Yesterday was not really a good day and I arrived at my lesson feeling rather fraught and frazzled. I was not really in the frame of mind for learning. We pressed on anyway.... through a slow Ferling study that needed quietness and calmness and controlled breathing, onto the Hindemith second movement with long, sweeping slow phrases followed by a chance to really go for it with fortissimos and accented notes. Then a sense of spaciousness and elegance with the start of Telemann's Fantasia no 7.
By the end of the lesson I felt like a different person and was ready to face "real life" again.
On a forum that I read, someone recently posed the question "Why Study Music?"
For me, this is why: it soothes my soul.
Showing posts with label Telemann. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Telemann. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Term finally begins
The new term is now underway. I was more than a little excited about starting orchestra again, and finding out what we would be playing for the next concert. Everyone is usually a little rusty at the first rehearsal of the year, and also a little over excited. There is a lot of catching up to do. I have kept playing over the summer so thought I'd find it easy to get back into it. In some respects that was true, but I particularly noticed that my playing had become much quieter over the summer. I think it is the practice room effect - what sounds loud when I am playing at home suddenly seems very quiet indeed when I am in a large rehearsal room playing along with a full orchestra. Hopefully that will remedy itself over the next few weeks.
The music for this session will be enjoyable:
Debussy - Petite Suite (which I think has some nice oboe bits in)
Mozart - Magic Flute Overture
Smetana - Vltava (a simpler arrangement of the original)
We are also going to be doing a Symphony but we will get the music for that next week.
I also had my first lesson of the term. We spent time on Luft Study 23, Telemann 4 and Orientale - all of which I was working on over summer.
for next time I will start working on Telemann Fantasia number 7, Luft Study 24, Ferling Study 41.
Also continue Orientale focussing on phrasing, rubato, expression and we will look at the Hindemith.
Next lesson will be in 2 weeks time.
The music for this session will be enjoyable:
Debussy - Petite Suite (which I think has some nice oboe bits in)
Mozart - Magic Flute Overture
Smetana - Vltava (a simpler arrangement of the original)
We are also going to be doing a Symphony but we will get the music for that next week.
I also had my first lesson of the term. We spent time on Luft Study 23, Telemann 4 and Orientale - all of which I was working on over summer.
for next time I will start working on Telemann Fantasia number 7, Luft Study 24, Ferling Study 41.
Also continue Orientale focussing on phrasing, rubato, expression and we will look at the Hindemith.
Next lesson will be in 2 weeks time.
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Looking forward and looking back
Summer is nearly over and in less than a week the new term will be begin. Despite having no real connection with schools anymore - the academic year still exerts its influence. Everything seems to stop over July and August. Life steps down a gear - though work still continues at usual it just becomes harder to get anything done. August is my least favourite month.
But September is something else. I love September. A chill comes into the air, Autumn clothes are dug out, life begins to pick up again. After the lethargy of the "summer" I feel a new energy to embark on new projects and get back to all my usual activities. Orchestra begins next Tuesday with my first oboe lesson the day after. A new term, a new academic year, a new start. I already have my new practice book, am wondering what music we will be playing in our first Orchestra concert and have started browsing June Emerson wondering what music my teacher may suggest we work on this term.
This week I've booked myself on two courses for next year. One is a day's reed making course, the other a weekend wind ensemble playing course. They are both months off but I am already excited. Later this year there is a double reed day that I am hoping to go to, and in February an annual wind play day which is always lots of fun.
Summer practice has been reasonably productive though. At the start of the summer I wrote a list of old repertoire that I wanted to play through. I have come to the end of that list now - some pieces I lingered over for a few days (Marcello and Cimerosa concertos, Britten Metamorphoses, Poulenc Sonata), for others one play through was sufficient (Meyer Rustical Miniatures, Schumann Romances). I also played through the Ferling Studies that I studied in my first year of lessons. I've played through some of the Luft studies too.
I've managed a little bit of reed making - not as much as I maybe should have done but I have managed to do 3 or so practice sessions on reeds that I have made myself. A small step in the right direction.
I think I've improved on the pieces that my teacher asked me to look at:
Telemann Fantasia No 4 - I think I am just beginning now to really get to grips with the second movement. It has been a struggle - but finally it is paying off. A few more days will hopefully make this even more secure.
Harty - Orientale. There are some timing bits here that I can't fathom but the rest of it is coming together reasonably. Though need to work on the cadenza runs a little this week.
Hindemith Sonata Mvt 2 - this has really grown on me. I have been playing this along to a recording in the last couple of weeks. It isn't something I often do but in this case it has really helped in understanding the music. Playing with the piano accompaniment has made a number of things click into place.
Luft Study 23 - notes are fairly secure and have been working on playing through, breathing, phrasing.
Luft 24 - well, I wasn't asked to look at this, but I have done and it is sounding OK now.
Scales are becoming more engrained, I've worked on playing extended major scales (tonic to highest note on instrument, down to lowest and back to tonic) and playing major scales in 3rds. They are beginning to be more fluent now.
I think my tuning and vibrato has also improved over the last few weeks when I've been able to put in very consistent practice.
What will this year bring? No exams to focus on this time, but I am looking forward to improving all aspects of my playing by exploring lots of new repertoire. I would like to focus on learning to make reeds so that I can more self reliant in that departmnet. I would also love to buy a Cor Anglais at some point. Let's see what the year brings.
But September is something else. I love September. A chill comes into the air, Autumn clothes are dug out, life begins to pick up again. After the lethargy of the "summer" I feel a new energy to embark on new projects and get back to all my usual activities. Orchestra begins next Tuesday with my first oboe lesson the day after. A new term, a new academic year, a new start. I already have my new practice book, am wondering what music we will be playing in our first Orchestra concert and have started browsing June Emerson wondering what music my teacher may suggest we work on this term.
