We host a free online, monthly fluency in music session that explores a variety of concepts
Curious?
You are invited to join us!
Without a firm understanding of harmonic chord progressions, triads that match a chord, rhythm, rests, major and minor pentatonic scales, it takes many years to improvise (self-directed noodling) convincingly.
With respect, we acknowledge this perspective, and with compassion, disagree.
Pattern recognition (which can be achieved in a variety of manners suited to the individual), and curiosity, are the indicators of the option for one to experience a deeply satisfying, and significantly functional fluency of the language of music, and its use. This experience can be immediately realized with a small amount of shared insight (sometimes nothing more than access to sound making devices-including hands and voices), and when one wishes to, they can play with it as much as their curiosity encourages.
When we work with children who hold no awareness or training of the following for example, AND when requirements and conditional approval are not present:
-
- harmonic chord progressions
- triads (though they might have discovered the enjoyment of them tonally)
- notes that match a chord, or rather that work within the framework the chord offers,
- rhythm (I have not yet met a human absent a relationship with rhythm)
- rests (I also don’t know any humans that really require “educating” in terms of rest-we all breathe)
- major and minor pentatonic scales, or any scales for that matter…
…amazingly, they create music. They speak in music to one another, all by themselves. They even let me join the conversation.
It’s glorious!
Cause, effect, analysis, reflect, repeat.
Play.
Our approach with music does not conform to, nor confirm the ideas that promote the exclusivity that surrounds music in our society. We see no value in the gatekeeping that robs humans of the language in which we all can communicate, and creates so much trauma that would otherwise be joy and awe. Our preference is to offer a safe, open, and connected space that can generate the capacity within the individual to own and celebrate their own process.
No longer reliant on external delivery of a commodified “method” NOR external approval, this perspective intends to deconstruct the exclusionary, transactive, and prescriptive mindsets that we have devised for ourselves surrounding music creation, production, and even appreciation.