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Analyzing a Piece of Music: Form, Phrase Structure, and Harmony

Analyzing a new piece you're learning can transform the way you bring it to life through your performance. Analyzing a piece enables you to identify where to emphasize dynamics, incorporate rubato, and vary tone color. I admit that when I picked up classical guitar for the first time four months ago, I had no clue what harmony, phrase structure or musical form was. However, I am fortunate to have two very talented and gifted teachers who've taught me just about everything I know about music theory - and I'm excited to share what I've learned. Form The first thing to look at when analyzing a piece is its form. Musical form is the structure or organization of a song or piece of music; it is how the various parts of a song or piece are organized. There are quite a few different types of forms, but some common ones are ternary, binary, and rounded binary. We use letters to identify the different sections of a piece, such as in ternary form, in which there is an "A" section and a "B" section, and then the "A" section repeats. Thus we can say that ternary form = A B A. Let's take Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star for example; most of us know it as a children's lullaby, but there are actually some very important compositional techniques in it: A section: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are! B section: Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Then we repeat the A section: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are! See how the A section repeats? Thus we conclude that Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is written in ternary form. A trick to identifying ternary form is to look at the end of the piece; if there's a D.C. al Fine, that's a good indicator that it's ternary form. This is the basic idea of musical form. Binary form consists of an A section and a B section. Rounded binary form also consists of an A section and B section, however, the last 8 bars of the A section will come back at the end of the B section. So we can say that binary form is A B and rounded binary form is A B (A). KEY CHANGES IN THE B SECTION It is very common to have a key change in the B section of your piece. There are three common key changes: The Relative Minor: these keys share the same key signature. e.g. from C major to A minor - they both have no flats or sharps. The Dominant: the root note of the key you're modulating to is the 5th degree of the key you're currently in. e.g. from C major to G major - the 5th degree of the key of C major is G, therefore we modulate to G major. The Parallel Major/Minor: these keys share the same root note. e.g. from C major to C minor - the root of the scale is the same: C Phrase Structure Phrase structure is like a musical idea. There are two types of structures: periods and parallel periods. In a period, the first 4 bars are the "question" and the next 4 bars are the "answer". If we have a look at Carulli's "Andantino", for example: A parallel period is where the first two bars of the question are repeated in the first two bars of the answer. Adding phrasing is like adding punctuation to this musical idea. After the question we may take a slight pause, as if we put a comma. After the answer we could take a longer pause, as if we put a period. Harmony The final step in analyzing your piece is to have a look at the harmony. Many pieces use a 1-4-5 progression, however, there are also many pieces that use diffrent chord progressions (a 1-6-2-5 progression is antoher common one!). In classical guitar music, a good way to tell what chords are being used is to look at the bass line. There's a reason that so many pieces use a 1-4-5 progression, however. These three chords make a scale! For example, if we take a 1-4-5 progression in the key of C major... C-G-E F-A-C G-B-D And combine and rearrange these notes like this... C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C That gives us the scale of C major! But there's more to it than that. This means that, since these chords make a scale, you can harmonize any note of the scale using one of these chords! How Can This Affect Your Playing? Form Knowing where your A section and B section is can significantly alter the way you play your piece. You should contrast the B section by changing the dynamics and tone color. Phrase Structure As I mentioned earlier, phrasing is like adding puctation. So, at the end of a question you could slow down slightly and take a short pause or breath before you continue to the answer. Towards the end of the answer you could add even more rubato and take a longer pause. Harmony If your piece uses a 1-4-5 progression, you could play the 5 chord louder and the 1 chord softer, as the 5 chord represents tension and the 1 chord resolution. I hope that the information provided will enhance your musical performance and enrich your listening experience! Credits Dr. Daniel Nistico: creativeclassicalguitarist.com I can really say that every single bit of the knowledge I have about music came from my teachers, one of whom has a website I've listed above.

