Sonatic

S natic

Issue 1 May 2016

see pg. 14

TOP 10 MOVIE SCORES

How Music Impacts Children

A Visual Guide to the Symphony Orchestra

The Musician’s Experience

see pg. 20

see pg. 32

see pg. 26

TABLE OF CONTENTS TOP SONGS OF 2015 2015 was a year of music highs and lows. Which songs were the cream of the crop?

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AUSTIN: THE CENTER OF MUSIC We all know Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World. But what’s the musicians’ life in Austin like?

A HISTORY OF THE ORCHESTRA Some of the defining historical moments that shaped the orchestra.

THE MUSICIAN’S EXPERIENCE

The most popular instruments and what you know them for!

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2

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Some think that music makes babies smarter. Read all about the many ways music can influence children!

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Music is a part of everyone’s life.

But how does music influence those who dedicate their lives to it?

2 MOST POPULAR INSTRUMENTS

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MUSIC AND CHILDREN

A VISUAL GUIDE TO THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The many instruments of the symphony orchestra explained simply with fascinating graphics!

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CINEMATIC MAGIC Movie music is a masterpiece in and of itself, as the Austin Cinematic Symphony is showing.

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TOP 8 MOST MEMORABLE MOVIE SCORES Music is a an integral part of movies. Here, we’ve found the 8 scores we remembered most.

THE MUSIC BEHIND FILM Movies wouldn’t be the same without their music. Here we go behind the scenes with film music.

LETTER FROM THE Dear Reader, When I was appointed as the editor of this magazine, I was very nervous. First off, working on a music magazine sounded like Mission Impossible to me. You can’t see music; how will we make an entire magazine based on something we can’t see?

But our group was able to work together and use our different experiences with music to build a magazine from nothing. In the end, I never really felt like I was the boss. I had lots of help from all the members of my group and ended up having more fun than I thought I would.

This magazine was able to bring five very different kids together. When we first met we didn’t seem to have anything in common, apart from choosing “music” as our top interest in the survey in which we chose our top picks for magazine topics. And even when the subject was music we were divided; we played different instruments, we didn’t listen to the same genre of music, and overall we each had different backgrounds. This

Editor

difference is what gave Sonatic the diversity in content you will be able to see while reading it.

Making a magazine on a topic so broad is not something that was easy, actually creating this magazine was far from easy. It was hard to find topics that not only would interest me, but would also appeal to

“This magazine was able to bring five very different kids together.” our audience. Furthermore, after coming up with ideas, making these layouts was even harder, but seeing the finished product today makes all that hard work feel worthwhile.

Sonatic was created to help our readers understand the impact that music has on our world today. Even though people might not enjoy it as much as others do, music is a part of everyone’s life.

We hope you enjoy reading this magazine as much as we enjoyed making it.

Sincerely,

Tania Rives 3

Jenny Lu

Meet the Jenny has grown up with music revolving around her. She started playing the piano in kindergarten, and participated in competitions for eight years. The summer before she started middle school, she began to play the cello, and has been playing for almost four years now.

Apart from music, she also enjoys swimming, hiking, and spending time with friends. She is grateful for all the opportunities that music has provided, and looks forward to attending more concerts and music festivals.

Photo by: Clara Morse Tania’s dad was the lead guitarist in a band called Triptic, he played piano as a hobby so she was introduced to music at a young age.

She started playing piano at age 7 but stopped after 4 years of lessons. In 5th grade she started with flute and has been playing since.

Tania enjoys drawing, biking and listening to music 24/7. Her favorite bands include Pink Floyd, The Cure, Radio Head, Arcade fire, and Smashing Pumpkins. In the future she hopes to learn the drums and finally go to ACL.

Tania Rives

Photo by: Rachel Moon

Photo by: Clara Morse

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Contributors Ryan Edgar

Ryan plays the piano and violin. He enjoys pop, classic rock, and occasionally orchestral music. At the age of 12, Ryan figured out that he had an interest in music. The following year, he learned about different musical cultures and groups and began to learn about photoshop and other adobe programs. For fun, Ryan usually listens to music or plays games, or explores new songs. He very much enjoys to play and listen to music, and hopes to continue his work to the future.

Photo by: Clara Morse Clara was introduced to music as a child and has loved it ever since her first piano lesson.

She has sung in many different choirs, including church choirs, jazz panaches, and a capella groups, and is also an avid music listener and lover. She enjoys alternative and rock music, as well as musical soundtracks, and listens to bands like Fall Out Boy, All Time Low, and Tonight Alive. In her free time, Clara enjoys photo-editing, solving puzzles, and volunteering at her local library.

Clara Morse

Photo by: Jenny Lu

Sanjay Pandiri

Sanjay is a music enthusiast and has been interested in music ever since he started piano, at the age of eight. Sanjay loves listening to classic orchestral music, and looks forward to going to concerts from the local group, the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He is also a percussionist in the LBJ symphonic band, does pit percussion in the LBJ Marching Band, and he is part of the varsity tennis team. In his free time, Sanjay enjoys composing music and solving rather large Rubik’s cubes.

Photo by: Clara Morse

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Top 8 Most

Memorable

Music Scores

Music scores on top charts in several websites and have won several awards! These are the movies with best soundtracks

by Tania Rives

1.

Schindler’s List

Director: Steven Spielberg

2.

Composer: John Williams

3.

Lord of the Rings “The Two Towers” Director: Peter Jackson

Composer: Howard Shore

E.T. Extra-Terrestrial Director: Steven Spielberg

Composer: John Williams

4.

Pirates of the Caribbean “At World’s End” Director: Gore Verbinski

Composer: Hans Zimmer

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5.

John Williams has won 5 Academy Awards, 17 Grammys, 3 Golden Globes, 2 Emmys and 5 awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts!

Star Wars “A New Hope” Director: George Lucas

6.

Director: Mike Nichols

Composer: John Williams

7.

Last of the Mohicans

Director: Michael Mann

The Graduate

Composer: Simon & Garfunkel Dave Grusin

8.

Composer: Trevor Jones Randy Edelman

How to Train Your Dragon Director: Dean DeBlois Chris Sanders

Composer: John Powell “I want to write and feel the drama.

Music is essentially an emotional language” -Howard Shore

Photo credit: Google Images

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Music Behind Film

The complicated elements of music that make a film come to life

By Tania Rives ntering the movie theater, you have allowed the composer to twist and play with your emotions. Film music is used to intensify the emotions the audience is feeling toward a movie. Composers are hired to create music that will intensify the feelings in the movie.

Music has evolved greatly over the years. Today it is part of our everyday lives, although you might not realize it. Music is played in supermarkets, cafes, the famous elevator music, restaurants and movies.

Movie scores

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are created to help the film come to life. Composers use different instruments, notes, and rhythms to arise a certain emotion in the audience.

Rick DeJonge is the owner of Dream Notes Music, a music writing and publishing company. In the past, DeJonge has composed music for several movies, among them are “Made in America”, “Beau Brummel” and “Hungry Hearts”.

Music is a complicated puzzle, so many small pieces are used to make a big picture in the end. All the elements in music are used in different ways depending on the feeling wanted. Instruments are the most basic element. According to DeJonge, 80 percent of film music instruments are brass and string and the other 20 percent are woodwinds. Brass instruments, such as the trumpet and french horn will typically be used in a heroic scene or a scene with high drama, woodwinds will be mostly used as ornaments. Percussion is a very strong element in film music, the rhythm section (percussion) will help create the feeling of intensity.

“The use of repetitive rhythm creates forward momentum,” says

LASA/ LBJ high school symphonic band score “Khan,” by Julie Giroux Photo credit: Tania Rives

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Music Score Photo credit: Pixaboy Ponder East, band director at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy and the Lyndon B. Johnson Early College High School.

The french horn has a romantic and noble sound to it, it is used in several movie scores for hero’s entrance or an important scene. John Williams used the french horn in Luke’s theme when he composed the Star Wars soundtrack. Leia’s theme in Star Wars is composed of mostly woodwinds -the woodwind color is often used for a strong female lead. John Williams’s score is an example of what a lot of films tend to do, which is called motif.

“Motif is a short melody with just a few notes or beats that related to a character,” East says.

The concept of motif was start-

ed by a German composer named Richard Wagner. Wagner composed music for opera and theater plays.

Most movie music today is based off of older composers such as Gustav Holst and Hector Berlioz. These composers wrote several operas and melodies that have been very popular to soundtrack composers today.

Apart from instruments, chords, rhythms and the use of consonance and dissonance create a big impact on the music. A chord is a set of three or more notes played together. There are several types of chords, the main chords are the major and minor chords. Major chords are chords that are composed of notes in the same major scale. While minor are composed of notes in a minor scale, a minor chord tends to

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RICK DEJONGE have a sad sound to it. The use of consonance and dissonance is very common in music due to the effect it has on a person. Consonance, is when two sounds played together and are harmonious, this means they complement each other and sound good. Dissonance is when the two sounds played clash with each other and create a tense sound. Every tool a composer uses to make a soundtrack is chosen carefully based off the impact it has on an audience emotions.

“The way I appreciate music,” DeJonge says. “It’s something you feel, not something you hear.”

The music in a movie is only there to help add feeling to the primary element. The goal of a soundtrack

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Rick DeJonge, composer Photo credit: The Sessions website

composer is not necessarily to have the audience listen to the music they have composed. Most audience members don’t listen to the music behind the movie they’re watching.

Typically, people who are involved in music somehow tend to listen to the music more often than not. Others only listen to the soundtrack when it is very prominent.

“The one thing I like about [my favorite] movies is they have excellent sound tracks.” Srivastava says.

The music for the movie is usually composed after the film is made. In the rare occasions that the score is made before, it is harder to compose. Having the scene al-

“Sometimes complete silence will make a scene a lot more intense than if there was even any other type of sound” -Anushka Srivastava ready made gives the emotion wanted to be created or emphasized.

Also, the tempo of the music is set to the scenes of the movie, having the movie done before sets the tempo and time of the soundtrack. When the movie is done, it’s called the final cut. The final cut is what the composer receives and applies music to.

Composers are able to use something that thousands have used before and create something unique.

“No matter if you’re reading the same notes on the page that every other person has played before you,” East says, “There is something about your sound that is unique to you.”

Music has been a way to express yourself throughout many years. The emotional element it brings out is used today as a way to make something on a screen come to life. ♪

1. Anushka Srivastva playing in the School of Rock Pink Floyd show Photo credit: Sharmila Mehta

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2 . Pflugerville high School Band hall Photo credit: Braun and Butler construction website.

3. Ponder East posing for the LASA website Photo credit: LASA.

2.

3.

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THE HISTORY OF

O

rchestral music is a large part of life today for many musicians, and has been an extremely popular form of professional music in Europe for hundreds of years. Below we’ve put together a time line of some of the most important events in orchestra’s history.

Since music has been around, groups of musicians have been playing in small groups, called consorts in Renaissance music. Normally, these groups of musicians were very small- under 10 people- and the instruments they used were interchangeable.

by Clara Morse

In the 1700s, instruments used in orchestras changed. The clarinet, flute, French horn, and trumpet became full time members of these small orchestras, normally under 30 people. The wind and string instruments started to carry the melody in this time.

1500 1607 1750 Orchestras as we know them began around here. In 1607, the first composer specified which instruments he wanted to play his opera: Claudio Monteverdi. This marked a shift from the earlier times, and the rest of that time’s composers followed Monteverdi’s example.

Credit: nyphilkids.org; infoplease.com; theaterseatstore.com

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Orchestral MUSIC

In the late 1800s, orchestras grew in size, from 40 to 100 to one piece by Hector Berlioz that called for an orchestra of 465, and experimentation with instruments was common. There also was a marked increase in the number of composers who conducted.

1820 1875 1950 In the early 1800s, composers such as Felix Mendelsson began to stand upon a podium in front of the orchestra and lead the orchestra with gestures, or conduct, instead of the first violinist.

The baton was also introduced at this time.

In the 1900s, orchestras are more modestly sized, but instruments are being rearranged in increasingly diverse and different ways and new combinations of instruments and explorations of instruments’ capabilities are popular.

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The Musician ' s

Experience

by Clara Morse

photo by: pexels.com

The experience of creating and performing music can be magical.

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usic is a part of all of our lives, in different ways and genres. As you walk through the grocery store, you might hear a Top 40 hit blaring through the speakers. You may turn on classical music to read, or upbeat rap when working out. You may be into indie rock, bubble gum pop or EDM. And the many people who are involved in making music interact with music in wildly varying ways, from being a conductor to a composer to (of course) a musician. However, many parts of the experience of music remain the same or similar across different people with life experiences and genres.

And the facts agree. Listening to music can help lower

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anxiety and stress levels significantly, increase memory, and decrease physical pain, according to a 2013 Huffington Post article. Many other studies have shown that musicians and those

influenced by his stepfather and his friend, a musician, both of whom enjoyed jazz music.

“Some of my earliest memories of jazz specifically are those of my stepfather and John… listening to [jazz] and just sitting around the house and hanging out,” East says. “For me [jazz has] been compelling because I found that out at a pretty early age, that people wanted it to sound good and it’s supposed to sound good and when it sounds good, it’s fun to play.”

Music was

“I think [music] gave me a purpose to be a human being, and to love other people as well as myself.”

photo by:

boards. involved directly with mutheforce. sic have greater scores on net standardized tests and can learn new information more quickly than those who are not.

Music can, scientifically, change lives.

LBJ Assistant Band Director and Jazz Director Ponder East was involved in music from a young age, he says. When he was 5 years old, he began classical piano lessons.

However, he became involved in a different type of music, jazz, Conducting orchestras, bands, or choirs is one of the soon after, which he says was many ways people interact with music.

photo by: pexels.com

Mixing engineers are responsible for combining vocals, instrumentals, and other effects into the final version of a recorded song.

interested in themselves,” Zimmerman says. “I was always shy when I was young and that sort of opened the doors up for me. I wasn’t so closed in emotionally as I was before I met classical music.”

Natalie Dezso, LASA freshman and member of both marching and concert band, has been involved in band for four years now. Outside of band, she says she enjoys alternative artists like “Bastille” and “Hozier” and pop rock bands such as “Fall Out Boy”.

She says that for her, music is something she can relate to and a way to know that others share her emotions. photo by: pexels.com

to a song that has emotions in it where you can listen to the lyrics and be like ‘oh, I know what this person is going through’ and I know I’m not alone in how I’m feeling right now.”

East says he feels similarly about jazz. He says that one of the things that makes it so special to him,is that every jazz musician must take full responsibility for the music they make with their

“Whatever value we have for ourselves or the life that we’re living can be expressed through our art.”

not the first interest of UT Austin Orchestra Director Gerhardt instrument. Although he says Zimmerman-- he says his first he enjoys and respects the art of love was baseball. However, at making music using a computer, age 7 he contracted polio, and he says he has a special affinwith baseball no longer an ity for primarily instrumental option he went into music. music.

He says that music was “When you are solely one thing that helped responsible for the sound him to become more coming out of your inpresent in his daily strument, [when] you’re life and have a purthe drummer, you’re the pose. bass player… then there’s Zimmerman something a little bit difalso says that for him, ferent about that,” East music had a large says. “For me that’s why social aspect. He says it’s compelling, because it helped him open up we’re all directly responsible to other people, remarkfor how good it sounds… if ing that classical music was art can continue to teach us one one thing that can help autistic thing, it can at least teach us that children communicate with othwhatever value we have for ourers, and that it also helped him to Many people listen to music daily, and for some, such as selves or the life that we’re living Zimmerman, it can be something that saves lives. open up to other people. can be expressed through our

“I think [music] gave me “Music is just something that I lis- art.” a purpose to be a human being, ten to and that I can relate to and Zimmerman, who enjoys and to love other people as well it’s just something that’s always musicals and instrumental acid as myself, and not to be just a there for me,” Dezso says. “When- rock in addition to classical munarcissistic person that was only ever I’m sad, I always just listen sic, says that music is one thing

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that helps him to improve his relationship with himself. He says that music helped to give him a sense of purpose.

“Music really saved my life, because of the polio,” Zimmerman says. “It would have been easy for me to kind of give up and become… a hood; some[one] like that, that lived off welfare, and didn’t have a job, or played in pool tables all night long and things like that. But music really

photo by: Clara Morse

saved my life.”

For East, he has a passion for jazz bands and played both jazz piano and jazz saxophone in high school; during and after college, he worked and played with many different types of bands, from jazz bands to Top-40 Pop cover bands.

Natalie Dezso, a LASA freshman, avid musiclistener, and member of the LBJ band, enjoys the sun at Thundercloud Subs.

However, he always knew he wanted to become a band teacher.

“I went to school knowing that I wanted to learn how to play jazz better once I got there, but I also knew that I wanted to learn how to teach,” East says.

“My parents and mentors told me, ‘Well, I would pick what you would want to do even if it didn’t necessarily pay a lot of money,’ and teaching music was that for me.”

In Zimmerman’s case, he did not originally realize that he wanted to be an orchestra conductor. He was originally planning to be a music teacher, but then in college he experienced something which he says changed his life.

“My trumpet teacher [in

photo by: lbjband.com

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college] told me that I should audition for the orchestra, which I didn‘t particularly want to do but I did anyway,” Zimmerman says with a nostalgic and dreamy tone. “And I got in… I had never heard an orchestra before in my

people in their community, and that’s what I have learned… jazz musicians care about each other, they care about playing it well every time, they care about improving what’s going on.”

Both Dezso and Zimmerman say that the social aspect of music was important. And although East plays primarily in smaller bands and as a music teacher, he agrees.

He also says that music is a way for him to meditate and become present.

“Music helps me become present in the moment of what’s happening,” East says. “[Music] is a very connecting experience. You feel more connected to yourself, who

“Musicians care about each other, they care about playing it well every time, they care about improving what’s going on.” life before I sat in one. And when I first heard the orchestra and all those strings I knew that I… wanted to be an orchestra conductor.”

East says that the music of jazz has a special draw, but is not the most important thing to him. Throughout history one of the most important aspects of the music has been that of community, and it is similar for East. He says that he thinks that the jazz community is an important and special one that makes him feel at home.

“[The jazz] community cares for each other and that community deeply cares about the value of what they’re doing,” East says. “They care deeply about what they’re doing and the

you are, you feel more connected to the people around you because you’re all there experiencing it at the same time. Music, for me, is one of those things that helps to connect me to the rest of the people, the rest of the planet, everything, for that matter, if it’s done right [laughs].”

Dezso says that for her, music is a way to unwind after a long day. She says that it would be ‘awesome’ to be a musician, but that she probably won’t be able to.

“[Playing guitar has] become like a stress reliever, really,” Dezso says, laughing. “I’ll come home from school and just for 10 or 15 minutes play guitar and just relax. And then I start homework.”

Zimmerman says that music in his life served many purposes, but mainly it helped him to become a better person. photo by: “I think music has a way lbjband.com to open up your soul, or at least it did mine.” Zimmerman says. “I don’t know how else to put it, because I can’t express that feeling in words… There’s purely instrumental music, where it’ll touch me and I’ll just weep like a baby. I don’t know why. Maybe I don’t need to know why.” ♪

Students eat lunch and talk in the LBJ band hall. Music can often bring people together, East says.

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Most Popular Instruments



Front lid

Straight side

Lid prop

Music desk

Main lid Fall board

Keys

Leg Leg ferrule

Key slip

Caster

Soft pedal

Lyre

Bent side Lyre brace

Damper pedal (sustain) Sostenuto pedal

Photo provided by Google Images

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Music shelf

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usical instruments are a popular way of creating music. The most commonly played instruments are the piano and guitar, both dating back to around the 17th century. Detailed photos of both instruments with parts labelled will give everyone, musician or not, a general idea of the two most popular instruments.

by Jenny Lu

 Headstock

Tuning machines

Frets

Neck

Fretboard

Upper bout Sound hole Body Rosette Lower bout

Soundboard

Saddle

Bridge pins Bridge

Photo provided by Google Images

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Music in

Chi dren

by Jenny Lu

M

usic is a ubiquitous presence in our lives.

If you’re watching a movie, there’s music; in a commercial, there’s music; walking through the mall, you’ll hear music: it’s everywhere. Although it can mean different things to various people, music is something that has proven to be universally impactful. Children, in particular, can be prone to be impacted by music in a distinct way that can alter the course of their futures. Studies, such as the one done by Susan Hallam for the International Journal of Music Education, have shown that active engagement with music at a young age can induce cortical reorganization, which may functionally change the way a brain processes information.

Three contrasting perspectives have provided insight on the implementation of music in children’s lives based on their personal experiences with music. Despite their differences, a - Robert music professor, orchestra director, and high school student all spoke about the topic of music with passion.

Music’s significance can differ between

people. Robert Duke, who is the head of the department of music and human learning at the University of Texas, director of the research center for music learning at UT, and director of a psychology of learning program at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, says that music is a universal human behavior that has not changed through the history of human evolution.

“Music is a remarkable phenomenon in human culture because like many art forms, it can elicit human emotions in a way that allows people who are listeners, and even people who are performers to experience human emotions that they might not otherwise experience in their day to day lives,” says Duke.

These elicited emotions can also lead to inspiration.

For Claire Rudy, a freshman at McCallum High School, music is a source of just that. Music incites her to feel a wide range of Duke influential emotions, from empowered to peaceful, that shape her personality.

“Even when I play music myself, I feel as if I

“Music is wonderful, really, if I believed in magic, I would say it’s

magical”

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Photo provided by Robert Duke

Robert Duke works with students both at UT Austin and the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles.

Photo provided by Luzvic Backstrom

Luzvic Backstrom has been teaching music since she was 16 years old.

can contribute to putting art into our world,” says Rudy.

Music is also a source of opportunity, according to Luzvic Backstrom, who grew up in Venezuela. Growing up, economic status can often be what defines your future, but Backstrom observed that music was a source of respite from that. Music gives children everywhere the chance to become someone.

“That is super huge, and has a big impact on the society back in my country because everybody’s so proud of what their kids have become thanks to music,” says Backstrom, who is the orchestra director at Lyndon Baines Johnson High School.

Developing a musical skill, or any skill for that matter, can change the way a child thinks.

When one learns how to refine a skill, the ability to adapt and focus is honed. What’s special about music in particular is that it teaches one how to discipline oneself, and also allows one to think critically, creatively, and freely. One is given the ability to express themselves when playing music.

“The fact that [the skill] happens to be something as wonderful as music makes it that much more special, but I think the thing that children have when they learn to make music, is they learn a way of focusing and paying attention and expending effort in a way that I think most activities don’t afford

Photo provided by Claire Rudy

High school student Claire Rudy plays both the flute and oboe.

children,” says Duke.

Learning to repeatedly practice something over and over builds up patience in a child. Many of Backstrom’s students have observed that the most common thing for a music teacher to say is ‘do it again,’ or some variation of that phrase.

Through doing it again and again, children learn to make wiser decisions by reflecting on an action before actually doing it, says Backstrom. This is a widely applicable quality of music that Backstrom wishes more people realized.

“Once you develop that sense, it’s just beautiful,” says Backstrom. “I’m a true believer that we would have a better world if everyone knew that.”

According to Duke, whenever one works hard at something and finally accomplishes what they have been working so hard for, it is a wonderful experience. As a young musician, Duke felt a great deal of satisfaction every time he was able to accomplish something for himself. Music study is full of these experiences. Duke holds these experiences to such a high importance that for his grandchildrens’ birthdays, he asks them to learn how to play a piece for him.

“That’s my gift, and it is a gift: It’s not just something I’m doing because they’re kids and they need some incentive, but I’m sincere about that,” says Photo provided by Google Images

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Duke. “I want them to think about being able to make music is now something that you can share with other people in a way that is rewarding to them.”

Rudy, who is a young musician herself, also experiences this satisfaction. She participates in marching band, and was able to see all of her classmates feel the joy of creating something they could be proud of at the end of the season. This beneficial aspect of music applies to instructors too.

“The fact of doing music and creating things with kids has been incredibly rewarding,” says Backstrom. “Once you see the final products, the sensation, the feelings of accomplishment you see in the kids is something that is completely priceless.”

These accomplishments can be shared with friends, family, and more, and can, last for a child, far into the future. According to Duke, even if a child doesn’t wish to pursue a professional career in music, music can still be a part of one’s life. Duke

does not want children to be discouraged from developing a musical skill just because it seems like there aren’t any benefits to be reaped. In anyone’s future, one can play for their children, or friends at a party: A musical skill can be a way to emotionally release oneself, or to just have fun. According to both Duke and Backstrom, music is something that resonates in life.

“I think that your years of experience on your instrument is something that no one can take away from you,” says Backstrom. “That’s a part of who you are.”

Music is not only about what can be accomplished, but it is also about bringing people together. Rudy says many of her friendships and memories would not be the same if it weren’t for music. She is an example of what Duke, throughout his long career of teaching music, has seen: Many students accomplish things as young musicians, then get introduced to a whole new community of people who they can connect with, and make music

Approximately half of surveyed parents say their children have taken music lessons in the last 12 months (Pew).

Photo provided by Google Images

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in magic,” says Duke.

And as Luzvic Backstrom says,

“

Quick Fact:

“

with.

“I could be in a place where I don’t even speak the language of the people that I’m spending time with, yet we can all get together and make music together,” says Duke. “I think all those human things about music that allow people to not only communicate, but actually collaborate with one another, is something quite special.”

Music is a powerful presence that can shape a child’s personality and future. It is a human behavior that has been engrained into the culture.

“Music is wonderful, really, if I believed in magic, I would say it’s magical, but I don’t believe

♪

Your heartbeat changes and mimics the music you listen to.

From an early age, music is one of the only activities that utilizes the entire brain.

Photo provided by Google Images

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-Ben Sutton Don’t wait! Rent or buy your own instrument today!

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While the percussion section technically includes timpani, the section contains various instruments that can be hit or rattled, including the bass and snare drums, cymbals, and a tambourine.

The trumpet section adds to the brass section with their bright, recognizable tone, and also plays the fanfare section of many symphonic pieces.

These are the timpani, singular being timpano. Orchestras can have anywhere from 4 to 8 timpani.

Orchestras can have anywhere from 1 to 3 harps. The harp is usually featured in soft moments, accompanying higher strings and woodwinds, but also works at the opposite end of the spectrum. A glissando from the harp every now and then adds a special, almost magical tone to the orchestra.

This is the 2nd violin section.

They will sometimes play melodies, but will mostly harmonize the melody and play countermelodies. Often they will play melodies an octave lower than the 1st violins.

The symphony orchestra is one of the largest musical groups, and also one of the most respected institutions.

Orchestras may not have this specific layout, as the arragements of instruments might be shifted slightly, but the general shape stays the same. Layout is from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

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This is the 1st violin section. The violin’s lowest note is a G below the treble staff. They play the higher-ranged music and the melodies.

This specific violin is the 1st chair violin, or the concertmaster. The concertmaster helps serve as the assistant to the conductor, as well as helping tune the orchestra by playing an “A (open string)� before every rehearsal and concert.

This is the entire woodwind section, consisting of bassoons, clarinets, flutes, and oboes. Having a more “thin� sound than the brass section, their sound fits well into the higher-stringed instruments and adds a lighter tone to the orchestra.

Trombones and tubas will often have similar parts, and thus are grouped together.

Since the trombone has a slide mechanism, the instrument is capable of producing glissandos. Otherwise, the trombone usually accompanies the strings and winds and sounds an octave below the trumpet.

The tuba, famous for being one of the lowest instruments in the orchestra, plays bass lines.

A very unique instrument, the french horn (or just horn) complements the brass section by adding a natural, mellow sound.

The horn’s bell faces away from the audience, often making it more difficult for the instrument to be heard, but professional musicians have no problem making it around this disadvantage.

The largest stringed instruments in the orchestra, the bass section plays the bass line and ostinatos (repeated figures), keeping time in the large ensemble.

This is the cello section. They also play melodies and countermelodies, beloved for their rich, mellow tone akin to a viola, but lower. Low register woodwinds such as the bass clarinet and the bassoon will often be heard with cellos.

The conductor is represented with a baton, which he conducts with. She/he also selects the music that the orchestra will play in the concert, and decides how the music will be played.

These are the violas. Music for violas is written in alto clef, with means that the centerline of their staff is a C note, instead of a B with treble clef. They play lowerrange melodies, countermelodies, and often are heard with mid or low level woodwinds and brass.

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“It’s movie music, it’s video game music, it’s the type of music you get really excited about,” -Claire Trowbridge

CINEMATIC MAGIC

by Sanjay Pandiri

Based in Austin, the Cinematic Symphony explores movie music’s impact on the masses and on the members.

It’s a fairly warm Tuesday evening outside of a small middle school band hall. People trickle through faded blue double doors into the space. As the doors swing open, sounds of saxophones, flutes, trumpets, and horns are briefly at prominence, before becoming muted along with the closing of the doors. One might associate this atmosphere with your typical, run

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of-the-mill middle school band. But members of this particular group would say that this ensemble is far from ordinary, even in Austin terms.

The Austin Cinematic Symphony (which will be abbreviated as the ACS) is a volunteer-driven performing ensemble in Austin, Texas.

As per their title, the group only plays movie scores, as well as television show and video game scores.

Rehearsals are from 7:30 to 9:30 on Tuesday evenings as mentioned earlier, which prepare them for concerts, given three to five times a year in differing venues. Members of this ensemble are not paid, but do have to pay a fifteen dollar membership fee in order to help pay for concerts.

“I always used to listen to movie scores,” says Claire Trow-

bridge, assistant band director at Kealing Middle School (in Austin) and clarinet player in the ACS. “I would get the soundtrack to Star Wars, or the next John Williams soundtrack.”

Trowbridge joined the group while she was still in college, and kept performing with them after she graduated.

“I chose clarinet because my name’s Claire, so it wasn’t that much of a noble musical reason,” Trowbridge said. “I really liked singing in elementary school, and all that.”

In their most recent concert, the symphony performed music from Star Wars. Members of the group generally agree that it was their hardest concert, and the most challenging music yet. According to Trowbridge, concerts are usually given in the performing arts centers of various high schools, such as Anderson High School or Austin High.

The performances can typically draw audiences of over a hundred people, at the most.

“I think it’s very, like, remi-

People featured- Nathan Foxley, euphonium player, Shelly Eager, clarinet player, Jesus Torres, conductor. niscing, like people are like, ‘Oh yeah, I remember that movie, it was great!’, Trowbridge said when asked about what she thought about when performing a concert. “Band pieces are really exciting pieces and really awesome, but they don’t have the same, like, ‘I saw that movie! I love that movie!,’ you know, they don’t have the same emotional connection.”

The symphony will often also rehearse pieces that aren’t as mainstream as say, Jurassic Park or Jaws. An example is American Tail, which is a movie about a Russian mouse that moves to America.

“Sometimes I’m like, ‘Man, this movie is awesome, I’m going to go see this movie now,’” Trowbridge says. “It’s usually the movies I’ve already seen, so like Jaws, or like Star Wars or Jurassic Park that I realize more of the genius of the score.”

Jesus Torres is the artistic director of the Cinematic Symphony, and is also a band director at East

View High School in Georgetown.

He first heard about the symphony about six years ago in 2010, when they were in need of a conductor.

“I came and I auditioned, and they asked me to stick around,” Torres said. “The audition process is just to make sure that you can actually play your instrument. There are people in the world who, you know, think they can just join a band.”

According to Torres, one of his goals is to grow an audience, which they can only do through memorable performances of good music. He says that he wants for the audience to want to come back and hear them again, which is something most local Austin bands would wish for their audiences to do.

Most people in this group did not know each other before they joined the group, which is

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typical of most large concert bands or orchestras. After rehearsals or concerts, members of the band will often socialize, and by socialize, according to Trowbridge, is to share little anecdotes of what happened during their band classes, or what kids were troublemakers.

Since many of the members of the symphony are band directors or private lesson teachers or just music majors, many of them will be inclined to take something away from performing or rehearsing with the symphony and apply that to their own teaching. “We’ll often go out afterward and just talk band, because that’s really all band directors do. Trowbridge said. “Sometimes I don’t talk about band, sometimes.”

The music that is performed in the symphony could very well be a piece that is performed for a concert in a high school band or orchestra, the only difference being in the time that is needed to prepare the pieces. This has impacted both Trowbridge and Torres, as they are both band directors.

“I really hope that [the kids] will find their way of continuing to do music in some way, Trowbridge says. “Whether it’s singing in a church choir, or just doing something. Or just listening to music all the time.”

The Austin Cinematic Sym-

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The Cinematic Symphony rehearses at Fulmore Middle School in Austin, Texas. Photo courtesy of timpanist, and of the Cinematic Symphony Facebook Page.

phony is an example of the diversity of the music scene in Austin.

While other cities boast flute choirs, brass quartets, and percussion duos, a cinematic symphony of this caliber is difficult to find elsewhere.

“I had been living in Texas for a couple of months and was looking for an opportunity to keep playing in a band,” says Nathan Foxley, a web developer and euphonium player in the Cinematic Symphony. “After I went, the director was fantastic, the group sounded good, and I enjoyed it, so I kept going.”

Foxley grew up outside of Austin, in Idaho. He went to college in Idaho and moved to the University of Cincinnati for his master’s degree in music theory.

“I think that Austin is really unique in that there’s live music, and bands will come through,” says Foxley. “I did go to college in Idaho. I think that there’s a strong classical scheme there, but not many bands come through.”

Also mentioned earlier, the Cinematic Symphony is an entirely profit-driven ensemble. Donations and fundraisingevents will often be held at concerts, in order to help pay for music. According to Trowbridge, fundraiser events will also be held at random times, with proceeds going towards the ensemble. In order to obtain the rights to play original John Williams or James Horner

music, the ensemble must pay a fairly sizeable amount, according to Trowbridge.

She also says that other community groups don’t have to go through this process, which is another fact that makes the symphony unique.

Sometimes, an arrangement of a piece will simply not exist. Either only the audio will exist, or it is arranged for maybe a string orchestra, or a solo piano, or something else that is not in a concert band format. Therefore, donations will also go towards paying an arranger, that will arrange the music for the ensemble. According to Torres, they will have often have different arrangers depending on the type of piece or the situation that other arrangers are in. Torres says that this is another situation that makes the symphony unique, because they have a vast pool of resources to find music, but it all must be created for them ahead of time by the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) which does many arrangements of popular movie music, or on the spot by their personal arranger. Many other ensembles cannot claim that they must do this as well.

As mentioned earlier by Torres, the audition process is extremely minimal. Many members of the symphony did not major in music in college, and are graphic design-

ers, web developers, architects, or rehearse. While Trowbridge lives teachers of other subjects. “I think rather close to Lamar Middle School, that this particular symphony calls many members do not. According out to people, because it’s really, to her, some group members come like really fun music,” says Trowfrom as far as San Antonio. bridge. “It’s movie music,

“It’s kind of a unique group. it’s video game music, it’s There’s no other group that kind of the music that you really does that, which is why get really excited about.” people travel from so far

Currently, the away,” Trowbridge says.

Symphony has about Like all conductors, fifty-two members, which is the highTorres is always searchest that the member ing for opportunities count has ever been to help propel their group. according to Torres. The Better resources, more muCinematic Symphony Logo amount of dedication Courtesy of Cinematic Symphony sic, and, stated bluntly, just that the members of the Website more money in general, can symphony have to the help a band spread their symphony is apparent in influence around Austin to how far some people travel to

Photo from Cinematic Symphony Facebook Page. Cinematic Symphony clarinet section rehearses for an upcoming concert.

ers is something that will drive up the audience’s opinion of the ensemble.

“It’s fun to be good at stuff,” Torres said. “When you really start to chase excellence in one thing, it becomes really easy to do it in another thing, and then it becomes easier to do it in another thing, and then eventually you just want to be great at everything.”

The Symphony has had a

profound impact on most of the people who are in the symphony, including the conductor Jesus Torres as well. In the grand scheme of things, the symphony, albeit a large group, will be alongside the rest of the bands vying for attention, or us.

The decisions that are made by the growing Austin music enthusiast population directly impact the fate of every band. But, in the end, the current members of the symphony couldn’t care less about the numbers.

“I’ll stay in this group as long

a greater extent. Some examples of some things that Torres would like to do are performing with a choir, hiring professional musicians to play with them, or give a concert in the Long Center, where the Austin Symphony plays.

“The sky’s the limit, if you dream big,” Torres said.

Although the Cinematic Symphony won’t be featured at say, ACL or SXSW, there are still ways to exert a powerful force on the Austin community, like what the Austin Symphony Orchestra or other popular bands have done. According to Torres, improving the musicianship, the technical accuracy, and achieving the most expressive playing of play-

as it’s, you know, around, and convenient enough,” Trowbridge said.

“I like going, and I’m pretty sure the director would kill me if I quit.

I’m pretty sure that would happen.”

♪ 31

Top 10 Songs of

2015

Our music has changed dramatically and branched out over the generations of people who listen to the radio or go to concerts. Of course, we’ve had our fair share of bad songs or a long period where no good songs would be played, or even mentioned. I’ve listed some of the best songs of 2015.

10.

Name: Cheerleader Artist: OMI

9.

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Though the Trumpet playing in the entire course of the song is catchy, “Cheerleader” by OMI is not a good a song as it may seem.

Its chorus is somewhat good, but it could still use some work due to it being very repetitive. This song also keeps a low tone and uses a small range of notes.

Even with these reasons, Cheerleader is one of the best songs that was made in 2015 because of its catchy tune.

Name: Sugar Artist: Maroon 5 “Sugar” by the band “Maroon 5” is a love song that was extremely popular in the beginning of 2015, mostly because of the music video that was made for it, where Maroon 5 made its way to different weddings and did a surprise performance of the song as a congratulations.

8.

Name: Stressed Out Artist: Twenty One Pilots

7.

6.

“Stressed Out” by TwentyOne pilots is a song describing how life used to be without stress or worries, but now their lives only consist of work and school and other activitys that are time- consuming.

People enjoy this song because, at least once in our lives, we have experienced this kind of lifestyle.

Name: Hello Artist: Adele

Adele’s “Hello” has made it to one of the greatest songs of 2015, and the music video hs reached over 1 billion views. It is described by many people as “the greatest song of 2015” or they say “I can’t stop listening to this song!” It is a great song, but could still use some work, or there could be some better songs she could make.

Name: Watch Me Artist: Silento Well known by most people, “Watch Me” by “Silento” is a song with a popular dance, similar to the “Cupid Shuffle.” Its music video has over 795 million views, and almost every time it is played at a dance or club it is guaranteed that someone can imitate the dance (commonly called “Whip/ Nae Nae”).

5.

Name: Uptown Funk Artist: Mark Ronson

4.

Name: Trap Queen Artist: Fetty Wap

3.

