tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89875972636852694332024-03-13T15:33:34.150-07:00Voice & Piano TipsBecome a better pianist ,singer and all round musician, when you discover musical knowledge that goes beyond the basics.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-56211630478296504882014-12-07T09:17:00.001-08:002015-04-04T08:02:53.663-07:00Am I Good Enough ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's another chapter from my book, "Quiet Determination, unlocking the gates to unlimited success!"<br /><br /><br />It
was early December,on a Tuesday afternoon,Emmanuel was seated at the
piano,during his weekly lesson with Miss Jameson. He had been taking
lessons for about six months now an due was starting to really enjoy it.<br />Miss Jameson looked at him and said, <br />"You
know Emmanuel, I see that you're turning out to be quite a good little
pianist already. You're not child prodigy, but you do show much promise
as a musician. I think I'm going to have you perform at my annual
student recital this spring. I usually wait until my students have had
at least two or three years experience under their belt, but you've
progressed so quickly,I think you're up for the challenge."<br /><br />"What's a recital,"asked Emmanuel?<br /><br />"That's
where you,and all of my other students play in front your parents, and
all of the parents of my other students. Of course your friends and
relatives are all invited to attend as well."<br /><br />Unknown to Emmanuel
at the time, the one thing you can always count on,when it comes to
piano lessons -any lessons involving the performing arts for that
matter- is that there is always going to be some kind of public
performance at sometime during the year. It's usually in spring or
around Christmas time. <br /><br />Recitals serve four different purposes. <br />1.
The main purpose of recitals is to spotlight the student.It
acknowledges their hard work,talent,and dedication. Most of all it
builds their self-confidence and self esteem, all of which are
invaluable qualities necessary to help their character as they mature
into adulthood.<br />2. Recitals show parents that their money was well spent <br />3.
Recitals are the teacher's proof to the parents,by way of their child's
performance,that he/she is in fact a fantastic teacher.<br />4. In that goals number 2 and 3 above are met,recitals preserve the teacher's cash flow.<br /> <br /><br />"Oh,I don't know if I can do that Miss Jameson? I've never performed in public before". Do you really think I'm good enough?<br /><br />Miss
Jameson beamed with pride and encouragement,as she rested her hand
gently on his shoulder," I think that you are a remarkable young man. I
have every confidence that you will perform magnificently! I know that
you can do it.I also know that your parents will be extremely proud of
you!"<br /><br />The praises she had given,coupled with the faith that Miss
Jameson's had in him, filled Emmanuel with excitement and confidence. He
didn't want to disappoint his teacher nor his parents,so he set about
practicing even more diligently everyday, not worrying that this was the
first time that he was ever going to be playing in public; on a big
stage;in a big auditorium; on a huge twelve foot grand piano… with
people watching! <br /><br />Before you know it the recital came and went.
Emmanuel was a great hit. While taking his bows, while acknowledging the
standing ovation from the audience, he felt so elated. He realized that
all his hard work had paid off handsomely.He was brimming with pride,
and a sense of great accomplishment. His spirits soared like a mighty
Alaskan eagle, gliding so smoothly, so effortlessly above the mountain
tops, surveying his domain spread out endlessly below.<br /><br />He
surprised himself at how well he had performed,realizing that he had
progressed from a state of self-doubt,when he asked his teacher, "Am I
good enough?",to basking in the praise and adoration, in a concert
mostly filed with complete strangers, all of who confirmed Emmanuel's
talents and ability. <br /><br /><br /><b>The Take Away</b><br />To understand
how Emmanuel prepared himself for such unexpected success we have to
examine a physiological phenomena that scientists are only just now
beginning to understand. During his daily piano practice, Manny's body
was busy producing a very special substance,that every human being
produces in varying amounts. This special substance is called myelin.<br /><br />In
his book,The Talent Code, Daniel Coyle talks about the days of old,
before scientists discovered air-born germs.People often got ill for no
apparent reason. Doctors couldn't attribute the cause to a definite
source,so they blamed it on something they called "ether". It was
something invisible that they couldn't see,taste,touch or feel. They
only saw the results. You can't see,feel,touch or taste myelin either.
