This was pointed out to me by one of my students. Good article. I felt the writer really captured the feeling of professional auditions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/arts/music/18waki.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&ref=arts
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Tenuto: The Truth is Out There
So you're in an ensemble, playing a big tenuto passage. You feel as if you're really sustaining the notes.
Later you hear the recording and the trombone notes sound separated. "What's going on?" you think. "I know we were sustaining those notes..."
Look at the diagram below:
Everything above the line can be heard out in the hall. Everything below the line may audible where you're sitting but not out there.
If you're not really sustaining the dynamic the effect is separation.
Consider the reverse: if a younger brass section tends to "wah" their attacks...
In this case, they started the note on time but, to the conductor, it sounds like they are coming in late.
Later you hear the recording and the trombone notes sound separated. "What's going on?" you think. "I know we were sustaining those notes..."
Look at the diagram below:
Everything above the line can be heard out in the hall. Everything below the line may audible where you're sitting but not out there.
If you're not really sustaining the dynamic the effect is separation.
Consider the reverse: if a younger brass section tends to "wah" their attacks...
In this case, they started the note on time but, to the conductor, it sounds like they are coming in late.
"Get right to the ah of tah"
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Bone Laws!
I guess I'm inspired by those beer commercials in which a bunch of guys sit around a table and declare things to be MAN LAW
Well, for the USC Band Clinic master class I thought I'd have some fun and create a list of Bone Laws.
Here's a link to the pdf file on the BoneZone website.
Well, for the USC Band Clinic master class I thought I'd have some fun and create a list of Bone Laws.
Here's a link to the pdf file on the BoneZone website.
No, I'm not endorsing Miller Lite, or beer, or men or laws. I'm also not not endorsing them.
Please no lawsuits.
Please no lawsuits.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Little Dotted Magic Tricks
More image fun!
Try out these two:
"Hmm," you ask, "What could be the connection this time?"
The Carolina Trombone Collective recently performed a transcription of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks. The allegro section of the overture has extended passages of dotted rhythms. Like this:
Maybe I'm hyper-sensitive to this but, in rehearsal I gave them grief for slipping into "triplet mode"...
And thus I return to my old theme..Relate to the Familiar!!
What do most kids say after pulling off a magic trick....
TA-DAAAH
It's interesting how, wherever you go, people say those syllables with the same rhythm (quick "TA" right before the "DAAH")
Sooooo...
Think of that dotted rhythm sequence as a string of little magic tricks...
"Daaah, Ta-Daah, Ta-Daah, Ta-Daah, etc.)
Try out these two:
"Hmm," you ask, "What could be the connection this time?"
The Carolina Trombone Collective recently performed a transcription of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks. The allegro section of the overture has extended passages of dotted rhythms. Like this:
Maybe I'm hyper-sensitive to this but, in rehearsal I gave them grief for slipping into "triplet mode"...
And thus I return to my old theme..Relate to the Familiar!!
What do most kids say after pulling off a magic trick....
TA-DAAAH
It's interesting how, wherever you go, people say those syllables with the same rhythm (quick "TA" right before the "DAAH")
Sooooo...
Think of that dotted rhythm sequence as a string of little magic tricks...
"Daaah, Ta-Daah, Ta-Daah, Ta-Daah, etc.)
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Horns and Sombreros
Two more images to link...
Perhaps you've worked on Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. This excerpt poses many lovely challenges. One of them: make sure the pickup notes are triplets.
A recent lesson: a student couldn't get the triplet feel. With the metronome running, I asked him to play the Mexican hat dance. BOOM! the triplet troubles vanish.
Old theme: relate to the familar!
Metronome still running, I ask him to start out with mexican hat dance and then transition smoothly into Valkyries. Like this:
No triplet troubles on hat dance BUT as soon as he switches to "Valkyrie Mode" the triplet feel is lost.
Hmmmm...
Perhaps you've worked on Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. This excerpt poses many lovely challenges. One of them: make sure the pickup notes are triplets.
A recent lesson: a student couldn't get the triplet feel. With the metronome running, I asked him to play the Mexican hat dance. BOOM! the triplet troubles vanish.
Old theme: relate to the familar!
Metronome still running, I ask him to start out with mexican hat dance and then transition smoothly into Valkyries. Like this:
No triplet troubles on hat dance BUT as soon as he switches to "Valkyrie Mode" the triplet feel is lost.
