Gemologists of Sound
- Chris Caton-Greasley
- Mar 27
- 11 min read
Updated: Mar 31
Index
What is a Gemologist of Sound?
In the adult world the meaning of a gemologist has been redefined to make profit both from the sale of gems and the job of creating perceived value. The activities of a gemologist include the study and evaluation of gemstones based on their properties, quality, and value (Career Explorer, 2025). This means that they employ scientific methodologies, including spectroscopy and refractometry, to understand the composition, structure, and visual properties of gemstones; this helps to determine their quality and value.
TQ (Triquetrae) Music Students are gemologists, utilising analytical tools to examine the structural and sonic attributes of musical works. At TQ Academies, gems are earned through practice, hard work, application, focus, and dedication. Each 'gem' represents mastery of a specific musical skill within a level, such as intonation, rhythmic accuracy, harmonic understanding, or stylistic interpretation. These musical gems are the currency of The Enchanted Kingdom. Within its borders, gems earned can be traded for age appropriate trinkets that can only be purchased with gems in the Gem-Bouree. Gems can be used as part payment for goods from The TQ Trade Outlet Music Shop (The Music Corner), for between ten to twenty percent discount off shop price of instruments, music and merchandise.
AI Generated Podcast Created from the Article
NotebookLM (Google NotebookLM) is a research and note-taking online tool developed by Google Labs that uses artificial intelligence (AI), specifically Google Gemini, to assist users in interacting with their documents. The audio below is a 'podcast' created from this article that can be heard on https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/54456a12-be2f-45b8-9a19-2b88f1db2273 or on Spotify.
The Enchanted Kingdom of Music
In the Enchanted Kingdom of Music, diverse fields of Gemologists aid the Musi-Dragons. In ancient times, the Kingdom was overseen by the Modal Masters, a lineage that began in the era of the Harmonic Convergence when the sounds fell on the grey earth bringing colour, rhythm, singing of songs as the music fell like rain. The Musi-Dragons, ancient beings led by Rudra, are the dragonification (like personification but with Dragons) of the ‘Guardians of the Sounds’. While other elemental guardians faded, the Dragons endured, like the sounds they embody, living for eons. Over millennia, they guarded the tones, until the advent of the dissonances. In recent ancient times, they withdrew from the visible world, inhabiting the instruments of man, designed to produce the tones they were reduced to.
For two thousand years, they entertained, their power diminishing and the excess sounds they were not permitted to use formed crystals of sound compressing over the decades and centuries into coloured gemstones, containing the sounds of voices lost. Then, during the dark ages, the sounds fell silent, life lost its colour and no-one sang, danced or spoke in more than a couple of tones. Some never spoke again. A great battle erupted between the Grand Maestro, who controlled the permitted sounds on the behest of the Dragons, interacting with mankind and training musicians over the eons. Every cycle a new Grand Maestro was found who personified the truth of music. It fell upon the Maestros of this time to defend the sounds, battle ensued with the representatives of new Major-Minor tonalities, originating from the Kingdoms of Logic and Order where the creative nature of the sounds were considered a resource to be controlled and restricted.
This conflict raged for five hundred years, resulting in the last of the Modal Grand Maestro's ancient lineage being subdued, and the gems scattered throughout the sound spiral, and within musical instruments that embraced the new ways. The General Major-Minor took the role of coordinator of the new ways and then established the ‘Major-Minor Music Academy’ to bring order and establish structure in the training of new musicians. Over the decades that followed, in the whispers, you can hear the sounds of the Ancient Ways in compositions of the General Major-Minor and their followers. Modal sounds are found, by those who remember, within compositions that are nominally in major or minor key signatures (mode :, 2017).
The composers who took the position of General Major-Minor became aware of the existence of Ancient ways and, as the times changed and mankind became more understanding of the creative potential of everyone. But all is not lost, the latest General Major-Minor has reached out to the MusiDragons and Rudra's power returns. The sounds, and the Grand Maestro, have a new harmonic agreement forming with mankind. Through the practice and dedication of these new students, the balance will be restored, where all sounds share the universal sonic structure of life. The Grand Maestro's instruments lead the way, capable of producing all tones, even the ones between the keys on the piano. Young and old are responding to the call for true harmony and students search for the gems as the Enchanted Kingdom returns to life.