Developing Speed on Classical Guitar Using Bursts

*As taught by Dr. Daniel Nistico of the Creative Classical Guitarist* When it comes to developing speed, the traditional method of gradually building it up isn't always effective - it can work in some cases, but not always. In many cases, guitarists will reach a plateau - they'll get stuck at a certain speed and that'll be the end of it. They may get discouraged that they aren't making any more progress, or perhaps they will think they just can't play any faster, so they'll quit. However, if you force yourself to go faster - that is, if you use speed bursts - you will see incredible progress in a very short time. A lot of guitarists may think that developing speed is something very far away - that they have to play for years before they can play tremolo. I hope this blog will help you see past that. I myself can attest that with consistent practice you can develop speed very early on in your playing. I have seen very substantial improvements in my speed (after playing guitar for 7 months) after my classical guitar teacher, Dr. Daniel Nistico, introduced me to this method - improvments like going from a tremolo at 90 bpm to 160 bpm! This method has done wonders for me, and I'm confident that it will help you play your dream pieces as well. Use a Metronome! There are two main ways that you can implement bursts in your practice, but before we get to those, there is something I want to discuss - the metronome! This method won't work as well, or possibly won't work at all, if you don't use a metronome! Using a metronome used to be such a chore for me, I just dreaded it - you can't imagine! If my piano teacher (I used to take piano lessons) would ask me to use a metronome for a certain piece, I would, but -- I have to say -- it took me so long to actually play in sync with it! That, I believe, was the reason I disliked it so much - I could not play with it!! And I had never really heard anyone else play in sync with it either. To me, it was just something that all the music teachers said to use, because it would keep your tempo steady, but unless I absolutely had to, I never used it. Well, I'm very happy (and thankful to my classical guitar teacher!) that that's all in the past now - I love to use the metronome! I play with it almost every day and it couldn't sound better! Why? Well, I think part of it is that I finally - for the first time after probably 7 or 8 years of playing instruments - heard someone play perfectly with a metronome. My teacher was getting ready for a concert and was doing quite a few YouTube livestreams for concert practice - with a metronome! I think his emphasis on using a metronome, and actually seeing what it can sound like when you play perfectly in sync with it, was really what just pulled me into liking it so much. True, sometimes I did force myself to practice some rhythms with a metronome, but I never really enjoyed doing it until after those livestreams. So! If you have the same past as me - dreading a metronome and thinking of it as something you can never enjoy - I hope this will help you get out of that! It is so enjoyable, so satisfying when you can play in sync with it! It will help you make incredible progress! It is very much your friend, not your enemy! Interval Training Now that I've emphasized how important using that good old metronome is, lets get into the first method: interval training. For this method, you'll set a metronome at your goal speed - let's say, 120 bpm. As the metronome plays at 120 bpm, you'll play half that speed. Then - without stopping - you'll jump to playing at 120 bpm for as long as you can, and then, again, without stopping, you'll go back to playing half speed. You'll gradually be able to play at your goal speed for longer and longer periods of time - until it's time to speed the metronome up a bit! Most people can actually move their fingers pretty quick, so as long as you can play at a certain speed for even just a couple seconds, you can play at that speed. Now all you have to work on is playing at that speed longer . You can use this method for scales, tremolo, and even sections of pieces. In this video, I play tremolo with the metronome set for 160 bpm. In this video, I play a C major and an A melodic minor scale with the metronome set for 150 bpm. Burst Rhythms The other method using bursts is called burst rhythms. This method applies mostly to scales. Burst rhythms are basically playing a long note, followed by a few short notes. Here are some common burst rhythms: An eighth note, followed by 6 sixteenth notes. 6 sixteenth notes, followed by an eighth note. 6 sixteenth notes followed by a quarter note. Some Final Tips SOFT AND LIGHT When playing fast, playing loud will only slow you down! It is important to play softly as well as lightly - just like you're skimming across the strings. ACCENT EVERY OTHER NOTE If you consistently accent every note, you can get a bit lost! It is important to accent every other note, so you get a strong-weak-strong-weak effect. Also, if you're playing a one-octave C major scale, for example, it can be nice to think of the "C" as your "goal note" - meaning that this will be the note you will accent - and just skim across (remember, soft and light!) all the other notes to get to the "goal note". REST STROKE OR FREE STROKE? Well, I think it's important to use both! However, when trying to find your maximum speed, free stroke may be a better option as most guitarists can play much faster using free stroke than rest stroke. Conclusion I hope this method will help you develop speed on guitar! With consistent practice, I believe you will see huge improvements in your playing. Just remember, as Dr. Nistico says, "the purpose of practice is progress and enjoyment" - so make sure you enjoy your practice too! For more information on bursts, make sure to give this video a watch! CREDITS Creative Classical Guitarist Online School: creativeclassicalguitarist.com