You can only sense it's effects. Myelin enables us to carry out both
mental and physical skills to varying degrees of ability. <br /><br />Scientists use myelin as a model to help us understand what skill really is.<br />As humans, our mental and physical skills are created by chains of nerve fibres carrying electrical impulses. <br />Myelin
wraps around those nerve fibres, in much the same way that rubber
insulates electrical wiring in our homes, making it faster and more
powerful by blocking electrical impulses from leaking out, or short
circuiting. As we "practice" a new layer of myelin wraps around the
neural circuit, adding more insulation, and thereby adding more skill,
more speed.<br /><br />Dr. G. Bartzokis, a UCLA neurologist researcher
backs up Coyles research. He says that, "All skill, all languages, all
music, all movements are made of living circuits, and all circuits grow
according to certain rules."<br /><br />According to another book written by
Daniel Coyle,The Little Book of Talent, there are two more elements
that must accompany talent. <br />1.Ignition: This is the desire, or dream of learn something." I want to be the next…."!<br />2.Coaching:
These are the talent whisperers,who, because of their deep knowledge
and experience in certain areas, know how to expertly guide their
students.<br /><br />Emmanuel had both of these things in his corner.<br />He had a burning desire to use his talents to make his parents proud of him.<br />He
also pictured himself performing on stage, in front of hundreds of
people. He pictured himself taking a bow, perhaps receiving a bouquet of
flowers. He dreamt he would be a star. He was ignited. "Houston, we're
ready for lift-off"!<br /><br />Miss Jameson, knew that Emmanuel had great
potential as a pianist. She was confident that he would be good enough
to perform in the recital, because she was confident in her own skills
as a coach. She was a coach who knew how to prepare her student mentally
an physically for unlimited success.<br /><br />Of course,both of these
elements open the door for what's commonly known as practice. Emmanuel
dedicated himself to regular,daily practice. Each day he got better and
better. Everyday he wrapped his nerve fibres with another layer of
myelin. With every layer of myelin he added another layer of skill. He
was on the road to success.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-32530118169535642082014-10-20T14:18:00.007-07:002014-10-20T14:18:56.521-07:00Scheduling Success... a difficult decision ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<br />
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3616129615955049385" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Scheduling Success... a difficult decision?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's
another sneak preview from my book, "Quiet Determination...unlocking
the gates to unlimited success !" As usual each chapter begins with a
short story from the life of the hero of the book, Emmanuel followed
by a take away.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Before
we know it, young Emmanuel has grown into a young man, just starting
his a freshman year in high school. It's a new and exciting world to
him. He’s meeting people from different parts of his city, and making
lots of new friends as well. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Besides
mandatory attendance at school,there were so many different
opportunities to participate in, both in school and outside of school.
Being a typical enthusiastic teenager, Emmanuel decided that he wanted
do them everything he could possibly do.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">His mother had always said to him,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Emmanuel, you can’t dance at all of the weddings!"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's is a list of the choices open to Emmanuel.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">School Related Activities:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. school varsity teams (football,hockey,basketball,baseball,wrestling,soccer,track & field,gymnastics)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2. school clubs (chess,photography,art,French,computer, fitness )</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3. homework</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">4. studying for tests & exams</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">5. Music (Jazz band,orchestra,glee club,choir)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">6. student prefect</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">7. student council</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">8.getting ready for school each morning</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">9.peer tutoring</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Personal Activities:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1.piano lessons</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2.his part time job at Mr. Wilson's outdoor store </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3 playing for his rep hockey team </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">4. chuming around with his friends </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">5. time for his girl friend</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">6. household chores</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">7. attending church</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">8. volunteering at the community centre </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">9. piano practice</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">10. rest and relaxation</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">11. winter/summer vacations </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">12. family time</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">13. playing with his rock band </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On
top of all of these activities, Emmanuel had to fit in time to eat
properly and get plenty of sleep, so he would have enough energy to
undertake his daily activities successfully. He anguished over the
situation he was in So many things to do. So little time to do them. He
needed an eight day week. The answer came to him in a flash. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At
that very moment he recalled what his piano teacher told him one time
about organizing his work load. It was last year, during a music lessons
with Mr. Clegg his new teacher at the time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Mr.
