Research-based Reading Program Essay Example for Free

Research-based Reading Program Essay The Texas Reading Initiative has outlined a fairly comprehensive statement on the value of reading and the significance of infusing the habit of literacy among the young. Besides teaching/conducting a reading program per se, the quality, depth and integrity of such teaching methodology is equally important. This is the main reason why most reading advocates have bannered the discourse of a â€Å"research based† reading program rather than the traditional teaching methodology for teaching children how to read. It works on the emerging assumption that teaching the young is delicate enough for the reading teacher to adapt a research-based method. The paper on Components of a Research-based Reading Program, part of the Red Book Series by the Texas Education Agency, outlines the fundamental attributes of the recent development of teaching reading among the young. It is composed of a deeper understanding of the recesses of a child’s mind, its formation, development and predictable growth (Hilgard, 2001). Generally, the essential attributes of these Twelve Essential Components comprise an advanced understanding of adult-child training and communication: the Teacher-Trainer, the channel and the recipient (the child). These maybe the basic attributes of ordinary communication but an analysis of the paper can reveal that the communication framework is actually the basis of this research-based program, not to mention that the concept of code interpretation and language are involved and mentioned in that paper. The two ends of this communication curve, the Teacher-trainer and the child are the live working elements of this reading program, which makes the simplest components. What is generally interesting in these Twelve Components is the channel element and how the child decodes the communication. The paper frequently discusses the concept of language and how the child perceives instruction from the teacher, which is its whole point. This is the brunt/meat of the teaching methodology, where the paper discusses â€Å"opportunities† and â€Å"strategies† to aid child development. Such things are stated on the paper as to how to exploit the nature of the language channel, where educators strategically use the oral component to understand the written language-the act of reading. According to the authors, by the oral way, the child is directed into opportunities for appreciating sounds, its differences and â€Å"referents†, a concept used by linguists. They say that children may read aloud and â€Å"understand their building blocks† (www. tea. com), which we assume as auditory building blocks. This may imply that to reinforce one’s reading, one has to learn how to speak it first, using the auditory logic of the language’s construction, thus utilizing the nature of the child’s brain to absorb these â€Å"building blocks† into communicative memory (www. childdevelopmentinfo. com). And of course, there is the written format to contend with. This is where the recipient can visually decode using some of the strategies. Decoding in this context means visually playing with the language construction (â€Å"wordplay† as the paper says) through â€Å"blending† and what they call â€Å"word families† and writing patterns. On a lighter note, there is nothing new about the research-based reading program offered by the Texas Reading Initiative. The allegedly â€Å"new† methodology works much like teaching a foreign language to students in the collegiate level, but in the child’s case, localized and specialized for a kindergarten or grade-schooler. The same opportunities and teaching strategies have existed in basic foreign language class in university, and child psychologists seem to find it effective if made easier for children. Reference: Child Development Institute. Reading Improvement. Retrieved January 27, 2008, from http://www. childdevelopmentinfo. com/store/reading-improvement. htm. Hilgard, E. R. (2001). Introduction to Psychology. New York : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Problems and Solutions in the Fight Against Urban Poverty Essay

Problems and solutions in the fight against urban poverty Introduction – the advent of capitalism and the resultant economic inequality There can be no talk of modern poverty without talking first of capitalism, and as such, the capitalist model of production and the exploitation of labor is where I will begin my paper. Capitalism evolved from the feudal system, which was incorporated into western European societies hundreds of years ago. Under the feudal system, serfs worked the land and handed the surplus of their production over to the nobles, who owned the land and accumulated the surplus. This surplus was visible, occurring literally in the form of produced goods, and the feudal system was linked to the control of the state, which is how it was sustained - through the threat of force from the armies at the disposal of the nobles. The economic system later evolved into pure capitalism similar to the modern form that we are now familiar with, which involves the ownership of private property. That is, there is no longer any semblance of a communal institution and the state has been shut out from any influence on the development of this property. What this means is that the state now exists for the sake of private property, and the result is that self-interest (the interest of the individual property holder) takes precedence over communal interest. The bottom line is that those who own the most capital then have the largest amount of influence over the state, and since the state is dependent on the commercial economy, economic and institutional power now go hand in hand. The effects of this system on the worker (as opposed to the capitalist) are overwhelmingly negative. Since most workers will never accumula... ...e, Wilbert The Functional Theory of Social Stratification in Bendix, R and Lipset, S (eds) Class, Status and Power, 2nd edition, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. 1967 Tumin, Melvin Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis. American Sociological Review, Vol. 18, No. 4. (Aug., 1953) Marable, Manning. How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black America: Problems in Race, Political Economy and Society. Cambridge: South End Press, 2000. Ofari, Earl, The Myth of Black Capitalism. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1970 Tucker, ed, The Marx-Engels reader. New York: Norton, 1978. 2nd ed. Wilson, William J. The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, The Underclass, and Public Policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987. Woodson, Robert L., ed. On the Road to Economic Freedom: An Agenda for Black Progress. Washington, D.C.: Regenery Gateway, 1987.