The Enchanted Kingdom is a complete and vibrant world, featuring musical rivers that flow with melody, harmonic mountains that resonate with chords, and rhythmic forests that pulse with percussive life. These diverse landscapes, and their significance, will be explored in detail in future articles.
Safeguarding this realm are the Musi-Dragons: Rudra, Cerun, and Verdan. These ancient beings not only protect the Kingdom but also manage the Dragolian Banks and oversee the mining of the precious musical gems. In the aftermath of the great conflict, many gems were scattered throughout the Kingdom. Now, younger dragons and visiting music students embark on quests to find and collect these gems, aiding the elder dragons who still hold the memory of their power.
Towns
The Enchanted Kingdom is dotted with unique towns and villages, each with its own character and stories. The main towns are Stone Wall and Blue Water: These towns hold deep, historical secrets, and lore. This area is the far side of the ‘Circle of Fifths’ central highway in the kingdom, leading to different musical regions. It is surrounded by beds of flowers and plants each in the hues of the chordal structure according to the position on the road. A regular user may notice that the ground will only grow plants within the relevant chords. Entering this section any visiting students will require the inside knowledge revealed in ‘The Circle of Fifths Challenge’ and ‘The Triangle Triad Challenge’.
The length of the highway was significantly reduced to a Major road and a minor (less busy) section. Historically there were five additional levels which the Dragons used to fly though and around as they celebrated the movement of sound.
Each level connects a different land and peoples now separated apart from the ‘Bridges of Time’ - but that is another tale for another day.
The Colour Villages:
Redfield: A place of startings, beginnings, and diversions. This village is calming and very well signposted. It is suggested you follow the signs, as this village is surrounded by fields that contain many accidental issues. These can be shortcuts that have gone wrong, something done quickly without thought or time taken to understand or distractions (Madsen and Geringer, 1981).
Orange ‘Shroom: Not really a town, more of a village with big dreams but be vigilant; if the ‘Shrooms are in town, days, weeks, or months could disappear in a deep slumber dreaming of great things that could be with applied practice - however the ‘shrooms steal the dreams by enhancing a lack of action (Klinger, 2013).
Yellow Bottom: This village is renowned for its yellow stones, essential for defining triads, making it a crucial location for harmonic studies. The middle sound stone required for the Triangle Triad Challenge, to change the tonality of the chords. The third being the definer of the chord's colour (Doll, 2025).
Green Hill: Home to the Major-Minor Music Academy, this village is a center of musical learning and structured harmony. Contains a village green with the three music trees of the new sonic soundscape, major, minor and modal. The colours and shape of the leaves represent the wide range of sounds that are within the audible range (Reybrouck, Podlipniak and Welch, 2019).
Blue Mountain: Built into the side of a mountain, this village is inhabited by short, square people, each possessing a unique understanding of musical architecture. The shape of these people influenced Grand Maestro Guido when he shared the stave with humankind for the notation that came before General Major-minor took control of the sounds. This was called the Measured Time with its very square notation (Stainer, 1899).
Purple Deeps: Constructed on either side of a deep, shadowy crevasse, this village is vital for mining purple gems. However, its residents face constant danger from the mysterious beings that dwell in the shadows below, giving them a serious and determined nature. The effect of these beings can be felt in many ways - a favourite is changing a sound from the required sound, to one not required but sounds correct. This changes the harmonic structure, perception and emotional content of the sounds (Temperley, 1997).
Pink Cloud: This village is surrounded by flourishing cherry trees, creating a visually and aromatically delightful environment for inspiration and sonic dreaming but still maintaining the creative aspects of human and urban sounds of village life producing an affective atmosphere for creative expression (Croce et al., 2023).
The Gemologist Zones
Explore Zone: Identification: Identification gemologists analyze the structural components of musical pieces, identifying themes, motifs, and harmonic progressions, much like a gemologist identifies a stone's inclusions and crystal structure.
Achieve Zone: Grading: Grading specialists assess musical performance and composition based on established criteria, evaluating elements like technical proficiency, expressive depth, and adherence to stylistic conventions.