This week I've booked myself on two courses for next year. One is a day's reed making course, the other a weekend wind ensemble playing course. They are both months off but I am already excited. Later this year there is a double reed day that I am hoping to go to, and in February an annual wind play day which is always lots of fun.
Summer practice has been reasonably productive though. At the start of the summer I wrote a list of old repertoire that I wanted to play through. I have come to the end of that list now - some pieces I lingered over for a few days (Marcello and Cimerosa concertos, Britten Metamorphoses, Poulenc Sonata), for others one play through was sufficient (Meyer Rustical Miniatures, Schumann Romances). I also played through the Ferling Studies that I studied in my first year of lessons. I've played through some of the Luft studies too.
I've managed a little bit of reed making - not as much as I maybe should have done but I have managed to do 3 or so practice sessions on reeds that I have made myself. A small step in the right direction.
I think I've improved on the pieces that my teacher asked me to look at:
Telemann Fantasia No 4 - I think I am just beginning now to really get to grips with the second movement. It has been a struggle - but finally it is paying off. A few more days will hopefully make this even more secure.
Harty - Orientale. There are some timing bits here that I can't fathom but the rest of it is coming together reasonably. Though need to work on the cadenza runs a little this week.
Hindemith Sonata Mvt 2 - this has really grown on me. I have been playing this along to a recording in the last couple of weeks. It isn't something I often do but in this case it has really helped in understanding the music. Playing with the piano accompaniment has made a number of things click into place.
Luft Study 23 - notes are fairly secure and have been working on playing through, breathing, phrasing.
Luft 24 - well, I wasn't asked to look at this, but I have done and it is sounding OK now.
Scales are becoming more engrained, I've worked on playing extended major scales (tonic to highest note on instrument, down to lowest and back to tonic) and playing major scales in 3rds. They are beginning to be more fluent now.
I think my tuning and vibrato has also improved over the last few weeks when I've been able to put in very consistent practice.
What will this year bring? No exams to focus on this time, but I am looking forward to improving all aspects of my playing by exploring lots of new repertoire. I would like to focus on learning to make reeds so that I can more self reliant in that departmnet. I would also love to buy a Cor Anglais at some point. Let's see what the year brings.
Friday, 27 July 2012
Summer plans
Oboe lessons are finished for the Summer. It will be 6 weeks before they restart. I avoid going away in school holidays as much as possible - so practice will continue as (nearly) normal. My teacher hasn't particuarly set me additional work over the summer so there is a chance to add in a few extras and focus on some more fun things.
Practice this week has been good so far. I feel recovered from my illness, which was sapping my energy, and my general playing is much improved now that I am not preparing to play in front of people!
So this is what I am doing:
1. Technical work - I've put together a tick box for this to help make sure I'm covering all aspects regularly. It is based on an articulation one that my teacher did for me. I find it helpful as I can record which exercises I've done, metronome speeds, scale of the day etc. I spent some time yesterday doing slow broken arpeggios, trying to make them as legato and smooth as possible with no bumps at the change of note or register. It is very difficult but I think I made a small amount of progress!
2. Studies - my teacher told me to look at Luft 23. This one is harder than it looks. There are 6 sharps in the key signature and I was very confused as it why it didn't seem to be in F# major. It only clicked last night that a number of the B's are also sharpened and it is actually in C#major with 7 sharps. No wonder it makes my brain ache. I think I can just about cope with 6 sharps in the key signature but adding additional accidentals just tips it over the edge. It shouldn't take 6 weeks to sort it out though so I may have a look at number 24 too. For a little light relief I'm playing through the studies I've already covered - both Luft and Ferling - to remind myself of how they go and also so I can make note of which studies are particularly useful for certain techincal difficulties.
3. Pieces - only 3 to look at for my lessons. Orinetale - the final miniature, Telemann Fantasia no 4, Hindemith Sonata 2nd movement. All progressing at the moment.
4. Revision - I'm going through my music and pulling out pieces that I've covered in my lessons over the last 3 years. It shows me how far I've progressed - bits I found hard I can sometimes now do easily. It's also just nice to have time to play pieces for fun!
This week i have been playing:
Britten - Metamophoses (4 out of the 6). I love these so much - I should play them everyday!
Albinoni - Concerto in D, opus 7 no 6. I played the first 2 movements for my Grade 7 exam.
Cimerosa - Concerto. This is tricky, I may do some more work on this.
Fiocco - Ariosa. I played this at the Adult learner's event last summer, lovely piece of music!
Hoepfully over the summer I will have chance to do more reed making too!
I am sure that it will be September before I know it!
Practice this week has been good so far. I feel recovered from my illness, which was sapping my energy, and my general playing is much improved now that I am not preparing to play in front of people!
So this is what I am doing:
1. Technical work - I've put together a tick box for this to help make sure I'm covering all aspects regularly. It is based on an articulation one that my teacher did for me. I find it helpful as I can record which exercises I've done, metronome speeds, scale of the day etc. I spent some time yesterday doing slow broken arpeggios, trying to make them as legato and smooth as possible with no bumps at the change of note or register. It is very difficult but I think I made a small amount of progress!
2. Studies - my teacher told me to look at Luft 23. This one is harder than it looks. There are 6 sharps in the key signature and I was very confused as it why it didn't seem to be in F# major. It only clicked last night that a number of the B's are also sharpened and it is actually in C#major with 7 sharps. No wonder it makes my brain ache. I think I can just about cope with 6 sharps in the key signature but adding additional accidentals just tips it over the edge. It shouldn't take 6 weeks to sort it out though so I may have a look at number 24 too. For a little light relief I'm playing through the studies I've already covered - both Luft and Ferling - to remind myself of how they go and also so I can make note of which studies are particularly useful for certain techincal difficulties.
3. Pieces - only 3 to look at for my lessons. Orinetale - the final miniature, Telemann Fantasia no 4, Hindemith Sonata 2nd movement. All progressing at the moment.
4. Revision - I'm going through my music and pulling out pieces that I've covered in my lessons over the last 3 years. It shows me how far I've progressed - bits I found hard I can sometimes now do easily. It's also just nice to have time to play pieces for fun!
