • Find free and uncopyrighted animations. If you use the copyrighted ones, get permission first. • When listen your music, think about what the music telling then create the story. • Divide the story into several pieces (slides) using PowerPoint. 8 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) • For each slide, select the suitable background images and animations. • Rehearse timings for each slide. • Your video clip is already finished. You can also see my samples of "Piano and Animations" video clips, as follows: http://www.kleep.com/Arts/Video/Flyingvideo-wmv.431189 In this video clip, while choosing the main animation actor, I saw a bird that its flying movements fit with my music. Therefore, I gave a title "Flying". The video clip tells the birds are flying around the world. http://www.kleep.com/Arts/Video/The-Sun-Will-Rise-video-wmv.431307 As the title "The Sun Will Rise", I used the sunflower animations as a main animation actor. I put the smiling sunflower in the major/happy section and the sneeze sunflower in the minor/sad section. The video clip tells after something bad happened to the sunflower then he can smile again. • OK, now you are ready to create your DVD. At least to burn one DVD, you need to create ten video clips. • To compile the video list, you should pay attention to the character, tempo and style of music. For example, don't put many slow music in order but try to balance between the fast, moderate and slow ones. • Design the DVD's cover. You can use your favorite animation slide as the cover. For DVD's title, you can choose your favorite composition and make it easy to remember. Now, you have your own DVD. Enjoy it! My Best Friend was the Fetus in the Failed Abortion By Sujanti Djuanda Every time I heard the word of abortion, I always remember best friend of mine, Amy (pseudonym). Amy was my best friend when I was still in grade four of elementary school whereas she was in grade five. She was five years older than I was. She said that she could not continue her study to the junior high school because her doctor said that she was only able to reach until grade 6 in elementary school. My mother said, when her mother was pregnant her, she tried to abort her because they have had three boys and didn't want any more children. Her mother took the abortion pills but Amy was still born with low IQ, also her head and body always moved, seemed problem with her nervous system and she spoke like a deaf person. However, she had never looked depress, inferiority complex or blamed her parents. We have become good friends for only two years then I had to move to another town with my family. The last week before I moved, Amy was often come to my 9 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) house. It was a school vacation so she could stay in my house for almost a day and she went her home only for lunch and took a bath. That time, I was rather disturbed because I could not take a nap but now, I realized that she didn’t want separate with me. She knew that we would be separated soon and it could be forever. She was right, since then, I have never met her anymore even I don’t know where she is. I hope she will always fine and I believe, one day God will heal her totally. How to Choose the Good Education Games for Kids? By Sujanti Djuanda There are many games that not suitable for kids so parents or children computer teacher must choose the right game for kids because it will influence the kids' soul, mind and attitude. The criterion of good education game is kids will learn something good from the game, such as love each other, serve people, do the job well, responsibility and take care pets. Here are the examples of good education games, as follows: 1. Baby Sitter Game The kids will learn about caring the babies and serve people with responsible. 2. Education Story Game The kids will learn take care people and pets. 3. Cooking Game The kids will learn about cooking and do the job as best their can. When the cake is ready, they will be happy for their 'hard' work. 4. Buying and Selling Game The kids will learn about business, math, how to create the product, such as doughnut, and sell it. They will also learn to serve the customers, and getting money from their hard work. 5. Rain Letter Game The kids will learn to press the right letter as quick as possible. I think, there are many others kinds of good education games. The important is, the games will give the good model for kids in order to they can grow up become a good person. 10 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Learn Piano for Beginner: How to Play Aura Lee? By Sujanti Djuanda Let's take a look in First bar: 1. Look at the two F notes (see red circle in the screenshot above). All are in crotchet. 2. Play F note twice 3. Look at C and E (see green rectangle in the screenshot above). The interval is second. 4. Play note C then E 5. Play all-first bar notes Second bar: 1. Look at the same note G (see blue circle in the screenshot above) But the 1st G is crotchet and the second G is minim. 2. Play both G notes 3. Look at D (see green rectangle in the screenshot above) and play it. 4. now, play all notes the 2nd bar 5. Play all notes in the 1st two bars. Third bar: 11 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) 1. See three first notes: FED – it's descend notes so just play such as you play the descending scale (see the black arrow in the screenshot above). 2. See the two last notes: EF – it's ascend notes (see red arrow in the screenshot above). 3. So the motive in third bar: descend notes and ascend notes. 4. Play all notes in third bar The second phrase (bar 4-6): Second phrase of Aura Lee It's the exactly same with the first (strictly repetition). So just play the same way as you play in the previous phrase. Today, we have learnt to play "Aura Lee" with simple form analysis. Help Piano Students in A Bad Mood Feel Better By Sujanti Djuanda The students could be in the bad mood while taking lessons. Force them to play will not make them playing well even the kids often persist in not wanting to play. Let them just sit with no activity is also not the good solution. As teachers, what should we do so that the lessons can still be valued? As my experienced, the following tips will help students in the bad mood feel better and improve their music knowledge. 1. Being Storytellers a. Tell a short biography of composer and show his/her pictures since was child. b. Tell a story behind the music. For instance, Fur Ellise was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and the original title was Bagatelle for piano in A minor. It was most probably dedicated to Therese Malfatti, his piano student in 1809-1810. Beethoven could be in love with her but this topic is still debated. Years after Beethoven's death, a researcher Nohl stumbled upon the autograph of the little piece when visited the Malfatti’s family. He misread Beethoven’s handwriting, he read Fur Therese as Fur Ellise. So it’s known as Fur Ellise. Unfortunately, the autograph is lost. (Source: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ademu/Beethoven/#n21) 12 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) 2. Being Piano Museum Guides Let students look at the piano pictures from Baroque period until now, as if teachers are the piano museum guides and students are the visitors of museum. 3. Being Quiz Presenters At first let students listen some compositions of the composer, for instance, Beethoven. For the quiz, let them listen a composition of another composer then ask, “Is it Beethoven’s music or not?” 4. Being Partners of the Game Players Let students play the computer game that related with music. Teachers can play with them or just sit to see how they play. 5. Being Good Listeners If students want to share their problem being good listeners, not judges. If we don’t know the solution, turn to another topic. Sometimes, it's better not to talk about it such as the problem of kids that just lost their pets. 6. Being Good Supporters If students can’t play well or have slow progress, don’t ever blame them with negative words such as idiot, dummy, hopeless, etc. It will put them in the bad mood. As known, Beethoven’s music teacher called him hopeless but currently most of us know him as one of great composers. If students want to give up, encourage them with positive words (words of encouragement). The encouraging words have power to change people life much better. 13 Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)