zk/writing/on-music/notes.md

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%title Conducting notes
* Rehearsal Techniques
* concert - work is done - this is payoff
* knowing how to work
* teachers primarily (what do we teach every day)
* help students become independent musicians (better)
* pitfalls - try to do everything for student - don't give students any space - CD least effective way of teaching (may get product)
* benevolent dictator!
* choose appropriate repertoire for each ensemble
* Choir rebels: almost always about person, not about music - build trust, make students know that this is good
* New Teacher w/ new music, students rebel because treat as group, not soloists
* prev teachers picked rep to highlight soli, thus more about person, new style teaching for group
* music = tool
* get good tools (good music subjective)
* language - latin easiest, good for teaching vowels, phrasing, articulation
* mainstream - palastrina to '50s, proven, give whats good for students
* research - what does music teach? too hard? research to fit ensemble (transcription, transposition)
* back-up plan rep, but.. not about sudents, about self b/c students will never learn more than teacher knows
* Have high expectations
* rehearsal
* sight read ALL THE TIME
* "listen", not "watch me": focus on one, lose the other, stop conducting sometimes internalize
* interact - ask questions
* always conduct best students ~ 10% ~ create leaders, not boredom
* give them reason to watch you: never stop MAKING MUSIC
* be respectful: "ladies", "gentlemen", etc: treat them that way and they will act that way "Let us", "could we", not "let me" Be inclusive of rest of choir
* Involve as many parts as possible, no boredom, no singling out, stay focused
* always give reasons for work "lets go back and fix.."
* always give feedback, but be honest "that was the idea but if __ it would be better"
* use vague terms, often works because students think, "beautiful", "musical", "expressive" sometimes: "that was not good" make them think about why
* no hipocrisy! always do it yourself first
* admit mistakes and fault or at least don't blame students if not their fault
* dont talk too much - as much music as possible
* dont leave others behind (ie some work on notes some on phrasing), but always give everyone work
* always do everything - phrasing and articulation while learning notes
* ensemble - everyone should be complimentary - creative seating and paring of abilities
* plan for productive rehearsal - macro: battle plan -> micro: attack plan
* in general: early: big picture, mid: small details, end: put it together (milestones!)
* plan times (milestones!)
* dont eschew explanation: change concept of macro based on a piece (ie epitaph for moonlight)
* overperfection
* process vs product
* humanity + emotion vs being polished
* no overrehearsing
* overpolished
* getting stuck/bored
* music loses warmth
* lost expressivity
* cold, straight tone
* from conductors wishes
* sound vs music
* sound has to fit music and text, not the choir
* people dont listen to sound, but music
* conducting follows music, after all
* conductor
* breathing
* text + nuances - speak it
* know difficulties and why
* voice difficulties (passagio)
* keys (flats better, more flats more betteR)
* lack of trust shown in focusing on direction instead of rebound
* rehearsal techs:
* fine tuning vowels (english is difficult) when ascending, think down; when descending, think up
* phrasing and breathing - breathiness
* purpose of rehearsal: diagnose problem (isolate), provide remedy
* demonstrate (more)/explain (less)
* then feedback
* teach students EVERYTHING at the same time (because practice makes permanent)
* doing too much/wrong things - easier to ask forgiveness than permission
* what goes up must come down and vice versa - natural cycles in conducting and music
* no choral conducting, no instrumental conducting, just conducting
* paint a picture with conducting
* Britten
* dry ice
* phantom: setting up mood before, phantom appears at "thou art the king.."
* adjectives to go with every section, every note
* problem directors
* self control
* admitting mistakes
* self confidence and respect -> respect others
* no apologies: dictatorship
* ensemble never knows more than conductor: always know more
* own the piece
* self deprecation to make a point
* line between student and conductor
* give reasons/justification
* dont get used to choir
* empathy with singers - lots of work for them
* q: why aren't you singing what I want? a: why aren't you showing what you want?
* preachers on the pulpit in our influence (???)