Florida State Capitol

Florida's current Capitol is the fourth building to serve as the Sunshine State's official government building! Over the course of 153 years, Florida's government has had many homes. Florida's first Capitol was a simple log cabin built in 1824, even before Florida became a state. Tallahassee was designated as the capital, because of a compromise between the legislators, who, in the early 1820s, would make a hazardous, 20-day journey from St. Augustine to Pensacola in alternating sessions. Tallahassee was chosen as the capital since it was a midway point between the two cities. In 1826, a new Capitol was built, which was a tiny two-story "Mansion" measuring 40 by 26 feet. It was planned to be the wing of a larger Capitol in the future, but financial issues prohibited its completion. Now, 16 years away from statehood, Florida's need of government grew. As the demand for a suitable state house grew, Congress approved $20,00 in funds for building a larger Capitol. The old building was torn down immediately and builders commenced work on Florida's third Capitol: a brick structure, which is still the core of the Old Capitol (Florida State Capitol Museum). Meanwhile, Florida's government moved into temporary quarters. The Capitol was completed in 1845, the year Florida became a state. The Capitol remained mostly unchanged during Civil War years, when Tallahassee remained the only confederate capital that avoided capture by the federal troops. By the late 1800s, Florida suffered growing pains as the population expanded, and in 1891, the Capitol was in desperate need of repair. The structure was repainted, a small cupola (a rounded roof or ceiling) was added, and plumbing was installed. Twice has there been a debate on relocating the Capitol. When it finally made it to the ballot, however, it was voted down. In 1902, two wings were added to the Capitol, as well as a much larger dome. This was the last time Florida's government would operate under one roof. Soon after, the state government began moving to other buildings. In 1969, when it was determined that the current Capitol could no longer accommodate the state government and legislative body's needs, the governor and Cabinet approved plans for a new Capitol, which serves as the state's official government building to this day. In the 1972 legislative session, the legislature authorized money for a new Capitol Complex, which included House and Senate chambers and member offices, as well as a 22-story executive office building. The House and Senate member offices and committee meeting rooms were built in the 5-story buildings on the north and south side of the current Capitol. The three lower levels of the Capitol are below street level. The steel core was completed in 1975, however, it took 3 years and 10 months for the entire complex to be declared complete in August 1977. The Capitol was opened for the 1978 legislative session. It took some $43,070,714 to build the Capitol, which was paid in full before the construction began. Another $1,975,338 was set aside for the landscaping of the west front area, which is known as Waller Park. The Old Capitol The Florida Historic Capitol Museum (Old Capitol) is located directly in front of the New Capitol. Restoring the Old Capitol became an issue in 1978, when Governor Reubin O'D. Askew and House Speaker Donald L. Tucker favored outright demolition. Despite the pressure, however, the Old Capitol was saved. After the completion of the current Capitol, it was restored to the 1902 version, and named Florida Historic Museum, which contains the state's political history. Credits The Florida Capitol: www.myflorida.com

Florida's State Song and State Anthem

Unlike other states that only have a state song, Florida has a state song and a state anthem. Here's how it came about. On May 15th, 2007, responding to an initiative to pick a new state song, the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) managed an online contest called "Just Sing, Florida!" which ran from May 15th to October 1st, 2007. 243 entries were made and were reviewed by a 6-member panel of FMEA. The panel initially narrowed the entries to the top 20 songs with the greatest potential. These 20 choices were eventually cut to 3 top selections, which ended up being "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky," by Jan Hinton of Boynton Beach, "My Florida Home," by Cristopher Marshall of Orlando, and "Florida, My Home," by Carl Ashley of Boynton Beach and Betsy Dixon of Lantana. In December of 2007, after the top selections had been made, the public voting begun. Citizens were urged to express their opinions through the online voting. The internet voting began in December 2007 and ran through January 10th, 2008. Soon into the voting, however, real concern developed in the process of picking the song. After all, the public was only given 3 final options, even though there had been over 240 entries. And the 3 selections were made by the FMEA, not the public. Indeed, "Florida's Song", which was performed at the inauguration of Governor Charlie Crist, was thought to be a viable candidate, but it never made it to the Committee's final cut. Despite all the complaints and general confusion, the winner of "Just Sing, Florida!" was announced at noon on January 11th, 2008. Receiving over half of the 8,020 votes cast, "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" seemed an overwhelming favorite among Florida residents. "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" was ready to become Florida's new state song, until, well, until things got even more complicated. There was still overwhelming support for the current state song, "Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)" in the State Legislature, which was more than enough to make it a bumpy road to having a new state song. Even though House Bill 825 (which was accompanying Senate Bill 1558) to change the state song to "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" was unexpectedly voted favorably upon, there was still a long way to go. Now, seemingly, the public was reflecting more and more on changing their state song, and were starting to like "Old Folks at Home" even more than before, especially those who lived where the Suwannee River flowed. "This is history," said Senator Stephen Oelrich, whose district was surrounded by the Suwannee. "I'm not in favor of changing the song, and neither are my constituents." Sen. Oelrich's Chief of Staff, Micheal Preston, said that the Senator has received "Hundreds of calls from people saying 'Don't change the song.' We haven't had any calls in support of changing it. People have a sense of heritage with the song. They grew up around the Suwannee." After much debate on the issue, a compromise was finally reached between the House and Senate revising Senate Bill No. 1558, keeping Florida's current state song (with revised lyrics) and designating "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" as the official state Anthem: Florida State Legislature

"An act relating to official state designations; creating s. 15.0326, F.S.; designating the song "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" as the official state anthem; creating s. 15.0327, F. S.; designating the song "Old Folks at Home," revised lyrics, as adopted by the Center for American Music, Stephen Foster Memorial, at the University of Pittsburgh, as the official state song; providing an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Section 1. Section 15.0326, Florida Statutes,
is created to read:
15.0326 State anthem. --The song "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky," music and lyrics written by Jan Hinton, is designated as the official anthem of the State of Florida.
Section 2. Section 15.0327, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
15.0327 State song.--The song "Old Folks at
Home.
revised lyrics, as adopted by the Center for American Music, Stephen Foster Memorial, at the University of Pittsburgh, is designated as the official song of the State of Florida.
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008."