Clegg, now that I'm an advanced music student, I've got so many things
to practice in order to get prepared for my weekly lessons with you. I
just don't seem to have enough time practice my scales, do my finger
exercises, work on my ear training,do my theory homework,and rehearse
the music for the spring recital, play the music I like to play for my
own amusement, prepare the rest of my repertoire for you to listen, let
alone my school work and my other sport activities. I just don’t
have enough time to accomplish everything I need too. I’m simply just so
over-whelmed !"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mr. Clegg beamed knowing smile, that only comes from a lifetime of experience.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"
Don't worry son, that's a very common problem that you share with a
great many other successful people. Up 'till the last few years, you've
spent most of your life going from day to day. Your parents told you to
do this, somebody else told you to do that, and still another person in
authority says, 'Emmanuel,…don't do that'. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All
your activities and responsibilities were more or less out of your
control, because you were considered to be only a child who needed lots
of guidance from adults. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now
that you’re a young man the world no longer considers you to be a
helpless child, who must be guided every step of the way. You're
expected to start making your own decisions, taking on your own
responsibilities, building you own life. With this new freedom comes
the privilege of having a world of so many different choices open up to
you. Your biggest responsibility now is to choose wisely. Here's
something that will help you to do just that."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mr. Clegg reached over to his desk, took out a pencil and a pad of paper, and handed them to Emmanuel. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"We're going to do a little experiment. I want you to write down 10 things you want to do this coming week."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mr. Clegg waited for Emmanuel to finish his list.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Now,
he continued, “I want you to rank each item as to it's value, from most
valuable, (that's number 1) to the least valuable (number 10). The
value of an activity is determined by asking yourself this question.
'What impact will this activity have on the ultimate success of goals? '</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It took Emmanuel about ten minutes before he settled on an order that the was happy with.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Now, beside each activity, write down the number of hours you think you need to spend on it."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Emmanuel
took a few minutes to complete this task. He realized that the most
important activities required the most amount of time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mr. Clegg, handed Emmanuel a blank timetable. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"
I want to to fill in this schedule, starting with the most valuable
activity first, ending with the least important. This is the hardest,
most crucial part of this whole exercise Emmanuel. I'm telling you right
now before you even begin. There will never be enough time to
accomplish all the things you would like to. Some things on your list
will have to be left out, or postponed until another time in your life.
Are you tough enough to do that? " </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Since
that time,Emmanuel had applied Mr. Clegg's advice many times in the
organization of his life. He knew from experience that a few well chosen
goals far outshines the mediocre results gained by attempting to crowd
everything in at once.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Typical
of Emmanuel,he took ownership of Mr. Clegg's suggestions made some
changes to fit his own personality. Instead of making a list on a single
sheet of paper, he wrote each of his potential activities on its' own
slip of paper, so he could rank them by physically shuffling them around
on the table top. Being a visual person, this gave Emmanuel a tool that
allowed him to experiment with different rankings, and see the results
of his decisions instantly! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Take Away</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">According
to the University of Scranton's "Journal of Clinical Psychology",
people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to
attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In his book "What They Don’t Teach You in the Harvard Business School", Mark McCormack asks this question.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">' Why Do 3% of Harvard MBAs Make Ten Times as Much as the Other 97% Combined ?'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's Mark's answer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In 1979, interviewers asked new graduates from the Harvard’s MBA Program this question: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Here are the results to that question.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">• 84% had no specific goals at all</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">• 13% had goals but they were not committed to paper</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">• 3% had clear, written goals and plans on how to accomplish them</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ten years later those same graduates of that 1979 class were interviewed again. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now
can you guess the answer to Mark's original question, ' Why Do 3% of
Harvard MBAs Make Ten Times as Much as the Other 97% Combined ?'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">•The 13% of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no goals at all. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">•The
three percent who had clear, written goals were earning, on average,
ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Emmanuel
had a powerful tool in the scheduling of his goals. By spending some