Hmmmm...
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Cake and Colts
OK, so I'm going to try to link these two images:
Cake and the offensive line of the Indianopolis Colts.
Here goes:
Perhaps you've heard of the big three:
In other words, the Three T's.
As you seek a vibrant, compelling musical performance, don't lose track of those basic three elements.
Think of it this way: it doesn't matter if you've got great frosting if you have a lousy cake.
Imagine the final two players at an audition. One player has all that "frosting" stuff but the cake isn't quite as solid. The other player may not be the most subtle musician but, man, that "cake" is totally solid. You want to root for the "frosting" player but the "cake" player is just so solid!
Reminds me of the superbowl. From what I saw of it, the real source of the Colts victory was that offensive line. Imagine those Bears defensive linemen: spinning, faking, twisting. But, play after play, there was just no getting past those stolid offenseive lineman.
Cake and the offensive line of the Indianopolis Colts.
Here goes:
Perhaps you've heard of the big three:
- In time
- In tune
- Good tone
In other words, the Three T's.
As you seek a vibrant, compelling musical performance, don't lose track of those basic three elements.
Think of it this way: it doesn't matter if you've got great frosting if you have a lousy cake.
The Three T's = the cake
Musical nuances = the frosting
Musical nuances = the frosting
Imagine the final two players at an audition. One player has all that "frosting" stuff but the cake isn't quite as solid. The other player may not be the most subtle musician but, man, that "cake" is totally solid. You want to root for the "frosting" player but the "cake" player is just so solid!
Reminds me of the superbowl. From what I saw of it, the real source of the Colts victory was that offensive line. Imagine those Bears defensive linemen: spinning, faking, twisting. But, play after play, there was just no getting past those stolid offenseive lineman.
Flashy defensive player = the "frosting" player
Immovable offensive player = the "cake" player
Immovable offensive player = the "cake" player
Of course, ideally, you want both great cake and great frosting...
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Accurate Hungarians
Here's a good trick for improving slide accuracy. Take this example from Hungarian March by Berlioz...
Sometimes the slide placement/accuracy isn't so hot. To improve your accuracy (and your ear), try changing some of the notes in the run, like this....
Or this....
In other words: wrong notes on purpose BUT hear them as you play the run.
Sometimes the slide placement/accuracy isn't so hot. To improve your accuracy (and your ear), try changing some of the notes in the run, like this....
Or this....
In other words: wrong notes on purpose BUT hear them as you play the run.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Swing and Sway with the CTC
The Carolina Trombone Collective has some performances coming up..
Wed. Feb. 7th, 12:30 pm, Trinity Cathedral
Mon. Feb. 12th 6pm School of Music Recital Hall
Fri. Feb. 16th 1:15 pm USC Band Clinic, Koger Center Stage.
Oh, and about the swinging and swaying. Well, the 3rd movement of the Royal Fireworks Music is in a slow 12/8, a little hard to feel as a group. I suggested, for rehearsal purposes, we all sway in time to the big beat. A little goofy but it seemed to help.
Wed. Feb. 7th, 12:30 pm, Trinity Cathedral
Mon. Feb. 12th 6pm School of Music Recital Hall
Fri. Feb. 16th 1:15 pm USC Band Clinic, Koger Center Stage.
Our Trinity Program:
Ave Maria (Angelus Domini) - Franz Biebl Arr. Royce Lumpkin
Royal Fireworks Music - Georg Friedrich Handel, Tran. Eric Carlson
Overture
BoneWeek Fanfare #4 - Brad Edwards
Beautiful Savior - Melius Christiansen
Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral - Richard Wagner, Arr. Rodney Miller
Our Feb. 12th Program:
BoneWeek Fanfare #4 - Brad Edwards
Scherzo Funebre, Op. 86 - Derek Bourgeois
Match - Rainer Lischka
Royal Fireworks Music - Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), Trans. Eric Carlson
Overture
Boureé
La Paix
La Réjouissance
Hex Files - James Kazik
Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral - Richard Wagner, Arr. Rodney Miller
Oh, and about the swinging and swaying. Well, the 3rd movement of the Royal Fireworks Music is in a slow 12/8, a little hard to feel as a group. I suggested, for rehearsal purposes, we all sway in time to the big beat. A little goofy but it seemed to help.
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