Music Student 101

Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips

We are musicians, composers, engineers, teachers and students alike.
The path of a musician can be challenging and uncertain but it can also be enriching and great fun! This is the path we chose and we are here as your resource. Explore theory, history, ear training, technique, special topics and overall musicianship.

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161 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes161

Newest first

Dec 29, 2022 · 1 hr 30 min
118-Harmonic Progression Pt. 10 (Augmented 6th Chords)
On this episode, we will dig deeper into augmented sixth (+6) chords. We will discuss the difference between these chords and the standard augmented triad. We will discuss the three types: Italian, French and German. Then we will test our ears to see if we can identify them in a chord progression.
Nov 29, 2022 · 1 hr 23 min
117-Melodic Organization and Thematic Development
Once you've written a theme, or a main melody, there are a number of ways you can develop it and organize it into your overall piece. Repetition, transposition, expansion, contraction, augmentation, diminution, fragmentation, variation and melodic sequences are just a few of the many ways this can be achieved. Let's, listen!
Oct 28, 2022 · 1 hr 19 min
116-What Makes Scary Music Scary?
What makes scary music scary? We can only SPOOKULATE! Join us as we examine some well known scary scores in the classic music and cinematic genres. We will discuss some reoccurring themes, such as the dreaded "Dies Irae". We will discuss reoccurring intervals, such as the minor 2nd and the tritone. Grab your pop corn and maybe don't listen all by yourself. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Sep 30, 2022 · 1 hr 2 min
115-Music and Productivity
Does listening to music make you more productive? Does it elevate your mood and help you get through your chores. Many have asked this question. Many have researched the answer. Let us discuss!
Aug 28, 2022 · 1 hr 30 min
114-Form and Analysis Pt. 4-Rondo
Moving forward in our discussion of form and analysis, we will dig deep into the rondo form. We will listen to a popular example, Fur Elise, and yap about the form in real time. Ready your theory brains!
Jul 27, 2022 · 1 hr 20 min
113-Melodic Dictation Pt.5-Aeolian Mode
Melodic dictation, the act of transcribing and notating a melody by ear, is a crucial skill for a musician to cultivate. In this episode, we will focus on the Aeolian mode (a.k.a. the natural minor scale). Tune in and tune your ears!
Jun 28, 2022 · 53 min
112-Altered Chords Pt.3
Continuing our discussion from episode 106, we will find yet more ways to alter chords. We will listen to non-dominant, extended tertian chords. We will marvel at the common tone diminished chord. We will revisit linear chromaticism and reckon with the appoggiatura chord. Finally, we will ponder a few good simultaneities!
May 28, 2022 · 1 hr 1 min
111-Music and War
Musical instruments, compositions and techniques have served many purposes. Some were for communication, some for support and some for intimidation and the extraction of information. On this episode, we discuss music and war, from some of the earliest accounts to the modern era!
Apr 27, 2022 · 1 hr 51 min
110-Listener Compositions Pt.5
Once again, the students become the teachers! There's so much talent among our listeners, we simply must feature it. So, get ready to listen and discuss! This episode will feature the original music of: Treybien/Alex, Gerald P. David, Linda Felcone, Rev. Jack Ladybird, Adam Hayes, Kara Ciezki and Andersonlane
Mar 28, 2022 · 1 hr 38 min
109-Harmonic Progression Pt.9 (vii/IV, vii/iv, vii/VII)
Continuing where episode 98 left off, we will top off our ear training for secondary seven chords. We will listen how to tonicize the IV chord (in major and minor) and the VII chord in (minor). Then, we will test our ears with some chord progressions... a.k.a. Jeremy Torture!
Feb 28, 2022 · 1 hr 39 min
108-Reading Music Pt.2
Resuming from the previous episode, it's time to top off our discussion on reading music. We're going to take it back to the basics with the clefs, the lines and spaces of the staves, the notes they represent and some methods for grouping them. We'll also cover the notes and rests, their symbols, and the time values they represent. Finally, we'll cover some dynamics, tempo and form indicators that we may have missed in past episodes!