time now, figuring out how to effectively use his time, he will be able
to carry out his day-to-day activities, easily, quickly, and
efficiently, accomplishing many more things, in less time. Gone is the
hassle, the frustration and waste of time trying to accomplish too many
things all at once. Gone is the the classic "Jack of all trades, master
of none, syndrome.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">His goals dictated the activities that lead to his success.</span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-67460557909354840972014-10-01T09:21:00.004-07:002014-10-01T09:21:39.656-07:00Building Accountability in a Team Environment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's another sneak preview from my new book, <u>"Quiet Determination, unlocking the gates to unlimited success!<b>"</b></u></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Why People Avoid Accountability</b><br /><br />Going back to the lessons of your childhood you often heard things like, Sally do this! Joey do that! Mandy don’t do that! Ever since we can remember growing up, were we not “rewarded” for doing the right things, and “punished” for doing the wrong things? The ever-present fear of punishment feeds the blame game and discourages people from stepping up and taking responsibility, or risks.<br /><br />The reward and punishment environment is perpetuated in our everyday lives, at the office, in business, socially, wherever people interact. It’s often disguised as being a useful motivational tool to achieve success, but in reality it only serves to encourage and foster the exact opposite effect...fear, censure, and shifting of blame, which ultimately leads to unlimited failure and failed dreams, rather than unlimited success. Being accountable does require a certain degree of emotional maturity, self-esteem, and courage.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Atp-IiYtBFM/VCwoxaTEURI/AAAAAAAAA4E/CkAYAN1YiQs/s1600/231370_bven502_hi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Atp-IiYtBFM/VCwoxaTEURI/AAAAAAAAA4E/CkAYAN1YiQs/s1600/231370_bven502_hi.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Building Individual Accountability in a Team Environment</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">According to MIT Information Services and Technology, a team is defined as,"People working together in a committed way to achieve a common goal or mission. The work is interdependent and team members share responsibility and hold themselves accountable for attaining the results.”<br /><br />K.Denise Bane, of Bloomfield College wrote an abstract titled: <a href="https://journals.tdl.org/absel/index.php/absel/article/view/658" target="_blank">Avoiding Catastrophe: The Role of Individual Accountability in Team Effectiveness</a> .<br /><br />Ms. Bane talks about value of using games to teach the importance of individual responsibility and accountability, in enhancing the team’s effectiveness. Participants will be enabled to: (a) identify factors promoting team effectiveness, (b) discuss the role of the individual in the success of the team,c) use games to demonstrate individual accountability in team effectiveness .<br /><br />In her paper, Ms. Bane mentions psychologist Bruce Tuckman’s model for developing individual accountability in a group/team setting. This model breaks down team building into five distinct stages:forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning in order to explain how people will better understand why problems may occur, and that things will ultimately get better in the future.<br />It’s suggested that the Tuckman model be explained to all game participants before they actually commence playing.<br /><br />Tuckman Model for Developing Individual <br />Accountability in a Group/Team Setting<br /><br />Note:I would suggest reading chapter 8, “Enhanced Creativity”, for great ideas on how to make this stage a smooth and positive experience.<br /><br /><b>1. Forming</b><br />In the initial stage, team members get to know one another on a personal level. The individual's behaviour is driven by the need to “fit in” and avoid any controversy and conflict. Clear objectives, for both the team and each of its’ members are established. These objectives must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.(SMART) Team members tend to behave independently.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>2. Storming</b><br />This is a growing stage where individuals share their ideas on how to go about reaching the team’s objectives. This stage can become destructive and painfully unpleasant for members of the team who are averse to conflict. There are bound to be differences between members, and mutual patience and tolerance must be emphasized. Judgemental attitudes have no place here. All opinions are welcomed. It’s important that team members learn about different individual work styles of and personalities of people, in regards to how they:<br />Relate to others<br />Gather and use information<br />Make decisions<br />Organize themselves and others<br /><br />Here are the different work styles according to the The Margerison- McCann Team Management Wheel, followed by the personality type, according to the Enneagram Institute Personality System. A knowledge of personality types will help make storming more efficient.<br /><br />a) Reporter/adviser gives and gathers information. <br /> The investigator to be perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated.<br />b) Creator/innovator comes up with new or different approaches.<br /> The individualist is expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental.<br />c) Explorer/promoter explores new ways to succeed and likes to promote the team.<br /> The helper is generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing, and possessive.<br />d) Assessor/developer likes to analyze new opportunities and make them work.<br /> The enthusiast is spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive, and scattered.<br />e) Thruster/organizer likes to get results.<br /> The challenger is self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational.<br />f) Concluder/producer works in a systematic way to produce outputs<br /> The achiever is adaptable, excelling, driven, and image-conscious.