The Motosonus Method was created to give pianists and composers the ability to provide high quality music for ballet class. In general terms the Motosonus Method provides ballet class pianists a collection of rules for creating ballet class music with specific methodologies which are supposed to make the music more effective in its contribution to the teaching setting of the ballet studio.
One of the key ways to do this is by manipulating the rhythm and beat placement and the melodic and harmonic content of the music to create a dissonance and consonance that goes with the tension and relaxation occurring in the dancers' muscles.
The most important of these techniques is the manipulation of the beat or pulse. It was discovered that the utilization of rhythm has a larger impact on the dancers in a class than any other single part of the musical accompaniment.
The character of the music is tailored to fit each ballet exercise through the location of the downbeat and through the manner in which the downbeat is played. For instance, by pushing the beat forward, sometimes called "rushing the beat," and widening it by rolling or arpegiating the notes, the pianist can create the impression of expansiveness. This is useful in the ballet exercises that require the bigger muscles of the body, and which require large sweeping motions from the dancers. When the bass notes are played exactly on the beat, or "in the pocket,", it creates a feeling of driving forward which is ideal for ballet exercises that need a briskness and precision.
By purposefully manipulating the beat, the pianist can create a musical tapestry that compliments and boosts the movements of the dancers, which both assists them in performing the exercises correctly and also improves their progress towards their goals.
One of the key ways to do this is by manipulating the rhythm and beat placement and the melodic and harmonic content of the music to create a dissonance and consonance that goes with the tension and relaxation occurring in the dancers' muscles.
The most important of these techniques is the manipulation of the beat or pulse. It was discovered that the utilization of rhythm has a larger impact on the dancers in a class than any other single part of the musical accompaniment.
The character of the music is tailored to fit each ballet exercise through the location of the downbeat and through the manner in which the downbeat is played. For instance, by pushing the beat forward, sometimes called "rushing the beat," and widening it by rolling or arpegiating the notes, the pianist can create the impression of expansiveness. This is useful in the ballet exercises that require the bigger muscles of the body, and which require large sweeping motions from the dancers. When the bass notes are played exactly on the beat, or "in the pocket,", it creates a feeling of driving forward which is ideal for ballet exercises that need a briskness and precision.
By purposefully manipulating the beat, the pianist can create a musical tapestry that compliments and boosts the movements of the dancers, which both assists them in performing the exercises correctly and also improves their progress towards their goals.
About the Author:
This post is brought to you compliments of Gaylord Pannitron. The Motosonus Method is employed in The First Class Albums, a series of ballet class music CDs by composer/choreographer/pianist, Don Caron. You can check them out in Amazon's Ballet Class Music library.
