CRITICAL THINKING

Are you a musician? Would you like to connect with other music makers? You’ve got choices when it comes to musical programs at Morton University. If you join the marching band, you’ll play in front of thousands at our football games. If you join the jazz band, you’ll play at our dances and elite alumni events. Each of these programs can help you become a better musician. The jazz band is a little smaller than the marching band but there is more room for improvisation. Of course if you join the marching band, you’ll get to wear a cool cape. The choice is yours.

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When you first get your instrument, the amount of work that it takes to learn to play well may discourage you from trying at all, but don’t give up! There are many ways that you can improve your playing. You can take lessons, you can learn to play with a friend, or you can join your school’s music program. These approaches may help, but the most important thing that you can do is to stick with it. Practice playing your instrument every day and you will learn how your instrument works. Once you know your instrument, you’ll be able to make playing look easy.

• Problem and Solution

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• Listing

A mute is an object that is fitted to the end of a brass instrument to change the instrument’s sound and tone. Mutes can be made from many materials but aluminium, brass, and copper are common. A mute works by changing the shape of the instrument and absorbing its acoustic vibrations. This causes the instrument to produce a sharp, damp sound. Mutes are often used in jazz music but sometimes they are called for in other compositions as well.

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Louis Armstrong was born to a poor family in Louisiana. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood under the care of his grandmother and uncle. Armstrong learned to play trumpet by ear at age 11. After getting arrested for firing a gun in the air while celebrating New Year’s Eve, he was sent to a juvenile correctional house. He received musical instruction while he was detained and Armstrong soon led the intuition’s band. Armstrong would go on to change the face of jazz.

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For better or worse, the Internet changed the music industry. The Internet allowed people to share music with friends and strangers around the world. With no laws to regulate online music sharing, many consumers downloaded music for free instead of paying for it. Consequently, the music industry made less money and a lot of artists suffered; however, the Internet also brought new talent to the market. Before the Internet, artists had to sign with labels to break through. These labels acted like gatekeepers, but the Internet allowed artists to record and distribute albums and videos by themselves. The Internet continues to change the music industry.

• Problem Solution

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Some people like to listen to music while they do their homework, but others find it to be a distraction. So what happens in a period like study hall, when there is a mixture of people who like to listen to music and those who prefer silence? That’s what headphones are for. If you listen to music at a reasonable volume on a pair of noise cancelling headphones, even a person studying next to you silently won’t hear it. With a little consideration, everybody can be happy.

• Definition

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What would jazz be without a swinging brass section? One of the signature instruments of the jazz band is the trumpet. Trumpet players change notes by positioning their fingers in different ways on the instrument’s valves. Another swinging instrument used in jazz bands is the trombone. Trombone players change notes by moving the instrument’s slide into various positions. Each of these instruments contributes in different ways: trumpets can play higher notes but trombones can play richer low notes. Most jazz bands have both.

• problem and Solution

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• Listing

Can you make a raspberry noise with your lips? If you can then you can play the trumpet. Of course, learning to play the trumpet well takes years, but you can pick one up and make a noise with it today. Just connect the mouthpiece to the end of the instrument. Hold the instrument close to your lips so as to make an airtight connection between your lips and the mouthpiece. Purse your lips tightly and blow a raspberry sound. The instrument should produce a sound. Try closing the valves with your fingers in different combinations to produce a range of sounds.

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People know me as a musician today but it took years of dedication to get here. Since I was six years old, I have played for the church. When I was in the 4^th grade, I joined the school band. I played with the school all the way through college, and after college I started working as a studio musician for a television show. After years in the industry, I made the connections that I needed to get my current gig. There are many ways to become a musician, but none of them are easy.

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An action and its results are discussed

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• Problem and solution