Swan Lake – A Musical Journey
Our advanced Philharmonia group will be playing Peter Tchaikovsky’s famous Ballet at our upcoming concert on November 25th. Tchaikovsky composed the score in 1875, and over a century later, is still one of the most popular Ballets across the globe. Ironically, the Ballet was not well received when it was first premiered in 1877. Because of the orchestral parts being much busier and more complex than had been traditionally, choreographers had a bit of a struggle. However, they adjusted their choreography to complement the music and to embody a swanlike nature and the Ballet became an international sensation.
The iconic soaring themes from the Swan Lake Ballet are well known and recognized by many, but there’s a lot to the story behind the music. The Ballet is based on a Russian folktale. In the Ballet, Prince Siegfried of Germany falls in love with the graceful Odette. She is eternally cursed with turning into a swan by day and then turning back into a woman by night. Prince Siegfried falls for Odile, who looks a lot like Odette. Heartbroken, Odette can only be set free from the curse if a man vows his love in marriage to her.
Our UVYSO musicians will be exploring an emotional journey through passion, love, betrayal, deception, darkness, gracefulness, and light as they learn and perform this classic Ballet. The concert will be held on November 25th at the Provo Covey Center at 7:30 PM. Tickets are only $6 for students and $11 for adults. Come and experience the wonder of Swan Lake!
Tips for a Productive Practice Session
As a musician, practicing is an essential part of your musical development. Your individual practice time is where you make the most progress and improve. It’s when you can work out the quick runs, perfect your bowing or nail a difficult rhythm. An ineffective practice session is a waste of time, so make it count!
Here are a few tips for an effective practice.
Set goals. Going into a practice with no specific goals is like taking a class with no intention of learning anything – what’s the point? Practicing isn’t a time to play because you like playing – it’s to get better. Identify the scales, sections or pieces that you want to improve on and make them a priority. Setting goals and creating a checklist will help you stay more focused
Warm up intentionally. Like a work out, your body needs to warm up and prepare for practice. As you warm up, be aware of your body. Breathe, stretch and listen. Remember that it’s not just your body you are warming up but your technique too. Pay attention to your bow hold, fingering and your feelings. Know that you don’t have to play several scales every time. Expand your routine and play exercises, etudes and more.
Break it down. Playing a piece over and over again won’t make you any better. You need to isolate the sections that are most difficult and spend more time on them. The best musicians will play those sections slowly until they master it, then gradually increase the tempo. This is where you will make the most improvements.
Take notes. A piece of music with no notes is completely useless. As you practice you will be able to figure out the best fingers, bowings, breaths, etc. If you don’t write it down you’re much less likely to do it right again. Don’t be afraid to make as many marks as needed – they’re there to help you, so help yourself!
Don’t burn yourself out. It’s much more effective to have a short practice session every day than to practice for an hour twice a week. Consistency is key and will stay better focused during a shorter session than a long one.
Time is precious, so every time you practice should be used wisely. Smart, intentional practices are what make musicians masters and you are the only one to make it happen. So pick up your instrument and make it count.
5 Tips to Rock Your Audition
Auditioning can be one of the scariest, most nerve-wracking things you may experience. As a musician, it’s likely that you will audition for various groups several times. Because auditions only allow a small window of time for you to make an impression, it is important that you play at your absolute best. Here are five tips to help you do so:
- Prepare your instrument. Your instrument must be in perfect shape before every audition. Make sure that it is tuned, cleaned and updated with any necessary parts. You don’t want an old string to pop or a reed to crack right before you walk into the audition room. One or two weeks before, complete a check up on your instrument or take it into your music shop to ensure everything is up to par.
- Be mentally, physically and emotionally ready. Get enough sleep the night before and be sure to eat a good meal before the audition. Dress well. Come early to practice and avoid feeling rushed. Doing so will help clear your head and ignore any other distractions.
- Hold mock auditions. If playing in front of people is especially nerve-wracking, practice! Practice walking in, introducing yourself and playing all parts requested at an audition. Play in front of people you trust and who will give valuable advice.
- Breathe. Nerves are common, but don’t let them get to you. It’s an audition, and while it may seem that all happiness hinges on your performance, it doesn’t. Stop, breathe and play. You can do this.
- Play with passion. While auditioning it’s easy to get caught up in the system and feel like you are just another musician like every other auditioning. Remember that you are unique and that you have your own playing style. You are not a robot but a human being with passions. Let those passions come out while you play. It will change everything.