<br />g) Controller/inspector enjoys the detailed and controlling aspects of work<br /> The loyalist is engaging, responsible, anxious, and suspicious.<br />h) Upholder/maintainer upholds standards and values and excellence<br /> The reformer is principled, purposeful, self-controlled, a perfectionist.<br />i) Linker at the centre of the wheel, integrates and co-ordinates the work of others in the team.The peace maker is receptive, reassuring, complacent, and resigned.<br /><br /><b>3. Norming</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The team selects one goal and establishes a plan how to attain that goal. All team members take the responsibility for the success of the team's goals. <b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>4. Performing</b><br />By this time members should be motivated,knowledgeable,competent, autonomous and able to handle the decision-making process without supervision. Dissent is expected and allowed as long as it is channeled through means acceptable to the team<br />Although supervisors of the team during this phase are usually participating, the team will be making most of the decisions. Teams are free to revert to any of the earlier stages as they react to changing circumstances such as a change in leadership causing the team to revert to storming as the new person/people challenge the existing norms and dynamics of the team.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>5. Adjourning and Transforming</b><br />The completion of the task and breaking up the team.<br />Celebrate the team's achievements.<br /><br /><br /><b>Exercise 1 </b><br />"AVOIDING CATASTROPHE" one game suggested by Denise Bane<br /><br />The children’s game“Cat-a-pult,” an interactive chain-reaction game distributed by HandsOnToys. It consists of five plastic catapults and foam cats. Each participant has a catapult and a cat. The object is to adjust your catapult so that, when launched, the first player’s cat will land on the second player’s catapult, triggering the second catapult, which launches the second cat in the direction of the third catapult, and so on. The team is successful when it is able to create a complete chain reaction involving all cats. Each team member is responsible for setting and adjusting their own catapult and cannot touch the catapults of his or her team members. <br /><br />The game should be followed by a discussion period generated by these questions. <br />1. How can an individual encourage team effectiveness? <br />2. How did team members encourage their team members during the exercise? <br />3. How did “expertise” affect the outcome? <br />4. If an individual does not/can not learn his or her job, how does that affect the team? <br />5. What would have made the team more effective? <br />6. What hindered team effectiveness? <br />What lessons can you take away from this exercise?<br /><br /><br /><b>Exercise 2</b><br /><br />By watching Manny, we learn that we too can successfully acquire new habits and skills, by holding ourselves accountable to one or two, simple yet fixed rules.<br /><br />Consider one goal that you have set for yourself. What simple rule, mantra, or habit can you adopt that will keep yourself accountable in your quest for success?<br />If sustained accountability is new to you, don't be afraid to ask someone to assist you until you "get it". It could be a colleague or friend.<br /><br />There's nothing wrong with paying someone do be your task master.<br />I would suggest that make it very clear that your task master has permission to be exactly that… a task master who excepts no excuses, no complaints, no whining.<br /><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-1910359935388591292014-09-18T06:21:00.001-07:002014-09-18T06:21:47.248-07:00"Quiet Determination, unlocking the gates to unlimited success!"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HSec3IGpIL0" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-15545196820696599032012-05-08T12:14:00.001-07:002012-12-14T13:17:15.018-08:00Ear Training Chp 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Melodies that Contain Chromatic/Half Steps</span><br /><br />Now we're going to explore the flats & sharps that add colour<br />to the regular scales, that are the backbone of <a href="http://www.korylivingstonepianostudio.com/" target="_blank">pop, jazz, and classical music</a>.<br />Most of these tunes are written in a particular key, which means they <br />use a set of predefined notes. However, the <a href="http://www.acustomsong.com/" target="_blank">composer</a> often changes one or<br />more of these set notes, by raising (a sharp sign "#") or lowering (a flat sign "b") <br />their pitch,by a half step. We call these "#'s & "b"s accidentals.<br /><br />Any note/pitch can be raised or lowered by a half step/chromatically.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Therefore in our "C" major scale which looks like this...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e53Ggtx1oL8/T6lpNBJOYvI/AAAAAAAAARI/DKSqZjsuXbY/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.00.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ear training" border="0" height="80" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e53Ggtx1oL8/T6lpNBJOYvI/AAAAAAAAARI/DKSqZjsuXbY/s320/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.00.36+PM.png" title="c scale" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">any one of its' pitches could be <b>raised </b>chromatically/by a half step...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgkLO9jIPMo/T6lpNXjZLxI/AAAAAAAAARQ/T22yOWzBm3I/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.01.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ear training" border="0" height="87" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgkLO9jIPMo/T6lpNXjZLxI/AAAAAAAAARQ/T22yOWzBm3I/s320/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.01.24+PM.png" title="chromatic scale" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> or <b>lowered</b> chromatically/by a half step.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cCbfHxGvKUo/T6lpNmm82GI/AAAAAAAAARY/0ltjWtDjPBc/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.01.