saxophone – Dynamipills SAX BLOG

“Taking Music Theory One Note at a Time”

Music Theory

When I first started the course. The main question that kept ringing was “why didn’t I start learning about music Theory years ago?” I had the easiest answer and it was “I DID NOT WANT TO”. I did not want to learn about music theory because

I felt like I did not need the theoretical aspect of music, I mean I’m practically playing it { see what i did there 🙂 }
It is very easy to find the wrong materials that are not even related to the topic at hand
I felt like sight reading was a professional type of skill, but then i knew anyone can learn MUSIC THEORY

Long story SHORT, i was in serious denial. so i had to put on my big girl music pant on and learn about Music. Everyone clear, Ok then. Let’s BEGIN shall we.

To be or not to be, your definition of music is different from what music is to me. Music is the more than a sound of the truth we see. its the key that sets our heart free.

Anyways, Music has a lot of things that i didn’t even take into consideration. Music is a succession of tone arranged in a specific rhythm. Tone is a specific vibration that is identified by a specific pitch. Yes Music involves Frequency. Pitch is simply how high or how low a sound is.

Having all that in mind, In order to understand how Music Theory works. its important to talk about Music Notation, which is a system of writing music in order to make it easier to depict… think of it as a code ( symbols and signs that have a special function and a hidden meaning )

This diagram shows some of Music Symbols Of Music Notation.

The Basic Music Staff is composed of line and spaces; That is 5 LINES AND 4 SPACES . The music staff shows where the musical signs and symbols will be placed
Clefs are very important because it shows how the notes will be written. There are different types of Clefs: Treble clef, Bass Clef, Alto Clef and Tenor Clef.

NOTES AND REST

SEMIBREVE: The Semibreve is also called a Whole Note. it has 4(four) beats.

MINIM: The Minim is also called a Half Note. it has 2 ( two ) beats.

CROTCHET: The Crotchet is also called a Quarter Note. It has 1 ( one ) beat.

QUAVER: The Quaver is also called the EIGHTH NOTE. It has 1/2 ( half ) a beat.

Note that When a dot is at the right hand of a note, that means that it adds 1/2 of the beat if that Note to the particular Note.

For Instance: A Minim has 2 beats, when a dot is added, 1/2 of that beat is added to the note . that means; 1/2 of 2 is 1 so therefore

2 +1 =3

Therefore a dotted Minim has 3 beats.

Written by It’s Just Ife Esan ( Butterbirda)

Can’t Help Falling in Love with Music

Everyone has a story of how they got into music, how music makes them feel inside and for I long time, I felt disconnected from the “genuine” reason I got into music which messed up my whole practice routine and music life. I could not find the reason of doing something I enjoyed doing. Like a kid that lost her kite on a windy day, I lost the zeal to be myself in my music journey. Accepting it was one thing, but finding a solution that was whole new world for me.

So like wanderer, I went on a journey, a musical one and I figured that if I was going to find the reason I love music, I had to go down Memory lane. I remembered the first day I got my own saxophone, and even before that I remember how frightened I was, to the younger me, music wasn’t a hobby it was like therapy because I was all the trials of an 11yr old. I remembered how people would laugh and I didn’t feel supported. I also remember the people who believed in me and my musical abilities. As I grew older, I got lost, I felt like I was dormant, like I did not have direction.

I had to ask myself a lot if ‘why questions’. The memory lane told me whereI was coming from but not where I was going to, so the journey was not complete. Sometimes the only way to be grateful is to stop and count your blessings {even the bad times are blessings because it shows you made it}. I started writing all the things I wanted in my saxophone life, I needed to make my story to be in my name and not what the haters say.

The beauty of the story of how you got into music is that it is an underrated story of HOW IT ALL BEGAN. So yeah, the journey is not over but what I know is that along the way, I am doing what I love and being the best of me every step of the saxophone way. I am not a wanderer anymore neither am I someone looking for validation to feel good about myself. I am a saxophonist, connected to the things she love, ready to make good friends and make great music. The problem was trying to change the story of how I got into music and that made me feel disconnected.

Music to me is a healing experience, it’s a song from a soul that tells you to breathe. It’s like God holding your hand and telling you it’s going to be alright, and I should not be afraid or ashamed of that. So Dynami Sax Squad, what your reason for being a musician? What drives you to be the better version of yourself?

Written by Its just Ife Esan.

What is Music to ME?

Music is something that makes me smile, something that is worthwhile. it is a feeling, its so relieving, {OK, enough with the rhyming}.Honestly music is just Music, a song from the soul, a representation of the songwriter and a letter to the people. Here at Dynamipills, we believe that just knowing what music is to them makes a huge difference in a music journey. So we decided to create a platform where saxophonist can tell their story and also grow in their saxophone journey. Since the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, let us make that step and grow in healthy progressive and supportive environment.

The Saxophone is a very powerful instrument. it is an instrument that allows the musician to be as personal and as expressive as they desire. Every sound is different, every technique is different and the best part that it is your journey. From Yardbird by Charlie Parker to ” I got it Bad and that Ain’t Good” by Johnny Hodges to even ” Water No Get Enemy” by Fela Kuti, one can see the dynamic and the personalised sax techniques in their amazing pieces.

As we begin our journey and find ourselves in music always remember to be the best of yourself in music. Have a saxophone mentor to look up to, one that resonates with your personal style of playing. Do not be afraid to make friends that play the same instrument with you, you could learn something new and that helps with musical and social developments. Be Yourself, you are the one who is playing the instrument! Be YOU! Always remember that practice makes progress and a good practice routine makes a great amount of progress.