Pros and cons of immigration to Asoa

This essay gives some general ideas guarding to the pros and cons of immigrating to an Asian country. Better opportunities for future development is the most important reason for people to immigrate to Asia. In Asia, there are many developing countries like China and the Philippines. These countries are in the progress of globalization, they need specialists who know deferent languages to help for their development. This provides many opportunities for Immigrants who usually know various foreign languages, and hence, gives a better career path to them.Besides, education is also a reason for immigration. There are many top universities In Salsa such as Twisting university and the university of Tokyo. Many people also consider Immigration Is a pipeline for them or their children to enter those top universities. Exchanging values and cultures Is also a benefit can be gained out of immigration. People immigrating to a foreign country usually face a huge culture shock. By experiencing the culture shock, people can actually have a chance to reflect to their own culture.Ideally, those people can absorb the good sides of the two cultures and eliminate the weaknesses of the cultures. Since the Russian culture is quite different from some of the Asian cultures, this culture can act even more effectively. For example, in Chinese culture, Taoism emphasizes living in harmony, be natural and spontaneous. On the other hand, there are also some drawbacks of immigration. First of all, It Is difficult to deal with the cultural differences. It is hard for a person to adopt and live in a totally culturally different environment.They need to learn about the local tradition In order to merge and communicate with the locals harmonically. New Immigrants might also face racism. New immigrants also need to deal with the language barriers. In Asia, there are many different languages and language systems with Russian. Only in China, there are more than 10 language systems. Immigration is a major decision in your life. Although, apparently, immigrating to Asia brings us a lot of new opportunities in terms of work and education, we need to also consider the downsides of it.Evaluate if you can handle the cultural differences and the language barriers before making the decision for immigrating to Asia. Pros and cons of immigration to Asia By catering_PVC 1st studying year, Faculty of Philosophy Essay â€Å"Pros and cons of immigration to Asia† Globalization brings a new immigration trend to Russia. People consider immigration to Asia as an easy opportunity to create a new life. Some of them want to have a specialists who know different languages to help for their development.This provides any opportunities for immigrants who usually know various foreign languages, and immigration. There are many top universities in Asia such as Twisting University and the University of Tokyo. Many people also consider immigration is a pipeline for them or their children to enter those top universities. Exchanging values and cultures is there are also some drawbacks of immigration. First of all, it is difficult to deal with different environment. They need to learn about the local tradition in order to merge and communicate with the locals harmonically. New immigrants might also face

Family Systems And Culture Influences Family System

Attachment patterns are defined to be the tie or bond made between the children and parents. To what extent are attachment patterns culturally determined? Attachment patterns are influenced by family systems and culture influences family systems. This being said, culture affects attachments a great deal when looking across the board of a variety of cultures. While this is the case, in the specific culture, the way parents attach to their child is considered â€Å"normal† to that family unit. Culture is unique across the world, therefore, attachment theories can’t be applied outside the culture it was relevant to, because it may differ and not be applicable. Norms dictate the way we see attachment patterns, for example, the Western phenomenon of anorexia is seen as unhealthy, but in places with famine, being severely underweight is considered to be their norm. The way to look at the effect of culture on attachment patterns is to not see which culture is most effective be cause that is not measurable when norms are not objective. Instead, to see how children attach due to culture. Mary Ainsworth performed the Strange Situation Experiment which held different situations with children involving the parent, child and stranger (McLeod 2008). Based on how the child reacted with the stranger with the room when the mother was there, when the mother left, when the both the stranger and mother left and how the child reacted when they were reunited led to the classifications of attachmentShow MoreRelatedElderly Care: Family and Government Should Work Together Essay1104 Words   |  5 Pages fall sick to diseases like Alzheimer. The responsibility of taking care of them now either fall into the hands of their immediate family, and in some cases extended family and or the government depending on the culture. However, to make for a result oriented care the government and family needs to work together and culture can influence the commitment of family to the care of the elderly. Determining who is old could be difficult sometimes considering some people could still be strong and agileRead MoreThe Macrosystem: From Child to Adult Essay1384 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper focuses mainly on the macrosystem, examining society, culture, and ecological system. Mental health and community counselors should keep in mind the complex, reciprocal interactions that characterize personal behavior in situations. Macrosystem: Describes the culture in which individuals live. Cultural contexts include developing and industrialized countries, socioeconomic status, poverty, and ethnicity. There have been a number of theories surveyed that are foundational to the professionRead MoreNovember 30 2014 BHS414 CASE MOD4 Essay817 Words   |  4 Pagesbehavior influence the decisions of the families he works with and possibly influence the ultimate health outcomes of their children? What roles do culture, ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status play in families experiences in the healthcare system? What factors, other than provider-patient communication, influence disparities in health outcomes? Cultural Empowerment What aspects of Dr. Williams behavior influence the decisions of the families he works with and possibly influence the ultimateRead MoreUrie Bronfenbrenner and his Ecological Systems Theory Essay example1063 Words   |  5 Pagesfirst and most important teachers, their families. The families have the most information about their childs strengths, weaknesses as well as the challenges the child faces. Being able to communicate with the families is vital to teachers in collecting in depth information about their students in order to be better equipped to meet the needs of the children. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory â€Å"looks at children’s development within the context of the systems of relationships that form their environmentRead MoreThe Influence of Confucianism on Chinese Culture Essays1742 Words   |  7 PagesThe Influence of Confucian Culture on Chinese Culture Introduction Confucian culture, also known as Confucianism, was founded by Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period, which was developed gradually after the Han Dynasty with benevolence as the core. Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism was the official ideology and the basis of mainstream ideology in the vast majority of historical periods of China, and it also influenced many southeast Asian countries in history. After a variety of shocksRead MoreThe Forest And The Trees By Alan G. 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These systems of influences range from intimate to broad and include: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1994) The main belief is that a person is not merely an outcome of development, but is also a shaperRead MoreThe Heritage Assessment Tool: a Cultural View of the Patient1121 Words   |  5 Pagesculturally different families, and uses those results to show how the nurse would proceed with health promotion based on the differences in health traditions between the three cultures. Health Maintenance The value a patient places on family values and their perceived support system can greatly influence their overall health maintenance. With two of the families interviewed, one with a Hispanic ethnic background and the other from an American Indian background, both families placed great valueRead MoreSynthesis Paper : Developing Cultural Self Awareness1726 Words   |  7 Pagesdescendants failed to believe counseling would benefit them or it was frown upon by their culture and communities. Counseling was viewed as ineffective for those of non-dominate culture. Culturally competent counselors must be aware of their culture, cultural worldviews, and cultural identity to better serve a diverse community. Cultural self-awareness is needed amongst counselors as those from diverse cultures begin to use counseling resources more. Cultural self-awareness among the counselors isRead MoreEssay about Hlt 324v Week 3 Complete Latest1517 Words   |  7 Pagesnutritional behaviors associated w ith different cultures. Identify the historical perspectives, belief systems, and other factors associated with these high-risk nutritional behaviors for each culture. Write a 1,500-3,000 word paper on your findings in which you accomplish the following: 1. Summarize the high risk-nutritional behaviors practiced among 10 different cultures. 2. Discuss the historical perspectives and belief systems of these cultures that influence the high-risk nutritional behaviors. 3

