Friday night, I'd been there 6 days, I was beginning to enjoy this whole "music all day" thing, not to mention letting someone else make meals and clean up. Friday night was Camper Concert night. Ooh, as I said in my first post, I signed up for this whole week to help me work on confidence, and what better way than to sign myself up to perform? I figure, hey, I've come this far, paid a whole lot to get here, and learned enough to keep me going for a good long time. I really need to take this one last step. (And as I told my students, I really needed to put myself in their position, to appreciate fully what I put them through every spring.)
My group and I had worked on the Schubert all week. In fact, everyone I played with all week long worked on the Schubert with me. I'm sure they were all fairly tired of playing the Schubert, but I was fired up to show off what we had learned! Our group played 7th on the program: lots of time to get nervous, right? Someone had suggested that eating a banana would work similarly to a beta blocker, calming the nerves, at least a bit. I grabbed a banana for dessert that evening.
I don't know if the banana beta blocker was the ticket, or if I had convinced myself not to freak out, but whatever it was, I sat at the piano, with the violinist at my right shoulder and the 'cellist in front of the piano, and we did it! I gave the starting breath, and away we went, piano talking to 'cello talking to violin and back to piano. We communicated, we blended, we were gr-r-r-eat! A benefit of playing chamber music is the chance to cover up your mistakes. Oh, I'm sure we each had a few oopses, but we all kept going, maintained a decent tempo, and counted when we got lost. As long as someone was playing, who's the wiser? We started together, we stayed together, and we ended together to a great round of applause.
I know we each had fun, and I developed that confidence which I so blatantly lacked earlier in the week. Thank you, Summertrios, for providing the opportunity and the venue to overcome my stage fright, to learn the beauty of chamber music, and to experience the joy of playing with fellow musicians. It was well worth the expense. Let me add as I close, the final day, while other groups were practicing for the second Camper Concert, I sightread all day. What a hoot that was! I am so glad I went to summer camp this year.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Summertrios part II
The whole week was an experience, let me assure you! Each day was filled with practice. Practice with other campers, practice with professionals, practice with my group and a coach, and lots and lots of practice on my own, trying to get those squeaky measures tweaked just so. Folks would practice in the living room of the dorm, in the dining hall, in practice studios, in the hallway, in their dorm rooms, and even outside under the trees. (Violinists have an advantage there -- they can practice anywhere! The pianists would scramble every morning to reserve a practice room.) There was music everywhere!
I had been working on one section (maybe only 2 measures), trying to get my right hand to play in fast running thirds. I just could not get it. My last coaching session provided the help I needed -- let your left hand play too. It was written for right hand alone, my left hand had nothing to do at that point. It never occurred to me to use my left hand to play the notes my right hand was missing. Wow, what a difference! Yes, I can play that section!
I especially liked the professional sessions. Even when I messed up, the pros kept going, covering up my mistakes, and making the whole thing sound ... professional! I received good coaching at these sessions as well. The violinist didn't like my attack at one point. He stopped and wanted me to play alone. He corrected my fingering. He showed me a different way to drop my hand to create a different sound. But wait -- "You're a violinist, aren't you?" He was first a musician, and a very good one at that. A violinist, a pianist, a conductor -- and a great mentor. I learned a lot from him. Oh, and the 'cellist from Day Two, remember him? We were assigned together once more, and I had had enough time to "get" this whole chamber music thing by then. We did much better second time around.
The evenings were a time to relax, for us campers at least. We enjoyed concerts by the professionals each evening. Piano trios and quartets, string quartets, all performed with such pizzazz. We all enjoyed letting someone else's fingers do the walking. Wow, were they good! Post concert was always party time. And yes, an occasion for more music. The string pros would do a "read through" to beat the band. Such good music from morning 'til night. Nothing like it!
