New instruments illuminate music theory
Do you want to gain a fresh insight into musical instrument design and music theory? Do you build or use 21st-century musical instruments? If so, this series of articles is for you.
First, a disclaimer; "Jammer vs Piano" is a catchy phrase, but both instruments have merit; both challenge and reward the player. The jammer keyboard in no way diminishes the piano keyboard; this is a daughter/mother relationship. However, as a good Daughter should, I believe the jammer sheds light on some of the quirks of her Mother, the piano, and shows the incredible talent of pianists and organists.
With these postings, I hope to show tres-cool and unexpected things about new alternative musical instruments. The intent is to save you, fellow musician and instrument builder, a significant amount of fiddle, trouble and frustration. To let you what you are getting into, to progress more quickly, and avoid wandering blind alleys.
What I want to share with you
- First, I’ve developed and extensively tested a music-theory based alternative musical keyboard called a jammer, and worked out how to play it. The prototype plays well, with an ergonomic fingering system. Pieces in major keys have nearly all fast, easy fingerings, while minor pieces have a bit more challenging movements. Even ragtime, with many semi-tone jumps and chromatic scales, is playable.
- Second, most new musical keyboard designs use a consistent-interval (isomorphic) note and key pattern, making the new instrument easier to learn. However, a consistent pattern breaks some centuries-old unconscious musical assumptions. This, in turn, causes unexpected challenges, but ones we hope to work around and document for posterity. See: Part 5: Expecting the Unexpected
- Third, I am learning both the piano and jammer keyboards and taking notes comparing the two. I am working out simple ways to measure their relative play-ability, discovering what specific skills an alternative instrument player needs. Alas, I have near-zero musical talent so can’t directly demonstrate the differences between the two instruments by playing them.
- Fourth, I hope to use the results of step three, to create lessons focusing on crucial musical skills for the new instrument, creating training to teach the key areas where a novice needs help. These include proper jammer fingering of scales, arpeggios and chord progressions, reading the score, ear training via the new instrument, advice on what to focus on, and what traditions to ignore.
Please give feedback.
More to Come
__________________________________________
For more information, see these "Jammer vs Piano" articles:
Comments