|
General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
|
|
|
General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
|
In Reply to: Parent of Blind Adult seeks info about audio equip posted by ltstangel on December 18, 2014 at 23:35:17:
Hi-
This is just from my own perspective, and what your situation calls for might require a different approach.
But frankly I would be concerned that a conventional electronic keyboard, with its prepacked rhythms (beats) and songs, might be a little overwhelming or unrewarding. And, the conventional Western musical scale, while very flexible, presents the beginner with "too many options," in that to play a tune in any one key, you have to stay away from 5 notes while hitting only the 7 notes that are proper to that key.
Therefore I suggest a non-electric, non-diatonic (conventional Western scale), organic instrument designed for beginners.
The two things that come to mind are a Pentatonic Lyre (a lyre is a harp without a resonating body) and a Pentatonic Recorder (a recorder is a wooden or plastic mouthblown straight, not crosswise, flute).
The advantage of the Pentatonic scale is that it omits discordant notes, so that every note harmonizes with every other note. Pentatonic instruments are used in early-age music education in Waldorf Schools and Orff music education.
Here's a video about that option:
I'd recommend a 10-string lyre for an adult, as well as a music book and a tuner. If you live near a Waldorf school or a college that trains teachers for early music education, getting a teacher to help lay a solid foundation I think is very worthwhile.
Here's a place that makes a Pentatonic harp as well as lyre:
http://www.harpsoflorien.com/pentatonic.html
The other options are a pentatonic recorder, or a pentatonic thumb piano (often referred to by the trade name Kalimba).
It is also somewhat the case that once one has gotten the hang of playing one pentatonic instrument, the others have almost zero scare-off factor and so progress comes faster on new pentatonic instruments. But real proficiency requires dedication and practice and sensitive mentoring.
Here's a video of a very impressive pentatonic harp performance:
Once a person has graduated from a pentatonic recorder to a conventional one, there are in many places recorder ensembles that play together. Depending on the individual, once a pentatonic lyre or harp is comfortable, they may be able to make the transition to classical guitar, but that is a matter of individual temperament. The classical guitar presents the same challenge of "more notes than you really need at the moment" that the piano does.
Best of luck,
John
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- A counter-cultural suggestion or three - John Marks 07:51:06 12/19/14 (4)
- Or open tune a six string guitar to A C D E G A... - DeKay 09:20:03 12/19/14 (3)
- I like D-A-D-F#-A-D - Brian H P 09:47:25 12/19/14 (0)
- Yes, but... - John Marks 09:37:07 12/19/14 (1)
- Did not consider slide use @ all, nor... - DeKay 17:03:38 12/19/14 (0)
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
