This is lecture 1 from my series on the history of Western music. It covers the emergence of human musicianship from prehistory through classical antiquity. 

Music of Ancient Times

This is lecture 2 of my series on the history of Western music. It picks up at the downfall of the Roman Empire and covers the music born with the inception of Christianity.   

The End of Antiquity, the Rise of Christianity, and the Beginning of Gregorian Chant

This is lecture 3 of my series on the history of Western music. It covers the psalms and hymns of the Roman liturgy, and it explores the various permutations of Gregorian chant.

What They Were Chanting

The history of Western music owes its existence to one innovation: notation. This lecture covers the centuries-long process of its evolution. The emergence of neumes and of  the staff are covered as well as the tenth-century monk Guido of Arezzo--the father of modern notation. 

The Origin of Notation

This lecture covers the rise of polyphonic chant during the Middle Ages. It focuses on the tradition's development in southern France and its coming of age in northern France.  Two famous composers, Leonin and Perotin--liturgical musicians operating at the Notre Dame Cathedral School--are also covered. 

The Emergence of Polyphony

This podcast covers the early stages of Classical Period music from 1730-1760. It focuses on the genres, forms, and artistic sensibilities that separated this period from the previous one, the Baroque Period. Two important figures from this stretch of time are covered: CPE Bach and JC Bach. These talented and successful sons of Johann Sebastian Bach defined the Classical genre and helped precipitate the musical storm that followed--a deluge featuring Haydn- Mozart- and Beethoven-shaped clouds.

Music credit: Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music: Volume two, Classic to Romantic disc 7. W.W. Norton and Company 2010. CD.

The Calm before the Classical

This podcast covers the music of the Baroque period. It describes the essential attributes of this music and focuses on the output of two influential composers: George Frideric Handel and Antonio Vivaldi. 

This podcast contains excerpts from the following sources:

Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music. Vol 1: Ancient to Baroque, CD 6. W.W. Norton & Company, 2010.

The Norton Recordings. Volume I: Gregorian Chant to Beethoven. 7th Ed. Sony Music Special Products, 1995.

Handel, Vivaldi, and the Baroque Period

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump compares and contrasts cover bands and original bands. The topics of payment, listenership, and emergent trends are covered. 

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76
paypal.me/brianjump

Cover Bands vs. Original Bands

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump investigates the hostility many musicians feel towards reading music. He describes the many ways students shirk the responsibility of reading, and he attempts to dispel the myth that learning how to read is antithetical to the spirit of music. Jump’s main point in this episode is that becoming literate drastically improves one's musicianship.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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Illiterate by Choice

In this podcast, Brian Jump explores the common failures of audience/performer interactions. He covers the courtesies that a musician owes their audience and the courtesies that an audience owes their musician.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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Performance Ethics

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump speculates about the direction of music. First, he imagines the impact that artificial intelligence might have on composition and consumption. Then, he explores the possibility that the music of the future might be fundamentally different from the music of the present.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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paypal.me/brianjump

The Future of Music

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Brett Staggs discuss music philosophy and dead rock stars.

Brett Staggs is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter originally from Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He established himself as drummer in Austin Texas by playing with local super heros, Slow Train. In 2009, Staggs moved to Pittsburgh and started the power quintet called The Long Time Darlings. When that band dissolved in 2014, Staggs started a new band called The Daylight Moon.  He also plays drums in a steel pan group called Barrels to Beethoven.

http://www.brettstaggs.com/

Jump and Staggs talk about guitar riffs, Tom Petty, creative peaks, Malcolm Young, guitar sounds, Levon Helm, artistic integrity, Elvis Presley, Jeff Lynne, and the philosophy of songwriting.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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Rock 'n' Roll Colleagues

In this podcast, Brian Jump covers the philosophy of education.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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The Philosophy of Education

In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to West Virginia native, Jonny Southern, about performance ethics, modern pop, cover bands, and other music topics.

You can check out Jonny's music here:

https://thewilliamsband.bandcamp.com/

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

Belligerent Bass Lines

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the idolization of dead rock stars versus the indifference to living rock stars. They pursue a theme of gratitude while speaking about Metallica, Ringo Starr, Rick Rubin, Marty Friedman, and others.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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paypal.me/brianjump

Appreciating Them While They're Alive

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the devolution of music and the plight of original musicians. They cover the following topics: (1) empty rooms, (2)audience-member stereotypes, (3) the future of music, and (4) the disrespect shown to musicians. 

The Chasing the Chords podcast can be found here: https://brianjump.net/podcast/

Follow this link to support Brian Jump: https://brianjump.net/support/

How Music Dies

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the traps and pitfalls of learning music. They cover school bands, music teachers, and common student mistakes.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

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Top Seven Mistakes Made by Music Students

In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss musician-types and the importance of establishing a musical identity.

They cover the similarities and differences that exist between drummers, singers, sidemen, producers, electronic musicians, basement shredders, DJs, etc.

Jump and Southern perform the 1965 hit by Lee Dorsey called "Get Out My Life Woman" for this episode's outro.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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paypal.me/brianjump

Musical Identity

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the complicated dealings and elaborate interactions that occur when writing, rehearsing, and performing with other people. Famous band dynamics, like that of The Beatles, The Band, and Metallica, are covered for scope and context. 