This week i have been playing:
Britten - Metamophoses (4 out of the 6). I love these so much - I should play them everyday!
Albinoni - Concerto in D, opus 7 no 6. I played the first 2 movements for my Grade 7 exam.
Cimerosa - Concerto. This is tricky, I may do some more work on this.
Fiocco - Ariosa. I played this at the Adult learner's event last summer, lovely piece of music!
Hoepfully over the summer I will have chance to do more reed making too!
I am sure that it will be September before I know it!
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Catch up
I thought I ought to do a round up of the things that I am practising at the moment:
Technical exercises - I am still doing articulation exercises to try and up my speed. It is gradually having some effect I think. I'm also doing long notes based on arpeggios - trying to improve tone, dynamic range and tuning. Doing arpeggios is good as it means I'm doing notes across the whole range of the instrument.
Studies - this week's study is Luft No 20 which is in C# minor. I really like this one but it has some tricky passages and also a lot of rhythmic changees - lots of subdivisions as it goes from minims to crotchets to demi semi quavers to quavers to semi quaver tripets to trying to fit 5 notes into the space of 1 semi quaver....it is making my head spin a bit. Hopefully I will get another week to work on it.
Hindemith Sonata - There are only 2 movements. The first one grew on me a bit - though having heard a recording of it with piano I would still say that it is a Sonata that is more fun to play than to listen to. I really do not like the second movement at all. Slow, random notes, strange rhythms. It really doesn't do it for me at all. So hopefully won't be spending too much longer on this.
Telemann Fantasia No 8 - still working on the second and third movements of this as we haven't looked at it in a lesson for a few weeks. I really like these pieces but there are still a few bits of this that I am struggling to get into my fingers. It just doesn't seem to go as expected. Improving though.
Mozart Oboe Quartet - have been working on third movement in lesson which has some really awkward bits in the middle. It is getting better though.
I have finally agreed what I'm playing at the Adult learner concert and Garden Party.
Adult Leader Concert - second movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet. Sadly the piano accompaniment for French Suite turned out to be too tricky and an alternative needed to be found. The first movement of the Quartet exceeded the time limit so this is my third (maybe even 4th) choice piece. My accompanist seems quite happy with this one though. I need to get practicing and make sure I have a VERY good reed to pull it off!
Garden Party - I've had a run through with pianist for this, which seemed to go very well. I am playing:
Mozart Quartet Movement 1
Piazolla Oblivion
Dring Italian Dance.
Hopefully this fits the bill of light, accessible, easy to listen to classical music and it should take just over 10 minutes. I just need to time the pieces and send the programe to the organiser (and practice of course!).
Piano exam 28th June. Playing my pieces for a friend tonight.
Technical exercises - I am still doing articulation exercises to try and up my speed. It is gradually having some effect I think. I'm also doing long notes based on arpeggios - trying to improve tone, dynamic range and tuning. Doing arpeggios is good as it means I'm doing notes across the whole range of the instrument.
Studies - this week's study is Luft No 20 which is in C# minor. I really like this one but it has some tricky passages and also a lot of rhythmic changees - lots of subdivisions as it goes from minims to crotchets to demi semi quavers to quavers to semi quaver tripets to trying to fit 5 notes into the space of 1 semi quaver....it is making my head spin a bit. Hopefully I will get another week to work on it.
Hindemith Sonata - There are only 2 movements. The first one grew on me a bit - though having heard a recording of it with piano I would still say that it is a Sonata that is more fun to play than to listen to. I really do not like the second movement at all. Slow, random notes, strange rhythms. It really doesn't do it for me at all. So hopefully won't be spending too much longer on this.
Telemann Fantasia No 8 - still working on the second and third movements of this as we haven't looked at it in a lesson for a few weeks. I really like these pieces but there are still a few bits of this that I am struggling to get into my fingers. It just doesn't seem to go as expected. Improving though.
Mozart Oboe Quartet - have been working on third movement in lesson which has some really awkward bits in the middle. It is getting better though.
I have finally agreed what I'm playing at the Adult learner concert and Garden Party.
Adult Leader Concert - second movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet. Sadly the piano accompaniment for French Suite turned out to be too tricky and an alternative needed to be found. The first movement of the Quartet exceeded the time limit so this is my third (maybe even 4th) choice piece. My accompanist seems quite happy with this one though. I need to get practicing and make sure I have a VERY good reed to pull it off!
Garden Party - I've had a run through with pianist for this, which seemed to go very well. I am playing:
Mozart Quartet Movement 1
Piazolla Oblivion
Dring Italian Dance.
Hopefully this fits the bill of light, accessible, easy to listen to classical music and it should take just over 10 minutes. I just need to time the pieces and send the programe to the organiser (and practice of course!).
Piano exam 28th June. Playing my pieces for a friend tonight.
Monday, 28 May 2012
It's warm...
It's been very warm this week - practice has happened in the evening's when it has been marginally cooler. I've been continuing with articulation exercises though not really seeing a huge increase in speed yet. I need to keep going though. My study this week (Luft no 18) is in F#minor and is also good articulation practice. I need to focus on stamina, breathing and tuning for the rest of the week.
Telemann Fantastia No 8: I've been working on articulation in the second movement nad trying to get accuracy and dynamics too. The last movement is getting there.
Hindemith movement 1: Still working on the basics - notes, rhythm, articulation. I still need to work through the second half of this. First half dynamics, phrasing is improving.
Mozart Oboe Quartet Movement 3: Bits are OK, other bits are very ropey. There is some ornamentation I'm struggling to get the rhythm to - it doesn't help that it comes very soon after a change from 6/8 to cut common time. Articulation speed is also slowing me down - but that is something that I'm working on.
Extras: I'm working on the tricky bits for Gershwin. I'll have another You tube run through next week to see if it's any better.
