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Weekly Studio Update + The Importance of Phrasing

7/21/2020

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Over the past week I've been thinking about what I prioritise when I play a piece of music, and challenging myself to investigate the things that I sometimes neglect as a result. It might be no surprise that I'm a big fan of rhythm and groove, so I often find myself playing things in service of that ideal. It does leave me a little short sometimes on some other aspects of my musicality, most notably my attention to detail when it comes to phrasing.

Phrasing is the way each note is shaped within a sequence - it's how the sound can be transformed from sounding robotic into something more human. I often give the example of the most boring teacher you had in school, the one with the monotone voice who always spoke at the same volume and speed no matter what, who could deliver the most exhilarating information in the most mundane way and lose your attention as a result.
As an example, let's say that your phrase has the same note repeated eight times in a row. You could be the boring teacher, or you could find ways to make those eight notes stand out from each other and start to create a story. This could involve changes in volume from one note to the next, a pattern of alternating volumes or a gradual change in volume over the length of those eight notes. You could also try changing the length of each note, moving from staccato (short & bouncy) to legato (smooth).
It's something for you to consider the next time you sit down to play - take a simple section of music (or even a scale) and see how engaging you can make it by prioritising your phrasing as you play.


Things I've been watching/listening to this week:
  1. Learn to improvise better by...playing badly? - Charles Cornell's take on the well-trodden path that mistakes are crucial to development.
  2. So...bass solos kinda sound like cartoon whales | VIEWER CRITIQUES - Adam Neely's regular critique of viewer submissions. Always something to learn from each of his videos.
  3. THE FEARLESS FLYERS /// Kauai - more new stuff from The Fearless Flyers!
  4. Jazz Pianist Reacts to Charlie Puth's 'Boy' - more Charles Cornell, doing some analysis on a very funky Charlie Puth song from a few years back.
  5. Albums beginning with the letters O and P: Foo Fighters (One by One), Red Hot Chili Peppers (One Hot Minute), Kings of Leon (Only By The Night), MGMT (Oracular Spectacular), Coldplay (Parachutes), Vera Blue (Perennial). 
Be sure to let me know what you've been enjoying lately and if there's anything you think I should check out!
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Counterpoint Music Academy, Piano Lessons in Stafford, Brisbane. Phone 0423 254 246 or Email academy@counterpointmusic.com.au
Photo used under Creative Commons from kezze
  • Piano Lessons
    • Children's Piano Lessons
    • Adult Piano Lessons
    • Online Lessons
    • F.A.Q
  • The Teacher
    • The Teaching Studio
    • Contact Dion
    • HDPiano Tutorials
  • Sign Up Now
  • Testimonials
  • Songwriting Lessons
  • Performance & Mindfulness
  • Blog
  • Merchandise
  • Student Login