A: Do tones have different colors? Tone color and timbre are terms that refer to the character or quality of a musical sound. They do not refer to colors such as yellow or green.Instead, these terms describe the difference in the sounds that you hear from the various instruments. (more)
Q: What does acoustic mean for a classical musician?
A: "Acoustic" means "made for, designed for or having the quality of facilitating the perception of sound" (Webster). No microphones are necessary. In fact, a microphone can interfere with the sound waves that are created and reflected by the surfaces on the floor, sides and ceiling of the hall. Just like lighting an exquisite gemstone, so that you can see the sparkle of every facet, a great acoustic allows every aspect of the music to be heard. (more)
Whoops, I broke my "G" String ... and other hazards of playing concerts.
Musical performance does not come without its particular risks. A cellist can be in the midst of an intensely emotional passage, when suddenly "TWANG!" A string pops loose and you are forced to STOP, replace the string and begin again. Probably the most embarrassing story that I've heard ... (more)
Q: Why (and how) do the violins play with their bows going the same direction in an orchestra?
A: You may have noticed in an orchestra concert that the string players are usually playing with their bows completely coordinated in the same direction. It is almost like a choreographed ballet. Why do they do this? Is it planned, or do they just naturally fall into these patterns? To get a particular "articulation" (clarity or accentuation of notes) it is desirable for every string player to use a certain part of the bow. (more)
Q: What is the best age to begin learning to play an instrument?
A: Although I am not an expert in child development, my opinion is based on my experience and that of friends in the profession. I think the best time to start a child with music lessons is when a child shows interest in learning to play an instrument. (more)
A: Recently I went backstage after a string quartet concert at the Smithsonian Institute, featuring the famous Stradivari violins, viola and cello. As I waited in line to talk to the musicians, the violist came up to me and said: "Here, hold this viola. It is worth $27 million." (more)
Q: How do you start a career in music performance, such as an orchestral position?
A: Getting a job in music performance is like training for the Olympics. Most musicians begin at a young age to practice and learn how to play their instrument. To audition for a job in an orchestra, most applicants have studied at a conservatory or high-quality music school (such as the School of Music at Penn State) for many years. (more)
A: At the beginning of each orchestra concert you will see the concertmaster (first chair violinist) enter to tune the orchestra. He faces the orchestra and asks the oboist to play an "A." Is this just for show, or is it really necessary? Why does the orchestra need to tune? The instruments go out of tune because of changes in temperature and humidity. (more)
A: Allegro means "happy" in Italian. This term is frequently used to label a "movement" of a piece. A movement is simply a complete section of a larger piece. There may be two, three, four or five movements in a piece, although a typical structure for classical music is three movements in the order of fast-slow-fast. (more)
A: Concerto? Is this a misprint for Concert? Why are some pieces labeled Concerto and others Sonata or Symphony? A concerto is a solo piece for an instrument with accompaniment by an orchestra. The most popular and typical concertos are written for piano or violin with an orchestra. However, a concerto can be written for any instrument with an orchestral accompaniment. The solo instrument usually is given a very difficult part with virtuosic or flashy lines to show off the beauty of the instrument and the facility of the musician within the context of the orchestral sound. There are exceptions to this such as a Concerto for Orchestra. This means that the entire orchestra is being treated as a virtuosic soloist, so it would be very demanding for all parts. Most concertos of the "romantic period" (19th century) are made up of three movements, fast-slow-fast.
Please send any other musical questions that you always wanted to know but were too shy to ask to Penn State Laureate Kim Cook at kdc3@psu.edu. (more)
