Notes

Vernon Parish Community Orchestra

Community Orchestra Serving West Louisiana and East Texas

Notes

Notes

RULES FOR PLAYING MUSIC

IN AN ENSEMBLE

1. Everyone should play the same piece.

2. Observe the repeat signs only if what you just played was interesting.

3. If you play a wrong note, glare at one of the other players.

4. Carefully tune your instrument before playing. Then if you play out of tune, you can at least do it with a clear conscience.

5. The right note, at the wrong time, is a wrong note. (And vice-versa.)

6. A wrong note, played timidly, is a wrong note.

7. A wrong note, played with authority is simply your
interpretation of the phrase.

8. If everyone gets lost except you, follow the ones who are lost.

9. Strive to always play the maximum notes per second. This will intimidate the weaker players and gain you the admiration of the ignorant.

10. Markings for slurs, dynamics, and accidentals should be completely ignored. They are only there to make the score look more complicated.

11. If a passage is difficult, slow down. If it is easy, speed up. Everything will even itself out in the end.

12. You have achieved a true interpretation when, in the end, you have not played one note of the original piece.

13. When everyone else stops playing, you should stop also. Do not play any notes you may have left over.

14. Blessed are those without perfect pitch, for the kingdom of music is theirs.

—-Author Unknown

—Author Unknown

PREPARATION FOR MUSICIANS

For excellent information on preparation for playing in an orchestra or ensemble, you will definitely want to explore this site: http://www.classicalarchives.com/learning/stu_3.html . It’s The Classical Archives, an outstanding website for an orchestra member. In a nutshell, the advice is PRACTICE, MARK YOUR MUSIC, AND LISTEN.

ad libitum – at the discretion of the performer; affords the performer license to alter or omit a part

agitato—agitated

all marcia –in the style of a march

allargando—getting slower and broader, more majestic

andantino—faster than andante

animato—animated, with spirit

cadenza--a passage usually towards end of a solo piece, where soloist plays alone in a skilled way

cantabile—singing style

con—with

con brio—with liveliness or spirit

con grazia—with grace

con moto—with movement

con sprito—with spirit or animation

dolce—sweetly, tenderly

energico—with energy

expressive—emotional, eloquent, passionate

giocoso--gay, merry

grave – very slow and solemn

leggier—light and delicate

lento—slow

l'istesso—keep same speed

maestoso—majestically

meno—less

meno mosso—less movement

molto—very

morendo—gradually dying away

pesante—heavy, lumpy

piu--more

piu mosso—more movement, quicken

prestissimo—as fast as possible

religioso—spiritual

reste—an interval of silence, a short pause

rubato –in Italian “stolen time,” a musical term for slightly speeding up or slowing down the tempo of a piece at the discretion of the soloist or the conductor

scherzando—playful

sempre—always

sostenuto—sustained

stringendo—a directive to perform the indicated passage of a composition with a pressing forward or acceleration of the tempo

tempo primo—back to original speed

tenuto—in musical notation it means “to hold”—it can mean either hold the note in question its full length or longer, or else play the note slightly louder

tranquillo—calm

tutti—all

obligato--not to be left out; indispensable. Used of an accompaniment that is an integral part of a piece

trill--the rapid alternation of two tones either a whole or a half tone apart

vivace-a movement that is usually in a lively mood and so usually in a fast tempo

vivo – quick and lively

SOME MUSICAL TERMS

DEVELOPING YOUR MUSICAL EAR

Here is a fun way to develop tonal memory. Simon says try this game. Just click on memory music game and see how high you can score by remembering the sequence of tones. It’s fun and it’s good ear training! When you get really good at Simon Says, click on Sheppard Software Musical Memory Game.

This offers you a more advanced game than Simon Says, but it is still an enjoyable ear training game and an excellent learning activity.

MAXIMIZE YOUR MUSICAL TALENT

You are a talented musician, and you want to be better. You can do it!

In his book TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH, John C. Maxwell outlines an analysis of characteristics that will move talent to a higher level.

Maxwell says, "Make these choices and you can become a talent-plus person. If you have talent, you stand alone. If you have talent plus, you stand out." Maxwell lists thirteen "key choices that can be made to maximize any person's talent."

1. Belief lifts your talent.

2. Passion energizes your talent.

3. Initiative activates your talent.

4. Focus directs your talent.

5. Preparation positions your talent.

6. Practice sharpens your talent.

7. Perseverance sustains your talent.

8. Courage tests your talent.

9. Teachability expands your talent.

10. Character protects your talent.

11. Relationships influence your talent.

12. Responsibility strengthens your talent.

13. Teamwork multiplies your talent.

—From John C. Maxwell’s Talent Is Never Enough., p. 4. (2007); Thomas Nelson; Nashville , Tennessee.