-SB 1558, revised. The bill was then sent to Governor Charlie Crist for signature, and, on June 30th, 2008, he reluctantly signed the bill, and referring to "Old Folks at Home" said, "I didn't have it played at my inauguration for a reason," and commented that the agreement made the state look "confused." Even after making these comments, Governor Crist signed the bill. Conclusion Although Florida's state anthem is loved and sung by many, it definitely took a long process to get it into place. Even today, there are those who say that they understand the state wanting to choose a new song, but could they not have chosen a better one? Yes, maybe they could. I, personally, however, believe FMEA made a wise decision in nominating the top 3 songs, since if all 243 were left to public discretion, none of the songs would get the required amount of votes, making it more difficult than it ever was during the process. "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" is one of my all-time favorites, and I'm sure it's popularity will grow. Credits Florida Department of State: www.dos.myflorida.com Florida State Anthem: www.netstate.com

Florida: The Sunshine State

Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, was the 27th state to join the United States (US). Florida is known for its mild climate, 663 miles of beaches, and for producing just about 80% of the Nation's oranges and grapefruits. In 1513, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de León sailed out from Spain to search for the Fountain of Youth. He didn't find it--it is a myth--but he did find Florida! He was the first one to call it Florida, which means "Easter" or "Pascua Florida", which is a Spanish celebration held at Eastertime. It is thought that de León gave the land that name because it was discovered on Easter Sunday of 1513. When Juan Ponce de León found Florida, he claimed the land for Spain. But Spain paid little attention to their land across the ocean. The natives that lived there, called the Seminole Indians, often attacked the settlements in Georgia, then fled back to Florida before they could be captured. Robbers and pirates were also a problem. In December of 1812, the United States, only a 36-year-old nation, had had enough. President James Monroe ordered General Andrew Jackson to lead a campaign in Georgia against the Seminole and Creek Indians. Jackson was told to go to the border of Georgia and stop the raiders from crossing. However, General Jackson had a different idea; he believed the best way to stop the attacks was to attack the attackers themselves. Accordingly, he led his men into Florida territory. Before taking his men past the Georgia border, Jackson wrote to President Monroe, "That the possession of Florida would be desirable to the United States, and in six days, it will be accomplished." Soon the whole to-be-state was under his control. The Spanish were outraged, and declared the US had no right to take an American army into Spanish territory. It seemed that war was almost unavoidable. However, a different, peaceful solution was discovered, and in 1819, the US bought Florida for some $5,000,000. State Facts Florida is probably one of the greenest states, and with good reason. Contrary to its nickname, the state gets a lot of rain! Florida spans 58,560 square miles and 4,424 of those miles is water! With Alaska being the largest, and Rhode Island being the smallest, Florida is number 22 in size. Florida has a flat terrain. The state's highest natural point is Britton Hill, which rises only 345 feet off the ground. Florida produces not only 80% of the Nation's oranges, making it the biggest orange industry in the US. Seventy percent of the world's grapefruits are grown there as well. Since Florida produces 80% of the United State's oranges, the state beverage isn't hard to guess. Since 1967, Florida has claimed orange juice as its state beverage. The state flower is an orange blossom, the state bird is a mocking bird, and the state mammal is a Florida panther. Florida also has a state butterfly: the Zebra Longwing. Florida's waters have more kinds of fish than any other place on earth. Florida's state tree is a Sabal Palm. As tropic as it may be, the tree can actually be used in some medicines! "In God We Trust" became the state motto during the 2006 legislative session. Florida also has a State Day! April 2nd was established as the State Day during the 1953 legislature. Florida's State Song and State Anthem are "Old Folks at Home" and "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky." Every year, at the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center, a fiddle contest is held by the Florida State Fiddlers Association! Florida even has a state honey! Tupelo honey is made by bees, like all other honeys, but the nectar used in making it is exclusively from the Tupelo Tree. The trees seem to be very picky in choosing where they grow, and both the honey and the tree are specifically associated with Gulf County, Florida, which is just southwest of Tallahassee, Florida's capital. The trees average 50-70 feet in height and bear white flowers. If having a state honey sounded just a little odd, that's not it! There's even a state pie! The Key lime pie is associated with Florida mainly because Key limes are grown in Key West, the last of the cluster of little islands, called the Florida Keys. The State Flag Florida's state flag has a rather short, but interesting history. Between 1868 and 1900, Florida's state flag consisted of a white field, with the state seal in the center. In the late 1890s, however, Governor Francis P. Fleming proposed that a red cross be added, so that the banner did not appear to be a white flag of surrender when hanging still on the flagpole. Therefore, in 1900, a joint resolution of the State legislature added the red diagonal bars to the flag, as it remains to this day. Final Thoughts Florida is probably one of the most history-rich states. From details as to how the land got her name to state facts that aren't widely known but that are nevertheless very intriguing, information is never lacking when it comes to this state! Credits Florida Department of State: www.dos.myflorida.com Seton Press: America's Catholic Heritage Learning Horizons: The State Sticker Book Scholastic: The United States of America, a State-by-State Guide

