Welcome to montemumford.com
  • Home
  • Contact Monte
  • Monte's Schedule
  • Publications and articles
    • Publications and articles access
  • Video and Audio Resources
  • Monte's Blog Page
  • Video and Audio Resources

Reflections and suggestions Toward Rehearsal Planning

21/11/2013

0 Comments

 
Monte H. Mumford

* Endeavor to always play what the music sounds like, not what it looks like. If you only play what’s on the page, you have missed the point. What is the musical context of the written instructions? From where do those written instructions come? Are they not just reminders of the musical potential?

* Ask questions of your ensemble members, and remember to listen to their answers.

* Never play a long note without doing something with it. Long notes are generally on their way from one musical event to another. Listen, respond and energise the note(s) with direction, according to the rhythmic and harmonic context.

* Remind your ensemble not to breathe just because they need air. The music needs to breathe.  Therefore, plan to reinforce breaths in relation to phrasing. Remember to remind your ensemble to breathe the music in:  That includes, tempo, style, dynamic volume, inflection and interpretation, etc.

* Remain obstinately focused on balance, colour, shape and especially bass line harmonic motion.

* Find any reason to reinforce softer playing. Have the courage to require Piano.  Help the ensemble to focus on their part within the musical context.

* Never miss the opportunity to address transitions.

* The environment of every rehearsal should include elements of freedom, spontaneity, improvisation, and interplay. Be sure to encourage personal ownership and responsibility!!!

* Study your scores and follow your plan, but remember to listen and respond to what the music requests of us in the moment; always be inspired to go beyond the printed page.

*  Be sure to move the music over the bar lines.  It is our business to defeat bar lines, allowing for the proper phrase/inflection direction.  Every phrase contains events.  It is our responsibility to highlight those events.

*Remember to encourage listening to the harmonic context, for it is in the harmonic/melodic interplay that we find true expressive inspiration.

8  Be especially decisive with how and when your ensemble enters and exits silence.    

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mr. Mumford holds an international reputation as a conductor, adjudicator and clinician, contributing regularly to the field of music education and performance studies through conference presentations, publications, professional development offerings, and master classes. He is highly regarded for his musical experience, expertise, passion and effective teaching style. He is in demand as a guest conductor, music education consultant, and adjudicator, providing performance strategies and professional development for music educators, administrators and students alike. From 2015 -2017 Mr. Mumford was engaged as Advisor and Lead Educator for the Melbourne Youth Orchestra Teacher Professional Development Programme. ​  

    Archives

    June 2021
    February 2021
    May 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    March 2018
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    April 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed