Just as the letter "E" dominates the English language, is there a single note that rules the musical world? In this video, pianist and hornist Robert Estrin tackles a fascinating viewer question. By breaking the answer down into rhythmic duration and acoustic pitch, Robert explains how standard time signatures crown the quarter note king, while the complex mechanics of orchestral string instruments, brass crooks, and transposing scores ultimately make the note "C" the blueprint of Western music.
"Well, the reason why this is so easy is that the most popular time signature is 4/4 time. It is so common, it is literally referred to as "common time." And what does it mean? It means there are four beats in a measure, and the quarter note gets one beat. So yes, rhythmically, the quarter note is the most popular, most common note in music. But the pitch is a little bit more complicated."...
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This video has been made from user requests. Be sure to post your comments, questions or requests on Robert's dedicated page:
https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/
DON'T FORGET: Robert now gives private online lessons and in-depth videos if you join his Patreon's program.
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He stood on the podium with David Oistrakh, turned standard practice upside down, and trained some of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. But Henri Temianka's ultimate masterpiece wasn't a piece of music—it was his life. In this video, we explore the jaw-dropping story of a legendary virtuoso, pedagogue, and conductor whose unique capacity to forge deep human connections allowed him to unlock his students' minds and pull off a miraculous wartime rescue.
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"So, what if I told you that a certain violinist had been concertmaster and associate conductor of the Scottish Orchestra, concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and founder of the Paganini Quartet and the California Chamber Symphony, giving over 500 concerts in the Southern California area?"...
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This video has been made from user requests. Be sure to post your comments, questions or requests on William's dedicated page:
https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/william/
DON'T FORGET: Prof. Fitzpatrick now gives private online lessons if you are interested.
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When you sit down to practice, are you focusing on the physical mechanics of your fingers, or are you actually listening to the sound coming out of the instrument? In this video, Robert Estrin breaks down the psychology of "external attentional focus." Learn why obsessing over internal mechanics causes rigid performances, and discover simple practice hacks to reset your "fresh ears" and build a deeper connection with your music.
PLEASE NOTE: if you are not interested in piano-related videos, take a minute to tell us your preferred instrument, so we will be sure to send information that's just right for you! Thank you!
"Of course, this can be very challenging for pieces you have been working on for a long time. It is easy to go on autopilot. Try to have "fresh ears" by intentionally bringing new ideas to your music—whether it's playing at a faster or slower tempo than usual, louder or softer, or experimenting with a different balance between the hands."...
Watch the Video
This video has been made from user requests. Be sure to post your comments, questions or requests on Robert's dedicated page:
https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/
DON'T FORGET: Robert now gives private online lessons and in-depth videos if you join his Patreon's program.
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As always, if you have any questions or need help, feel free to contact us. Just reply to this e-mail with your inquiries or requests.
Until next time... keep enjoying great music!
Sincerely,
Ryan Saranich
Owner
Virtual Sheet Music ®
https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com
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