[Trombone-l] OT: The Harmonizer - Tool or Toy?

[Chris Tune]

I'd say you have a much better tool for totally understanding this stuff.  I
used this same tool when learning this rather difficult stuff.

It (or they. .) is/are called a pencil. . . .and paper.  Of course the
pencil (some like pens, but I make too many little mistakes for that. . .so
I chose the pencil) might be better if you make it a nice couple of few of
the mechanical pencils. . .that way when you lose one you still have this
all important tool around.  

[to show you I'm not kidding. . .a check of my mute bag would find many of
these in my little zipper pouch in there]

You probably want to splurge and get some already lined paper with the five
line staff on it.  Also, I'd suggest you be sure to have some blank sheets
to draw the more graphic things on like circle of fifths and interval sets
and similar.  This also could be 1/4 inch square lined graph paper.  That
helps make things more even.

I was always goofing up and spending on trombone pieces and so forth so I
didn't always have the extra dough to buy the staff paper.  But if I was
doing college again, I'd certainly get the staff paper.

Also, be sure to take plenty of notes on regular lined writing paper. The
more notes the better.  Then you could also type them into the computer, as
an additional way of getting neater notes out, and of getting the concepts
firmly entrenched in your mind.

Then, you can delve into the theory texts and also recreate and review using
these same tools. 

The great thing about these tools is that they help you actually visualize
(in your real mind. . .not somebody else's device or mind) all the various
intervals, modes, scales, scale/chord relations, chord types, chord
functions and so forth. Also, music theory is really an active,
participatory skill, as opposed to a more academic skill which simply
"rounds" you like, say English Lit., Poetry or similar (if you are not going
to be a skilled writer. .)

This is actually a pretty good topic.  It falls under "how to learn music
theory".  

Chris



-----Original Message-----
From: trombone-l-bounces at samford.edu [mailto:trombone-l-bounces at samford.edu]
On Behalf Of Jim Hale
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 5:06 AM
To: Mailing List - Trombone-L
Subject: [Trombone-l] OT: The Harmonizer - Tool or Toy?

I'm rapidly approaching my next birthday at the end of the month (#42) and 
am contemplating asking my wife for this for my birthday:

http://www.lotusmusic.com/index.html

Does anyone have (or have experience with) one of these? I'm currently in 
Theory II in College and want to know if this will help me out and
(possibly) 
also help me with my improv. I'm also looking at writing my own stuff in the

future - mainly Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band type pieces.

Is it worth the $30?

Thanks!

Jim Hale
The MIDI Trombone BBS - http://bbs.themiditrombone.net
Fantastic Adventures Online BBS - http://bbs.fantasticadventuresonline.net






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