SEAstudy2 is an interactive study of musical energy to be enacted live with a group. It promises to awaken participants to the wonders of musical energy, teaching through experience lessons that are invaluable. Highly engaged discussion always pop up during and after sessions.
What is provided here are links to the three little studies that I have used in classes so far, with graphic presentation of responses collected in a session at Fitchburg State University in March 2022. The studies linked here are active, allowing one to follow the process as if doing them with a group. When a group does the study, the examples are played back for all to hear, we see immediately how the class has responded, and we discuss the changes in the musical fragments that caused the shifting assessments of energy. The learning exhibited, the level of engagement, the insights expressed by students amaze me.
What is provided here are links to the three little studies that I have used in classes so far, with graphic presentation of responses collected in a session at Fitchburg State University in March 2022. The studies linked here are active, allowing one to follow the process as if doing them with a group. When a group does the study, the examples are played back for all to hear, we see immediately how the class has responded, and we discuss the changes in the musical fragments that caused the shifting assessments of energy. The learning exhibited, the level of engagement, the insights expressed by students amaze me.
If you would like for your students to have this experience, please be in touch.
Preparatory study
Only two examples here, fragments of very opposite musical energy setting up a comparison with the second longer study.
- Link to a form with musical examples that allows you to rate energy and see how it compares to others who have completed the questions.
- Pdf showing responses of students at Fitchburg State Uinversity.
Melody as relationship of pitch and rhythm
Six musical examples use the same pitch series in differing rhythm settings.
- Link to a second form used to rate energy.
- Pdf showing responses of students at Fitchburg State University.
Study of energy and musical parameters
The nine examples played live in the session present the same pitch sequence, same rhythm in gradually varied dynamics, articulation, register, and tempo.
- Link to a third form used to rate energy.
- Pdf showing responses of students at Fitchburg State Uinversity.
Reactions
The grapics above come from the session at Fitchburg State University, where the study followed a vists one class day earlier in which Just Listening was the experience.
John Morrison gave a most interesting and rewarding workshop. The instant set of opinion polls via cell phone was a particularly innovative touch - it gave the students immediate feedback about how their reactions compared with everyone else's. Dr. Morrison is enthusiastically invited to come back - I look forward to seeing what else he has to present to our students!
Dr. Robin Dinda, Professor, Humanities (Music), Fitchburg State University.
Experience it in person!
- Click here to discuss how we might bring SEAstudy2 to your school or organization.
- Due to the nature of the piece and the ideas behind it, a very engaging series of events might well surround and support the experience it offers.