Simandl Question

[ajaxon]

I have been working out of Book I of the Simandl method. On the Exercises in syncopated Notes in the II position there are tie and slur lines that are connected to a dot instead of a note.

Is this a common thing in classical music? I am a band director and I have never seen this anywhere but in this book. Sometimes the lines connect to a dot in the same space or line but sometimes the dot is in a different space or line. Does this mean that note changes if it is in a different space or line? It starts in #3.

[jsbarber]

I believe that the dot is actually dotting the last note for the preceding measure, indicating that a dotted half note has the additional quarter note duration extending into the following measure for instance. This makes sense when the note remains the same, but as you point out he does it when the actual note changes. In the latter case you would think that he might just place a quarter note (or eigth note, when preceded by a quarter note) on the right spot on the staff in the next measure and tie together.

If you read the discussion, he is trying to communicate his phrasing intent for the syncopation with this notation:

"It is immaterial whether a light or heavy beat is syncopated in one note or whether the note of the light beat is slurred to the next note or an extending dot, the two syncopoated parts of a bar must always be played in one bow, and the light beat of every syncopated note must be prominently accented."

Hope this helps. I don't believe this is any kind of standard notation, rather an instructional "aid"

[David Potts]

I have always read this as his shorthand for tying the note over but shortening it slightly Doing so you can more easily control the following bow stroke and the shape of the phrase to avoid sudden lurches that swell or accent the following note and wreck the shape of the phrase.

I believe there has to be a sense of physical balance in all our movements when playing.
Shortening a tied note slightly helps keep that balance.

DP