Listening
The Bass Line Beneath the Melody: What It Adds to a Song
Learn how a bass line shapes a song’s pulse and harmonic direction, with a focused listening exercise for hearing it…
All the listening
All pieces
Browse writing on the sounds, craft and shared culture of local music. Each piece starts with a distinct question and gives you a fresh way to listen.
Songcraft
Lyric Sheet or First Listen? Two Routes into a New Song
Lyric sheet or first listen? Compare both ways into a new song and learn what each makes easier to hear, from vocal…
Music Scenes
How Sheet Music Carried Songs Between Homes
Learn how sheet music carried songs between homes, with a clear look at notation, informal sharing, and the local…
Recording
The Demo Is Not a Smaller Finished Record
A demo should communicate the song’s central idea, not imitate a polished record. Learn what to capture, what to leave…
Instruments
A Listening Session Built Around One Instrument
A listening session around one instrument helps you hear entrances, pauses, and changes across three familiar tracks…