So this was an awesome unexpected project I got to work on! Was recommended via Twitter by a few people who I had previously collaborated with for Pixel Mixers and got a DM asking me to play piccolo for Scott the Woz’s 200th episode!
terminatedweasel reblogged
Basically a bard
There’s something so satisfying about the harmonic and melodic interplay between melodic lines within counterpoint that makes both transcribing and performing fugues so enjoyable.
The moment when you realise...
That you’ve just spent at least 20 hours work over the course of a couple of weeks on a piece but you’ve been improvising it into GarageBand. And then you find out that you can’t export a MIDI file from GarageBand.
So you open up a blank Sibelius file, sigh and get back to work...
terminatedweasel reblogged
musician culture is using your spare time to practice... the wrong instrument
When I have an important flute thing coming up: strong urge to play violin
When I have important violin thing coming up: strong urge to play flute
When I have an important flute thing coming up: strong urge to transcribe video game music or compose an underscore for my dungeons and dragons group
terminatedweasel reblogged
all the "me when I'm sight-reading and there's suddenly a key change" memes are funny and all but it really is a sign that y'all don't practice your scales enough
Call it out sis
Either scales or studying music theory since the majority of what I do for quick study/sight reading is finding the patterns whether it be harmonic, melodic or structural
terminatedweasel reblogged
Being burnt out is no good, so make sure to take care, like this tucked-in slice of bread! (ᴗ˳ᴗ)♡
Reminder to join my Positive Pin Club, and I’ll send you an exclusive enamel pin, with a bonus postcard and sticker this month! (o^∀^)
Very good advice. Burnout is something that musicians often have to wrestle with, especially during tertiary study. During my degree, if I wasn’t in class I was in a rehearsal or practicing or talking to other musicians about music. And it was overwhelming.
Sometimes you just need to take a step back and do something else for a while. It’s so easy for music to become all encompassing but then when things aren’t going well it’s harder to turn to something else as either a distraction or a diversion to mentally and emotionally reset.
Source: chibird.com
Exhale - Celeste Cover
Well it’s been a while... But I’m back with another video game OST cover! This time, it’s from Lena Raine’s incredible soundtrack for @celestegame.
After pushing through the tough as nails platforming that soundtrack kept me going when I felt ready to give up. So I felt that it was only fitting that I created a remix of my own using an instrument whose sound production is entirely based around the exhale for this piece.
Hope you enjoy!
Audition Preparation - Day One
11 weeks until the audition and I have a lot of work to do! I’m a bit rusty in terms of playing so that’ll be a separate issue, so in the meantime let’s looks at what I need to play:
The Excerpts:
FLUTE
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 mvt. II
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 mvt. I & II
Brahms Symphony No. 1 mvt IV
Dvorak Cello Concerto mvt I
Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnole mvt I, II, & IV
Strauss Till Eulenspiegel
PICCOLO
Rossini The Thieving Magpie: Overture
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 mvt I
Stravinsky The Firebird
Definitely a challenging selection and so here is my plan to tackle all of this:
- Find as many recordings as possible, make a playlist and listen
- Build back up stamina and technique on flute/piccolo in short bursts of practice throughout the day (see instagram for daily updates of my practice journal)
- Research history of works, analyse and annotate scores (will have a masterlist to all my posts on Tumblr)
- Apply knowledge and regained technique to practice of excerpts
Sounds way easier when you write it out in a list... right? Right???
Stay tuned for more updates!!
I’M BACK
So it’s been a while... But I’m back!! Just returned to Australia after five months of working at Disney World and hardly practicing... And even better, I returned with two sprained fingers... So the challenge is:
How do I regain my proficiency on my instrument and prepare for an audition in 11 weeks while recovering from sprained fingers?
Well, I’m not sure yet - but we’ll figure it out together! I want to get back to posting far more regularly both here and on instagram about the messy process of improvement that we call music practice. I’ll be doing a combination of written analysis, practice journaling and video recordings throughout the next few months. If you’re interested in following me along with this journey I highly recommend checking out my instagram:
This is where most of the magic will happen in regards to day to day updates on my progress. But especially with this upcoming project, for more in depth written analysis - stay tuned!!
terminatedweasel reblogged
sometimes when i’m studying with music on it helps but other times i get extremely indecisive with my music choices for the night so i end up spending half the time switching songs and i realize i’m a mess
I have discovered that I can’t study with music on because I just end up analysing what I’m listening to rather than studying....
terminatedweasel reblogged
girlinthegreendress
I can’t believe I forgot to post this! Photograph of me accompanied by orchestra preparing to play Cécile Chaminade’s “Concertino”
Aaaaah this is awesome! I hope your performance went well! I’m currently preparing to play this with my university orchestra in September
terminatedweasel reblogged
If this happened to me, I would be more concerned about my flute than any possible damage to my face....
Minor Third
@theclosetpianist Have a hedgehog
terminatedweasel reblogged
Anonymous asked:
A question from yet another high school senior planning to be a music major! 🎹🎻 how do you going about making friends in college? I’m always the awkward type who is never able to make more than just acquaintances, but I’d really love to get close to some people who are interested in music like me (and people in general!)
You have to talk to people first! You have to invite people places first!!! I am only just realizing that a ton of my AnGsT about not having friends occurred because I thought all people would be like the series of extroverts who adopted me and forced me into social situations. It turns out that most people enjoy getting invited to things but are afraid to invite others, so if you wanna chill with someone, ask!!!
Be okay with no as an answer, though - one no may be circumstances, but if you get turned down a couple times, they may just not have time to make new friends rn, and that’s okay. It’s not a reflection on you as a person.
May not be universal, but I found the common room before rehearsals at university to be a great time to just join a conversation!
Also, especially as a music major, you have some really easy icebreakers:
- What instrument do you play?
- What pieces are you learning at the moment?
- Favourite piece/composer?
You’re bound to find people as nerdy as you are!
Also, you do develop a sort of natural sense of camaraderie with your fellow musicians through ensembles and chamber music. Plus concert after parties are always a blast!
Cliques often form naturally along party lines, well, instrument group lines, so it may be a bit harder to connect as easily with someone not playing a similar instrument - but don’t let that stop you from trying! And generally, if you’re stressed or worried about something coming up, you can almost guarantee there will be someone else to commiserate with and/or get advice from.
In terms of making friends while at college or university, the collaborative nature of music makes it far easier for friend-making than other courses where you might just show up to a few lectures and tutorials every week and never actually have a reason to talk to anyone else in the class.
When he gets here, tell him he’s too loud
Conductor referring to the trumpeter running late for rehearsal
terminatedweasel reblogged
Seriously though: in what world is it productive for musicians to tear each other down and belittle each other. We have to fight for opportunities whether we are an orchestral player, a pit musician, an opera singer, or, like me, a freelance contemporary specialist. Making any musician’s contribution to the art form secondary or meaningless by calling them peons, or the passage ‘doodles’ isn’t productive in any way. One of the amazing things about music and our field is that it HAS to be collaborative. Respecting each other and our talent is the only way our field will continue and thrive. So yeah, there are things that need to change, but yelling at your peers and colleagues and belittling their contribution isn’t ever going to serve your purpose.