My wrong notes

[MartyNeilan]

Since this probably got buried in the Updates section, I am reposting it here:

I just played in wednesday recital- cadenza of mvt I of RVW concerto.
I nailed both high Ab's

FWIW, if you listen to the John Fletcher recording (and I think the Arnold Jacobs DG recording as well) they play the cadenza with a single high Ab, in a different location. The "optional" Ab's in the written cadenza seem very arbitrary, the Fletch Ab fits in much better musically. The first time I played the VW for a trombone professor (who had already heard it WAY too many times) he commented on how much better he liked the different placement of the Ab. Being that it is a cadenza, and with a tradition of that alternate performance, I don't forsee you getting "dinged" for playing the alternate (quite possibly original) way.

[The Jackson]

James, you are treating yourself far too harshly! I definitely know the position of the musician in reference to the music, but you must focus less on the negative stuff! Your playing was not bad in the least!

As to the music, it is very good. With more time to it, I think you have a real keeper here. Your sound was very nice and smooth (especially in the high notes; I have A LOT of difficulty with that) and intonation is not terrible. Tempo was an issue, so I think you might want to practice with the metronome. If you haven't heard multiple recordings of this music, I suggest you do and I suggest you do A LOT. I listened to Arnold Jacobs, Eugene Dowling and a few others play this first movement of the Vaughan-Williams A TON of times before I even ordered the music for it (I didn't plan for this, though, it was just a very fortunate coincidence). I think that helped me immensely because I had the piece in my head and just had to translate it to my lips and fingers.

I don't think there are any issues here that cannot be remedied with routine and effective practice. You have good stuff here, so DO NOT PUT YOURSELF DOWN!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I must get a Graduate Assistantship or im on the streets (too poor and too many loans)

You seem to think graduate assistantships are given out based on playing ability.

You couldn't be farther from the truth. However, since you seem to have a dislike for marching band, that will probably exclude you from about 1/2 of them.

FWIW, your intonation (which I have previously been concerned about with you) is MUCH better than it was on your junior recital. Your technique is fine, you just need more face time with the piece to really get the intervals "in your chops" (don't forget slow practice with a metronome...make absolute perfection at a very slow tempo your standard and then creep the tempo up just a bit at a time). Once you get more comfortable with the piece, strive to make it your own (musically) and not just strings of notes. Best of luck as you continue to work on this!

Oh yeah, and once again, don't start off by telling everyone how bad you sound, how you've only been on this horn 2 weeks, blah blah blah. You set yourself up for a fall and give the listener expectations of a crash. Get some confidence, and it will help you a great deal in your graduate school pursuits. They tend to frown on excuse-makers.

[k001k47]

Sounding good to me.
Quit worrying so much and just play.


Good look with your pursuits!

[eupher61]

James, you need to read "The Inner Game of Tennis".

And use the principles.

Better still, read "Tennis" then "The Inner Game of Golf".

And use the principles. If you don't catch on, find someone you can communicate with about it. A lesson or two at Indiana would be a great idea, but there are plenty of others who use the Inner Game. Or, maybe better description, DON'T use it.

To paraphrase from "Caddyshack"..."Be the tuba, James. Be the tuba."

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Pressuring yourself to improve is fine.

It's your negative attitude about...well, everything concerning your playing that's the problem (just look at the title of your thread). Again, getting a GA isn't just about being a good player. You have to present yourself well to the faculty, and you never, ever present yourself well. You consistently prep the listener for mistakes. To paraphrase Guinan: If a player believes he's going to screw up, he'll probably find a way to make it happen.

Hopefully that's some honesty that you'll listen to and make some changes. I wouldn't want to listen to Jim Self if he prefaced a lecture/performance with the things you say about yourself. In fact, I would consider it the height of arrogance for someone to play that well and degrade themselves like that...what does that say about guys who don't play as well?

Oh, and I was principal of the Oklahoma All-State three years in a row...does that lend some more weight to my opinion in your view?

[djwesp]

I was Arkansas All-State, Arkansas Intercollegiate Band, and Nebraska Intercollegiate band... why doesn't anyone listen to me?


Wes "sneaks back off into the corner" pendergrass

[djwesp]

/tried to sell your Eb!

Well I still got it! Still play it in orchestra too. Don't lose all the faith in me Bob.


Wes "who will be selling a different horn soon, for sure, but not in the key of Eb" pendergrass

[windshieldbug]

BTW: Happy Birthday!

[PWtuba]

Sounded great, James! Excellent tone quality. Very nice high notes as well. What stood out the most was that the tempo was all over the place (and no, I'm not talking about the cadenza ). Keeping a piece in tempo will make an incredible difference. I think you were greatly exaggerating how unprepared you were-- it was very good.

[BriceT]

James, you need to read "The Inner Game of Tennis".

And use the principles.

Better still, read "Tennis" then "The Inner Game of Golf".

I might be incorrect, but I think there is also "The Inner Game of Music."

[THE TUBA]

My weakness is tempo....I will not deny that.....I would trade anything to have a solid tempo, I would even trade my range or tone, as tempo wins auditions.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that tempo wins auditions, but it definitely loses them.

[eupher61]

James, you need to read "The Inner Game of Tennis".

And use the principles.

Better still, read "Tennis" then "The Inner Game of Golf".

I might be incorrect, but I think there is also "The Inner Game of Music."

Yep. Barry Green, from Cincinatti. Bass player. It's not nearly to the calibre of the other two books. It doesn't explain the basics well, IMO, and it gets too bogged down in music. It's on my shelf right next to me.

There are a couple other things I don't like about it, too, but those are unimportant in the grand scheme.

For me, the "Golf" was the best, but ONLY after having read "Tennis". Reading the
"Music" book first is like a raw beginner starting with the Arban Characteristic Studies first, then going backwards through the book.

[MartyNeilan]

"zero competition"...
James, YOU are the competition:
James *now* vs. James ten minutes from now vs. James next week vs. James next month vs. James next year...
When you compete with OTHER individuals, you will limit your achievements to only a tiny bit more than the achievements of others.

Excellent advice from the Bloke as always.
I also seem to remember posting about a year ago to find some other musician at your school to keep your motivation up as a challenge. Even in a small school, there HAS to be at least one flute, piano, violin, or even big-haired soprano hotshot who can give you a run for your money. Don't try to be the best tuba player, try to be the best MUSICIAN. That can be your external motivation, and Bloke has given you more than enough internal motivation.

[djwesp]

"zero competition"...

James, YOU are the competition:

James *now* vs. James ten minutes from now vs. James next week vs. James next month vs. James next year...

When you compete with OTHER individuals, you will limit your achievements to only a tiny bit more than the achievements of others.

Wow. Great wording bloke. I might steal it as a quote for my practice room walls. This is probably the first time someone has said this, to where it made sense.

[BVD Press]

My weakness is tempo....I will not deny that.....I would trade anything to have a solid tempo, I would even trade my range or tone, as tempo wins auditions.

They all win auditions. If you don't have all three, you probably have no shot at winning a decent job.

[eupher61]

If a metronome bugs you, that's evidence that your tempo-keeping ability is lacking.

don't play a single note of your own practice without a metronome going.

Practice subdividing everything and anything you can, be it music or highway cracks (with cruise control ON and on a relatively flat surface, of course.)

[Todd S. Malicoate]

If a metronome bugs you, that's evidence that your tempo-keeping ability is lacking.

Has anyone ever told you you're an "easy mark"???