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.
* 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.
RSS Feed