bort wrote:
I'm sure I didn't play it perfectly. But at least convincingly.
Another key point.
Would you rather hear a performance by:
a) someone who has memorized the notes, and plays them all, or
b) somone who has learned the music and is largely improvising his part - playing perhaps 75% of the "correct" notes?
I used to play next to someone who never had his music - but since we mostly played formulaic marches with repeats marked mp/ff it all worked out. He listened on the first pass, and joined in on the repeat. The dynamics just took care of themselves...
a few years ago our community band was playing a transcription of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. The transcription was about 40 years old, with all parts written out by our distinguished conductor.
At one point, the conductor started complaining that the tuba were playing the wrong rhythm. We played it three times before he gave up on us.
On the third pass, I leaned over to look at the trombone part on the stand next to me. It had the same rhythm written on the page - but he was playing the rhythm the conductor wanted!
It was a combination of two "senior moments". It turned out that there was an error in the parts (both tuba and trombone) that no one had discovered in 40 years. I showed the part to the conductor, he looked at the score and said "oh...that's wrong!" He fixed it the next week.
How about the trombone player? It turned out that he wasn't bothering to look at the music. He knew the symphony and was just playing the correct part - not so much "from memory", but rather he was just playing a trombone part that fit well with the rest of the band.
The tubas weren't that good - we were all looking at the page and playing what was written. Silly us.
Good thing we hadn't taken it home and "memorized" it.
TubaRay wrote:A lesson I learned in performing with the TubaMeisters is that memorizing music can be a perk which frees one up to "enjoy the scenery."
"Stay between the lines."
(For everyone else, that was our mantra in the early days of the TubaMeisters. We played in Texas summer outdoor heat in a theme park where they also had a large water park. Enough said.)
But, Ray, remember when we played at SWTSU and how much we (and the audience) relaxed when we were done with our long-hair stuff, stepped out from behind the stands, and played our head-set?
Rick "who memorizes poorly but who plays memorized stuff more musically" Denney
I didn't read the entire thread, and not sure if it was stated already, but memorization happens when you know a piece. Whether you look at the the music in front of you or not, if it is well prepared, then you have it mostly memorized.
The ability to successfully perform a piece requires that the performer have a prepared interpretation of the music. This means the performer must have thought ahead well in advance. In other words, you should not be playing the notes you are currently on, but rather be "reading ahead".
I have found that one should spend less time forcing memorization and more time truly learning the music. This will eventually lead to memorization.
Now....memorizing standard tuba concertos? For hold long??? Forever? You will probably not remember the concerto's in their entirety....so why spend so much time to force it? I only memorize if it is required or if it happens to come along naturally. Some say it makes more musicality......maybe. But for everyone? When I "memorize" for the sake of memorizing, I find that I'm even MORE concerned about accuracy rather than musical intent. so...as with many things...and to take the "cop out" route....different things work for different people.
tubashaman wrote:For the RVW, I say memorize. Anyone wanting to be a pro will have to play it over and over.....memorize it on F, CC, Eb, whatever you own.
Just curious...what makes you think that a pro has to play the Vaughan Williams over and over?
tubashaman wrote:For the RVW, I say memorize. Anyone wanting to be a pro will have to play it over and over.....memorize it on F, CC, Eb, whatever you own.
Just curious...what makes you think that a pro has to play the Vaughan Williams over and over?
sloan wrote:
But...as soon as you say that, you change the game. Now, the task is not "learn the piece", but rather "memorize the piece". THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!
Once again, Dr. Sloan, you are absolutely correct. Excellent post!
TubaRay wrote:A lesson I learned in performing with the TubaMeisters is that memorizing music can be a perk which frees one up to "enjoy the scenery."
"Stay between the lines."
(For everyone else, that was our mantra in the early days of the TubaMeisters. We played in Texas summer outdoor heat in a theme park where they also had a large water park. Enough said.)
But, Ray, remember when we played at SWTSU and how much we (and the audience) relaxed when we were done with our long-hair stuff, stepped out from behind the stands, and played our head-set?
I remember all of this, Rick. By coincidence, I was at that very park today, as a guest. Well, actually I was working. I took a group of students there. They happened to have a really outstanding new show goin on at the Zaragosa Theater. It is a group of really fine young brass and percussion players. I was thoroughly entertained and awed. They could really play and put on a show. Incidentally, they played it all without reading a note of music.
I'm not out to start a flame war. It was an honest question, asked nicely. I disagreed with James' assertion, and wondered what reason he had to believe that. That's called an exchange of ideas. I might even learn something I hadn't considered before from his reply, if you don't mind too awful much. Thanks!
Oh, and James...try some Aleve for that hand pain...works very well for me.
Last edited by Todd S. Malicoate on Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
tubashaman wrote:
It used to be for the honors concert at ACU which I made the recital on the barnes, had to be memorized. But we were let known about 2 weeks before the deadline of auditions when the audition was so we didnt have to.
Could you please translate this for me, James. I don't think I understand what you are trying to say.
tubashaman wrote:When applying for professorships, and orchestral gigs, you will probably have played this piece for the audition or plenty of times in the past......it will be great to memorize the music. There are certain pieces you showcase your instrument when playing as a soloist with a orchestra. The John Williams i believe is out of print, and the Ralph Vaughan Williams is an amazing piece
This is good and true...HOWEVER, most of us, including renowned players will most likely not have the piece memorized at all times. Memorizing the piece will only hold completely in the memory as long as it is being worked on. And who could or would want to play one piece of music enough to have it memorized for years? I think it would be more beneficial when practicing this piece, to make sure your music is clearly marked to you and that you have self recordings of it as a reference.
