Trying to learn Torah cantillation

[librarygeek]

So here's the issue:

Torah tropes, cantillation, are taught via basically a different musical notation scheme, where a small symbol over or under the accented syllable in a word stands for a specific musical phrase. The Torah tutor usually provides a recording of the chanted verses as well. Yes, I can read silently Hebrew with vowel marks for almost complete comprehension, but I still mix up SAYING asher versus acher. I can read treble clef to play piano at least as well as Eighties pop ballads, my normal singing range.

I have both some neurological damage caused dyslexia, and my audio processing disorder files the tutor's vocal range in "input error", incomprensible.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get a specific plainsong type chant in my head, when I don't have vowels in the scroll to read from? Genesis 18:5-6 in Hebrew, if that helps anyone knowledgeable on specifics.

I'm getting desperate, and frustrated, and the tutor doesn't quite understand the neurological damage and learning disorders.

Edited: Ok, I tried something different this morning: hand writing each word using a skeletal Hebrew hand, as I listen to each word. It's working, but my hand HURTS. Have I mentioned dysgraphia as well? Sigh.

I think I'm going to try a Dremel to carve my verses in our scroll size on a small plaque after I finally finish this writing.

Comments

Okay, not sure what the error might be

[dialecticdreamer]

As I understand it, using a nonsense, non-English example, the phrase is puh leram shu, chanted, but when you see the phrase as pu'h leram sh!u, each of the new symbols represents a specific musical phrase?

My suggestion is to copy the line or single phrase, but use a colored marker to mark either the notation, or the whole word including notation. (A different color for each phrase, of course, focusing on the verses needed immediately). Certain phrases, whether musical or spoken, will repeat, and making the colors obvious also gives you memory hooks for where the musical phrases fall.

It's substituting a strong visual cue instead of an auditory one, and might help make the visual symbols more consistent-- I'm not dyslexic, so I'm only basing this on trying to identify Japanese symbols for the Buddhist liturgy, when I don't speak Japanese, Sanskrit or Hindu, and the usual pace of recitation is "the speed of a galloping horse." (Talk about a steep learning curve!)

Can you record yourself and send the tutor a copy of the file, to see how they break down the problem into smaller bits? If they're not being clear enough, can you search online for someone else willing to explain the differences between what you're doing and what you need to be doing?

Also, if the tutor cannot explain it well enough for me to understand it, they're not doing the job well enough, to my mind. Yes, you may use the curious shiksa as an example.

oopsie

[dialecticdreamer]

Apparently, cantillion IS marked in a different color? The example I found had the cantillion in blue with the vowel markings in red.

Crap. Less than helpful advice from me, but I'm still noodling it over.

Also, is this voice in your "does not compute" range?
http://www.virtualcantor.com/133%20birkat%20hachodesh%201.mp3

This is the scripture with vowels marked. Does that make it easier to insert the cantillion markings?
https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8213/jewish/Chapter-18.htm

[gingicat]

So the part that's hard is not reading from the Chumash (do you use large print?) but from the Torah itself, which obviously can't be altered in any way and still be a scroll.

There must, at this point, be dyslexia-friendly study books with the Torah script on one side and the annotated text on the other. You would not be the first one to chant slowly enough to move the pointer along the Torah while following the printed book.

This is the system my workplace uses, in fact, Marion was our Hebrew reading specialist till health issues forced her to retire. http://www.cantoreducator.com/forsale/hiaf/

[gingicat]

Also, what is your vocal range? There are ways to digitally adjust a recording, and for two verses, could you memorize them?

(For easier reference later from mechon-mamre.org; unfortunately they don't have cantillation marked)

אַחַר תַּעֲבֹרוּ--כִּי-עַל-כֵּן עֲבַרְתֶּם, עַל-עַבְדְּכֶם; וַיֹּאמְרוּ, כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ. 5
And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast said.'
וַיְמַהֵר אַבְרָהָם הָאֹהֱלָה, אֶל-שָׂרָה; וַיֹּאמֶר, מַהֲרִי שְׁלֹשׁ סְאִים קֶמַח סֹלֶת--לוּשִׁי, וַעֲשִׂי עֻגוֹת. 6
And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.'

[librarygeek]

Remembering where you work, helped me think of some different ideas too. My Hebrew name is Aviva, I have been collecting haggadot for the Hag ha-Aviv for decades. ;-)

I'm hand writing my verses with the singing and repeating, and it seems to be working. If audio or text view isn't working, try kinesthetic means.

I had an ADHD kid 30 years ago when I was in high school and a Hebrew school teacher's aide, STOMPING his way through the prayers. No way he could remember sitting still. His little sister was almost blind, but great hearing. I gave her the tune of the first two words, and she could sing the rest of the prayer for me to initial the sheet. :-)

Thank you!

[librarygeek]

The links are WONDERFUL on that site. You are a tzaddik, a lamed-vavnik, and so is Marion! ✡️😇 You two have just saved a life, or at least what's left of my mind! 😁 You are worthy of being sealed for a better year, *just* on this, if I were asked! 💜💙💚

http://www.cantoreducator.com/ccafe/leyen/torahHaftarah/1Ber/04VayeiraTri1-1.shtml

Re: Thank you!

[gingicat]

Hardly one on the thirty-six, but very glad it helps!

Re: Thank you!

[librarygeek]

gingicat, does this still work?

You're practicing for tomorrow morning Shavuot.