I had a play through Rendez vous and Causerie from French Suite yesterday. Total time was 5 mins and 17 seconds which is slightly longer than my time slot for the play day so may need to only do one. I've sent music to my accompanist - the first one is quite tricky so it maybe that I have to change my piece anyway. Hopefully he can simplify it a bit to let me play it as it is a really fun piece.
I'm waiting for a piano exam date - 15th June would be my ideal date, so let's wait and see.
Telemann Fantastia No 8: I've been working on articulation in the second movement nad trying to get accuracy and dynamics too. The last movement is getting there.
Hindemith movement 1: Still working on the basics - notes, rhythm, articulation. I still need to work through the second half of this. First half dynamics, phrasing is improving.
Mozart Oboe Quartet Movement 3: Bits are OK, other bits are very ropey. There is some ornamentation I'm struggling to get the rhythm to - it doesn't help that it comes very soon after a change from 6/8 to cut common time. Articulation speed is also slowing me down - but that is something that I'm working on.
Extras: I'm working on the tricky bits for Gershwin. I'll have another You tube run through next week to see if it's any better.
I had a play through Rendez vous and Causerie from French Suite yesterday. Total time was 5 mins and 17 seconds which is slightly longer than my time slot for the play day so may need to only do one. I've sent music to my accompanist - the first one is quite tricky so it maybe that I have to change my piece anyway. Hopefully he can simplify it a bit to let me play it as it is a really fun piece.
I'm waiting for a piano exam date - 15th June would be my ideal date, so let's wait and see.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Run up to holidays
Well Summer seems to have arrived - for this week anyway. My lesson last night was rather warm, to say the least. I thought it went OK though - Luft, Telemann Fantasia and a start on the Hindemith Sonata. I need to add in my own articulation and some ornamentation for the Telemann. I'm also still working on the Mozart - so more than enough to keep me busy at the moment.
There seems to be a lot of things coming up over the next couple of months - leading into the summer holidays. I am trying to take them one at a time.
This week was my final orchestra rehearsal till September. We just had a bash through some things for fun. I nice way to finish off the term. I really appreciate the summer break from orchestra. By the time the first September rehearsal comes round I will be raring to go again.
I am still waiting for a date for my piano exam, which could be any time from 11 June.
On 16 June I am doing a play day with a professional orchestra - those pieces need LOTS of practice!
On both 17th and 24th June I am playing piano in the morning sevice at church.
14th July I am playing in an Adult Learner's Concert - I think I am going to play a couple of movements from French Suite. I'd like to be able to have a go at them with an accompanist - and it is Bastille Day so it feels appropriate. I'll also be accompanying another performer though don't know who that will be, or what they will be playing yet.
18 July - last lesson before summer holidays
21 July I've been asked to play a couple of pieces at a Garden party in aid of a local charity. Still trying to sort out accompanist for this - I may do the French Suite pieces again, or may give the first movement of the Mozart Quartet a go. I may also do Italian Dance by Dring. Depends very much on how things go with the accompanist and what they can manage.
Then it will be summer holidays and hopefully a chance to take things slightly easy. Having said that, there has been talk of chamber music sessions with Orchestra colleagues...
There seems to be a lot of things coming up over the next couple of months - leading into the summer holidays. I am trying to take them one at a time.
This week was my final orchestra rehearsal till September. We just had a bash through some things for fun. I nice way to finish off the term. I really appreciate the summer break from orchestra. By the time the first September rehearsal comes round I will be raring to go again.
I am still waiting for a date for my piano exam, which could be any time from 11 June.
On 16 June I am doing a play day with a professional orchestra - those pieces need LOTS of practice!
On both 17th and 24th June I am playing piano in the morning sevice at church.
14th July I am playing in an Adult Learner's Concert - I think I am going to play a couple of movements from French Suite. I'd like to be able to have a go at them with an accompanist - and it is Bastille Day so it feels appropriate. I'll also be accompanying another performer though don't know who that will be, or what they will be playing yet.
18 July - last lesson before summer holidays
21 July I've been asked to play a couple of pieces at a Garden party in aid of a local charity. Still trying to sort out accompanist for this - I may do the French Suite pieces again, or may give the first movement of the Mozart Quartet a go. I may also do Italian Dance by Dring. Depends very much on how things go with the accompanist and what they can manage.
Then it will be summer holidays and hopefully a chance to take things slightly easy. Having said that, there has been talk of chamber music sessions with Orchestra colleagues...
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
juggling and fluttering
I feel like I am going through a particularly busy time at the moment trying to juggle work and lessons and life and rehearsals with two orchestras. I am hoping this is only for a short time as it is getting rather wearing.
I had a lesson last week which went well - we looked at the Luft Study no 11. This had two weeks of practice due to half term so was in a reasonable state. Now looking at Study No 12 which is actually completely different to all the others so far. It is Adagio but has a large number of trills. I think I'd rather go back to lots of semi quavers but I know that I need to pratice trills so it is definitely doing me good. I am now working on the last piece from Richardson's French Suite and the Mozart is coming on quite nicely. I need to get my trills sorted out in that one too! Telemann's Fantastia no 2 is also progressing. I have another two weeks to practice again as teacher can't do this week's lesson. So a few more days to make progress.
Last night we had sectional rehearsals for the Rite of Spring which seemed to go well. We looked at the very beginning and the start and end of the second part. I have a lot of rests at the beginning so I did have at least 30 minutes of counting rather than playing to start off with, which wasn't so great but part and parcel of rehearsals. When I did get to play it was meant to be flutter tongued chromatics. I haven't worked out how to do this yet. I can roll my R's quite happily and flutter tongueing on the flute is reasonably straight forward. But doing that with a double reed is quite a different matter. I was trying to work out how I actually roll my R's to understand why it is difficult - I think I create a focussed high speed air flow and then allow the tongue to bounce off the stream of air pressure. A little like doing a drum roll on a snare. Trying to do that with a reed is so difficult because it is impossible to get that amount of air down it, and the reed then gets in the way of the toungue so that it doesn't rebound in the same way. I need to do some more experiments but I think the embouchure needs to be different and less reed needs to be in the mouth. Whether that will still then be in tune is a different matter. for this piece i don't think it will matter. The oboe is lost within the flutes and clarinets who are also doing the chromatic sections so I should be able to fake it a bit.