Financial Analysis on Retail Industry Essay - 2369 Words

Executive Summary This analysis studied financial information of three multinational corporations in the retail industry, Ralph Lauren, American Eagle, and Gap. This examination is predominantly and analysis of Ralph Lauren and American Eagle, and it compares its financials and performance to that of Gap. In order to reach a decision on which firm my company should invest in; we recreated and cleaned both company’s financial statements followed by an analysis using key financial ratios and metrics. My company is searching for the firm that would be more profitable in the following fiscal years. After completing an in-depth analysis of these companies, we concluded that Gap would be the best investment for future growth in the†¦show more content†¦Gap intensified its international strategy as well, opening stores in Europe and China, and outlets; accompanied by an e-commerce platform in Canada, Europe, and China. The company has 22% of sales from regions outside t he US, up 7.6% from the year-ago period. This industry shows a thrust of penetration in the international markets looking to increase in the next few years. Teenagers also play an important role in the industry trends. With 7.1% of US population they have been a powerful force in retail with the leading beneficiaries being Gap, Abercrombie, American Eagle, and Urban Outfitters. This ties sales growth for both Gap and American Eagle due to a majority of the teen population shopping at these two companies. Helping increase sales growth and produce for revenues for the firm. The biggest window for opportunity in the retail sector seems to be the overseas markets but especially China, according to the SP industry reports. Gap’s profitability has grown over the past three years showing larger EBIT and EBITDA margins which shows strong management and healthy earnings. 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Essay1292 Words   |  6 PagesWhat does this change mean for 7 eleven stores? Retail industry is thought to be most affected industry from changes in accounting for leases. At the moment most of the retail leases in the company are treated as operating lease. Changes in the lease treatment means retail companies will no longer be able to expense those leases rather have to capitalise it on balance sheet as asset and liability. Retailers like 7 eleven will book a â€Å"right-of-use† (ROU) in assets and present value of future leaseRead Moreswot analysis of french connection1637 Words   |  7 PagesFrench Connection Group plc Fundamental Company Report Including Financial, SWOT, Competitors and Industry Analysis Phone: +44 20 8123 2220 Fax: +44 207 900 3970 office@marketpublishers.com http://marketpublishers.com Phone: +44 20 8123 2220 http://marketpublishers.com French Connection Group plc Fundamental Company Report Including Financial, SWOT, Competitors and Industry Analysis Date: Pages: Price: ID: January 1, 2014 79 US$ 499.00 F05339C0744EN French ConnectionRead More(a) Threat of New Entrants and Substitutes for Tesco1258 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: This individual assignment will be assessed by means of a 3,500  ± 10% word Report. The assignment has been designed to allow you to develop and use your knowledge and skills in understanding key strategic issues relating to food retail internationalisation. You will be required to apply the strategic concepts and analytical techniques studied in this module. All the learning outcomes below will be assessed: 1. Demonstrate critical understanding and application of relevant theoriesRead MoreWalmart. Background:. Walmart Is A Retail Corporation That1567 Words   |  7 Pages Walmart Background: Walmart is a retail corporation that has multiple departments in each of its stores around North America. The departments range from clothing, to grocery, to electronics, to many other departments in a Walmart store that will fit a customer’s needs. Walmart is founded in 1962, by Sam Walton, who opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas. The Walmart headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas. Sam Walton was born in 1918 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. In 1950, Walton movedRead MoreThe Impact Of Retail Industry On The Retail Sector1660 Words   |  7 PagesI. 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Therefore, the failure of retail companies can lead to adverse impact onRead MoreAnalysis Of Halfords Plc Financial Analysis1276 Words   |  6 Pages Halfords Plc Financial Analysis Table of Contents 1-Executive summary............................................................................ 2-Introduction ....................................................................................... 2.1-About BIKE Industry†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2.2- Halfords Overview†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2.3- Halfords Key Competitors †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2.4-SportsDirect Overview ........... 3-Segmentation Analysis .............................. Read MoreDawson Lumber Company Limited Essay1516 Words   |  7 Pageslumber industry and assess whether a focus on the retail segment is beneficial to Dawsons strategic plan. Given that Dawson is one of the regions largest borrowers, NBC must be careful in how it manages this relationship. The Bank cannot afford to turn away NBCs business. However, extending Dawson additional credit may increase Dawsons default risk and jeopardize the potential for NBC to retrieve the $4.2mm term loan it is already owed. Industry Analysis Canadian Lumber Industry AnalysisRead MoreFinancial Statements Of Dillard s Inc Essay908 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to advise analyze the financial statements of Dillard’s, Inc. in order to recommend whether or not my client should invest $1 million in the large retail company. I will compare the financial statements of Dillard’s, Inc. its competitor, Kohl’s Corporation. 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Identifying the Components of Cognitivist Theories Used...