Develop Zone: Appraisal: Appraisal gemologists provide detailed reports on musical works, quantifying elements such as harmonic density, rhythmic complexity, and melodic contour, akin to a gemologist's assessment of a stone's carat weight and clarity.
Grow Zone: Research: Research gemologists delve into the ethnomusicological origins and cultural contexts of musical traditions, exploring the diverse 'gems' of global musical heritage.
Create Zone: Jewellery: Jewellery specialists look at the way music is used to ‘adorn’ experiences, looking at the way music is used in film, games, and other mediums throughout the ages past and moving into the sonic landscape of the future.
Build Zone: Colour: Colour Gemologists explore the emotional and expressive qualities of musical timbres and harmonies, collecting a spectrum of sonic 'colors' through dedicated practice and exploration.
Find Zone: Gem Specialist: Gem Specialist gemologists are treasure hunters, seeking out and document rare and unique musical ‘gems’, such as forgotten compositions from the Ancient times, innovative performance techniques, or cross-cultural musical fusions.
Fun Places to Visit
Beyond the villages and zones, the Enchanted Kingdom offers a variety of exciting locations for exploration and adventure, details will be available in future articles.
Lair of the Octave Spiders: This forest is where the crystal octave spiders live; listen to their song to know how to present yourself.
Mermaid Lagoon: The song of the sirens contains many treasures. Remember, not all treasure is helpful.
Sound Volcanoes: The home of the older dragons, gems are mined here and in the craggy surrounding area, covered in resonant sound and gem fragments. The sounds that emanate from these volcanoes are said to be the oldest sounds in the kingdom.
Stave: The bank of the Kingdom, open an account, draw out essential funds and keep your ideas and amulets safe, this can be found in the Over-Tone chapter of the Stone Wall.
Bell Flower Meadows: These delightful meadows are a fun way to pass an afternoon collecting melodies and memories.
The Old Castle: Dig for hidden scores written in the old language.
Amp-i’-theatre: The place of pyramids and power; the place where electric instruments can plug in the amps of the human world, then electric instruments can use the deepest power of music to work anywhere in the Kingdom.
The Gem-Bouree: Held once a year and well worth a visit to trade, exchange, and earn extra gems.
Congratulations
The Enchanted Kingdom, with its diverse landscapes and hidden treasures, provides the perfect training ground for our student gemologists. In 2024, they embarked on countless quests, amassing a total of 12,592 gems and demonstrating their exceptional skill progression through Levels One to Twelve. We are particularly thrilled to highlight the extraordinary efforts of Thomas, Ava, Charlotte-Rose, Ruthie, Alisha, Aubry, Aleesha, and Gracie, whose combined collection of 2,812 gems showcases the pinnacle of their dedication and achievement.
Glossary of Key Terms
Gemologist: In the traditional sense, a person who studies and evaluates gemstones based on their properties, quality, and value. In the context of TQ Music Students, it refers to individuals who analyse the structural and sonic attributes of musical works.
TQ Music Students: Students at TQ Academies who earn 'gems' (representing mastery of musical skills) through practice and dedication, using these gems as a form of currency within the Enchanted Kingdom.
The Enchanted Kingdom of Music: A vibrant world where musical concepts are personified in its landscapes, creatures (Musi-Dragons), and inhabitants, serving as a training ground for student gemologists.
Musi-Dragons: Ancient beings, led by Rudra, who are the dragonification of the ‘Guardians of the Sounds’ and protect the Enchanted Kingdom and its musical gems.
Modal Masters: A lineage of individuals who oversaw the Enchanted Kingdom in ancient times, prior to the rise of Major-Minor tonalities, representing an earlier harmonic system.
Harmonic Convergence: A mythical era when music first came to the world, bringing colour and rhythm.
Dissonances: Sounds that were not part of the permitted tones under the early rule of the Dragons, which compressed over time to form coloured gemstones containing lost voices.
Grand Maestro: A figure who personifies the truth of music and historically interacted with mankind, training musicians and defending the ancient sounds.
Major-Minor Tonality: The system of harmony based on major and minor scales, which came into conflict with the earlier modal system.
Circle of Fifths: A central highway in the Enchanted Kingdom, the layout of which is related to musical relationships, leading to different musical regions.
