The Laugh Track Phenomenon

After reading Chuck Klosterman's article on laugh tracks, I went on to YouTube, and found two clips from to completely different shows; Fresh prince of Bel-Air from the 90s and Family Guy of present time. In the scene of the episode of Fresh Prince, Will is being interviewed by a man from Princeton. At first, this starts out to be a total disaster, but then once Will solves a Rubik's cube, Will and the recruiter hit it off. Aside from the fact of this being an unusual way of getting accepted in college, what really struck my attention was the amount of moments laughing was inserted. The laughing usually chimed in about almost every line that was spoken or when a physical gesture was made. While I agree with Klosterman's statement of this being a sign of insecurity, it has just become too natural to anyone that normally watches television to even be bothered with this idea. Then, there is the episode of Family Guy where Chris is kicked out of public school for being the least intelligent person in the school. This causes everyone in the Griffin's to get two jobs in order to make this work; Lois and Meg are hookers, Peter is a butt scratcher salesman, and Stewie follows fat people around with a tuba. Moreover, is the fact that there is no laugh present, letting the audience at home decided what is actually, and in turn, is ironically a controversial television program.    
   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdy_Fjdox4w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydVp-2B8qlw

Research Topic

Music is an art of sound, consisting of rhythm, harmonies, melodies, dynamics, and the qualities of timbre. It is a form of expression used to convey a variety of emotions, from happiness, to melancholy, to anger, to mystery, to relief, and so on. Therefore, it is one of the greatest natural healing tools know to man. Music Therapy is the use of music and /or musical elements by a qualified music therapist with a client or group, in progress designed to facilitate and promote communication, relationships, learning, mobilization, expression, organization and other relevant therapeutic objectives, in order to meet physical, emotional, mental, social and cognitive needs. Music therapy aims to develop potentials and/or restore functions of the individual so that he or she can achieve better intra- and inter- personal integration and, consequently, a better quality life through prevention, rehabilitation or treatment. (World Federation of Music Therapy 1996)   My topic, will be dealing with the area of Music Therapy and its effectiveness. A few examples of approaches include: Behavioral music therapy; using music to modify appropriate behavior and to reduce or eliminate bad or inappropriate behaviors, Psychotherapeutic music therapy; where music is used to help the client gain insight into their world, and Educational music therapy; where music therapists relate to learning processes, development, realizing potential and meeting the needs of children in connection with their educational program.   

Recommended Journal

         The article my professor, Dr. Zach Collins, recommend to me, was written by my professor about the successful career one his professors during his graduate work at University of Southern California, Dr. Jim Self. His first musical experience was watching his dad jamming on the piano with an African-American household. Later, his dad gave him a Gibson ES 175 electric guitar when he was nine, and continued to use it through college, as well as using it during his composing process. He started playing tuba in eighth grade, and eventually went on to play in district, region, and all state bands. Self, then attended Indiana State College, now know as Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying with William Becker, a trumpet player. His lessons with Becker focused on the basics: tone, rhythm, phrasing, musicality, musicianship, and professionalism. While second guessing his time at IUP, Self was very fortunate to be a part of numerous ensembles at the university including: the wind ensemble, brass choir, marching band, IUP big band (guitar). College choir, Men's vocal ensemble, and was on stage in the spring musicals. Just before graduating, Self landed a position in the U.S Army Concert Band. While with the Army band, he learned a crucial skill to musicians, known as sight reading music. Dr. Self also discovered that he want to continue his studies of the tuba. This eventually led to him finding Harvey Phillips, a freelancing musician in New York. With Phillips, Self learned more about tuba solo literature and obtained more playing gigs. After leaving the Army Band and a short stint as an elementary band teacher, he became a professor of Tuba at the University of Tennessee. In 1979, Self began his doctoral degree at the University of Southern California, a degree in which finished in 1976, after his recital. His tuba playing is most recognizable on such movies as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Home Alone. 


     After reading this article, I found the article to be subjective despite the fact that Dr. Collins wrote this article about his professor. Dr. Collins sites 30 different sources in this article, to what his teachers said about his study habits, to what his peers thought about his work ethic. This article, in full detail, describes what one man who started his life with both of his parents dying, to become a world-class, studio musician. I believe that this is relevant to me because in the world of musical performers, most people usually only hear of the failures that people endure in pursuing a career. It is a very secure feeling to know that if you work hard and can put yourself out there, dreams do come true.                 

Zach Collins. "Jim Self: A Fortunate Musician"

ITEA ( International Tuba Euphonium Association) Volume 36 (Spring 2009)

print and online journal

Response to Richtel Article

I  believe that Richtel's article was not only talking about one mans excessive use of technology, but of societies dependence on electronic devices. This subject leads to the questions of: " Can we really multitask?", " Are we capable of separating ourselves from digital toys to spend time with the people we care about?",  "Will we be able to model to others peers how to limit are use of digital free time?" After reading this article, I found that most human begins have a very difficult time with balancing "electronic fun time" and other matters of supreme importance. Although  we use technology for communication and entertaining, humans abuse this tool to the extreme. Just like Kord Campbell and his family, society would not know how to live without digital devices. Furthermore, the digital era is destroying are communication skills with real live interaction, as apposed to social interaction websites like Facebook. Moreover, the Campbell's family vacation, for a while, was just the family sitting around on their devices. Ironically, very similar to most American family vacations today. Finally, excessive use of  technology can ruin a person marriage and family life. When spend so much of your time on the computer or another electronic, you end up over looking play time with your children, private time with your spouse, and other important moments in a family's history.             

Jeremy McGraw

Hello,

My name is Jeremy McGraw. I am a junior, music education major here at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. While I used to play Euphonium, which is basically a small tuba, I was just recently switched to tuba. The only kind of music I can not stand to listening to is country and emo/death metal.  Other than listening to music, I enjoy watching movies, including one's with Mel Gibson, and playing video games, like Rock Band.  I am also not fond of reality television and my favorite television show is Family Guy.