Hurricane Idalia: Florida's Most Recent Hurricane

Hurricane Idalia was the first hurricane since 1896 to hit Florida's Big Bend region. The storm was devastating: the Florida Governor's Mansion was hit by a 100-year-old oak tree while the First Family was inside, Tampa Bay was filled with flood water, businesses and homes were washed away and destroyed. Despite Florida's exceptional preparation, the damage this category 4 hurricane brought to the state is still incredibly saddening for all Floridians. Hurricane Idalia Hurricane Idalia was a massive category 4 hurricane that formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. By the time it reached the Gulf of Mexico, Idalia was already a tropical storm and was undergoing rapid intensification. Before making landfall in Florida on August 30th, 2023, Idalia, now a confirmed hurricane, was classified as a category 4 hurricane. Contrary to all expectations, however, right before making landfall on Keaton Beach, Fla., Idalia weakened into a category 3 hurricane. Winds raced at a sustained 125 mph, storm surge waters were up to 8.9 feet high, the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, Fla., was flooded, and over 150 people required rescue. At least 2,000 homes were damaged and 278,000 Floridians were left without power. Idalia raged though Florida in only one day. After that, it was classified as a tropical storm and hit some of the states along the Atlantic coast, before running off into the ocean. Damage Hurricane Idalia caused extreme damage to many homes and businesses. Flooding presented itself in many Florida counties, and, even after so much preparation, destroyed many buildings. Even in the capital city, there were strong winds and rainfall. Early estimates place insured damage at $2.2-5 billion. It will take a long time for the state to fully recover from this devastating storm, but it will happen, slowly but surely. Preparation On August 26th, when Idalia was still a tropical storm, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 33 Florida counties. Two days later, after Idalia had become a hurricane, Governor DeSantis added 13 more counties to the declaration. The governor also issued mandatory evacuation orders for the counties in the affected area. Two hundred Starlink internet devices were deployed in preparation for service disruptions. Also, 1,100 Florida National Guard members, along with 2,400 high-water vehicles and 12 aircrafts were dispatched for search and rescue. Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with disaster relief efforts. Aftermath The very day the hurricane was over, Governor Ron DeSantis visited Perry, Fla., and gave updates on the state's response to the storm, along with several other state and local officials. Joe Biden directed FEMA Director Deanne Criswell to meet with Governor DeSantis, and said that 900 Coast Guard members were being sent to respond to the hurricane's impacts. On September 2nd, Biden arrived at Florida to survey the hurricane damage, and met with the citizens of Live Oak, Fla., including the city mayor and Senator Rick Scott. A 100-year-old oak tree falls on the Florida Governor's Mansion First Lady Casey DeSantis said that on August 30th, a 100-year-old oak tree had fallen on the Governor's Mansion while she and their kids were inside. Thankfully no one was injured, and the damage can be repaired. Conclusion The devastating Hurricane Idalia definitely could have been worse. Together with Governor Ron DeSantis' exceptional preparation (did I say, exceptional!!!) and, of course, God's Providence, Hurricane Idalia had much less of an impact than it could have. Although it will still be a long road to recovery, we'll see the end of that road soon enough. Credits: Hurricane Idalia: www.wikipedia.com

Judge Advocate Generals: JAG Officers

The Judge Advocate General's Corps, also know as JAG or JAG Corps, is the military justice branch of the United States Armed Forces: the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard, and Air Force. Judge advocate generals/JAGs are often referred to simply as judge advocates. Judge advocates are commissioned officers that serve in one of the United States Armed Forces' branches. They serve as law advisors to the command in which they are assigned. They practice a large area of law, and typically serve as prosecutors and defense counsels in courts-martial. Judge advocates practice the most wide variety of law possible to an attorney. Among others, they practice: Military Justice, Legal Assistance, National Security Law, Administrative Law, Environmental Law, and Civil Litigation. Being a judge advocate gives young lawyers a chance at practicing law right away. Typically, when young attorneys join a law firm after their graduation from law school, they will not practice law for their first whole year at the firm. They will write reports, or do other work, without practicing law. If they join the military as a judge advocate, however, they are given the chance to practice a wide variety of law right away. Judge advocates, (with the exception of the Marine Corps) are required to serve 4 years active duty, and 4 years inactive duty. When a judge advocate is inactive, it means that he/she is not currently serving in the military, but may be recalled in case of a war or conflict. Marine Corps judge advocates are required to serve 3 years active duty and 5 years inactive. Judge advocates are typically promoted 6-12 months after joining. The Air Force's and Army's ranks start at Lieutenants and are usually promoted to Captains; Coast Guards start at Lieutenants; Marine Corps Second Lieutenants; and last but not least: Navy judge advocates start as a Lieutenant Junior Grade and are typically promoted to a Lieutenant after a year. There are also age requirements for joining the military as a judge advocate. The Navy is the least imposing, as a lawyer is allowed to join as long as he/she begins active duty when younger than 42. The Marine Corps is the most demanding, as an attorney must be at least 20 and have not reached 29 at the time of commissioning. The Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard are fairly similar in regulations. The age you can/can't become a judge advocate as a Coast Guard is 20-41, the Army is 18-42, and the Air Force is 18-40. Becoming a judge advocate general is very rewarding. Not only do lawyers have the ability to practice the widest variety of law possible, but they also receive the chance to serve their country, travel, and gain outstanding experience they won't find anywhere else. Credits Judge Advocate General FAQs: www.law.virginia.edu Judge Advocate General's Corps: www.wikipedia.com

Naturipe Blueberries: Florida, California, or Washington?

