Roland Atelier
Landmark Organ Sound, Performance, and Luxury
Roland AtelierLandmark Organ Sound, Performance, and Luxury
by Rosemary Bailey
Hi folks…Rosemary Bailey here. I’m pleased to report that things are getting very exciting on this end. I am set to embark on a new venture that I know will provoke the interest of our Atelier family and friends.
I am often asked what the key is in learning to play the organ better, that is, to get to the next level. In my opinion, the secret lies in the ability to simply open the minds of those choosing to seek out suggestions and proven methods that I guarantee will enhance and grow their playing ability. That’s the reason behind my new national program called “Volare.” Select Roland dealers will be sponsoring these events. Here is what it’s all about:
I have created a “means to an end” for intermediate-level organists to grasp valuable techniques that will enable their performance to excel. Among the categories covered in the two-day Volare seminar are “choosing the correct accompaniment,” “applying registration logic,” “understanding rhythm beat patterns,” and so on. All subjects are personally presented and demonstrated by me and are crucial to the organist’s advancement…if they want to sound like the pros. Yes, there are a number of revelations given to the attendees. Some of them may take a bit of getting used to, but rest assured, the result is worth the pursuit. The following is an example of the Volare philosophy.
Under the heading of “exploring rhythm variety” the Volare learning system calls for an occasional departure from the norm. After all, why should a song only be played exactly as the recording was produced? Think about it.
Some of you may remember Cole Porter's “Begin the Beguine.” After its release performed in the original Latin style, the song morphed into a Big Band jazz classic performed by Artie Shaw in the 30s. In more modern times, the selection “Breaking Up is Hard To Do” went from an upbeat 60s version to a romantic ballad some 20 years later. Both were huge hits sung by the same vocalist, Neil Sedaka. In each case, the rules were not broken by changing the feel of the tune because…THERE ARE NO RULES! But, how do you know what substitute rhythm/background to try? The answer depends on your preference in creating a fresh twist to the song. Most of the time, replacing a rhythm with another from the same category will work just fine. Roland has already grouped together rhythm patterns that are similar in nature.
Of course, the “Arranger” will always correspond to the relative rhythm you’ve selected. That’s what I call convenient! For example, in the Ballad section, “Love Ballad” or “Midnight Ballad” are compatible for the same song. However, if you want to spice up your arrangement a bit, one of the options might be to change to a Latin style like "Slow Bossa."The only real requirement is that all the styles selected are written in the same time signature.In this case, it would be 4/4.
Incidentally, do you know the significance of the top and bottom numbers you see at the beginning of every song? Here's a quick music theory answer for you: The top number is the amount of beats in every measure; the bottom number dictates the note value of each beat.So in this case, there are four beats per measure and a quarter note gets one count.
Sometimes it’s fun to begin a song with one set of rhythm/backgrounds…change to a different category mid-way…then finish the selection with the original setting. It’s sort of like coming back home at the end.This idea is especially true if you also return to the original instrumental effect that was used at the start. Please make use of the presets between the manuals or the foot kick switch to alter registrations as you play.The biggest hazard to avoid in your playing is to disrupt the steady flow of tempo to accomplish registration changes while performing. I encourage everyone to put a little of themselves into their arrangements. Allow your own musical preferences to take over. Simply relax and enjoy the ride.
That’s all for now. Have a wonderfully musical day!
For more information on Volare, visit www.rosemarybaileymusic.com
For additional information or dealer location, Contact Roland.