Klarinet Archive - Posting 000604.txt from 1999/10

From: Nicholas Yuk Sing Yip <nyip@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] something interesting
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 01:09:54 -0400

This one is for the ages. This will probably bring back many memories for
you conductors out there. One of my careers in music is to become a music
teacher and start a music program at a primary or secondary school. As
part of the program I would like to direct an ensemble, either band or
orchestra.
Well, it starts like this. I have been waiting to conduct an ensemble.
The time had not come yet til' now, because my schedule was busy with
GE's, and requirements to fill as work. However I got my chance to do it
with my college band director. Two weeks ago, he gave me the score to the
"Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol" by Grainger. Now, I have performed this
piece before a couple of times. I had most of this piece in my ear. I
took the score home and marked it up, with dynamic markings, where to
phrase, etc.. For the last two weeks I was practicing it with me
conducting while looking at the score. Unfortunately I did not have the
recording, but figured that I did not need it since I thought I had most
of it in my ear comfortably.
I had it all prepared, to go, for today. I was all ready to go,
stretched, and prepared mentally and all, then I stepped on the podium for
the first time. Boy, did half of mind go BLANK! I was standing up there
with about 65 band students staring at me waiting for some sort of
instruction and the band director in the back. We started from the top,
excuse me, I started from the top, prep. beat and all, while the rest of
the band did not. It was quite interesting to be the only one going, while
everyone else was watching. We all started cracking up, then we started
again with me giving them a better prep. beat. We actually all started
this time. With my mind already half- blank we kept going, and going. I
never bothered to turn the pages, because I thought that I knew half of
the piece. Now, this made it more interesting. With the band not knowing
this piece very well and my mind half- blank, most of us were lost, so I
just kept going, thinking in my mind what were to happen if I were to
stop. What would they say? What would I say since it is not my band. I
stopped anyway and my band director asked them what they wanted more of
from me.
We continued on, and boy it got more interesting. Talk about intonation
and balance problems and lack of support. I heard it all over the place.
(^_^) We made it for awhile, then people started getting lost, again. We
then stopped, then I took a step and asked them, what do they think went
wrong? Boy, did a dead silence of confusion come upon the room. It looked
like that they never have been asked a question before. I knew that they
depended on you the conductor, but boy did they really depend on you!
This was not like conducting a college band, where you would ask them
what the problem was and they would experiment and try to figure out the
problem, or they would understand what to do, or they would actually
practice their music. There was more responsibility then what was asked.
We continued on to the end, only to see that trumpets before the piece
was finished, even though they had no more to play. However we made it to
the end TOGETHER!
This was one interesting experience and I know I have alot more to
learn. However, it was fun and I would like to continue on.

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