Musically Inclined [11.11.08]

Being an elementary education major, I would consider myself at least fractionally ignorant of all other majors. I would never trust myself to dissect a baby shark or explain the government of nineteenth-century Fiji. Given those obvious circumstances, it was a complete surprise when my friend, majoring in music education, asked me to help with her project. Her assignment was to compose an original song incorporating five different meters, four key changes, and several recognizable pieces of music. The finished product also had to be more than two minutes long. Thankfully, my friend was not requesting my help in composing. Unfortunately, she was a few beats shy of the two-minute minimum, and requested my so-called expertise. I listened to her arrangement, and then listened again. She sat on her bed in silence, seemingly willing to take any advice. It was reminiscent of a patient seeking advice for an unknown illness. I thought for a moment, then responded. "Just add a fermata." (For anyone that does not know music, a fermata is simply a symbol that indicates a hold somewhere in the music.) My friend giggled in delight, and left my office a satisfied customer.