Introduction to Notation Systems: Difference between revisions

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==Objectives==
==Objectives==


*Students will be familiar with and understand the basic concepts of guitar tablature, lead sheet notation, braille music notation, and electronic notation formats such as Standard MIDI File and MusicXML.
*Student will be able to critically assess the difference between an aural cue and its visual representation
*Student will learn the definitions of etic vs. emic; prescriptive vs. descriptive notations
*Student will be able to identify the emic/etic and descriptive/prescriptive aspects of various notations
*Student will assess the functionality of different notation system(s) according to specific goals (i.e. performativity vs. representation)
*Student will be familiar with various notation systems and the main sonic aspect they represent, notably: guitar tablature, lead sheet notation, braille music notation, and electronic notation formats such as Standard MIDI File and MusicXML.


==Resources==
==Resources==
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*C. Rowbury, [https://blog.chrisrowbury.com/2010/10/song-is-not-sheet-music.html "The song is not the sheet music!"] (''From the Front of the Choir'' Blog, 2010)
*C. Rowbury, [https://blog.chrisrowbury.com/2010/10/song-is-not-sheet-music.html "The song is not the sheet music!"] (''From the Front of the Choir'' Blog, 2010)
*C. Rowbury, [https://blog.chrisrowbury.com/2011/02/using-sheet-music-to-teach-and-learn.html "Using sheet music to teach and learn songs: the Pros and Cons"] (''From the Front of the Choir'' Blog, 2011)
*C. Rowbury, [https://blog.chrisrowbury.com/2011/02/using-sheet-music-to-teach-and-learn.html "Using sheet music to teach and learn songs: the Pros and Cons"] (''From the Front of the Choir'' Blog, 2011)
*[http://globalnotation.org.uk/specifying-the-information-you-want/ "Specifying the information you want."] (''Global Notation'' Website, 2020)
*[http://globalnotation.org.uk/specifying-the-information-you-want/ "Specifying the information you want."] (''Global Notation'' Website, 2020)<br />


<u>''Histories of Western Notations''</u>
<u>''Histories of Western Notations''</u>
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*V. Williams. [https://www.mymusictheory.com/reference/345-the-evolution-of-music-notation "The Evolution of music notation."] (''My Music Theory'' Blog)
*V. Williams. [https://www.mymusictheory.com/reference/345-the-evolution-of-music-notation "The Evolution of music notation."] (''My Music Theory'' Blog)
*D. Hall, [http://davidhall.io/visualising-music-graphic-scores/ "The Art of Visualizing Music."]
*D. Hall, [http://davidhall.io/visualising-music-graphic-scores/ "The Art of Visualizing Music."]


''<u>Individual Notation Types</u>''
''<u>Individual Notation Types</u>''