Remember that you are capable of accomplishing all that you work towards. Prepare, breathe and play and you will do well.
Selecting a Private Lesson Instructor
Perhaps your current private lesson instructor doesn’t push you enough. Maybe you are looking for a teacher because you recently moved to a new state. You might be preparing for a college audition or may have never had a private teacher before.
Regardless of your musical background, there are some important things to consider when looking for a private teacher.
Selecting a private lessons instructor who you work well with is a key factor in establishing a path for success as a musician. Playing in school orchestras alone without outside instruction can often lead to development of poor technique. It is important to find a teacher who is well trained and qualified to teach, in addition to finding someone whose teaching methods complement your personality and musical goals.
Different music teachers can have very different approaches to playing and teaching music. A student’s learning experience with a music teacher can vary drastically based off of the teacher’s personality, their instrumental background, their own past instructors’ methods of teaching and even their culture or nationality.
Before choosing a private lesson instructor, ask yourself these questions:
- Why am I interested in pursuing music?
- How does music impact my soul in a positive way?
- What are my goals and incentives as a musician?
- How much time am I willing to put into achieving those goals and developing my best self?
- What am I (or my parents) willing to pay so that I can have a quality instructor?
- If I (or my parents) cannot afford a teacher that I want to work with, what sacrifices am I willing to make to find a way to afford music lessons?
When looking for a new private lesson teacher, research their history and their qualifications. You can usually ask for recommendations by calling local music stores.
- Does this teacher have their undergraduate or graduate degree in music or other notable credentials?
- How long has this teacher been teaching?
- Does this teacher specialize in beginning instruction or in coaching more advanced students?
- Do they have experience and expertise in the kinds of music and career paths that you may be interested in?
- Where is this teacher from, and how might their cultural background affect their musical approaches and expectations?
- What method books or repertoire does this teacher favor?
- Where do they teach at?
- How much do they charge?
Next, it is important to meet with the teacher in person and arrange a trial lesson. Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I feel like this teacher will challenge me as a musician?
- Do I feel comfortable asking questions to this teacher?
- What method books or repertoire does this teacher favor?
- What practice expectations does this teacher have for me?
- Does this teacher’s playing and performance style interest me?
- Do I feel genuinely loved and cared for by this teacher?
- Do I feel that as I get to know them better, I could approach this teacher for guidance in my life outside of music?
Whatever you are looking for, there are many qualified, accomplished, driven, and caring instructors to choose from. Find out what is most important to you, and choose a teacher who brings out the best in you.
Why Join a Youth Symphony
Now that summer is over and school is back in session, it’s difficult to find any spare time. An additional extracurricular activity might initially not sound the most appealing, but trust me when I say joining a youth orchestra is worth it.
Playing in a youth orchestra has several benefits that will not only help you as a musician, but improve so many other aspects of your life. Here are the top reasons why you should play in a youth orchestra:
It is a challenge. Without challenges there is no growth. In an orchestra you are not only playing more difficult pieces, but you are learning how to better follow your conductor and play with a large ensemble. You are expected to perform and behave at a higher, more professional level and your overall musicianship improves.
You expand your repertoire. If you are a member of your school’s orchestra, it’s likely that you are playing just a small selection of pieces. In a youth orchestra the pool of music to choose from is much larger and rather than playing pieces written specifically for students your age, you play music of a variety of genres written for professionals.
There is shared passion. It’s common to play with individuals who may not be as passionate about music and performing as you are. That doesn’t exist in a youth orchestra. You are in a group of musicians who care about music enough to take precious time out of their lives to play and improve. Together you form an ensemble that puts in effort to play at your best because it means something to you.
There is a support system. Youth orchestras are not only comprised of enthusiastic students like yourself, but are also led by those who encourage you. Your conductor and executive director know your potential and sincerely want you to succeed.
It looks good on your resume. When applying to jobs or universities, employers want to see that you’re involved in something other than school. They want to see your interests and how you’ve spent your extra time. They love to see that your passion has led you to go the extra mile and improve.
You manage time better. Because you have so many things on your plate, organization and time management become essential for your sanity. As your days become more full, you learn how to better manage the remaining time you have so that your homework and other responsibilities get done.
Travel opportunities become available. Many youth orchestras want to give you opportunities to challenge yourself and share your talent. They often travel to give you that experience. If you’ve longed to travel and experience music and other cultures, playing in a youth orchestra is the perfect opportunity.
Remember your passion and follow it. Don’t let the chaos of life keep you from doing what you love. Join an orchestra — you won’t regret it.