musicians of old

Chapter 275 Pursuit, Enlightenment (4K [-]-in-[-])

Clark and Elizabeth began to distribute the printed "Old Symphony Orchestra Choral Book".

Seeing the boys and girls looking at them on the table as if they were treasures, Fan Ning's eyes were dazed.

He remembered his past self.

At that time, he was studying in a comprehensive university without an art major. The first thing he did when he registered was to join the college students' chorus with great interest, and then he found that the chorus performances of these people were just to turn on the stereo, male voices once, and female voices Once, and together.

The only divided voices should be an octave higher or lower.

Fanning was stunned. What the hell is this called a choir?This is called "Qi Singing Group".

It is also related to the teacher's inaction and fooling the top and the bottom, but fortunately, the year he joined, the school established an art center and replaced a new chorus conductor teacher. This music teacher is not a famous artist. , in retrospect, he is somewhere between a "moth" and a "groom", but he comes from a professional background, has rich experience, and is serious and responsible.

Fan Ning joined the troupe as a piano accompanist (art director). After getting acquainted with his teacher through his skills, he suggested to him the implementation of the "Kodaly teaching method" - that was when he was studying the history of Western music. Learned by-product harvesting.

Kodaly graduated from the Liszt Academy of Music, yes, the school named after that Liszt.He is close friends with another master, Bartók, and the two are committed to promoting Hungarian national music education. When he designed this system, he defaulted to being compatible with the worst start for children.

——Born in a poor and humble background, without the influence of a musical family, the family education is in chaos, and even the level of education and understanding of language and numbers are problematic, far inferior to those pampered noble children.

Those kids, it's really hard to understand fixed pitch, key signature, interval, duration of rhythm, etc.
This method breaks the reliance on the piano and relies entirely on digging students' inner hearing. It uses staff and music theory knowledge as a means of accumulation in the later stage, rather than a threshold that strangers should not approach in the early stage.

Fan Ning searched for information on the Internet and in the library, wrote lesson plans, and cooperated with the conductor teacher with this system. In less than two semesters, the level of the choir was raised from zero, and the style of the repertoire was improved. Gradually enriched.Later, he successfully led two sessions of juniors to win awards in provincial competitions, and the title of "Great God" gradually began to spread.

Those students who listened under the stage of cultural activities also suddenly discovered, wow, so the real chorus sounds like this!Not to mention other styles, even folk songs or pop songs can be arranged with refreshing effects!

For the first time, Fanning felt firsthand what a great and joyful thing it is to open people's ears and hearts to majestic music.

This... can be regarded as the original intention.However, in an environment that is still impetuous as a whole, the narrative seems to be too grand and a bit "pretentious". He has not shared this feeling with anyone.

Key words such as fun, interest, expanding your social circle, and finding a place to practice piano for free are enough to express your motivation in small talk.

He became famous and got the attention of the school leaders, which led to the formation of the student symphony orchestra later, and he was able to have more valuable practical experience.

However, at that time, except for the pilot projects in individual regions or schools, this system seemed to have received little attention in the overall music education in the country.

Especially the popularization of art in the non-professional field.

After the choir became famous, there were several exchanges with other schools. He went to several middle and high schools with a good enrollment rate, but the musical literacy of most of the students was simply a mess. This even included many specialties learned since childhood. People with "children's skills"--the latter can read the staff and play the music for the grade examination, but there is not much else, unless they are already preparing for the music major.

What impressed me the most was the test in a class of 52 students. He found that 44 students could not sing with the numbered numbered notation of unfamiliar songs. Then he selected 6 students who sang popular songs well and asked them to sing along with the familiar songs. In the harmony part, only one person can sing the segment.

But so what, what Fanning can influence at that time is only a school, a small group of people, a slightly larger audience, and only a few years.

Seeing Clark and Elizabeth waiting for his instructions after the distribution, Fanning took a deep breath and came back to his senses:

"I have explained all aspects of this teaching method in great detail above. Both of you are excellent academicians, so it shouldn't be difficult to implement it."

