When I first started studying the history of music, I did not know what I was getting into. I had a notion that music history was somewhat of a trivial pursuit…
Honestly, I only followed my history of classical music course because I needed the credits. I am sure some of you out there can relate to that. I did not know how fully interesting music history could be. You see, in our culture many of us do not really study to comprehend music. For much of the world, music is a language, but for us it is a thing that we consumed passively.
When I started to study about the history of Western music, however, it changed all that for me. I have had some experience using musical instruments, but I have never mastered one enough to really comprehend what music is all about. This class showed me.
When a lot of us think about the history of music, it means the history of rock music. We presume that the history is plain because the music is plain. In fact, neither is the case. The history of music, whether you’re talking about classical music, rock music, jazz music, or any other kind, is always complex. New chord structures are set up carrying with them new forms of understanding humanity. New rhythmic patterns are established, carrying with them new methods of understanding history. And music shows all of it.
History of music nowadays is even more interesting. Even when the class was ended, I could not stop learning about the history of music. It had stimulated my appetite, and I wanted more. I acquired all the music history volumes that I could discover. I even started to examine forms of music that had not interested me before in the hopes of improving my musical knowledge further. When I was in school studying toward a very different subject – a degree in engineering – I had thought about giving it up and going back to obtain a degree in musicology. That is how much I am fascinated by the subject.
If you have never taken a course in the history of music, you don’t know what you are missing out on. You do not miss what you don’t know about in a way but then again… Believe me the CDs will never sound the same to you again. Actually not only the Cds but any type of media you are or will be using to play your favorite music. The whole thing will seem much more rich, much more luminous, and much more important. A new song can reflect a new way of being, and a new way of imagining existence in the world. This is what learning about the history of music means to many of us. Just try it and you will see.
Listening to music now has a whole new meaning. You can imagine all the different types of musical patterns there are in the world. It make your musical mind really expand.
By: Paul Zirka
Archive for October, 2009
Discover How History Of Music Will Make Your Music More Luminous
October 30th, 2009Crossing the Equator
October 28th, 2009Crossing the Line ceremonies matched the initiation ceremonies of many medieval guilds, and by the 16th century, a pattern of customs had emerged in European shipping to provide a ‘baptism’ for all sailors aboard who have not previously crossed the equator. Neptune, usually the oldest sailor who had crossed the equator the most…and his retinue would come over the bows of the ship and take over the deck. The retinue might consist of, among others, ‘Davy Jones’ or the Devil, two ‘Bears’, men dressed in skins who would pull Neptune’s chariot, a ‘Barber’ and a ‘Doctor’. Often Neptune was accompanied by Amphritrite, the wife of Triton or Neptune, usually a young sailor dressed up with a wig and outlandish female clothing. » Read more: Crossing the Equator
Learn to Speak French Online
October 27th, 2009Learning French is the theme of our website. You’ll see what it’s like to learn another language as an adult. Learning French is fun and easy with Rocket French! Designed especially for beginning students of the French language, the course offers pictures associations, pronunciation guides, and enjoyable exercises to reinforce new learning. Learning French is like a new Golf player, it’s better you stay off the green until you get a professional to teach you how to putt properly.
Learning French is certainly worth the effort. Things are always better in the original language; every language you learn multiplies your opportunities for learning new things. Learning French is not a romantic gesture. It is not an abstract gesture of that kind. Learning French is definitely easier than trying to stop smoking. More seriously, now is really the time to start or resume learning French.
Learning French is the first step to helping people in impoverished francophone countries allover the world. It is time to “reach out to the world and learn French.” Learning French is just within your reach!
Learning French is not only enriching, but also a marketable tool that companies encourage in their employees. We believe that learning French is more than taking on the essential grammatical underpinnings of a language. Learning French is an ongoing and involved process. You can’t learn French overnight, and you probably can’t learn it entirely on your own, no matter how many books and tapes you buy. Learning French is an excellent second language choice. Having a second language opens up new doors of opportunity for French learning students.
Learning French is now made even simpler with Rocket French, the affordable self study computer course using a conversational approach lauded by millions of educators and students. For years, the way to learn a language was through repetition and grammar drills – but current research shows that people learn best and retain more when engaged in meaningful, real-life conversations.
Students will be engaged in and challenged by their learning of a second language. Students must learn about and understand the cultures where French is spoken as well. Students tend to have a more positive view of learning French when these conditions are present.
One way of increasing students’ exposure to French outside the classroom is by visiting francophone students in Quebec or other francophone environments. Students and researchers who know French have access to original writings in their field. Keep in mind that many significant works in the areas of history, literature, philosophy, sociology, music, film and art history have not been translated. Students obtain about a seventy to eighty percent comprehension rate.
Students use film, sound and the Internet, as well as multimedia presentations and interactive grammar exercises. Many of these activities are created by teachers and tailored to the specific needs of their students.
Grammar or the relationship of words and structures of a language is the “blueprint” or “map” that helps a learner understand what is going on in the language. Whether you may want to travel, study a foreign language or even become a French translator, you will enjoy the experience of learning the French language with Rocket French software. Grammar and culture lessons are taught in a more traditional textbook fashion.
By: Julie Landry
