Developing the ability to transcribe music that you hear
has obvious practical applications, but it is also one of the best
ways to sharpen your analytical listening skills. During the course of each
semester in MUS 112, 211 & 212, several
transcription exercises will be due as assignments. They are
found in Units 10,14 and 17, and titled "Examples from Music
Literature."
While these
examples are on your CD, it is usually easier to transcribe using a
cassette tape, which allows for easier starting/stopping.
Also, our lab is set up so you may hear the tape and the
synthesizer keyboard at the same time as long as you attach the
cables as directed below--not possible with the CD. The
"Examples from Music Literature" have been transferred to
cassette tapes, which are to remain in the cassette decks located in
the Beard Music Media Center. Please do not remove the
tapes from the lab. Thank you.
[Note:
If you plan to use the Beard Music Media Center simply to practice
ear training with the CD, that is fine. You will have to plug
the headphones into the rear of the computer, however, in order to
link to the sound card. Use the "green" jack.]
Unless you are blessed/cursed with so-called perfect
pitch, most students require the aid of a keyboard, or other
instrument, to assist in referencing pitches. The diagrams
below illustrate the connections which must be made in the Beard
Music Media Center to hear the cassette deck and the synthesizer at
the same time. These connections must be made before
transcription work begins in order to hear both sound sources
simultaneously.
NOTE: Hopefully,
you will NOT need to adjust the pitch of the synthesizer. In
all likelihood, the synth and tape deck will be matched closely
enough for transcription purposes. But if the pitch discrepancy is too severe to
manage, you may wish to adjust the pitch of the synthesizer to match
the tape before you begin working, as described below. If you do
adjust the pitch of the synthesizer, please return the pitch to the
original setting before you turn off the synthesizer.
Failing to do so may adversely impact the work of students in other
classes.
TO ADJUST THE PITCH OF THE SYNTHESIZER:
First, select the synth voice you wish to use:
Press the [Patch] button, then, make your selection by turning the
round Value Dial. PR-A 004 Nice Piano works well ...
Press
the [System] button.
Press [F2] Tune.
Use
the arrow keys to the right to move the cursor to the Master Tune
area, highlighting this setting. The default setting is 440.
To
raise or lower the pitch of the synth, use the round Value Dial.
Play
the tape and make adjustments in synth pitch until it is in tune
with the tape.
When you are done transcribing,
please return the Master Tune setting to 440. This is very
important! Thank you.
You may then press
the [Exit] button to leave that particular window.
REMINDERS:
When you are done working on
a transcription exercise, please be sure to:
-
Return the synth Master Tune setting to 440.
-
Turn off the cassette deck.
-
Return the various plugs to their normal
connections.
NORMAL CONNECTIONS
Please reconnect cables as outlined above after
using transcription connections.
CASSETTE DECK / SYNTH
TRANSCRIPTION CONNECTIONS