Over the last several months, I have come across Naturipe brand of blueberries from Florida, California, and Washington. Here's which one I like the best. No. 1: California California's blueberries are at the top of my list. Sweet, slightly tart, delicious blueberries that pop in your mouth make them one of the best I can find. No. 2: Florida As much credit as I could give to Florida, I must say California's blueberries still take the cake. Although the blueberries grown in Florida have all the qualities that the ones grown in California do, they have it on a slightly lesser scale, making Florida's blueberries No. 2 on my list. No. 3: Washington Unlike California or Florida, Washington's blueberries are rather flavorless, unusually sweet, and not the least bit tart. They are softer than California's or Florida's, which puts them at the bottom of my list.

Saluting Etiquette: Who Can Salute?

When a soldier or the American Flag passes by, civilians may be tempted to salute. Saluting, however, is a gesture specifically reserved for active service members and veterans. There is specific etiquette to be followed whether you're an active service member, veteran, or civilian. Should Civilians Salute Soldiers? Although it's permissible, saluting soldier is not a recommended way to show honor and appreciation to our U.S. military officers. Although soldiers may find it cute to see a toddler salute, a salute from an adult can make them feel uncomfortable. Most active service members and veterans would agree that civilians who would like to show their appreciation should simply wave or say, "Thank you for your service." If a civilian wants to do more, many soldiers really appreciate when civilians ask them questions about their service. "Why did you choose to join the military?" or "How long have you served?" are good questions to ask. There are, however, questions that may do more harm than good. Some questions you should never ask are: "Have you ever killed anyone?" or "How many people did you kill?" - these are pretty upsetting questions in themselves - I don't think anyone wants to talk about how many people they have killed or if they have killed anyone at all. Also, many soldiers find it annoying - which is very understandable - to hear people say "I would have joined the military, BUT . . . ." The best thing to do is to talk about THEIR service - not that you WOULD HAVE joined the military - because, well, you didn't join . . . and they did. Can Civilians Salute The American Flag? Civilians should not salute the American Flag. This is considered a privilege earned by those who have served in the military. Traditionally, only uniformed soldiers could salute the flag during the National Anthem or when it was being raised or lowered. In 2008, however, Congress passed a law allowing veterans and members of the military who are not in uniform to salute the flag. When in uniform, soldiers are required to salute the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. They should also salute when the flag is raised or lowered. Civilians, on the other hand, should face the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem, with their hand placed over their heart. Men and women must remove hats, although it is permissible for women to wear headwear, such as scarves. Men may hold their hat with their right hand and place it in front of the left shoulder. With the hat at the shoulder, the hand should be above the heart. When Can Soldiers Salute? There are strict guidelines for rendering the military salute. Typically, soldiers only salute when in uniform or when saluting the American Flag. Active-duty service members are required to render the military salute in the presence of commissioned officers, warrant officers and the president. However, the salute is only rendered when indoors or reporting to an officer. If the American Flag is passing by - such as during a parade - soldiers salute the flag when it is six paces away, and hold the salute until the flag has passed another six paces. Soldiers are required to master the salute, as a sloppy salute is disrespectful. Soldiers move their right hand sharply into position, with the tip of the right forefinger right next to the right eye. The hand should be positioned at an angle so that the top and bottom are not visible from the front. A proper salute also requires the soldier to keep their hand and wrist straight, with the elbow slightly forward and the upper arm in a horizontal position. Members of the military and veterans who are not in uniform may also render the salute, or they may follow the same etiquette civilians do. Can The President Use The Military Salute? Throughout most of America's history, the president has not saluted the flag or soldiers. Typically, the president has held his hand over his heart to show respect for the flag, like civilians do. However, as commander in chief, the president still has the right to render the military salute. It has become the custom of U.S. Presidents to salute soldiers when entering or exiting the Air Force One or Marine One. This started during Ronald Reagan's presidency in the 1980s. Members of the Marine One are required to salute the president as he approaches and exits the helicopter. Following the example of previous presidents, President Reagan would nod and say hello to the Marines, but he found it awkward that the Marines could not drop their hands. They had to hold the salute until he passed. Ronald Reagan decided to return the salute so the Marines could stand at ease. This, however, went against the protocol for rendering military salutes, since President Reagan was wearing his civilian clothes. Thus, before going against the regulations, Reagan sought advice from the commander of the Marine One. He told Reagan that, as commander in chief, no one would stop him from rendering the salute. Ronald Reagan soon began saluting military officers whenever he was entering or exiting the Air Force One and Marine One. The presidents that came after him have followed his example; Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump have all rendered the salute. Conclusion Despite the urge civilians may feel to salute soldiers, the American Flag, or perhaps even the Governor or President, a military salute is reserved specifically for military officers and veterans. They have earned the honor to salute by their service to their Country, and thus it is regarded as a reward. Credits Photo of President Reagan: www.archives.gov Blog Cover Photo: President Donald J. Trump salutes cadets as he enters Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, May 30, 2019 : www.defense.gov

