Music Listening
Hearing three against two: a first way into polyrhythm
Three-against-two rhythm fits three evenly spaced notes and two evenly spaced notes into the same span. Try a six-part counting exercise to hear both layers.
LIVE MUSIC · FESTIVALS · CULTURE
There is more to a good night than the headline act.
Independent notes on festival planning, live music and getting more out of the shows you choose.
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Live Music
The room adds a tail to every note: hearing reverberation at a concert
A concert hall changes what reaches your ears after each note. Listen for reverberation, clarity and the effect of position without confusing them with loudness.
Listening to instruments
Col legno brings the wood of the bow into the sound
Col legno uses the wood of a string player’s bow. Hear the difference between its struck and drawn forms, then follow what that change does to the music.
Listening Details
Hocket: listen for a melody shared one fragment at a time
Hocket breaks a musical line into interlocking fragments. Try a simple two-person rhythm exercise, then listen for the spaces between the notes.
Instruments and Listening
The serpent is a wooden wind instrument with a brass-like beginning
The serpent’s wooden body and finger holes can be misleading. Its lip-vibrated mouthpiece explains why instrument families are not simply material labels.
Rehearsal Notes
Tacet is an instruction to listen while others play
Tacet tells a player to remain silent for a movement or extended section. Learn how the instruction changes rehearsal preparation and attentive listening.