Letter from Ms. Mary (9/29)

Hey Philharmonia West,

Thanks for your work on Monday evening.  We had our first sectional of the year.  Much was accomplished in our smaller groups.  These sectionals gave us a chance to woodshed* some passages and make even further strides.

We continue to focus on the E minor scale. Scales are essential to everything that we play!  I hope that in your individual practice at home you incorporate scales into your daily routine.  Athletes don’t just show up to games-at least this is true for the great ones!  They continue to work on drills and exercises, similar to musicians working on scales!  Be a musician/athlete this week!  Power-work those scales!

We have been spending quite a bit of time on Ukrainian Folk Songs.  Our primary focus has been bowings and being in the correct part of the bow.  We will review this for our next rehearsal.  Between now and next Monday, please spend some time working on Jubilee Fanfare.  Are you counting all of the dotted half notes? Can you woodshed 35-53? How long does it take to carefully play this passage 5 times?

Next week, we will focus on Tyro Tango and Jubilee Fanfare.  Come prepared to continue woodshedding some of the trickier passages. I would love to know what your favorite piece is that we are currently working on. Send me an email at mary@gtcys.org and let me know what that piece is.

Have a great week.  Work hard, play hard.

P.S.  Can you memorize what the definition of woodshedding is?

*Woodshed-to rehearse a difficult passage repeatedly until it can be performed flawlessly