I had a lesson last week which went well - we looked at the Luft Study no 11. This had two weeks of practice due to half term so was in a reasonable state. Now looking at Study No 12 which is actually completely different to all the others so far. It is Adagio but has a large number of trills. I think I'd rather go back to lots of semi quavers but I know that I need to pratice trills so it is definitely doing me good. I am now working on the last piece from Richardson's French Suite and the Mozart is coming on quite nicely. I need to get my trills sorted out in that one too! Telemann's Fantastia no 2 is also progressing. I have another two weeks to practice again as teacher can't do this week's lesson. So a few more days to make progress.
Last night we had sectional rehearsals for the Rite of Spring which seemed to go well. We looked at the very beginning and the start and end of the second part. I have a lot of rests at the beginning so I did have at least 30 minutes of counting rather than playing to start off with, which wasn't so great but part and parcel of rehearsals. When I did get to play it was meant to be flutter tongued chromatics. I haven't worked out how to do this yet. I can roll my R's quite happily and flutter tongueing on the flute is reasonably straight forward. But doing that with a double reed is quite a different matter. I was trying to work out how I actually roll my R's to understand why it is difficult - I think I create a focussed high speed air flow and then allow the tongue to bounce off the stream of air pressure. A little like doing a drum roll on a snare. Trying to do that with a reed is so difficult because it is impossible to get that amount of air down it, and the reed then gets in the way of the toungue so that it doesn't rebound in the same way. I need to do some more experiments but I think the embouchure needs to be different and less reed needs to be in the mouth. Whether that will still then be in tune is a different matter. for this piece i don't think it will matter. The oboe is lost within the flutes and clarinets who are also doing the chromatic sections so I should be able to fake it a bit.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Half term already?
Well despite my feelings of not really being fully prepared yesterday, my lesson went rather well.
The Luft study which I thought I hadn't done enough on, seemed to have worked its way into my fingers more than I thought. I think the long practice on Monday, followed by a day off for my brain to sort it all out, was more effective than I expected. Hurray! I still have a couple of little things to look at - enusring ties are held on for full length and bouncing the staccato a bit more. But I also have to look at the next one - which has some rather scarily large intervals to negotiate, good job it is half term next week so I have 2 weeks to work on it.
Telemann Fantasia no 6 - second and third movements. Again, the third movement came together a bit better than in Monday's practice. I still need to think about phrasing and dynamics here. But will also start looking at No 2.
Richardson - Causerie, French Suite. I need to slow this down a bit, and slightly lengthen the tenuto notes, as well as making sure I don't cut short the tied notes (again). Another couple of weeks needed on this to polish the edges.
Reizenstein Concert pieces are finished off as far as lessons are concerned, so it is finally time to start looking at the first movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet. I bought this music quite a while ago and it has been waiting in the wings for too long. I love this piece so I am quite excited about finally starting to learn how to play it!
I also now have in my possession the oboe 4 part for the Rite of Spring - but only temporarily. I need to take it back to rehearsal on Monday and get the oboe 3 part. The oboe 4 has some Cor Anglais sections so it needs to go another player. However, I should get some value from looking at this part - hopefully it will at least prepare me for the worst of the 3rd part on Monday. I will have a look and a listen over the weekend.
It is half term next week, which means no lesson. It is nice to have a week off lessons sometimes and feel I can plan my practice over more days. It gives me more flexibility to manage my time - I just need to make sure I'm not tempted to take too many days off!
The Luft study which I thought I hadn't done enough on, seemed to have worked its way into my fingers more than I thought. I think the long practice on Monday, followed by a day off for my brain to sort it all out, was more effective than I expected. Hurray! I still have a couple of little things to look at - enusring ties are held on for full length and bouncing the staccato a bit more. But I also have to look at the next one - which has some rather scarily large intervals to negotiate, good job it is half term next week so I have 2 weeks to work on it.
Telemann Fantasia no 6 - second and third movements. Again, the third movement came together a bit better than in Monday's practice. I still need to think about phrasing and dynamics here. But will also start looking at No 2.
Richardson - Causerie, French Suite. I need to slow this down a bit, and slightly lengthen the tenuto notes, as well as making sure I don't cut short the tied notes (again). Another couple of weeks needed on this to polish the edges.
Reizenstein Concert pieces are finished off as far as lessons are concerned, so it is finally time to start looking at the first movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet. I bought this music quite a while ago and it has been waiting in the wings for too long. I love this piece so I am quite excited about finally starting to learn how to play it!
I also now have in my possession the oboe 4 part for the Rite of Spring - but only temporarily. I need to take it back to rehearsal on Monday and get the oboe 3 part. The oboe 4 has some Cor Anglais sections so it needs to go another player. However, I should get some value from looking at this part - hopefully it will at least prepare me for the worst of the 3rd part on Monday. I will have a look and a listen over the weekend.
It is half term next week, which means no lesson. It is nice to have a week off lessons sometimes and feel I can plan my practice over more days. It gives me more flexibility to manage my time - I just need to make sure I'm not tempted to take too many days off!
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Recovery and catching up
Saturday was a really good day with lots of playing....but it does seem to have completely upset my practice routine. Obviously I couldn't practice on Saturday and Sunday my lips were so sore that playing was not an option. By Monday I thought I would have recovered but my embouchure stamina seemed to have gone completely and even at orchestra yesterday I was struggling. I have my lesson tonight and don't really feel as prepared as I should be.