"I will briefly demonstrate the content of each unit to you."

Clark and Elizabeth each held their own, just like marking the key points before the exam, constantly adding the main points shown by Fanning.

The first unit started with a few simple vocal exercises, and then they discovered that there was a legend drawn on it, which was the sign language used by Fanning to indicate the pitch before—one of the most important components of Kodaly's teaching method: "Kehl Text Gestures".

They contain not only the seven original notes, but also five inflections.

In addition to pitch, there is a set of colloquial syllables indicating rhythm, which Fanning also demonstrated.

He asked the boys and girls to pat the table slowly with him, and then everyone uttered some distinctive and simple syllables together:

"ta-aaa" "ta-a-ta-a" "ta-ta-ta-ta"

Clark and Elizabeth knew right away that it was a whole note, then two half notes, and then four quarter notes.

Then Fan Ning's speed became faster and faster, and his expression became more and more enthusiastic.

"ti-ti" "ti-ri-ti-ri" These are eighth notes and split sixteenth notes.

There was interest in his expression.

"ti-ta—ti" and "ta—m-ti" are syncopated and dotted rhythms.

Finally, there are several practical and interesting tap games, such as asking them to find four different ways to "make noise", so in addition to tapping the table, they also chose to stomp their feet, clap their hands and tap their nails.Fanning had them each occupy a different position in the "ta-ta-ta-ta" and then rotated and emphasized different accents and mutes.

The children in the audience had a great time.

Looking at the doorway as an expert, Clark and Elizabeth suddenly realized in surprise that Fanning has hardly explained any music theory knowledge to them so far!
Yes, the composer who wrote the "First Symphony" and so many powerful and large-scale works.
In the "Introduction to Harmony" course, the musician who has all kinds of professional terms and master cases at his fingertips, let a group of professors and scholars listen attentively in the audience
At this moment, he didn't even talk about how to read the pitch of the staff, how to recognize the key signature, how to count intervals, and the difference between the duration of whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes!
But the group of teenagers and girls in the audience not only sang a decent chord progression, but also played a very accurate beat.

And many of them had their faces flushed with excitement.

"Professor Fanning, your alternative teaching plan for notation reading is really creative!" Clarke sighed with sincere admiration.

"An alternative plan for notation reading?" Fan Ning shook his head with a smile, "No, it's not as simple as you think. These pitch sign language and rhythmic syllables are not just for reading notation."

"They are an important part of choral training and choral conducting, and you will gradually realize that even in a professional choral performance, they can still play a huge role."

The second unit is the first-tone solfa teaching with a large number of folk songs as the material.

But here, Fanning asked them not only to sing, but also to "listen" and "write"!
In the demonstration, Fan Ning made a set of melodies with sign language, and he only sang the first sound, and asked the students in the audience to watch and memorize, but he was not allowed to sing the sound, but under the guidance of spirituality, he composed " Inner auditory training", sing again for the last time.

He also demonstrated on the blackboard, teaching students how to "dictate" these pitches and rhythms, writing them on paper as reminders.

It doesn't matter even if you can't read or write, because the set of symbols is also extremely simple and highly visual.

Starting from the multi-part chorus teaching demonstration in the third unit, the two discovered that Fanning's entry point was a kind of training that he called "stubborn accompaniment".

For example, the first item in the case is a song called "Two Tigers". Elizabeth recognized that this seems to be the major version of the theme of the third movement of Fanning's "First Symphony".

He asked one student to sing "Two Tigers" once, and when the last three notes were "Strange", he began to repeat the playful tone, which was "stubborn accompaniment", while another student began to sing the whole melody from the beginning, And let the two exchange exercises.

The effect is very interesting.

Then he encouraged the students to try another "stubborn sound pattern", such as the three sounds of "running fast".

In short, Fanning let them adapt to how to stabilize their own notes under the "interference" of other voices, and then slowly listen to the voices of others and blend together.

When it came to the canon round, the two finally knew what "inner auditory training" and "musical memory training" were for.