*'''Western notations through history'''
*Western notations through history
**Chant Notation:
**Chant Notation(s)
**Rhythmic Modes
**Rhythmic Modes
**Protonotation: Shaffer et al. [http://openmusictheory.com/protonotation.html "Protonotation"] (''Open Music Theory'')
**Protonotation: Shaffer et al. [http://openmusictheory.com/protonotation.html "Protonotation"] (''Open Music Theory'')
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**[https://fasola.org/resources/ Sacred Harp Shape Note Singing]
**[https://fasola.org/resources/ Sacred Harp Shape Note Singing]
**Drum Notation: [https://web.archive.org/web/20131206152241/http://www.drumbook.org/drum-lessons/beginner-drums/drum-notation/ "Drum Notation."] (''Drum Book'' 2013)
**Drum Notation: [https://web.archive.org/web/20131206152241/http://www.drumbook.org/drum-lessons/beginner-drums/drum-notation/ "Drum Notation."] (''Drum Book'' 2013)
*'''Common popular music notations:'''
*Common popular music notations
**Jazz Chart Notation: [https://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/how-to-read-jazz-chords/ "How to read jazz chords and lead sheets."] (''Jazz Guitar Online'')
**Jazz Chart Notation: [https://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/how-to-read-jazz-chords/ "How to read jazz chords and lead sheets."] (''Jazz Guitar Online'')
**[http://www.jazzstudies.us][[Jazz Chord Charts|Jazz Chord Charts Database]]
**[https://www.howmusicworks.org/703/Playing-with-Chords/Slash-Chord-Notation Slash Notation]
**[https://www.howmusicworks.org/703/Playing-with-Chords/Slash-Chord-Notation Slash Notation]
**Nashville Notation: [https://guitarthinker.com/lessons/nashville-number-system "Nashville Number System."] (''Guitar Thinker'')
**Nashville Notation: [https://guitarthinker.com/lessons/nashville-number-system "Nashville Number System."] (''Guitar Thinker'')
*'''Tablatures''' (historical and worldwide):
*Tablatures (historical and worldwide):
**Guitar Tablature: "[https://www.musicnotes.com/now/tips/how-to-read-guitar-tabs/ Guitar Tab Explained."] (''Music Notes Now'' Blog)
**Guitar Tablature: "[https://www.musicnotes.com/now/tips/how-to-read-guitar-tabs/ Guitar Tab Explained."] (''Music Notes Now'' Blog)
**[https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com Ultimate Guitar Tabs]
**Chinese Gugin Tablature: [http://www.peiyouqin.com P. Chang "PeiyouQin"]
**Chinese Gugin Tablature: [http://www.peiyouqin.com P. Chang "PeiyouQin"]
*'''Other World Musics'''
*Other World Musics
**Ancient Greek notation (i.e. Epitaph of Seikilos: [[wikipedia:Seikilos_epitaph|Wikipedia Article]])
**Ancient Greek notation (i.e. Epitaph of Seikilos: [[wikipedia:Seikilos_epitaph|Wikipedia Article]])
**[http://www.gamelanbvg.com/gendhing/index.php Gamelan cipher notation]
**Javanese Gamelan cipher notation: [https://sumarsam.web.wesleyan.edu/Intro.gamelan.pdf Sumarsam: Introduction to Gamelan] (Piece database: [http://www.gamelanbvg.com/gendhing/index.php Gendhing Jawi: Javanese Gamelan Notation Database])
**[[wikipedia:Gongche_notation|Chinese Gongche Notation]]
**[[wikipedia:Gongche_notation|Chinese Gongche Notation]]
*'''Various modalities'''
*Various modalities
**Braille notation
**Braille notation
**MIDI signals  
**MIDI signals
**XML (or other computer-coded notations)
**XML (or other computer-coded notations)
**DAW visualizations
**DAW visualizations
**[[wikipedia:Dance_notation|Dance notation]]  
**[[wikipedia:Dance_notation|Dance notation]]
 


'''Tools'''
'''Tools'''


*[http://www.jazzstudies.us Jazz Chord Charts]
*[https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com Ultimate Guitar Tabs]
*[http://www.gamelanbvg.com/gendhing/index.php Gendhing Jawi: Javanese Gamelan Notation Database]
*[https://sumarsam.web.wesleyan.edu/Intro.gamelan.pdf Sumarsam: Introduction to Gamelan]
*[https://www.snoize.com/MIDIMonitor/ MIDI Monitor] (Software; Mac only)
*[https://www.snoize.com/MIDIMonitor/ MIDI Monitor] (Software; Mac only)
*[http://www.midiox.com MIDIOX] (Software; Windows only)
*[http://www.midiox.com MIDIOX] (Software; Windows only)
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==Notes==
==Notes==
[[Category:Fundamentals of Sound & Music]]
[[Category:Theory 1]]
[[Category:Notation]]

Revision as of 22:08, 16 July 2020

This lesson is part of the Fundamentals of Sound & Music module.

Objectives

  • Student will be able to critically assess the difference between an aural cue and its visual representation
  • Student will learn the definitions of etic vs. emic; prescriptive vs. descriptive notations
  • Student will be able to identify the emic/etic and descriptive/prescriptive aspects of various notations
  • Student will assess the functionality of different notation system(s) according to specific goals (i.e. performativity vs. representation)
  • Student will be familiar with various notation systems and the main sonic aspect they represent, notably: guitar tablature, lead sheet notation, braille music notation, and electronic notation formats such as Standard MIDI File and MusicXML.

Resources

Readings

Notation Explained

Histories of Western Notations


Individual Notation Types


Tools

Class Activities

  • Discussion and demonstration of different notation systems and their individual purposes, strengths and weaknesses
  • Transcription of a simple melody in guitar tablature (given fretboard diagrams) and braille music notation
  • Demonstration of the creation of various electronic notation formats
  • Demonstration of MIDI signals using MIDI monitor software
  • Listening and "quick" transcription of musical examples: compare to score and discuss differences based on notation's function.
  • In-class interpretation of various notations on different instruments.
  • If you have a Javanese gamelan: Have students perform from gamelan notation and illustrate non-written practices

Assignments

  • Notating short melodies in different notation systems
  • Transcription assignment: ask students to transcribe examples from various musical traditions with different aims and/or given different parameters (i.e. "notate the pitch parameter.")

Notes