Etudes, why?

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Etudes?

 
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Tom Holtz
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Post by Tom Holtz »

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Brucom
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Post by Brucom »

It's never a waste of time to laugh.

Here's another of my favorite threads:

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Mark

Post by Mark »

Wow, this topic has really taken off. There is just one thing I need to ask. Something that has been bothering me. What is an etude?
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windshieldbug
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Post by windshieldbug »

Mark wrote:What is an etude?
An attitude, but with less atti
Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?
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SplatterTone
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Post by SplatterTone »

I'm not a fan of etudes either. Not because I don't think there is value in them, but because I don't like them. Instead, I try to find pieces of music that serve essentially the same purpose while providing more interest.

However, there is one area of music where the "etude" (note the quotes) is essential, I think, and that is improvisation. In improvisation, the conscious mind sets the direction and subconscious does it. The subconscious -- with some direction from the conscious mind -- reaches into its bag of tricks that have been learned over time and executes that trick. These tricks are perfected by repetition of informal "etudes". For example, on keyboard (since that is where my improvisation is proficient), these could be scales in parallel octaves, thirds, and sixths; sixths with one hand; various arpeggios; stride bass; etc.

Although most musicians might associate the etude with classical music, I've a feeling that informal "etudes" are much more common in jazz.
(But I suppose it sort of depends on how broad or narrow your definition of etude is.)
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SplatterTone
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Post by SplatterTone »

SplatterTone, Im confused by your statement
Yeah, I'm confused too. Like I was watching Star Wars, and there's that great big Yoda guy holding the dancer girl on the chain; and Obi Wan is frozen in carbonite over against the wall; when in comes what appears to be a bounty hunter who actually turns out to be Princess Amidala; and over in the corner is Anakin "Spuds" Skywalker babbling something about how a Jedi must give up love and cute, perky Naboobies. And I'm watching this stuff and saying: What the hell?! This isn't right! Where's Bart Simpson? He's not here! Bart should be here! Terribly confusing, to say the least.
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