Due to the missed days of practice, I tried to spend Monday's practice session really focussing on the Luft study. I spent a long time on this one - which is in Ab major. This is my least favourite key as the fingering is rather awkward on the oboe, so this study has been good for practising fluency of left hand Eb fingering and use of the side Ab key. It did make my head spin a little trying to sort out which fingers to use. Hopefully I'll get another stab at it, I would like another couple of weeks to consolidate. I have had some play throughs of the third movement of the Telemann Fantasia but have not done as much on this as I'd have liked. My embouchure gave up on Monday before I could really get stuck in.
Orchestra last night was a night of two halves. We spent the first half working on Sleeping Beauty. This could definitely do with some sectional rehearsal because in places it frankly sounds pretty dreadful at the moment. There are a number of places with repeated staccato semiquavers from the wind (clarinet, bassoon, oboe, cor anglais) which need to be precise and give support to the tune. These are difficult to play well at the right volume - and we don't play them well, or together, or in time with the rest of the orchestra and they are generally too loud. Hopefully we can get it sorted before we have to perform it. Having said that, the last movement is sounding really rather nice now.
The second half was spent looking at Night on Bare Mountain. This is probably, on paper at least, even more difficult -but somehow it seems easier to play. The fact that it is so loud and fast and almost aggressive makes it possible to just launch yourself at it and see what happens. Getting each note in place isn't as important as the overall gist and the attitude. It seems to work. This is really good fun to play and feels like it is coming together.
Due to the missed days of practice, I tried to spend Monday's practice session really focussing on the Luft study. I spent a long time on this one - which is in Ab major. This is my least favourite key as the fingering is rather awkward on the oboe, so this study has been good for practising fluency of left hand Eb fingering and use of the side Ab key. It did make my head spin a little trying to sort out which fingers to use. Hopefully I'll get another stab at it, I would like another couple of weeks to consolidate. I have had some play throughs of the third movement of the Telemann Fantasia but have not done as much on this as I'd have liked. My embouchure gave up on Monday before I could really get stuck in.
Orchestra last night was a night of two halves. We spent the first half working on Sleeping Beauty. This could definitely do with some sectional rehearsal because in places it frankly sounds pretty dreadful at the moment. There are a number of places with repeated staccato semiquavers from the wind (clarinet, bassoon, oboe, cor anglais) which need to be precise and give support to the tune. These are difficult to play well at the right volume - and we don't play them well, or together, or in time with the rest of the orchestra and they are generally too loud. Hopefully we can get it sorted before we have to perform it. Having said that, the last movement is sounding really rather nice now.
The second half was spent looking at Night on Bare Mountain. This is probably, on paper at least, even more difficult -but somehow it seems easier to play. The fact that it is so loud and fast and almost aggressive makes it possible to just launch yourself at it and see what happens. Getting each note in place isn't as important as the overall gist and the attitude. It seems to work. This is really good fun to play and feels like it is coming together.
Friday, 3 February 2012
keeping on keeping on
Sometimes it's just about keeping going. This has been one of those weeks. Lesson on Wednesday was OK. My reed was apparently giving its swan song at orchestra as it sounded terrible the next day. So I now have a nice new reed. Luft study was OK, it was a fairly straight forward one though - now moving on to Study no 9. We worked on the Reizenstein Scherzino, this has kind of grown on me, and it was nice to add some final polishing touches. We also went through the Telemann Fantasia.
Practice so far has focussed on the next study - which is much more difficult than last weeks, a real finger twister. I'm also learning the final movement of the Telemann and improving the second movement.
It's been a tiring week all round though, it has felt like a bit of a slog at times....but tomorrow I am going to the RNCM for a woodwind play day. It will be a day of extreme sightreading and should be a lot of fun - provided my lips hold out.
Practice so far has focussed on the next study - which is much more difficult than last weeks, a real finger twister. I'm also learning the final movement of the Telemann and improving the second movement.
It's been a tiring week all round though, it has felt like a bit of a slog at times....but tomorrow I am going to the RNCM for a woodwind play day. It will be a day of extreme sightreading and should be a lot of fun - provided my lips hold out.
Friday, 27 January 2012
Identifying the phrase
Lesson again on Wednesday and this time I played much better. I am not sure whether it is because I am back into the routine of lessons again, because I ended up being nearly late so I went straight in instead of sitting in the car for 5 minutes or whether just acknowledging it and trying to understand it has made it go away. For now at least. Either way I felt relaxed enough to be able to play as I normally play in my practice room. So I felt like it was a good lesson.
The Luft study had improved a lot. An extra week of practice to make the notes more fluent while being able to focus more specifically on breathing and stamina really helped me put the whole thing together. I need to remember that strategy of practising getting through a whole section - from breath to breath - and then putting 2/3/ sections togetehr at a time. I'm moving onto the next one this week, so the challenge is to identify breathing points early in the process and stick to them
I am charging through the French Suite - the Passepied came together pretty well last week, the notes aren't so difficult. There are couple of points of rhythm and phrasing to check, moving on to the fourth piece this week. I had a play through last night, it is the shortest piece in the work and doesn't appear too complicated. But don't really "get" it yet. It feels like a random collection of notes at the moment, I need to make it feel like music, with phrases and direction.
We spent some time in the lesson on Telemann Fantastia No 6. This is another "phrasing" challenge....it feels like a theme is emerging, which I don't think is co-incidental. My teacher has set me a challenge to understand exactly where each note is in its phrase and which direction it is moving in. It is new to me to think about this level of detail of interpretation, and I find it difficult and that it is good. It has made me think about the piece in a different way. I'll be working on this over the weekend.
