Music
Episode 1 Summary: Amanda and Garrett introduce the podcast! Amanda and Garrett introduce themselves! Definition of melody Listening recommendations Reach Out and Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: @uptoyourearspodcast Twitter: @uptoyourears Gmail: uptoyourearspodcast@gmail.com 0:00 - Introducing Up To Your Ears! Simplifying musical definitions so that everyone can speak easily about music 2:20 - Introductions to Hosts Amanda has her masters in percussion performance, teaches part time at the local university, and performs a lot locally (especially in pit orchestras) Garrett has a build a bear degree, a minor in music, and many hobbies. 4:25 - Additional Purposes of the Podcast Fight pretension Provide a resource to Amanda’s students Educate listeners so that they feel welcome to try new musical genres 8:25 - Outline of Podcast Segments Define a term Make some listening recommendations Answer a question 9:00 - Defining Melody A series of single notes, one right after another The headliner, what you remember about the piece The part that you whistle/hum Rules about what makes a good one, what makes a difficult one to sing Melodies can be sung or played The part that has lyrics, if there are lyrics Melody usually sticks out more 11:35 - Melody Addiction Lots of styles are all about melody, but there’s more to music than melody Hip hop is an example Spaceship controls example Pizza example 14:05 - Leonard Bernstein Classifications Pronouncing Bernstein's name Article I Referenced Who is he?? Concerts for Young People - What is a melody? Classifications: Tunes, Themes, Motives 17:10 - Tunes Longer, closed, made up of a few small phrases. What most people think of when they think of melody. They easily lend themselves to lyrics. YMCA I'm A Little Teapot Mary Had a Little Lamb Tunes are not necessarily always simple. 20:10 - Themes the next longest type and sound open-ended. John Williams examples Themes are medium long. Themes can be extended into tunes. Often around 6-10 notes… but that’s not a rule They don’t have a beginning, middle, end necessarily Darth Vader example Theme from Titanic example Indiana Jones example (around 24 minutes in) Unlike tunes, themes don’t always lend themselves as easily to lyrics. 27:10 - Motives the smallest type of melodic material and very, very open to thematic development Dark Knight example (two note motive) Beethoven’s 5th symphony (short-short-short long) 28:50 - If you find Classical music boring... We used to think so, too! You’re not alone Something that will help is to expect to hear more themes and motives + development rather than tunes 31:40 - Melody recap Quick summary Lines that are melodic without being the melody of songs Billie Jean bass line example The shape of a melody is its contour The range of a melody is how high or how low it goes Close ranges are easier for everyday people to sing Examples: Mary Had A Little Lamb, Thrift Shop, I Will Always Love You, The Star-Spangled Banner, Danny Boy 36:45 - Conjunct vs Disjunct melodies A conjunct melody is more stepwise, so it’s easier to sing. Disjunct hops around more and is more difficult to sing. Not every melody is meant to be easy to sing 38:40 - Listening Recommendations: Spotify Playlist for Episode 1 Garrett’s first pick: Aaron Copland’s Fanfare For the Common Man (38:55) Amanda’s first pick: Dvorak’s 8th Symphony, first movement (41:40) Garrett’s second pick: Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” (43:35) Amanda’s second pick: the chorale section of “Jupiter” from Gustav Holst’s suite, The Planets (45:40) Garrett’s third pick: “Concerning Hobbits” from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack by Howard Shore (47:05) Amanda’s third pick: Venus de Milo from “Birth of the Cool,” performed by Miles Davis (tune written by Gerry Mulligan) (48:10) Garrett’s honorable mention: What he thought was a selection from John Williams's score of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” is actually "Leaving Hogwarts" from "Sorcerer's Stone" (50:25) Oops! Amanda’s honorable mention: “Love of My Life” by Freddie Mercury of Queen (53:20)