Letter from Kaiser (11/4)

Hello Camerata Vivace!

Welcome back to our couple of December rehearsals! Tonight, we finished sight-reading the last movement of Ode to Childhood and prepared for our Holiday Concert on December 14^th (call time 1:05pm at Roseville Lutheran Church). As I alluded to in rehearsal: I need to start hearing some legitimate practicing results in Ode to Childhood. Every rehearsal needs to be a space where we can make gains, not just survive through the difficult passages.

*Side note: It would be wise to consider starting your spring audition preparations now! I know it may seem early, but I also know many of you are passionate about moving yourself through the orchestras of GTCYS, or at least within your sections, too. Look for good solo repertoire (the GTCYS website can help), ask for help with excerpt preparation, and grow your skills.

GTCYS 10:

• Ode to Childhood: All Musicians: Mvmt II Rehearsal 3 – Rehearsal 4. This section has unique rhythms across all sections of the orchestra; you must be excellent at your own part for the sum of our pieces to add up well.
• Ode to Childhood: Strings: Look through your parts in Mvmt II: Between Rehearsal 12 and the end of the movement. Slow intonation work with a metronome will help with this!
• Ode to Childhood: Brass: Mvmt III: All areas of “brass choir” that we worked on tonight need a confidence boost!
• Ode to Childhood: Woodwinds: Mvmt II: Flute/Oboe before Rehearsal 6: 16^thnotes, Clarinet: Legato 16ths at Rehearsal 4, Bassoon, any “solo” moments we found tonight in rehearsal.

Looking ahead:
-12/11 Last rehearsal of 2025
-12/14 Holiday Concert
-1/8 First rehearsal of 2026
-1/29: Woodwind/Brass Seating Auditions
-2/5 String Seating Auditions
-2/28 World Premiere Concert: Ode to Childhood

Funny Video, “How to Read Sheet Music”. This is one of my favorite videos this time of year.

Happy Practicing! See you soon!

Best wishes,
Kaiser

“The piano ain’t got no wrong notes” – Thelonious Monk