Lenora A. Mayne American Intercontinental University May 2013 EDU 622: Applying Learning Theories Identifying The Components of Cognitivist Theories used in, Kermit and The Keyboard. Abstract Cognitivism emphasizes on the explanation of cognitive structures and process, and the intervention of these structures and processes between instruction and learning (Glaserfeld, 1989). The study of cognitivism has allowed for educators, theorist and psychologist to understand the concepts of knowing, thinking and formulating feedback. In reviewing the sample texture, Kermit and the Keyboard, has allowed for philosophers and psychologist to review the interactional theories of learning process. Within this paper, will identify,†¦show more content†¦Philosophers and psychologist was able to determine three different cognitivist theories in relation to sample text to help capture the meaning of information processing using cognitivism. The three theories of cognitivist that was evaluated relates to the sample text Cognitive Information Processing (CIP), Piagets Theory and Perspective of Interactional Theories of Cognitive Development. The theories of cognitivist used within the text provided the essence of understanding and explaining Kermits learning in the story. The approach of using cognitive and knowledge development creates the mental process of attention, memory, producing and understanding the process of learning (Smith, 2002). The three different cognitivist theories, Cognitive Information Processing (CIP), Piagets Theory and Perspective of Interactional Theories of Cognitive Development helps capture the significants of cognitive and knowledge development in capturing the true meaning critical thinking. Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) develops the approach of problem solving and decision making. The concepts of cognitive information processing provides the content of effective decision making including being knowledgeable about the content of personal human values, interest, skills and preference (Peterson, 2008). Piagets theory develops the idea of formal operational stage of development. Piagets theory of cognitive

An in-Depth Analysis of the Use of Specific Musical Concepts in Correlation to the Romantic Period free essay sample