There was no time to look at the Reizenstein in the lesson so I will keep on with it for another week. Last week I focussed mainly on getting the finger twisting bits more fluent, and there is still plenty more to do on that. However last night I went straight to the middle section which has long slow, legato, fluent phrases - almost quite myseterious. I know I need to fix the rhythm, it does changes from 6/8 to duplets to crotchets and in parts I am aware that I am just approximating what is written. Last night I didn't get beyond the first phrase though - tone, tuning, smoothness issues were leaping out at me too much. So I focussed on trying to make it beautiful and tryig to maintain the quality of sound through the note changes. Too often there is a dip, or even a break, the note goes flat at the end and the phrase ends rather abruptly. I found it quite helpful to treat it as a technical exercise and focus on improving one thing at a time. It reminded me that these are things I should be thinking about when I do my scales at the beginning of my practice. I think there was some improvement by the end...but still a long way to go.
The Luft study had improved a lot. An extra week of practice to make the notes more fluent while being able to focus more specifically on breathing and stamina really helped me put the whole thing together. I need to remember that strategy of practising getting through a whole section - from breath to breath - and then putting 2/3/ sections togetehr at a time. I'm moving onto the next one this week, so the challenge is to identify breathing points early in the process and stick to them
I am charging through the French Suite - the Passepied came together pretty well last week, the notes aren't so difficult. There are couple of points of rhythm and phrasing to check, moving on to the fourth piece this week. I had a play through last night, it is the shortest piece in the work and doesn't appear too complicated. But don't really "get" it yet. It feels like a random collection of notes at the moment, I need to make it feel like music, with phrases and direction.
We spent some time in the lesson on Telemann Fantastia No 6. This is another "phrasing" challenge....it feels like a theme is emerging, which I don't think is co-incidental. My teacher has set me a challenge to understand exactly where each note is in its phrase and which direction it is moving in. It is new to me to think about this level of detail of interpretation, and I find it difficult and that it is good. It has made me think about the piece in a different way. I'll be working on this over the weekend.
There was no time to look at the Reizenstein in the lesson so I will keep on with it for another week. Last week I focussed mainly on getting the finger twisting bits more fluent, and there is still plenty more to do on that. However last night I went straight to the middle section which has long slow, legato, fluent phrases - almost quite myseterious. I know I need to fix the rhythm, it does changes from 6/8 to duplets to crotchets and in parts I am aware that I am just approximating what is written. Last night I didn't get beyond the first phrase though - tone, tuning, smoothness issues were leaping out at me too much. So I focussed on trying to make it beautiful and tryig to maintain the quality of sound through the note changes. Too often there is a dip, or even a break, the note goes flat at the end and the phrase ends rather abruptly. I found it quite helpful to treat it as a technical exercise and focus on improving one thing at a time. It reminded me that these are things I should be thinking about when I do my scales at the beginning of my practice. I think there was some improvement by the end...but still a long way to go.
Friday, 20 January 2012
the joy of scales
I didn't get round to talking about scales and technical exercises last week so here goes.
I used to hate playing scales/ arpeggios when I was a child. I don't think I really saw the point and I just found them incredibly dull. I have since seen the light. I know LOVE practising scales and find them a really useful tool for improving all aspects of my playing and developing a sense of key. Aside from that I find them quite engrossing and really good way into the practising mentality. It is almost like meditation, they fall under the fingers so easily that I don't really have to think about what note comes next, or the rhythm, I can focus full attention on the sound and the smoothness of the line.
I always start my practice with scales, before my grade 8 I had a routine which took me through all the scales I needed for the exam every 2 days, with all scales in all articulations every 6 dyas. I feel slightly lost without the confines of an exam syllabus but also it gives a freedom to work different configurations and spend more time on other technical exercises.
So what does my practice consist of now:
SCALES
Run through one set of scales - either major, harmonic minors or melodic minors. I am trying to move away from 2 octave scales and play from topic up to either top F#/G, down to bottom B/Bb and then back to tonic. So far doing this for majors only and will then move on to minors.
One set of arpeggios - major, minor, dom 7ths, dim 7ths. Sometimes will play these as broken arpeggios or broken chords.
Chromatic scale: full range of instrument.
Scale of the day : this week is F major. I do an exercise based on doing 5 note runs up and down repeated 3 times, then moving up to the next note and repeating. This helps iron out the tricky bits that it is easy to skate over.
I am also trying to learn all my major scales in thirds, I'm just focussing on the first octave at the moment so spending the week getting F in my head.
TECHNICAL EXERCISES
These use the scale of the week as a basis for focussing specific aspects:
Tone: I do a slow scale thinking about thh tone of each note and trying to make as beautiful as possible before moving on to next note. Only doing 1 octave of this at the moment as otherwise it takes too long. I also do octaves at the end on the tonic to try and match the tone and tuning. I also watch very closely in the mirror at my embouchure. I need to ensure that I keep it secure when I change notes as I have a tendency to have a little "wobble", I am trying to build more stability.
Dynamics: tone exercises are followed by more long notes, this time with dynamics, starting softly building to a crescendo on 9th beat and then decrescendo to ppp by the 16th beat. The aim is to widen my dynamic range and open up my sound, as well as being able to control smooth changes in volume.
Vibrato: I use the metronome set between 60-72bpm and repeat the scales with 2,3 and 4 pulses on each note.
Articulation: scales with repeated notes to get my articulation going, this is something I really need to work on. I also sometimes repeat the first scale exercise with tongued notes or mixed articulation.
That seems to have taken longer to type than it does to do! It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get through that lot. Though I think I could easily spend about an hour if I had the time....
STUDIES AND PIECES
Luft study is coming on, focussed a lot more on where to breath, practising the sections between breaths and then linking them together in twos. I spent too much time on the Telemann which is GORGEOUS and also trying to sort out the basics of the Richardson piece (notes, rhythm, articulation).
Total time 75 mins,I would have played longer but my embouchure was not having it.
Orchestra rehearsal tonight and tomorrow afternoon for Mahler concert tomorrow evening.
I used to hate playing scales/ arpeggios when I was a child. I don't think I really saw the point and I just found them incredibly dull. I have since seen the light. I know LOVE practising scales and find them a really useful tool for improving all aspects of my playing and developing a sense of key. Aside from that I find them quite engrossing and really good way into the practising mentality. It is almost like meditation, they fall under the fingers so easily that I don't really have to think about what note comes next, or the rhythm, I can focus full attention on the sound and the smoothness of the line.