I had been working on one section (maybe only 2 measures), trying to get my right hand to play in fast running thirds. I just could not get it. My last coaching session provided the help I needed -- let your left hand play too. It was written for right hand alone, my left hand had nothing to do at that point. It never occurred to me to use my left hand to play the notes my right hand was missing. Wow, what a difference! Yes, I can play that section!
I especially liked the professional sessions. Even when I messed up, the pros kept going, covering up my mistakes, and making the whole thing sound ... professional! I received good coaching at these sessions as well. The violinist didn't like my attack at one point. He stopped and wanted me to play alone. He corrected my fingering. He showed me a different way to drop my hand to create a different sound. But wait -- "You're a violinist, aren't you?" He was first a musician, and a very good one at that. A violinist, a pianist, a conductor -- and a great mentor. I learned a lot from him. Oh, and the 'cellist from Day Two, remember him? We were assigned together once more, and I had had enough time to "get" this whole chamber music thing by then. We did much better second time around.
The evenings were a time to relax, for us campers at least. We enjoyed concerts by the professionals each evening. Piano trios and quartets, string quartets, all performed with such pizzazz. We all enjoyed letting someone else's fingers do the walking. Wow, were they good! Post concert was always party time. And yes, an occasion for more music. The string pros would do a "read through" to beat the band. Such good music from morning 'til night. Nothing like it!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Summertrios.com
What an experience I had earlier this summer. Before June 2010, I had never been to sleep away camp. Before June 2010, I had never played in a piano master class (voluntarily yet!). Before June 2010, I had never played chamber music. This past June, I experienced all three events.
Summertrios is a music camp for adults, held at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. I drove up in the Miata, with the top down, and just a little shirt -- I wanted to work on my tan. 2 hours later, I was hot, my hair was unkempt, and my shoulders sunburned. When I pulled into Campus, I had no idea I looked as disheveled as I did. I checked in, got my room assignment, and immediately headed for the shower. Oh, I was hot, and the water wasn't. At all. In fact, it was very cold. Nevertheless, I jumped in and out quickly, enough time to cool off and wash my hair. Once I felt more presentable, I ambled across campus to the main building for dinner. I was in a room full of strangers (to me, at least.) For the rest of the campers, it was like old home week. They gather at this venue annually. Devotees, every one of them. And all musical geeks, so I fit right in. Everyone wanted to know what I was playing. I don't know, some Schubert piece, and something by Mendolssohn? I had never heard of these particular compositions before preparing myself for this week, but they knew exactly what I was learning. Most of them had played them in earlier years. Good, they can help me!
Day One was Getting to Know You. Day Two was Forget about Life for a While, and get in that practice room and PRACTICE! I had a reading session with one accomplished 'cello player and a novice violinist. What a wake-up experience that was. They have a score for their instrument only. I have the full score, and in addition to playing my own part, I was supposed to follow them as well. Needless to say, that first session did not produce good music, but we had fun trying, and vowed to get together again before the week was over.
My second session was not nearly as fun as the first. I was assigned to a professional 'cellist and an experienced violinist. The 'cellist kept stopping (me), saying "This is NOT a piano solo. LISTEN to your co-players, follow along." Now, mind you, I hadn't had a piano lesson in 26 years. And this was my very first exposure to chamber music. I was on the verge of tears, being corrected like that. I wanted to hide my face, run away, quit. But I thought better of it, I spent an awful lot money to get here. Let's just see how tomorrow plays out. I knew I was in way over my head, but if I could just tread water a little bit longer. And besides, there will be wine at the party tonight.
Later that day, I sat in the practice room, playing the Mendolssohn piano solo I had learned for the master class. Yes, I volunteered for this honor. How totally unlike me. From the Mendolssohn Songs without Words, I chose Confidence, one page, not too too demanding, and I was working on confidence from every angle, so it just seemed appropriate. The 4 other pianists chose much longer pieces, but they were also returning campers, more experienced at this than I. I played second, the master coach listening intently. When I finished, she asked me to describe the piece. ABA form, a sort of introduction, followed by a hymn-like section, and the opening section repeated at the close. Then she had me go back to the beginning. She critiqued my performance ever so gently: "Try it this way." "No pedal here." "Listen to the voices 'talking' to each other". I got it! I played it again, with the audience applauding more the second go 'round. They could hear a difference! Okay, I'm glad I stayed for this. Let's see what tomorrow brings. I'm learning to tread.