Teaching Resources

For information on teaching materials and other resources for string students and music teachers see the Strings Skills web site.

MUSIC INFORMATION

For information on instructional strategies for string instruments and activities for developing musicianship and more, try the Michael Hopkins String Pedagogy Notebook site.

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FOR STRING PLAYERS: NOTES FROM DR. GORDY

The following thoughts are excerpts from PERFORMANCE SUCCESS: PERFORMING YOUR BEST UNDER PRESSURE, Don Greene, Ph. D., Routledge in New York, NY 2002

1. Make before and after tapes of each project.

2. Stress can make or break you, but it is normal. You can learn to deal with it.

3. Right-brain thinking is great to use in Optimal Performance (best you can do). It is a wonderful place from which to perform. It is more quiet and more focused. It is where you can imagine as you play, hear the sound you want to create. When you perform, think and create, but don’t allow the left brain to criticize. The seven essential skills for performance are: Determination, poise, mental outlook, emotional approach, attention, concentration and resilience.

4. Psychological response to stress: Feeling confused, loss of focus, inner-directed attention. Physical response is “fight or flight”: Muscle tension and increased perspiration.

5. Performance consequences of stress: Impairment of timing and fine muscle coordination; jerky movements, muscular tension. Keep muscles relaxed, from neck and jaw, through shoulders arms and hands, to back and legs. Stress can cause faulty decision-making—inflexible, indecisive or impulsive thinking mental distraction by left-brain criticism. Negative (Doomsday) thinking may result from stress. Stress leads to lack of focus and inability to concentrate on task at hand.

6. Think of your practice goals as a daily “to-do” list. Repetition means reinforcement.

7. Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Self trust is the first secret to success.”

8. “Consciously or unconsciously, you always get what you expect.” Robert Anthony

9. Repetition of the right physical, mental and emotional habits eventually brings them under automatic control.

10. “If you want a rainbow, you gotta put up with a little rain.” Dolly Parton

VIOLINISTS

For new perspectives from the violin community, try this site:

www.violinist.com

You will find interviews with Joshua Bell, Hillary Hahn, Anne-Sophie Mutter, members of the Louisiana Philharmonic and many more. Read blogs on techniques, performing, practicing, teaching, instruments and much more. Hear a violinist play while you follow the music.

www.vpco.net

Need a Luthier?

For adjustment of violin sound post, rehairing the bow, minor repair, accessories, rentals and purchase of string instruments—including viola, cello and bass, check with Cadenza Violin Shop in Shreveport, LA.

Toll-free:

888-474-0946

or 318-869-2449.

A professional and highly respected shop for needs of string players.

1. Text Box: www.cadenzaviolins.net/

RECOMMENDED READING

Gerald Klickstein has a new book that is being heralded as a most valuable resource for string players. Sizzlin’ Strings students are urged to get a copy of THE MUSICIAN’S WAY: A GUIDE TO PRACTICE, PERFORMANCE AND WELLNESS. Klickstein has five chapters on the art of practice, from creating a practice environment to “practicing deeply.” Among other topics, he addresses performance anxiety, connecting with an audience, performing in a group and injury prevention for musicians. The book was published in 2009 by Oxford University Press and is available at Amazon.com.

VIOLIN INSTRUCTION

“As a violin teacher for the past twenty plus years, Todd Ehle has worked with students of all ages and ability. Todd is a firm believer in the power of will and desire, even over the power of God-given talent. A student with tremendous desire and a love of the instrument, coupled with discipline and perseverance, can achieve amazing results.” Among the topics included in the lessons are the vibrato, Wohlfart etudes, and Kreutzer exercises. For the full complement of lessons on Professor Ehle’s website, click here.

TWO NEW BOOKS ON LOUISIANA FIDDLERS

Congratulations to Ron Yule, local fiddler, music historian/author and VPCO violinist, who has just published his fifth and sixth books on Louisiana’s music heritage, both books available now. In LOUISIANA BLUEGRASS, THE EARLY YEARS, Yule chronicles the pioneering bluegrass pickers and promoters in the state whose music prior to the mid–1980’s reflected the true character of the genre and made a powerful impact on the music scene. The book covers a brief history of bluegrass in Louisiana, sketches bluegrass pioneer groups, second generation bands, contemporary bands and more. Contact Ron Yule for a copy.

LOUISIANA FIDDLERS, published in 2009 by University Press of Mississippi, “shines light on sixty-two of the bayou state’s most accomplished fiddlers of the twentieth century,” from nationally acclaimed fiddlers to masters such as local champion fiddler Mastern Brack. Contact Ron or http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/1228. LOUISIANA BLUEGRASS and LOUISIANA FIDDLERS are available from Ron at PO Box 819, DeRidder La 70634 or www.ronyule.com .