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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Band Dynamics

In this podcast, music educator, Brian Jump, and bass player, Jonny Southern, talk about gender disparities that exist in rock bands and in rock audiences. They comment on the curious phenomenon of all-male styles, the ridiculous ritual of slam dancing, and the relative scarcity of female rock bands. Jump argues that the boy's-club mentality of rock music represents a type of support group for men and boys. Southern argues that equally-balanced audiences, like that of jam bands, is a result of drug culture.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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Rock 'n' Roll Boy's Club

In this podcast, music educator/guitarist, Brian Jump speaks to bassist/singer, Jonny Southern about contemporary hits radio (CHR). They examine the banal, often offensive music inhabiting Billboard’s Hot 100, and they critique the top ten songs occupying the list for the week of October 6, 2018.

For context, the thesis of John Seabrook's book, The Hit Factory, is covered. This book declares that hits are still what matters in the music industry despite the virtual annihilation of the record business. Moreover, Seabrook explains that the same few writers and producers are responsible for a significant number of hits and a disproportionately large share of the revenue. 

To perform this dark magic, Seabrook explains, the hitmakers rely on two principle types of hit: one descended from Europop, which have long-ish melodies and clear verse/chorus structure; and another descended from R&B, which have melodic hooks repeated over rhythmic grooves. 

To make these two forms of music, producers today rely on the track-and-hook approach, which features one musician writing the beat and the chord progression and another musician writing the melodies and the hooks. 

Essentially, today’s hit songs are constructed by teams of experts who know how to pack their music full of irresistible ear candy.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76
paypal.me/brianjump

Contemporary Hits Radio

In this episode, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist and educator, Ross Heastings, about lead guitar, music theory, cover bands, songwriting, and education.

During the conversation, Jump and Heastings demonstrate musical examples, perform jazz excerpts, and improvise licks and phrases.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

Inside Lead Guitar

In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburg-area guitarist, T.J. Riggs, about band leadership, group rehearsals, and musician maintenance. Riggs is the guitarist and founding member of the 1980s tribute band called Stainless. Included in this conversation is a demonstration of the guitar solo from "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'n' Roses.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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paypal.me/brianjump

Band Leadership and Rock Maintenance

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump has a wide-ranging conversation with his friend and duo partner, Justin Sellers. 

They speak about many topics related to playing in a working band like performing, gigging, booking shows, and repertoire. 

Also, Jump and Sellers address their current quest to change the name of their group—The Vagrants—to something more fitting their business model. A hilarious exchange occurs when they discuss candidate names like The Hit Slammers, The Pop Charts, and The Great White Snakes. 

Jump and Sellers wrangle this podcast to a close by performing the 1984 hit song by The Cars called “You Might Think.”

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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Living The Dream

In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist, drummer, and songwriter, Brian Sproul. They discuss electric-guitar playing, altered tunings, rock influences, excellence in drumming, riff-oriented songwriting, rock presentation, and fantasy bands. 

Sproul is the founding member, and creative force, behind the instrumental power duo called Patton. He’s also the lead guitarist for the local blues-rock band called Sweetheart of the Barricades. Sproul’s approach to electric guitar is especially compelling, specifically when it comes to Patton, which features textural experiments, altered tunings, and stacked overdubs.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

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Electric Texture

In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist, T.J. Riggs, about being a beginner. They cover learning scales, playing three-chord songs, and—most importantly—sounding like a rock star.

Jump and Riggs perform many musical examples while having a fun conversation about learning music.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

Beginner's Luck

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist and singer, Billy Schneider. 

Billy is a member of the Pear Jam tribute band, Ten, and he's an active solo performer. He's also is an excellent lead player with many tasty and innovative ideas lurking behind his every solo. Most of all, Schneider seems to have a subtle touch for bending and phrasing like a singer.

Jump and Schneider get down to the heart and soul of musicianship by covering practicing, performing, and education.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

Covering Integrity

In this episode, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area drummer and songwriter, Brett Staggs, about the genre of metal, the practice of meditation, and the curious interaction between the two.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

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Metal, Meditation, and the Meaning of Life

In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump speaks to   English-American guitarist and singer, Joel Lindsey, about his journey from London to Pittsburgh and his transition from amateur to professional musician. Jump and Lindsey have a wide-ranging conversation about repertoire, gigging, discipline, and the importance of listening to oneself critically.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

Performance, Repertoire, and the Business of Music

In this podcast, Brian Jump answers questions about learning music, taking guitar lessons, practicing, performing and more. Guitarist and singer, Justin Sellers, co-hosts the episode and presents questions gathered from Facebook, colleagues, and friends.

If you'd like to support Jump, you can do so via Venmo and PayPal: 

https://account.venmo.com/u/Jump76

paypal.me/brianjump

Ask Me Anything 1

Join music educator and guitarist, Brian Jump, as he explores music history, education, and technology. 

Jump earned a bachelor’s degree in guitar performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in music technology from Duquesne University.  He teaches a wide range of classes at Community College of Allegheny County including Music Technology, Music History, Class Piano, and History of Jazz.

In addition to teaching, Brian performs regularly as a professional pop, classical, and jazz guitarist.

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