Stars and Stripes Forever: The Greatest March Ever Written

Our national march is, by almost any musical standard, a masterpiece. This song has done more to arouse the patriotism of Americans than any other song (with the exception of our glorious anthem) and is the most popular march ever composed. Written by John Philip Sousa, a United States Marine (who was also the leader of "The President's Own" Marine Band), this song has endeared itself to the American people. However, the popularity of our national march is by no means limited to the United States. Abroad, it symbolizes America. It has been recorded more often than almost any other composition ever written. Our national march was actually written by Sousa out of homesickness. Some of the lines came to Sousa's mind while he was in Europe on vacation with his wife. While on vacation, news reached him that the bandmaster of his "Sousa Band" had died. In a hasty rush, Sousa boarded a ship for America. Aboard the ship, Sousa started to grow impatient; he wanted to be back in our beloved country, under the folds of our grand old flag. As he paced miles up and down the ships' dock, Sousa began to remember when he would lead "The President's Own" Marine Band and see the flag waving on the flagstaff on the White House grounds. He began to think of all the countries he had visited, the people he had met, the vast difference between America and American people, and other nations and other nations people. Sousa could not relax until he had finished composing "Stars and Stripes Forever" in his mind. He said he constantly had an imaginary band playing our national march while he waited, now patiently, for the ship to dock in America. The song was penned on Christmas of 1896, likely in Sousa's hotel suite in New York, although it was not made available to the public until later. "Stars and Stripes Forever" was first published in Philadelphia on May 14, 1897, where it only received slightly above-the-typical enthusiasm of a new Sousa march. It wasn't until the Spanish-American war when people needed a song to boost their patriotism, that "Stars and Stripes Forever" became immensely popular. People started standing for it as though it was our national anthem, and openly demanded that it be played at all Sousa Band performances. Members of his band said they never remembered having not played it, and they never remembered getting tired of playing it either. Each part of this march's final trio, as Sousa said, is in honor of the different “sections” of the United States: the main melody being for the north, the piccolo obbligato for the south, and the broad countermelody of the trombone for the west. When Sousa conducted his band concert, he would have the trombones, trumpets, cornets, and piccolos come up and stand in the front for the final trio, to add excitement; a tradition that is still practiced today. Copies of "Stars and Stripes Forever" netted Sousa over $400,000 in his lifetime. Once the copyright expired, well over 40 new arrangements were made, just as they continue to be made today. Many people have written grand, patriotism-inspiring songs, but only U.S. Marine John Philip Sousa's composition "Stars and Stripes Forever" has had the honor of being named the United States of America's national march. May the stars and stripes of our flag wave forever over the land of the free and home of the brave! This blog was written with patriotism by Sophia, my great friend and fellow blogger. Credits: Musecore: Stars and Stripes Forever Last Flag Photo: wix.com

