Score Study-WOW

I have been spending a lot of time focusing on score study.  I just finished doing a harmonic analysis of most of my piece.  I can’t do a true harmonic analysis in that most of my piece is not tonal.  So I am just writing out the chords and trying to make some associations.  In addition I have been working a lot on conducting teachnique.  It is so hard to focus on technique while you are analysing the ensemble on the spot.  The rehearsal should be interesting.

I will let you know how it goes.

Lessons

I have been working on preparing Steve Bryant’s Dusk.  I conducted the Symphonic Band through sight read of it last Thursday.  There are many issues right now.  Tuning and tone/articulation/ balance and blend are going to be big issues here.  I feel like they will work for me, but we do not have much time to prepare it.  Notes and rhythms are clearly not going to be a problem. We will see how next Tuesday’s rehearsal goes.

OK watch this…NOW!!!!!!

1st week

Not much has happened this week. I had my large ensemble audition and it went well.  I played my excerpts.  Hindemith and Tchaikovsky.  The panel enjoyed my performance.  I have my first conducting class tomorrow.  I am the TA for this class.  I don’t quite know what I am doing yet but it will become really clear after tommorow’s class.  After class I have a meeting with Dr. Richardson to go over my schedule for the year and make lesson/instrumental seminar times.

Hope it goes well.

First Orientation/Schedule

Today was good.  I was worried that I was going to be the oldest grad student at UWO.  I was not even close!!!  We had a short meeting in the morning.  Lunch, where I got to mingle with all of the other grad students.  After the meetings we went to the grad club for a free drink!!

My courses

1) Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Band

2)  Instrumental Seminar

3)  Lessons

4)  Performance seminar

I better go to bed early!!!

First day of school tomorrow!!!  I’d better go to bed early!!  Tell you how it goes tomorrow.