Letter from Jack (9/8)
Dear Concert Orchestra,
I really enjoyed getting to know you on Monday. I hope you will take some time to come say hello before or after rehearsal- I’d love to get to know you better! And it was great to jump into this new music head first. I know it was a little overwhelming. Next week will be better, primarily because you all will have done some great……
PRACTICING!
Your careful preparation is essential for the advancement of our orchestra- and your peers are counting on you to do good work!
******Please focus all of your practice effort this week preparing Singing River.******
This piece has some unique challenges for you to tackle: older, handwritten notation, sparse musical textures, a tricky key signature, mature bowings…. JUMP IN AND GET TO WORK!
Here are some thoughts to guide your preparation:
Think MACRO-MICRO-MACRO.
MACRO
Start with large-scale issues. Name the key signatures, name the time signatures. Circle any changes to key or meter. Translate any foreign musical terms into English. Circle changes in tempo. Notice slurring patterns. Notice pitch patterns.
MICRO
Find the most difficult part of the piece. Identify the challenge with this passage, being as specific as possible. Does this excerpt have a challenging rhythm? Is the bowing awkward? Does it call for advanced fingerings? If I’m a percussionist, do I need to switch instruments quickly? Is it written in a tricky key? Do the dynamics cause more technical issues to arise?
Answering these questions will help you to make a plan and solve some of these issues quickly. Resist the urge to “solve” large chunks of music in one practice session.
Remember- mastery of anything, no matter how small, is something to celebrate.
MACRO
Put on a metronome (at a slow tempo) and try to play through a larger chunk of music. Resist the urge to stop and “re-start”. Push yourself to keep moving, making notes of problems that pop up after you finish.
Listening to recordings is one of the best ways to jump-start your learning this early in the process. I’ve linked some good recordings below. Please listen to each recording at least once before our next meeting.
RECORDINGS
Walton: A Shakespeare Suite From Richard III (We’ll focus on the following 3 movements for September).
Schedule Next Week
6:45-7:45 PM: Singing River
7:45-7:55: Break
7:55-8:00: Announcements
8:00-8:20: Sight Read Prokofiev’s Troika
8:20-8:45: Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance no. 4
I’m looking forward to making music with you in a week’s time!
Jack.
Upcoming:
- Concert Orchestra’s Fall Retreat is on Saturday, September 27 from 11:00am–5:00pm at Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis.
- Register for the Concerto Competition by Tuesday, September 30