tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048025771349159983.post3100309238055929215..comments2024-03-22T06:38:04.697-04:00Comments on Beyond the Notes: Shooting a hole right through Mission: (Im)possibleErica Ann Sipeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526622607656348353noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048025771349159983.post-52371260162773338702011-11-13T22:21:10.627-05:002011-11-13T22:21:10.627-05:00So great to hear from you again, Nicole! And yes,...So great to hear from you again, Nicole! And yes, isn't that amazing how notes will just find their way back into a piece even after you've decided that they don't fit into your simplified version. I wonder if it's because in order to make those adaptations your mind really has to process the music and understand it in such a way that it can just as easily reconstruct it again. So very cool! <br /><br />And you're very, very wise to insist on those lead-in times for learning music for a given occasion. I wish I did that more but alas, I have this guilty pleasure for dealing with last-minute, emergency situations and I even tend to thrive in those moments. Word has gotten out that I'm fine with having music thrown at me. Not so good, really, I realize. And ironically, sometimes when I do have the music for a decent amount of time I have a harder time when it comes to performance versus if I had only had it a brief time. I guess I work better under stress which might not be great for my general health. <br /><br />Thanks as always for reading and again, I'm so very glad our paths have crossed!<br /><br />Fondly,<br />EricaErica Ann Sipeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13526622607656348353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048025771349159983.post-76688000382927100702011-11-12T12:42:25.886-05:002011-11-12T12:42:25.886-05:00Wow--congratulations on surmounting that challenge...Wow--congratulations on surmounting that challenge! :) I've always been a bit afraid to approach wind/brass accompanying (almost exclusively voice and the odd piano duo here) because of the emphasis on post-tonal repertoire...<br /><br />I totally agree with your observation about the simplification of pieces, and thought it was quite odd when it happened to me! As a matter of course, I simplify almost every piece that comes to my table even before I begin to bash through it (the joy of only having a 9th reach and not knowing my way around the keyboard worth a darn unless I'm looking straight down at it), but on more than one occasion, I've found that once I've gotten the piece comfortable (read: basically memorized without setting out to memorize it) I've been able to reintroduce some things that I initially cut out. That happened in the 2nd mvt. of the Mozart K467, which I'd kind of been struggling with (learned it last, figuring it would be less hairy than the 3rd mvt. Mistake!), and the performance was magical! Definitely the highlight of my summer!<br /><br />Another thing I insist on (which may not be an issue for you because you seem to be a much quicker learner than I) is that I absolutely MUST have all new music in my hands 48 hours before the first lesson on it--or if it's something like a sonata or concerto movement, I'll even ask for 1-2 weeks prep time. I also insist on having 2 weeks between receipt of the music and the first performance/recording/other pressure situation on it. I've had to turn down many last-minute gigs because of it, but it's worth my cardiovascular health! :)<br /><br />Great insights, as always!<br />-NicoleNicolehttp://sitemaker.umich.edu/ndipaolonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048025771349159983.post-66075556326402781932011-09-02T18:00:59.374-04:002011-09-02T18:00:59.374-04:00What an epic tale! Great strategies you came up wi...What an epic tale! Great strategies you came up with to deal with such a challenge: personalizing the score, using your ear to guide your fingers, finding patterns in what seemed liked patternless music (no such thing!) But what I most appreciated was your ability to just accept the performance for what it was. To say you succeeded in your pursuit would be an understatement. I can only imagine the exhilaration you must have felt afterwards.Bill Plakehttp://billplakemusic.orgnoreply@blogger.com