Introduction to the music course |
Watch also the following video:
The purpose of this course [Light] [Beginner] [Professional] [Notation] [Composition Light] [Composition Pro] [Drums and Percussion] [Guitar] [Choir] [Keyboard] [Soloist] Our music course is oriented around three specific objectives: The prime objective is to understand what music
is and how it can be communicated through a score. The majority
of signs, symbols and conventions of musical notation will be
explained. Pizzicato comprises tools to write a musical score. In
correspondence with the description of each tool, you will find
in this course the explanations of the musical concepts concerned
with this tool. Once you will have learned the first basics of
music, the second part of the course will let you apply them to
the reading of simple scores. You will learn how to locate the
notes on a musical keyboard. A series of progressive exercises
will enable you to improve your rhythmic ability. Finally, by
combining these two aspects, you will learn how to play scores. The third part of the course relates to the
musical composition. Pizzicato professional has a unique system
making it possible to learn how to compose by practice. It is
about a musical building set. You have musical blocks of various
forms and colors. By combining these blocks by a series of
progressive exercises, you will learn how to guide yourself by
your musical preferences. By going through the exercises, you
will be able to create your own musical blocks and you will learn
how to structure small musical sequences. This aspect of the
course is also addressed to the professional musician. He will
find a new approach of composition which he will be able to
exploit thanks to the musical library system. If you did not buy
the professional version, you will nevertheless be able to find
some interesting elements of this part of the course. You will be
able to execute some of the exercises by using the evaluation
version of the professional version. This mode is accessible by
the Program version/updates... item in the Pizzicato Options
menu. By clicking Pizzicato Professional (evaluation version),
you have access to most of the functions of the professional
version, except that you can neither save nor print your work. Material needed [Light] [Beginner] [Professional] [Notation] [Composition Light] [Composition Pro] [Drums and Percussion] [Guitar] [Choir] [Keyboard] [Soloist] On the level of the necessary material, the minimum is of
course a Macintosh (system X) or IBM compatible PC (with Windows 2000, XP, Vista or Windows 7) computer. If you want to
print your scores, a printer adapted to the computer will be
necessary. If you want to connect a musical keyboard, you will
need a MIDI interface or a sound card with the adequate cable.
With a good quality sound card or an external synthesizer
(Roland, Yamaha
), the sound result will reach a good
quality level. Here are some examples of configurations with
their advantages and disadvantages in the various parts of the
music course. Computer (Mac or PC with sound card
) or external sound module with MIDI interface. According to the type and quality of
the card or module, the universe of sounds opens up to
you. The majority of cards and modules available are
compatible with the General Midi format .This standard
guarantees that you will be able to listen to each
example and exercise of this course. You will be able to
execute without problem the composition exercises.
Without musical keyboard, you will be able to play simple
scores on the computer keyboard, with the accompaniment
generated by the sound card. The precision of the play on
the computer keyboard will be a function of the speed of
your computer. Same + musical keyboard and MIDI
interface In this case, there is no restriction
anymore. You will be able to work all the training
exercises and to execute everything in this course. PC without sound card The music course will be reduced to the
theoretical aspect, because you will not hear any sound
example. We advise you to acquire a sound card to be able
to benefit from all the music course aspects. Macintosh alone It contains a synthesizer which makes
it possible to listen to a score very correctly. You can
also use its keyboard to play directly with this
synthesizer. You will then be able to follow the full
music course. How to use this course? [Light] [Beginner] [Professional] [Notation] [Composition Light] [Composition Pro] [Drums and Percussion] [Guitar] [Choir] [Keyboard] [Soloist] No musical or software knowledge is necessary to start this course. You
only need to be motivated by learning music. Study this
course and make the practical exercises in the expected
sequence. With perseverance, you will end up controlling the
contents of this course. The covered subjects are the basics of
music and musical software. It is taught in a progressive way
in order to make training easier for you. This does not mean
that you will never encounter difficulties. Throughout the
reading of this course, take care to respect the following
points particularly: 1. Be sure to understand all
the words you read in this course If you hesitate over the meaning of
a word, consult the glossary included in the
documentation. The majority of words related to
music, software or Pizzicato are there. In the screen
documentation, new introduced words are frequently
coloured and underlined. By clicking on these words,
you directly reach the correct reference in the
glossary. The words have sometimes several different
meanings, be sure to take the definition which
applies. We also advise you to sometimes read
extracts of the glossary to test your good
understanding of the main words. 2. Execute the exercises and
the examples of each lesson These exercises are there to
balance theory and practice. They are designed so
that you can apply the theory and in this way
increase your understanding of the subject. Indeed,
it is by applying that you can test and reinforce
your understanding. 3. If you have difficulties,
come back to previous lessons Perhaps you did neglect words which
you did not understand? Perhaps you were too fast?
Perhaps you missed some steps? Go back to one or more
lessons before, until you are certain to understand
it well. Then continue. Some lessons are more
difficult than others. When you find a lesson that
seems more difficult to you, do not hesitate to read
it several times to increase your understanding. 4. If despite all this you feel
completely lost
Your case is not desperate! It is
not always easy to locate difficulties in which you
are. Contact us. We will help you to find a solution
to your difficulties. Perhaps we will be able to help
you by phone. Do not hesitate to contact us, our
purpose is that all Pizzicato customers must be
satisfied!