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Re: relaxing

Author: johnt
Date: 2009-02-06 14:18

A trick I learned from John Mack is to play the scale, in this case the Bb minor (not Ab major as previously posted. Sincere apologies for any confusion.) scale at least a dozen times before starting to practice the solo from the Tchaik 4. Then as Ceci says memorize the thing so there is no way you can possibly make a mistake. In theory, the motor skills of doing this should compensate for any nerves or butterflies the night of the performance. John Mack had Gail Waarnar do this before any piece she played for him. Works especially well with Le Tombeau de Couperin & the sextuplet oboe solo in the largo movement of the New World Symphony. This I know from my own practice sessions. Arguably one of the great bassoonists in the USA with the Monterey Symphony, Jane Orzel, also espouses this concept of playing a piece or excerpt until mistakes are eliminated. So as Stevens Hewitt says the secret is in slow. Never play anything wrong while practicing (IOW don't practice mistakes).

Best,

john

Post Edited (2009-02-07 15:02)

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relaxing new

jrestes

2009-01-30 20:04