Klarinet Archive - Posting 000118.txt from 2009/09

From: Michael Nichols <mrn.clarinet@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Preparing for auditions
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:05:09 -0400

On Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 9:29 PM, Jay Webler <jaywebler@-----.net> wrote:

> The fact is that both listening and practicing are both
> necessary. =A0Applying good technical skills to music in a musical
> matter is only done with a good understanding of the music.
> Trying to execute a musical passage; in a musical matter,
> without the technical expertise to do so, usually results in the
> torture of the listener. =A0This is often experienced by the
> private teacher in the lesson studio. In short, one does not
> work without the other. =A0IMHO.

Absolutely. I agree with you 100%.

Please don't misunderstand me. I don't mean to discount the value of
practice or of technical playing skills. Those are essential. I
don't think anybody doubts that, least of all me.

My point was that another important form of mental preparation for a
performance or audition is to study the score without the instrument
and come to a good musical understanding of it. I think this is
especially true in a competitive context because in an environment
with many technically accomplished players, what separates the "merely
good" technically accomplished players from the "excellent"
technically accomplished players is musicality.

I think that spending some time studying the music away from the
instrument helps in this regard because it allows you to focus in on
what makes the music tick without also having to deal with technical
issues at the same time. Then, when you go back to the instrument,
you can focus on applying your technique to the mental model of the
music that you established in your study away from the instrument.

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