Canon is imitation. The second person staggers the bars and sings with the first person. Those training methods make imitation extremely simple!
When it came to the difficult free two-voice part, Fan Ning used his left and right hands to make different pitch sign language, matching the rhythm and sound patterns in his mouth, so that students knew how to sing.

The fourth and fifth units, transition from two-part to three-part, still use pitch sign language/rhythm syllable/simple notation as the carrier.

The two finally understood why Fanning said that these ingenious sign language symbols are not as simple as "replacing notation reading" at all!

In a professional choral performance conductor, the notes must not be made throughout the text, but when the racket is swung, the notes are selected and prompted.

They are displayed at different heights, which can indicate the number of voices, and with the speed, hardness and softness of gesture movements, it can specifically indicate how to deal with a note that needs attention in a certain voice, whether to enter or disappear, Is it a burst or a crescendo, how to fine-tune the pitch and level, and how to let the colors of the harmony bloom.

Clark never dreamed that the chorus conductor could still play like this, and he could make the control so detailed!

In the sixth unit, it is only when we have accumulated a lot of content that we start to teach staff notation + transition to four voices.

Fan Ning commented here: "These children whose musical instinct and practical literacy have been fully stimulated, when they first come into contact with staff and music theory, you will feel that their ability to accept is almost like a musical genius."

These two people also listened to the "Introduction to Harmony" all the way. At this time, they felt that the teaching method compiled by Professor Fanning was not inferior to it!

Although the students selected for today's demonstration are those students with the strongest comprehension ability, so the initial effect can be seen immediately
But for other students, if they continue to practice like this week after week, they will definitely have no problems at all!
When the results of this choir's training are shown on the stage, when everyone knows their background and musical foundation, and when this teaching method is spread, it may overturn the basic music education pattern of Tiolein and even the world!

Fanning spent a total of 90 minutes in this classroom this afternoon.

It's not long, but he has opened the door to the holy kingdom for the children.

In the general timeline envisioned by Fan Ning, they awaken their listening-recording-singing musical instincts in the first month, and start learning staves and music theory in the second month. It is the chorus part of his "Second Symphony".

The time is indeed a bit tight, but considering that they are studying without distraction, and with the great bonus of entering the Dream Qiming Church, it should be possible to implement it.

In fact, whether it is providing dream exercises, innovating theories, giving lectures, or teaching conducting, piano or chorus, Fanning can always experience a sense of spiritual transparency.

Just as he felt when he was promoted to a high rank and saw the Hui Pagoda for the first time, he has devoted himself to the pursuit of enlightening all the people in the world, and he wants to see through the essence of art at the infinite height, no matter what the price is.

In a sense, this is exactly the same as the solemn ambition of Fanning in his previous life.

These undertakings today are all part of his journey to explore the secrets of high places and pursue the "Enlightenment".

"The study of serious music has always been the monopoly of musical families and noble children. It may still be for a long time in the future, but changes will begin today."

Behind them began to hear the scale singing of the two leading the choir familiar with sign language, and Fan Ning gently closed the door.

"Thirty past three in the afternoon." He opened and closed the pocket watch, walking lightly and happily.

It's time for the band's coffee break.

The corridors furnished with carpets, green plants and small classical oil paintings are bright and spacious.

When Fan Ning took a short walk and returned to the rehearsal hall, the girl in a white cake dress happened to be the first to push open the joint door, followed by the musicians who were taking a break between rehearsals.

"Here." Fanning threw a small bright silver key chain over.

"Wow!!!" Sheeran shouted excitedly, catching it with both hands.

Looking at her sparkling eyes, delicate white shoulders and long brown hair loosely rolled up, Fanning couldn't help but smile.

"There is a handful with your initials written on it, which is the guest room you usually use in the area on the second floor."

"Thank you." She raised the keychain in front of her eyes and deliberately dangled it to look at it, "So I can live whenever I want, right? What's behind that?"

"My office door, and the living room door further inside, are also on the second floor. There are several other important rooms, including."

"What are these for me?"

"Spare. When I accidentally forget to bring it, I will ask you to open the door for me."

(End of this chapter)