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chromatic" border="0" height="83" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cCbfHxGvKUo/T6lpNmm82GI/AAAAAAAAARY/0ltjWtDjPBc/s320/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.01.30+PM.png" title="ear training" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Enharmonic Pitches</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a theoretical term used to describes a pitch/sound that can be notated 2 different ways.<br />If you play a "C#" on your instrument, and then play a "Db", the sound/pitch is exactly the same.<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Exercises:</b></span><br />Play the following exercises on your own instrument to hear the correct pitches, <br />then sing them on you own, checking for accuracy as you progress.<br /><br />EXERCISE 1:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3095YdUxz_4/T6lpORA331I/AAAAAAAAARg/cQmgjvguQnY/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.09.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3095YdUxz_4/T6lpORA331I/AAAAAAAAARg/cQmgjvguQnY/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.09.38+PM.png" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">EXERCISE 2:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YxarPqKZq4E/T6lpO1zE89I/AAAAAAAAARo/YqIJB2gZCBA/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.10.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chromtaic " border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YxarPqKZq4E/T6lpO1zE89I/AAAAAAAAARo/YqIJB2gZCBA/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.10.28+PM.png" title="ear training" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">EXERCISE 3:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOQn0FaeWB4/T6lpP_6uidI/AAAAAAAAASA/alar9ntOUYQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.36.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOQn0FaeWB4/T6lpP_6uidI/AAAAAAAAASA/alar9ntOUYQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.36.36+PM.png" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> EXERCISE 4:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YDM66vmZ4Mw/T6lpPpP4QKI/AAAAAAAAAR4/OOQLGyhRexY/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.31.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YDM66vmZ4Mw/T6lpPpP4QKI/AAAAAAAAAR4/OOQLGyhRexY/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.31.47+PM.png" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">EXERCISE 5:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XijUfjJDBgI/T6lpPLWevkI/AAAAAAAAARw/LCUuygwnNCw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.26.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XijUfjJDBgI/T6lpPLWevkI/AAAAAAAAARw/LCUuygwnNCw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-08+at+2.26.17+PM.png" title="ear training" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">EXERCISE 6:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Repeat all of the exercises above starting on a different note, other than "C".<br /><br /><br />EXERCISE 7:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Look for tunes in your <a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/music/" target="_blank">repertoire</a> where chromatic pitches/accidentals <br />occur during the first 2 measures, and practice <a href="http://www.korylivingstonevoiceacademy.com/" target="_blank">singing</a> those phrases.<br />Try it in all 12 keys... if you're feeling brave.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-55034047799009710522012-04-10T07:19:00.000-07:002012-04-10T07:20:17.875-07:00Ear Training Chp2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<b>How Well Known Songs can Improve our Ability to Play by Ear</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Once you get comfortable with the exercises in Chp1, from last March, you can now use them in a practical application with music that you are personally familiar with. It doesn't matter what genre…nursery rhymes,folk songs,pop tunes, anything will work. </div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Sit down with your instrument and pick out the tunes.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Once you get a handle on this let's go to the next level,by searching for tunes that are diatonically based, meaning that the melody goes up or down the scale. </div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
See the 2 examples below.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1WNsRGmzhs/T4Q_b4rB5II/AAAAAAAAAQg/jAu54uWMBZ4/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-10+at+10.09.57+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1WNsRGmzhs/T4Q_b4rB5II/AAAAAAAAAQg/jAu54uWMBZ4/s640/Screen+shot+2012-04-10+at+10.09.57+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-81684966078118888562012-03-07T07:13:00.001-08:002012-03-07T07:15:55.313-08:00Ear Training Chp1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Do Your Eyes Hear...Can Your Ears Write ?</span> </span> </b> <br /><br />I often have students that complain that they wish they could play without the sheet music in front of them all the time.<br /><br />There are many, many different books & programs out there that will help you refine your </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstonepianostudio.com/" target="_blank">skills</a> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> at figuring out the actual pitches of those notes that you see written down on the paper, or writing down the names of the notes of a song you've heard on the radio.<br /><br />Being able to identify pitches is a valuable tool for </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstonevoiceacademy.com/" target="_blank">singers</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> in terms of sight reading new music and singing on pitch. For musicians & </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstonepianostudio.com/composition-song-writing/" target="_blank">songwriters</a></span><span style="font-size: small;">, it's a must if you need to write or read music, without the aid of an instrument, not to mention the fact that most musicians often need to transcribe songs from Cd's,for band rehearsals.<br /><br />The biggest benefit of having a trained ear is that you'll save a ton of money on buying sheet music, especially pop music.