The Romantic Era was a period of great change and emancipation. It moved away from strict laws by allowing artistic freedom, experimentation and creativity. Romantic music evolved from ideas established in earlier periods, such as the classical period, and went further through the use of expression and passion. New musical concepts evolved due to current trends and the music was deeply personal and nationalistic. Musical concepts including pitch, tone colour and dynamics and expressive techniques each express the style of the Romantic period in differing ways. These concepts are exemplified through Nocturne and Valse, both by Chopin. Nocturne and Valse are both emotionally expressionistic pieces typical of the romantic era, written by Chopin, a renowned composer of the time. Through Chopin’s strong use of expressive techniques and dynamics, he shows his creativity and experimentation, which was a common motivation for composers of the time. This is typified through his vast use of crescendos, decrescendos, accents and differing volume levels including piano (soft), mezzo forte (moderately loud), pianissimo (very soft) and forte (loud). The Nocturne begins at a volume level of piano, which expresses feelings of gentleness. Throughout bars 1-9, the music remains in piano but with the occurrence of crescendos and diminuendos. Composers alike would frequently use dynamics to evoke emotional characteristics that they intended to express. The associated volume levels were merely consequences of the feelings. In bar 17, a crescendo leads up to the forte in bar 18. This loud onset of music expresses feelings of strength or dominance. Often composers of the romantic period would use ornamentation in their tunes to make them more intricate, interesting and expressive. While maintaining the overall melodic contour, ornaments affect the pitch by adding new notes to the melody and also affect the rhythm by making it busier. Ornamental techniques in the Nocturne and Valse include Trills, acciaccaturas and fast phrases of semi and demisemi quavers. Demisemi quavers A major characteristic of Romantic music involved sharp contrasts between faint whispers and sonorities of unprecedented power. As the Nocturne concludes, it experiences a loud forte contrasting with a decline in intensity, when the piece reaches pianissimo in the final 3 bars. The Valse experiences a wide range of dynamics and expressive techniques, with most bars containing a dynamic mark of some kind. This depicts the rise and fall in intensity and heightens emotions for the listener. The piece begins at a volume level of mezzo forte, but within the next bar is immediately lowering with the use of a decrescendo. This is the beginning of the large use of expressiveness that is heard through the piece. The Valse experiences extremes for example in bar 55, the volume level of forte increases to a sforzando in bar 56. This contrasts with bar 66, which changes to pianissimo. Chopin’s Nocturne is also characterised by pitch. His melodic structures were always highly original and reflective. Preference for song-like melodies evolved in the Romantic Period and this is demonstrated by Chopin in the Nocturne. The piece opens with a legato melody containing graceful upwards steps, which become wider as the line unfolds. The significant melody of the piece begins in bars 2-4. This melody is heard again throughout the piece and with each repetition, is varied by even more elaborate ornaments and decorative tones. This is shown in bars 10-12, 31-33 and 39-41. The character of the melody can be understood as it is played with legato articulation. This strongly illustrates a sense of smoothness and flow. As the Nocturne is played with legato articulation, this creates more freedom and expression. The Valse however, is played with Tempo Giusto. This means it is much more strict as it must be played in exact time. This does not allow for variation, unlike the Nocturne, which is common with waltzes. The smooth character of the Nocturne and Valse is also linked with the inclusion of sostenuto articulation. The loud pedal creates an overlapping effect, which contributes to the nature of the piece. The type of layer relationship shown in both the Nocturne and Valse is homophonic. They consist of a dominant melodic layer accompanied by subordinate harmonic layers. Many composers of this time, reached for extremely high or low sounds. This was in search of increased brilliance and depth in sound. Throughout the Nocturne the broken chords in the bass span from relatively high to low pitch with the lowest note, an f, in bar 8 and the highest, an a#, in bar 37. The treble experiences a similar type of pitch pattern, with notes ranging from mid pitch to high pitch, which can be seen in bars 30-37 of the piece. Romantic composers revelled in rich and sensuous sound, using tone colour to obtain variety of mood and atmosphere. Never before had timbre been so important. Composers sought new ways of blending and combining tone colours to achieve the most poignant and intense sound. The Piano, the favourite instrument of the romantic age, was vastly improved during the 1820s and 1830s. The piano’s tone became more ‘singing’. Its range was also extended. With a stronger instrument, the pianist could produce more sound. Need to create more sounds from the piano is highlighted in bars 36 – end of 37. Showing the composers use of 8va. Also wider range of keys further contributed to the expressions, which were so typical of the era. Different timbres can be created in a number of ways. Contributing factors to the flowing timbre of the Nocturne can include, use of the damper pedal, the varying registers and playing techniques. Within the nocturne and the valse, the density is thickened by the damper pedal. The use of the damper (loud) pedal allowed a sonorous blend of tones from all registers of the piano. This pedal is continued throughout almost every single bar of the pieces and enriches the tones sounded. Pedal markings The moving registers, as mentioned above, gradually vary the timbre. In the lower register the timbre is velvety and breathy. In the middle register the quality of sound is pure and in the upper register, the sound becomes quite high and singing. The middle register feels most comfortable. The upper and lower registers are usually extremes, which was becoming increasingly common during the romantic period. Within the Valse, the piece experiences elements of both lower and upper registers, but generally through step-like patterns and not sudden leaps. This is an example of the flowing timbre of the piece. The Nocturne experiences step-like patterns as well, but in the bass the notes are at rather large intervals, compared to the Valse. Playing techniques are a large component in the timbre of a piece. Some techniques in the Nocturne include accents, which involves a rather emphasised striking of a key and legato playing, which enables a smooth connection from one note to another. Example of an accent The brightness of the sound produced, referred to as sonic lustre, can be depicted in pieces. The sonic lustre of the pieces can be described as warm and rich in parts and also clear and luscious throughout most bars. The nocturne contains mellow timbral qualities but when the volume is at an extreme it affects the sonic lustre. This is also similar in the Valse, for example when it reaches up to sforzando and down to pianissimo. Through analysing Chopin’s Nocturne and Valse, with the intertwining of the three musical concepts, there is a sense of cohesion. Dynamics and expressive techniques, pitch and tone colour all link together to create interesting and expressive pieces. Therefore many different aspects of the concepts combine together and this is shown above. Both pieces also hugely resemble the style of the romantic period, as Chopin was one of the greatest and most influential composers of the time.