I always start my practice with scales, before my grade 8 I had a routine which took me through all the scales I needed for the exam every 2 days, with all scales in all articulations every 6 dyas. I feel slightly lost without the confines of an exam syllabus but also it gives a freedom to work different configurations and spend more time on other technical exercises.
So what does my practice consist of now:
SCALES
Run through one set of scales - either major, harmonic minors or melodic minors. I am trying to move away from 2 octave scales and play from topic up to either top F#/G, down to bottom B/Bb and then back to tonic. So far doing this for majors only and will then move on to minors.
One set of arpeggios - major, minor, dom 7ths, dim 7ths. Sometimes will play these as broken arpeggios or broken chords.
Chromatic scale: full range of instrument.
Scale of the day : this week is F major. I do an exercise based on doing 5 note runs up and down repeated 3 times, then moving up to the next note and repeating. This helps iron out the tricky bits that it is easy to skate over.
I am also trying to learn all my major scales in thirds, I'm just focussing on the first octave at the moment so spending the week getting F in my head.
TECHNICAL EXERCISES
These use the scale of the week as a basis for focussing specific aspects:
Tone: I do a slow scale thinking about thh tone of each note and trying to make as beautiful as possible before moving on to next note. Only doing 1 octave of this at the moment as otherwise it takes too long. I also do octaves at the end on the tonic to try and match the tone and tuning. I also watch very closely in the mirror at my embouchure. I need to ensure that I keep it secure when I change notes as I have a tendency to have a little "wobble", I am trying to build more stability.
Dynamics: tone exercises are followed by more long notes, this time with dynamics, starting softly building to a crescendo on 9th beat and then decrescendo to ppp by the 16th beat. The aim is to widen my dynamic range and open up my sound, as well as being able to control smooth changes in volume.
Vibrato: I use the metronome set between 60-72bpm and repeat the scales with 2,3 and 4 pulses on each note.
Articulation: scales with repeated notes to get my articulation going, this is something I really need to work on. I also sometimes repeat the first scale exercise with tongued notes or mixed articulation.
That seems to have taken longer to type than it does to do! It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get through that lot. Though I think I could easily spend about an hour if I had the time....
STUDIES AND PIECES
Luft study is coming on, focussed a lot more on where to breath, practising the sections between breaths and then linking them together in twos. I spent too much time on the Telemann which is GORGEOUS and also trying to sort out the basics of the Richardson piece (notes, rhythm, articulation).
Total time 75 mins,I would have played longer but my embouchure was not having it.
Orchestra rehearsal tonight and tomorrow afternoon for Mahler concert tomorrow evening.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
remembering to breathe
Lesson last night went well though I was still very aware of tension hindering my playing. I think I relax as the lesson goes on, but I struggled playing my Luft study as my fingers wouldn't move quickly enough and it felt like an effort to get through. I also ended up not breathing in the right places, or forgetting to breathe,then find my fingers stop moving and so I collapse in a bit of a heap. I think probably the key to the whole thing is getting my breathing and support right. I have another week on this study, which is good as I think there is still quite a bit to do.
We looked at Richardson French Suite No 2 - the rhythm turned out to be more straight forward than I originally thought so this has gone pretty well this week. It needs a bit more attention to dynamics and I need to ensure that I don't play through the quaver rests. I'll do the tidying up on my own and for next week I need to look at Number 3.
Reizenstein Concert Piece No 3 - I need to make the notes more fluent and pick up more of the style. Make it more quirky and energetic, make the middle section soud more drawn out. It is in a fast 6/8 and teacher recommended counting some of it in 2 in a bar, some parts in 1 in a bar to try and contrast them, I don't know why that makes such a difference to how it sounds - but it really does. I had a go at this piece when I got back last night and it feels like it is starting to click a bit.
Telemann Fantasias - we are starting with No 6 in D minor.
We looked at Richardson French Suite No 2 - the rhythm turned out to be more straight forward than I originally thought so this has gone pretty well this week. It needs a bit more attention to dynamics and I need to ensure that I don't play through the quaver rests. I'll do the tidying up on my own and for next week I need to look at Number 3.
Reizenstein Concert Piece No 3 - I need to make the notes more fluent and pick up more of the style. Make it more quirky and energetic, make the middle section soud more drawn out. It is in a fast 6/8 and teacher recommended counting some of it in 2 in a bar, some parts in 1 in a bar to try and contrast them, I don't know why that makes such a difference to how it sounds - but it really does. I had a go at this piece when I got back last night and it feels like it is starting to click a bit.
Telemann Fantasias - we are starting with No 6 in D minor.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Still nervous after all these years...
First oboe lesson since Christmas today. I don't know why it is, but I still get slightly nervous playing in music lessons and it is always the first lesson after a break that is the worst. I don't remember it being like this when I was a child, and, to be honest, I had far more cause to be nervous then due to my tendency to wing it on the day rather than actually practice. I know that I practice diligently now, I get on well with my teacher, she has never given me any reason to be nervous but I still find myself making stupid mistakes and playing as if I had never seen the instrument before. Talking to other adult learners, this is not unusual, it is still frustrating though. Having said all that, I still enjoyed my lesson - my vibrato is improving and I need to work on increasing my dynamic range.
Pieces to practice this week:
Luft Study No 7 (new study)
Richardson French Suite No 2 (new piece)
Reizenstein Concert Pieces No 3 (continued from last lesson)
Binge The Watermill (continued from last lesson still focussing on bringing out vibrato)
Music to buy: Telemann Fantasias
Pieces to practice this week:
Luft Study No 7 (new study)
Richardson French Suite No 2 (new piece)
Reizenstein Concert Pieces No 3 (continued from last lesson)
Binge The Watermill (continued from last lesson still focussing on bringing out vibrato)
Music to buy: Telemann Fantasias
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