<br /><br />Playing by ear is possible through a process called "Ear Training".<br />Let's start with some basic exercises, using the common major scale,<br />do re me fa sol la ti do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">Exercise #1 </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/blog_08/Ear_Training_Exercises/EarExercise1.mp3" target="_blank">LISTEN</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Using solfeggio, sing a major scale. Sing in your own individual range, so you don't strain your voice. Feel free to use the piano, a pitch pipe… any instrument at all,to help you sing in tune.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUs1_lfpj4g/T1dnPSaVdjI/AAAAAAAAAPs/ZFHaMTZcZRw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.47.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="65" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUs1_lfpj4g/T1dnPSaVdjI/AAAAAAAAAPs/ZFHaMTZcZRw/s400/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.47.58+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Exercise #2 </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/blog_08/Ear_Training_Exercises/EarExercise2.mp3" target="_blank">LISTEN</a> Repeat using numbers instead of solfeggio.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOpi4LP0zsk/T1dnp6RZXqI/AAAAAAAAAP0/BeLUkzLy-v4/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.49.41+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOpi4LP0zsk/T1dnp6RZXqI/AAAAAAAAAP0/BeLUkzLy-v4/s400/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.49.41+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Exercise #3 </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/blog_08/Ear_Training_Exercises/EarExercise3.mp3" target="_blank">LISTEN</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Sing the scale using the letter names.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EijLa_s2Hz8/T1dn6pmz8HI/AAAAAAAAAQE/gLrHqGedzJU/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.49.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EijLa_s2Hz8/T1dn6pmz8HI/AAAAAAAAAQE/gLrHqGedzJU/s400/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.49.50+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Exercises #4 </span><a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/blog_08/Ear_Training_Exercises/EarExercise1.mp3" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/blog_08/Ear_Training_Exercises/EarExercise4.mp3" target="_blank">LISTEN</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> #5 </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/blog_08/Ear_Training_Exercises/EarExercise5.mp3" target="_blank">LISTEN</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> #6 </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/blog_08/Ear_Training_Exercises/EarExercise6.mp3" target="_blank">LISTEN</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Repeat exercises 1,2 &3 above, but, this time sing each note of the scale in a different register.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FejWayA9PCY/T1dn7S04AvI/AAAAAAAAAQM/LhHbAQ2tKPU/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.49.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FejWayA9PCY/T1dn7S04AvI/AAAAAAAAAQM/LhHbAQ2tKPU/s400/Screen+shot+2012-03-07+at+8.49.56+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Once you get comfortable with these exercises, try them without any instrumental support.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-21840652155590541052011-08-09T16:05:00.000-07:002012-01-18T14:30:37.995-08:00Chi Guong for the Voice... an ancient Chinese secret/miracle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">An easy way to increase your power, range & confidence.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Years ago when I was doing my concert tour “ A Tribute to the </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nat King Cole Trio”,I used to run about 3-4 times a week, as a means </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">to maintain and improve my singing.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
I had to make every show the best show. My voice had to be in top </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">form, because people were paying good money for their seats in those </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">theatres, and i couldn’t afford to disappoint anyone.<br />
<br />
Every successful singer knows that breathing is the single key to good </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">singing and tone production. It’s one thing to master the mechanics of </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">proper breathing techniques, but it’s a whole different ball game when </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">it comes to your capacity to build power into your breathing apparatus... </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">namely the heart, lungs & the overall energy level of our physical & </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">spiritual being. Great singing happens when these entities are all </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">operating at optimum levels.<br />
<br />
Because our voices are instruments made up of our own physical bodies, </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">it only stands that a body in good physical shape surely makes us better </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">all around singers. A great singer is seen to perform effortlessly in a </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">very relaxed state, with more than adequate breathe support for every </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">single note. It’s that old equation that says, “<i>flat breathe = flat notes!</i>”<br />
<br />
As I was saying before,I was running 3-4 times a week to maintain my </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">cardio, but during one performing in particular I was shocked. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
