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Section 1
Lesson 1
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Lesson 17
Lesson 18
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Lesson 36
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Chapter 1 is currently under production.
Chapters 2 and 3 are ready.
Lesson 75 | Conjunct Motion & Voice Distinction
Master the art of melodic projection within a complex texture where melody and accompaniment share the same harmonic DNA.
Studio Insights
The "Echo" Challenge
In this piece, the melody moves through both conjunct (stepwise) and disjunct (skipping) motions. A unique hurdle occurs when notes used in an ascending melodic skip—such as the G# and B in measure 1—are immediately repurposed as accompaniment notes. Aim to 'tuck' the accompaniment under the melody by plucking the notes with a softer touch when they transition into their harmonic role. This ensures the listener can clearly distinguish the "Lead Singer" from the "Backing Band."
The Right-Hand Framework
For the majority of this lesson, your i-m-a fingers are anchored to their "home strings" (3, 2, and 1). However, stay alert for the technical exceptions in measures 8 and 16, where the middle finger (m) must reach down to the 3rd string. Maintaining a stable hand architecture while allowing for these micro-shifts is key to achieving a sophisticated and even tone.
Top-Voice Priority
In this lesson, the main melody is always the highest note. Focus your energy on giving more volume to whichever RH finger is plucking that top voice. Practice slowly to audit this balance—the more granular your slow practice, the more refined your final result will be.
The Play along
I've found that at the begining of the learning journey it can be very helpful to have a recording to follow along. Remember that you can easily change YouTube video playback speed on any device by clicking the settings gear icon, selecting Playback speed, and choosing a different speed from the menu, or even setting a custom speed.