That all changed when I got to college - all of the sudden I was thrown into weekly lessons where I was actually accountable for my preparedness (grades). So I finally practiced on a consistent level! While I was doing my masters degree at Eastman I was absolutely amazed with the work ethic of some of the freshman kids. I was definitely not like that when I was a freshman (I believe I even ditched a lesson or two...) Anyways, fast forward a couple years - I became involved in an orchestra that is no longer in existence. But I ended up playing with some really good players...really good players, and I truly realized how out of my league I was. If I was to make this a career, I had a very long way to go. I actually had a slight identity crisis...I even considered changing majors. Good thing I didn't.
I didn't truly get into major technical practicing (scales, scalebooks, etc.) until I started lessons with Abby. I took lessons with her over the summer in 2005 to get ready for my senior recital in the fall (Dr. Lawson didn't teach over the summer). At my first lesson, she told me to get the Baermann Volume 3. We ended up working on that plus Rose 32 for the majority of the summer! I immediately felt the impact of working through these books. I had done Rose 32 for years, but not the way I did with her! From that summer forward, I realized the how important scales and technical exercises were...and I have done them on a daily basis since.
Anyway, fast forward (again)
In light of this new revelation (and since I have nothing else to practice!), I have been working on a lot out of the Didier Scale book (volume 1) I got this book a few years ago at the request of a teacher that I took Eb lessons with and we never used it (which annoyed me a little, the book cost $50 and was pretty hard to find!). Basically, it goes through all the keys in different patterns such as scales in 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, and octaves. It also has V7 chords and vii7 in each key. Also some crazy arpeggiations of the tonic (or as my sister would say, crasy). Needless to say, its very challenging to play and to read - especially when the leaps are more than a 5th!. I do one key per day, playing through them at eighth note = 80, and then again at quarter note = 80. I use the faster tempo to practice "reading ahead". I try to aim for perfection through the practice of reading the music, not by sheer repetition. I am also keeping things fun by doing Rose etudes, a slow one for musicality and endurance, and a fast one pushing the speed to uncomfortable level and trying to read ahead better. So far, I think it is helping.
Till next time...
and oh yeah, 66 days left!
No comments:
Post a Comment