All of a sudden I found myself listening to myself as I sang. It was as </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">if I had an out-of-body experience. I noticed that my body was very </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">relaxed, my vocal chords resonated like fine seasoned wood. The </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">sound just floated ,effortlessly from my mouth. It was clear and </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">golden at the same time. I was in the moment!<br />
<br />
After the show as I drove home, I wondered about this sudden change </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">in my singing. I tried to figure out what brought about this miraculous </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">event. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It came to me. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Earlier that day, about 4 hours before my concert I had done a Chi </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Quong exercise for the lungs.<br />
Chi Quong is an ancient form of Chinese meditation, that energizes </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">both the spirit and body.<br />
This particular exercise is used to strengthen the lungs, hence it's </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">called the <i>lung form</i>. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was able to create the same mental & physical results I usually </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">get after heavy exercise, without exerting any energy whatsoever.<br />
My lungs were expanded to a capacity greater than if I had run my </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">usual 6 K marathon on a hot day. Your chest feels like a balloon </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">ready to burst. You’re in a relaxed state of mind. You notice a definite </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">change in your energy level.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
This little Chi Quong exercise is a miracle for any singer looking to </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">add power to their voice, and I’m going to show it to you now. It </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">works for both skeptic & believer.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
I add a note of caution for those singers who don’t exercise regularly </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">as part of their life style. I have always done some form of exercise, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">be it soccer, hockey, Tao Chi, Kung Fu, etc. all of my life. I don't do</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> this Chi Quong exercise at the expense of my regular cardio fitness, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">however, adding Chi Quong to my cardio, has given me stunning </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">results in my singing and that of my students</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
How effective this Chi Quong exercise will work for you on it’s own, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">without a cardio element, is something you will have to find out for </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">yourself.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've made a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu9qPSqz_MU">video demonstrating </a>how to do this particular form of Chi Quong..</span></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987597263685269433.post-46217370921464050472011-06-24T10:22:00.000-07:002011-06-24T10:22:27.569-07:00Beethoven..The Original Rock Star<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">What I learned from Beethoven's piano sonata # 9, inspired me to compose some New Age piano music.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
Would you believe that Beethoven used every day chords in the creation of his great musical compositions. His spiritual creativity and uncanny musical thought process has produced the most profound music. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
At first blush Beethoven's music seems to be so complicated, but as in all true great art, it's the simplest of elements that are elevated to a state of perfection. This is a very important point of view I try to get across in all of my <a href="http://www.korylivingstonepianostudio.com/">piano & voice lessons.</a><br />
<br />
Looking at this sonata , I've discovered he's only used 3 different chords to create such beautiful music.<br />
<br />
Wait a minute! Isn't 3 chord music the holy grail -stop if you're not a member-God given sanctuary, of the rock star guitar player?<br />
Apparently not! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
However that being said, one must note that it's the manner in which Beethoven makes love to his 3 chords, that separates a music genius, from a music star!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can watch my video where I explain in detail what I learned from<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXN5HqVk_-o&feature=player"> Beethoven's piano sonata #9.</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drawing inspiration from Beethoven's Piano Sonata #9.</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I used the same chord progression that Beethoven used in this section of his piano sonata #9, for </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">part of my New Age piano composition " Dream Harbour<a href="http://www.korylivingstone.com/music.htm">http://www.korylivingstone.com/music.htm</a>". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You should be able to copy & enlarge this music I've posted below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Fkee6vkcFc/TdsSrT6nVTI/AAAAAAAAADo/YCq4K353ZXc/s1600/beeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Fkee6vkcFc/TdsSrT6nVTI/AAAAAAAAADo/YCq4K353ZXc/s320/beeth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MV-HIMDvaMI/TdsQbTYYrcI/AAAAAAAAADk/dk23qLTT8T8/s1600/beethoven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_304752706"></span><span id="goog_304752707"></span></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2C-_iSpbl7o/TdsNIcOD9ZI/AAAAAAAAADg/zRngnJvFtro/s1600/Beethoven%2527s+New+Age+Music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557278901088179740noreply@blogger.com0