Understanding Debussy(Smoke and Mirrors Make Clair De Lune Sound Amazing)

Recently while teaching Clair De Lune by Debussy I noticed that the chords used were actually quite simple. Using tessitura and inversions Debussy created a sophisticated "modern" sound that is timeless. Watch my breakdown in this video.

Let me know if you enjoyed this and would like to see more videos like it.

RCM

Chord Substitutions

a simple chord progression can become a musicians nightmare if required to play it for hours and hours. The musicians best friend in circumstances like this is chord substitution. The following video talks of different approaches to substitute chords.

Let me know if you want further breakdown of any of the techniques. Thanks for watching.

RCM

Four Note Scales

I recently dug out my Jazz Piano book by Mark Levine to show to some of my students. I quickly remembered why it is a must have. Page after page of awesome info for musicians of all skill levels. Flipping towards the back I discovered a chapter on Four Note Scales. Basically these are improv ideas built off of minor 6th chords. Check out my video on this fun fresh approach to improv.

Thanks for watching. Let me know if you want me to explore any other music theory ideas.

RCM

Hobbies

I think it is important as musicians to have something more in life after music and living. For me it is video games. Over the past few days I made a Minecraft server for my friends and nephews to use. Trying something new like this was fun, exciting, and a little difficult. I had to go into cmd and use java. It was interesting for sure but at the end of the day I accomplished something I had never done. What have you done besides music recently?

Why Play part 2

Yesterday I started a post about a question that everyone in the arts must ask themselves at some point. Why Play? Why do you wake up everyday and practice your craft? What is the point? Let's continue with some of the common answers.

3. For Immortality: Everyone human being longs to be remembered and respected after they die. Music can allow that but there are no guarantees if that is your only motivating goal there are better ways to achieve immortality. Having children or mentoring would accomplish this goal reliably.

4. I do it for myself: Self care and understanding that desires for yourself are not bad is I think one of the better things developing in our culture. Certainly it can go too far and become just plain selfish behavior but being motivated to play music because it gives you pleasure can be fulfilling but I think the reason for this is because...

5. I play to glorify God: The reason why it gives us and others pleasure to hear music is because God enjoys beauty. The reason I play is to use my gifts to accomplish my life purpose.

Let me know if you have other reasons that you play music.

RCM

Why Play? Part 1

Why Play?

I hear this question asked, no whispered, by professional musicians all the time. I ask it of my students constantly. It is sort of a small form version of one of the great philosophical questions. Why are we here? Let me break down some typical responses and at least think about this important inquiry.

1. I don't know. There are two levels to this answer. The first is really "I have never really thought about this." I've never understood this. We have precious little time on Earth to spend it not deciding if something we do is important.

The second level of "I don't know" is I have asked this question and still am deciding what I think the answer is and I might never come up with one. This is intellectually honest which I can respect but I don't think it is the only answer that can work.

2. I do it for others. Benefiting others is a noble cause. My follow up question then is why music? If your primary goal was to benefit others you could join a charity, help at a homeless shelter, volunteer in troubled communities, or be a mentor.

We will continue this train of thought tomorrow...

Children and Self Motivation

A common statement is kids change your life forever. After people say this they go into some cliché about how much work kids are. Now I am not saying that child rearing is a walk in the park but I think as a society we focus too much on the negative. Let's take a look at most of the common grievances in a new light.

Children Always...

1. Wake up too early: I hate waking up before 9:30-10AM. It just feels wrong. Instead of an alarm clock have a cute baby crying or just playing at 6 and I am out of bed with a smile on my face(not immediately but pretty quickly).

2. Feeding: Imagine an app that reminds you constantly of meal time and burdens your conscience with cooking healthy, fresh food. Oh wait, that is just a baby.

3. Diaper Changes: You can be face to face with your loved one helping them in a deeply personal way 6-18 times a day. I wouldn't trade that for anything...Except being potty trained.

4. Playing: Babies are a constant reminder that there is a world outside of screens. We train them to be obsessed with Ipads and phones but on their own a box has as much excitement and fun as tv does. If we let them change us more than we change them we become more in tune with reality.

5. Crying: Sometimes we need help expressing our emotions. Listen to a baby cry long enough and you might too. That is OK.

6. Fits: I'm human too. If I wasn't a grown up and knew I could get a lot more from passive aggressive behavior and hiding how selfish I was I would throw fits too.

Next time your kid inconveniences you try to think of it as a gift not a curse and next time you were going to make a joke about how awful having kids must be think of why everyone seems to have them anyway.

RCM