Jan 28, 2022 · 1 hr 31 min
107-Reading Music Pt.1
Reading music is a complex but essential skill for one who wants to learn and reproduce new melodies or songs. On this episode, we will discuss some tips and philosophies on how to approach reading and sight reading music. We will also share some of our own experiences and challenges in this endeavor.
Dec 28, 2021 · 1 hr 15 min
106-Altered Chords Pt.2
Continuing our discussion from episode 88, we will dig deeper into extended tertian harmonies from a theory perspective with the 9th, 11th and 13th chords. We will listen to chords with substituted 6ths and raised and flatted 5ths. We will discuss how they work in traditional, and in not so traditional, ways!
Nov 30, 2021 · 1 hr 37 min
105-Melodic Dictation Pt.4-Dorian Mode
Melodic dictation, the act of transcribing and notating a melody by ear, is a crucial skill for a musician to cultivate. In this episode, we will focus on the Dorian mode and some of the chords that compliment it. It has one small difference from the minor scale, or Aeolean mode. Let's listen!
Oct 28, 2021 · 1 hr 19 min
104-Studio Effects Pt.1
If you love to play music, you probably love the idea of recording. Once you plug in, or approach the microphone, you may find some of these effects to be a great help. With dynamics, such as compression, limiting and gate, you can tame your volume levels. With equalization (EQ), you can add or subtract frequencies to better shape your sounds. And with reverb, to can add depth and dimension to an otherwise sterile sound by adding the reflections that would otherwise occur in large spaces.
Sep 30, 2021 · 1 hr 18 min
103-Temperament
Today's most widely used tuning system is equal temperament. It sounds great to our ears. But it is a compromise! Musicians and mathematicians have always struggled finding tuning systems that didn't compromise the pure tones provided within the natural harmonic series. On this episode, we will discuss these struggles and the systems that arose from this effort: just tuning, Pythagorean tuning, meantone tuning, well temperament and equal temperament!
Aug 27, 2021 · 1 hr 25 min
102-Enharmonic Reinterpretation
Follow along as we delve into enharmonic spellings and reinterpretation and the various reasons why they are necessary. We will also demonstrate some great ways to use these reinterpretations for some snappy modulations to far away places!
Jul 28, 2021 · 1 hr 42 min
101-Listener Compositions Pt.4
It is time for us to give a listener to another round of fantastic listener compositions! They work hard, that we may listen hard! So let's listen! This episode will feature the original music of: Michael Chapman, Pasi Pasiaala, Dane Howard, Melody Brook Gibson, Adam House and Stefan Jacques
Jun 30, 2021 · 1 hr 42 min
100-Episode 100
This episode is truly a celebration of how far we've come on the show and how far you've come in the theory sequence! We will discuss songs we've written for our pets. We will catch you up with our own projects and talk about the future of the podcast! Finally, we will hear some outtakes from previous shows. Don't worry, it's still a family friendly episode thanks to my censor guitar!
May 25, 2021 · 1 hr 28 min
99-The Fully Diminished 7th Chord
We've almost said everything we can about the fully diminished 7th chord. ALMOST! In this episode we will explore this versatile chord and its many possibilities. We will hear it's use as a secondary leading tone chord (viiº7 of), as a modulatory technique, as a chain of viiº7 chords and as a counterpuntal element. Enjoy our chatter on this extraordinary chord!

Music Student 101

118-Harmonic Progression Pt. 10 (Augmented 6th Chords)

117-Melodic Organization and Thematic Development

116-What Makes Scary Music Scary?

115-Music and Productivity

114-Form and Analysis Pt. 4-Rondo

113-Melodic Dictation Pt.5-Aeolian Mode

112-Altered Chords Pt.3

111-Music and War

110-Listener Compositions Pt.5

109-Harmonic Progression Pt.9 (vii/IV, vii/iv, vii/VII)

108-Reading Music Pt.2

107-Reading Music Pt.1

106-Altered Chords Pt.2

105-Melodic Dictation Pt.4-Dorian Mode

104-Studio Effects Pt.1

103-Temperament

102-Enharmonic Reinterpretation

101-Listener Compositions Pt.4

100-Episode 100

99-The Fully Diminished 7th Chord