The Art of Classical Guitar Tone Production: Bringing Music to Life

Enhancing your musical performance by cultivating a beautiful tone is like adding a splash of color to a black-and-white painting. It transforms the music, breathing life into each note and giving every piece its unique personality. Varying your tone will truly immerse you in the music, allowing you to vividly envision the emotions and story behind each note you play. In this blog I will share some important aspects of tone production which I hope will help give each piece you play a unique character you wouldn't be able to produce otherwise. Fingernails First of all, should you use fingernails or not? Most guitarists use fingernails, myself included. But I think both the fingernail and fingertip can each create their own unique tone that the other could simply not produce. Let's have a look at what classical guitarist Emilio Pujol says on the subject: "The sound produced with the nails strikes one's ear as if each note were a very small, sharp arrow piercing our sensibility. It is conical, pungent and nasal, reminiscent of the lute and the harpsichord, with an odour of frankincense and a savour of ancient ballads; it calls up gothic altar paintings and primitive styles, and is like an echo of the poetical ideology of the troubadours and minnesingers. This style seems to recall a long and distant past full of rich and noble exaltations of the spirit. It is the sonority which Falla has expanded in well balanced proportions in his "Concerto for Harpsichord", a genial reflection of the Spain of the Middle Ages, austere and profoundly Christian.  The tone of a string struck with the finger-tip possesses an intrinsic beauty, which affects the deepest feelings of our sensibility, just as air and light permeate space. Its notes are incorporeal, as might be the notes of an ideally expressive and responsive harp. It has, as well as this intimate character, some of the Roman strength and Greek balance. It recalls the gravity of an organ and the expressiveness of a violincello. The guitar ceases to be feminine and becomes an instrument of grave virility. Finally, this style stands for the transmission, without impurities, of the deepest vibrations of our emotions." - Emilio Pujol (The Dilemma of Timbre on the Guitar) If you do use fingernails, here are some things to pay attention to: The smoothness of your nails: Use micro-mesh sandpaper (6,000 grit or greater) to ensure your fingernails are smooth. Having smooth nails can significantly improve your tone quality. The angle at which you attack the strings: Plucking with the side of your nail produces a softer tone compared to plucking with the middle. Keep your wrist straight: Plucking from the middle of your nail is often a result of a bent wrist. Maintain a fairly straight wrist to avoid a harsh tone (this applies to flesh playing as well). Use the left side of the nail: To get the smoothest tone, try using the left side of your nails when plucking the strings. Straight Wrist Bent Wrist Tone Color Varying tone color is a crucial element in music that can truly elevate a piece and bring it to life. By incorporating different timbres and textures, musicians can evoke a range of emotions and create an engaging listening experience for their audiences. Classical guitar has an exceptional capacity to create a diverse range of tone colors - something not found in many other instruments. Catharina Pratten wrote a methodbook for classical guitar in which she included this tone color chart. It's quite an eye-opener when you consider how close this diagram suggests we should play to the bridge and fretboard. Many guitarists would never dream of being that extreme. Perhaps it's true we wouldn't use these tones so often, but when we want a certain effect we shouldn't be afraid to play that close to the bridge or fretboard. Playing close to the bridge gives a louder, brighter tone, while playing close to the fretboard gives a softer, more mellow tone. In guitar, playing close to the bridge is defined as "pontecello" (literally Italian for "bridge") and playing close to the fretboard as "tasto" (literally Italian for "fretboard"). Let's have a look at the examples in the diagram. Example A : Play very close to the bridge. Example B : Play about halfway between the bridge and rosette. Example C : Play over the rosette. Example D : Play over the sound hole. Example E : Play over the fretboard. There are so many diffrent tones we can get just by moving our right hand. Ferdinando Carulli has well said that, "The right hand does not have a fixed position." Plucking Speed Perhaps you have heard it said that the speed at which you pluck the strings does not matter. This is incorrect, as the different speeds at which you pluck will actually create a different tones. The faster the pluck, the sound tends to be a bit sharp and metallic, while a slow pluck can create a fuller effect. This does not mean that one is bad and the other is good, it just provides us with another option to convey the character of the music in our playing. Applying This to Your Playing Numerous methods can be utilized to incorporate the diverse tones available on the guitar into your playing. I believe that it is crucial to analyze the musical piece you are playing when applying these techniques (visit my blog post on Analyzing a Piece of Music ). Guitarists have expressly emphasized the importance of creating contrast or echoing when you have repeating bars or phrases. For instance, the initial playthrough could be forte and ponticello, while the repetition might be piano and tasto. We can also adjust our plucking speed, plucking slower for gentle pieces and faster for more intense and bold compositions. Credits Sidney Pratten Guitar School The Creative Classical Guitarist Online School: creativeclassicalguitarist.com

The Florida Governor's Mansion

The Florida Governor's Mansion is home to the governor and the First Family of Florida. It is located at 700 N. Adams St., just ten blocks from the State Capitol. With 30 rooms, 15,000 square feet, and 1.5 acres of land, this house really is a mansion! From 1845 (the year Florida became a state) to the early 1900s, Florida governors usually lived in either a hotel or a boardinghouse during their term in office. In 1905, the Florida State Legislature approved $25,000 for the construction of an official residence for the governor. The original Governor's Mansion was built on the current site in 1907, and was occupied by 15 governors for nearly 50 years. During the term of Governor LeRoy Collins in 1955, however, the building was dismantled because of space issues and also because it was considered to be structurally unsound. The current mansion was finished 2 years later, in the Spring of 1957. The current Governor's Mansion was designed to resemble another historic building in Nashville, Tennessee known as the Hermitage. This plantation was home to Andrew Jackson, Florida's first military governor and our 6th president. The mansion was designed to accommodate private living, as well as official entertaining for the chief executive of Florida. On the 1.5 acres of outdoor land, the mansion has a screened pool, cabana, and beautiful brick patio area. There is also a greenhouse, along with a private park and its adjacent rose garden which provides many of the wonderful flowers found inside the mansion. In 2005, a 550 square foot library was added to the mansion for then Governor Jeb Bush, and Governor Charlie Crist added a solar-powered swimming pool during his term in office. On August 30, 2023, the northern front of the mansion was struck by a falling oak tree as hurricane Idalia passed through Florida; thankfully no injuries or serious damage was reported. An eight-member commission was established by the state legislature to oversee the mansion. The Governor's Mansion Commission has the important responsibility to: "Keep the structure, style and character of the Governor's Mansion, its grounds, and all structures thereon consistent with its original plan of construction and design...." -[Section 272.18, (3)(a), Florida Statutes] Credits Florida Governor's Mansion: www.myflorida.com Florida Governor's Mansion: www.wikipedia.com