Listening More Closely
Rubato reshapes a phrase without losing the music’s larger pulse
Rubato allows expressive flexibility in musical time. Try a focused listening exercise that separates a shaped phrase from a simple permanent change of tempo.
LIVE MUSIC · FESTIVALS · CULTURE
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Instruments and Listening
Sul ponticello changes a bowed string sound by moving towards the bridge
Hear how sul ponticello changes a bowed string’s colour near the bridge, and compare it with ordinary bowing without confusing brightness with loudness.
Listening to instruments
A viola’s strings sit a fifth below the violin’s
Listen for the viola’s lower string range and middle voice, and discover why it is more useful to follow its musical role than call it a large violin.
Music Listening
A trill and a tremolo ask a musician to repeat different things
Trills alternate neighbouring notes, while tremolo can describe repeated notes, chords or other effects. Read the musical context before deciding how to play.
Music Listening
Two note names can lead to the same piano key
Explore enharmonic notes at the piano and see why C-sharp and D-flat can share a key while keeping different written names.
Musical Sound
Watch the bellows to hear more in an accordion performance
Watch an acoustic accordion’s bellows as well as its keys to understand airflow, phrasing and why a sustained note can change in intensity.