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Quartet Camp
Jun. 6th, 2005 04:21 pmFirst let me say that I am very glad I'm doing the camp. They were going to give us the Schubert Double Cello Quintet -- did give it to us -- but then A.N. backed out, so we're just a regular quartet, now. We're going to start the Sibelius tomorrow.
The technique/theory class I am less enthusiastic about. I'm the oldest there -- possibly the most advanced as well. MAybe it'll be good: Ms. F. talked about sight-reading, maybe doing cello choir stuff. And scales. It won't hurt me to play more scales. But going around talking about key signatures! Argh! I don't want to discuss key signatures. I suppose drilling intervals would be good, but it doesn't seem likely that we'll do anything that advanced: no diminished or augmented intervals: just major and minor and perfect. Oh well.
I must not be arrogant about this. I must not start thinking that I'm better than everyone else in the class. I have so far to go: I shouldn't be playing out of tune at all at this point. What is wrong with me? I can always learn something. And no, I do not mean any of this sarcastically. I really do need to work, and I always am tempted to blow off technique classes if everyone else is younger than I am.
But the quartet … it's wonderful. We worked on the Schubert even though we won't be playing it. I did it my sophomore year, but what we put together on the third run-through today was better than the final product then. It's amazing what a couple years more of experience and people who really care about music can do. I'm almost starting to believe that it's possible, what we saw this spring at ASU when Gil Shaham did the Brahms G Sextet with grad students: they more or less sight-read it together on stage. But maybe that can be done. Maybe if I work hard, I'll be able to do it in 6 or so years.
Mr. Q, our coach, is wonderful. I think I get it now: I'm too lazy when I play, in general. I'm not aggressive enough, as Bob would say. I'm not in the habit of putting everything I have into my playing. That's why I don't score high enough; that's why I didn't make the Conservatory cuts. Okay, so my technique needs work too, but I could give such a better impression if only I would work at it!! So now I know what I need to do.
A.Q. is going to Stanford. Just what I need: someone else to whom I don't measure up.
The technique/theory class I am less enthusiastic about. I'm the oldest there -- possibly the most advanced as well. MAybe it'll be good: Ms. F. talked about sight-reading, maybe doing cello choir stuff. And scales. It won't hurt me to play more scales. But going around talking about key signatures! Argh! I don't want to discuss key signatures. I suppose drilling intervals would be good, but it doesn't seem likely that we'll do anything that advanced: no diminished or augmented intervals: just major and minor and perfect. Oh well.
I must not be arrogant about this. I must not start thinking that I'm better than everyone else in the class. I have so far to go: I shouldn't be playing out of tune at all at this point. What is wrong with me? I can always learn something. And no, I do not mean any of this sarcastically. I really do need to work, and I always am tempted to blow off technique classes if everyone else is younger than I am.
But the quartet … it's wonderful. We worked on the Schubert even though we won't be playing it. I did it my sophomore year, but what we put together on the third run-through today was better than the final product then. It's amazing what a couple years more of experience and people who really care about music can do. I'm almost starting to believe that it's possible, what we saw this spring at ASU when Gil Shaham did the Brahms G Sextet with grad students: they more or less sight-read it together on stage. But maybe that can be done. Maybe if I work hard, I'll be able to do it in 6 or so years.
Mr. Q, our coach, is wonderful. I think I get it now: I'm too lazy when I play, in general. I'm not aggressive enough, as Bob would say. I'm not in the habit of putting everything I have into my playing. That's why I don't score high enough; that's why I didn't make the Conservatory cuts. Okay, so my technique needs work too, but I could give such a better impression if only I would work at it!! So now I know what I need to do.
A.Q. is going to Stanford. Just what I need: someone else to whom I don't measure up.