[Now I'm off to the beach. I'll come back to camp in my next post.]
Summertrios is a music camp for adults, held at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. I drove up in the Miata, with the top down, and just a little shirt -- I wanted to work on my tan. 2 hours later, I was hot, my hair was unkempt, and my shoulders sunburned. When I pulled into Campus, I had no idea I looked as disheveled as I did. I checked in, got my room assignment, and immediately headed for the shower. Oh, I was hot, and the water wasn't. At all. In fact, it was very cold. Nevertheless, I jumped in and out quickly, enough time to cool off and wash my hair. Once I felt more presentable, I ambled across campus to the main building for dinner. I was in a room full of strangers (to me, at least.) For the rest of the campers, it was like old home week. They gather at this venue annually. Devotees, every one of them. And all musical geeks, so I fit right in. Everyone wanted to know what I was playing. I don't know, some Schubert piece, and something by Mendolssohn? I had never heard of these particular compositions before preparing myself for this week, but they knew exactly what I was learning. Most of them had played them in earlier years. Good, they can help me!
Day One was Getting to Know You. Day Two was Forget about Life for a While, and get in that practice room and PRACTICE! I had a reading session with one accomplished 'cello player and a novice violinist. What a wake-up experience that was. They have a score for their instrument only. I have the full score, and in addition to playing my own part, I was supposed to follow them as well. Needless to say, that first session did not produce good music, but we had fun trying, and vowed to get together again before the week was over.
My second session was not nearly as fun as the first. I was assigned to a professional 'cellist and an experienced violinist. The 'cellist kept stopping (me), saying "This is NOT a piano solo. LISTEN to your co-players, follow along." Now, mind you, I hadn't had a piano lesson in 26 years. And this was my very first exposure to chamber music. I was on the verge of tears, being corrected like that. I wanted to hide my face, run away, quit. But I thought better of it, I spent an awful lot money to get here. Let's just see how tomorrow plays out. I knew I was in way over my head, but if I could just tread water a little bit longer. And besides, there will be wine at the party tonight.
Later that day, I sat in the practice room, playing the Mendolssohn piano solo I had learned for the master class. Yes, I volunteered for this honor. How totally unlike me. From the Mendolssohn Songs without Words, I chose Confidence, one page, not too too demanding, and I was working on confidence from every angle, so it just seemed appropriate. The 4 other pianists chose much longer pieces, but they were also returning campers, more experienced at this than I. I played second, the master coach listening intently. When I finished, she asked me to describe the piece. ABA form, a sort of introduction, followed by a hymn-like section, and the opening section repeated at the close. Then she had me go back to the beginning. She critiqued my performance ever so gently: "Try it this way." "No pedal here." "Listen to the voices 'talking' to each other". I got it! I played it again, with the audience applauding more the second go 'round. They could hear a difference! Okay, I'm glad I stayed for this. Let's see what tomorrow brings. I'm learning to tread.
[Now I'm off to the beach. I'll come back to camp in my next post.]
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The new piano year is here!
Can you believe the school year is already upon us? And you know what that means? Piano lessons are just around the corner, and it's TIME TO PRACTICE. I'm scheduling lessons Tuesday through Friday in the afternoons. Rates remain unchanged, $120 a month for 30-minute, weekly lessons. Other lesson lengths are also available; just let me know if you want to schedule a longer lesson. Music is an additional charge. Give me a call to get your name on the schedule, and let's get started! Polish 2 pieces out of your repertoire, and if there is something specific you want to learn this fall, please bring it with you to your first lesson. I'm looking forward to getting back together after a long, hot summer.
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