In the top 30 most viewed music videos on YouTube, “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson is one of the most popular songs in 2015. It is more of a throwback to the 70’s, but it still manages to keep up with its pop category. Most adults enjoy this song, even though it is not a part of their generation!

As one of the best rap songs of 2015, “Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap comes in on number 4 because of its catchy tune and rhymes.

It is well known among teenagers, and occasionally adults. It is still listened to by people today, but it isn’t as common as other popular rap songs.

Name: See You Again Artist: Wiz Khalifa ft.

Charlie Puth As a part of the soundtrack for the movie “Furious 7” “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth is a roller coaster ride between rap and R&B. It has been heard and sung by many people and still continues to touch people’s hearts today.

2.

1.

Name: Ex’s and Oh’s Artist: Elle King “ Ex’s and Oh’s” by Elle King is part break- up song, part love song. It tells about how she has dated many men, and how her relationships do not last long. The song is well known for its tune and its popularity among most people, and is sung or hummed by many people since the song came out.

Name: Like I’m Gonna Lose You Artist: Meghan Trainor Being the best song considered on this list, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by Meghan Trainor and John Legend is A love song that has struck the hearts of millions of people and makes a perfect mood for a love song. Its melody is brilliant, the lyrics are brilliant, and the song overall is amazing. That is why this song comes in first on this list.

With these great songs that came out in 2015 and our current year of 2016, this shows that our shows aren’t getting worse, they’re getting better, and we can only and only improve from there. I hope that we do not plateau as we have in the past with our music, and that we make more and more songs that are similar to the ones shown on this list.

By: Ryan Edgar 33

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Austin: The Center of Music

by Ryan Edgar

Poster from the 2010 South by Southwest music festival. Credit to cargocollective.com

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It’s a sunny afternoon in Austin, also known as the Live Music Capital of the World, and citizens begin to line up in front of a local concert hall.

Some are talking with their friends, others are chanting or holding signs. When they are finally let in, fans file into seats or stand near the stage and jam out to their favorite artist live!

Incoming citizens are common-- its population is almost 2 million people, and is still growing every day.

Some come for tours of their favorite pop stars or country bands, such as the Randy Rogers band and Kevin Fowler (2). Others come to pursue a career leading a band or writing music at UT Austin.

Events Are very popular for newcomers from other towns like south by southwest ot austin city limits.

One of the many bands that played during south by Southwest, “The Ugly beats,” is a band that still plays music today. One member of the band, Janine Attaway, has been in the band for years and personally enjoys the experience Attaway also teaches children to play the piano while holding practice for the Ugly Beats at her house.

“It has always been consuming-- I teach so its my job,” Says Attaway. “I learn more every year about all different kinds of music from my students! I also play in the band which is super duper fun because I get to travel to different states and countries and hear bands

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from all over!”

Bands originate from Austin a lot more than most places.

Austin is known as the Live Music capital of the world because many bands who play blues, indies rock, and pop got their start there such as Willie Nelson and Janis Joplin. Austin is a hub for both pop and country which have a huge amount of variations and creates a large number of opportunities for indie bands(1). Most people are experienced with instruments by their adulthood because of their lessons and experience as a child. Lots of bands are

formed by interests among 3 to 5 people “The Ugly Beats.”

Many musical events take place in Austin. Some of these include SXSW (South

by Southwest) is one of the greatest Austin events of of any musical in America.

It started in 1987 by Louis Black and Ronald Swenson because of another popular music festival that took place in New York. Performances during this festival this year consisted of Azul, April Red, and TEEN. President Obama was also a Keystone Speaker During SXSW. Woodstock is another Austin Concert that

The Foo fighters album: Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace. Credit to www.musiclipse.com.

This is the Mueller dome, in Austin. Credit to en.wikipedia.org.

is the most famous concert ever but in 2015, only 400,000 people attended it.

Attendance has ranged from 400,000 to almost 800,000.

Another event that takes place in Austin is called Austin City Limits. ACL started in 2002 and takes place annually in Zilker park. The festival began from the creators of the PBS show of the same name and has been on for more than 10 years. Celebrities that have attended this event consist of the “Foo Fighters,” “The Weekend,” Royal Blood,” Drake, and many more. In 2015, 122 bands and artists performed in Austin City Limits, and more than 450,000 people attended the event. Basic Concerts and tours for rock stars, pop artists and more are also popular events for the people in Austin.

Austin also has many places where bands perform at bars and restaurants. In fact it is common to get live music with your meal at area restaurants. A few examples include Antone’s Nightclub, where Stevie Ray Vaughn played, Threadgills, made famous by Janis Joplin, the Broken Spoke and the Backyard, where Willie Nelson played, and many others. And though It is a popular thing to do as a band, and ultimately makes a band more noticeable to other people.

John Carpenter, a member of the band “Turn About,” comes every week to Fast Eddie’s , a restaurant in Round Rock, to

perform with his band.

“I don’t officially play at one restaurant, I play at multiple bars as well,” says John, “it’s been much more convenient.”

Austin’s musical culture is noted by many people today, and it is what causes the rise in population. Austin will to grow and produce new events and new incoming citizens, and more and more people will enjoy the uniqueness of the Austin area and its many places to see and enjoy. Austin will forever be known as the live music capital of the world, and no other places on Earth can compare.

This is a poster for the band, “The Arctic Monkeys”, a band that played during SXSW. Credit to www.flickr.com.

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Austin’s capital building. Credit to stewartsteve.devanart.com.

This is an Austin City Limits enterance, in southern Austin. credit to no.wikipedia.org

This is the Paramount Theatre, a old theatre where plays, musicals, movies, and concertsd are performed. Credit to www. flickr.com

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