Triad: A chord consisting of three notes, often referred to in the context of the Triangle Triad Challenge in Yellow Bottom.
Accidental Issues: In the context of Red Fields, these are unexpected problems or mistakes that can arise from shortcuts or lack of careful consideration.
Gem-Bouree: An annual event in the Enchanted Kingdom where gems can be traded, exchanged, and earned.
Quick Quiz
In the context of TQ Music Students, what constitutes a 'gem', and how are these gems acquired?
Describe the role of the Musi-Dragons in the Enchanted Kingdom and identify their leader.
What historical musical shift led to a conflict in the Enchanted Kingdom, and who were the key figures or groups involved in this conflict?
Name and briefly describe the significance of two towns found on the far side of the "Circle of Fifths" central highway.
Explain the purpose and potential dangers of the village of Red Fields.
What makes Yellow Bottom village a crucial location for harmonic studies?
Describe the unique characteristic of the inhabitants of Blue Mountain village and its historical connection.
Outline the activities undertaken by gemologists within the 'Explore Zone: Identification'.
What is the purpose of 'The Gem-Bouree' in the Enchanted Kingdom?
What is the significance of the Sound Volcanoes within the Enchanted Kingdom?
TQ Teacher Training
Essay Format Questions
Discuss the parallels drawn between traditional gemology and the concept of "gemology of sound" as presented in the text. How effective is this analogy in understanding the activities of TQ Music Students and the values of the Enchanted Kingdom of Music?
Explore the historical narrative of the Enchanted Kingdom, focusing on the conflict between the Modal Masters and the proponents of Major-Minor tonalities. What does this conflict symbolise, and how has it shaped the present state of the Kingdom?
Analyse the significance of the various towns and villages within the Enchanted Kingdom. How do their unique characteristics and resources contribute to the overall understanding of musical concepts and the learning journey of the student gemologists?
Consider the roles and responsibilities of the different "Gemologist Zones" within the Enchanted Kingdom. How do these zones reflect different aspects of musical study and appreciation?
Imagine you are a student gemologist in the Enchanted Kingdom. Describe a quest you might undertake to find a specific musical 'gem' in one of the fun places to visit, detailing the challenges you might face and what the discovery of the gem might represent for your musical development.
Reference list
Career Explorer (2025). What Does a Gemologist do? - CareerExplorer. [online] www.careerexplorer.com. Available at: https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/gemologist/ [Accessed 21 Mar. 2025].
Croce, D., Mandic, D., Nirta, C., Pavoni, A. and PhilippopoulosMihalopoulos, A. (2023). Sonic Coexistence: toward an Inclusive and Uncomfortable Atmosphere. In: HEAR. [online] University of Westminster Press, pp.207–234. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.608325.10.
Dobie, R.A. and Van Hemel, S. (2010). Basics of Sound, the Ear, and Hearing. [online] Nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207834/ [Accessed 25 Mar. 2025].
Doll, C. (2025). Research Portal. [online] Rutgers.edu. Available at: https://scholarship.libraries.rutgers.edu/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Definitions-of-Chord-in-the-Teaching/991031549859804646 [Accessed 25 Mar. 2025].
Klinger, E. (2013). Goal Commitments and the Content of Thoughts and dreams: Basic Principles. Frontiers in Psychology, [online] 4. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00415.
Madsen, C.K. and Geringer, J.M. (1981). The Effect of a Distraction Index on Improving Practice Attentiveness and Musical Performance. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, [online] (66/67), pp.46–52. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/40317665.
mode :, L. (2017). Lydian mode: Famous Examples Throughout the Music History | Music Tales. [online] Musictales.club. Available at: https://musictales.club/article/lydian-mode-famous-examples-lydian-major-scale-throughout-music-history [Accessed 27 Mar. 2025].
Reybrouck, M., Podlipniak, P. and Welch, D. (2019). Music and Noise: Same or Different? What Our Body Tells Us. Frontiers in Psychology, [online] 10(1153). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01153.
Stainer, J. (1899). The Notation of Mensurable Music. Proceedings of the Musical Association, [online] 26, pp.215–236. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/765388.
Temperley, D. (1997). An Algorithm for Harmonic Analysis. Music Perception, [online] 15(1), pp.31–68. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/40285738.