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Laura
Wichers
Moderator
Posts: 1018
(6/26/01 8:18:48 pm)
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Starting a new
piece...
Do you have any type of strategy or method for learning a new
piece? For example, I just started working on Schelomo last week and
am having a heck of a time with some of the intervals. Those darn m3
sneak up when you least expect them. Usually if I can't hear
something I'll play it on a piano until it registers, but I don't
have access to a piano here.
Do you learn rhythm first, then
notes? Or is it a combined effort? For particularly tricky passages,
any suggestions?
Laura
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 Daniel
Ortbals 
Registered
User
Posts: 199
(6/26/01 10:17:59
pm)
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Community Supporter
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Re: Starting a
new piece...
I've also been working on Schelomo this past year, and I've had the
most success with playing against a held note (usually D or A in
this piece). This really helps you understand the character of each
interval, since getting a real understanding of those augmented
2nd's is pretty crucial.
As far as breaking it down, try
breaking up the piece into musical sentences, phrases, even words.
It'll make a lot of sense when you see how the patterns
relate.
A real breakthrough for me was when my teacher helped
me point out the "important" notes as opposed to the ones that
ornament them. You'll find that quite a few (if not almost all) of
the phrases involve pitches being approached by a neighboring note
one half step away. This REALLY helps with intonation since you can
really creep those neighboring notes up close with the "main" ones,
giving the phrase a real flare. Just look for them, you'll see them.
And once you see them, every interval makes perfect sense and isn't
so bad.
Hmmm, also try experimenting with new sounds on your
cello. i.e., try to pull as many colors and strengths from your
cello that you can imagine. Go from absolutely pouring your heart
out to blowing us away with your sound to the most quiet, cool sound
imagineable. Use all kinds of vibrato. ALL kinds.
Hope this
makes some sort of sense (it does in my head).
Dan
O |
dennisw
Registered User
Posts: 207
(6/27/01 6:17:17 pm)
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Re: Starting a
new piece...
If the extended tonality of the piece is throwing off your ear,
play lots of Popper etudes. I think Daniel's suggestion re:
important notes is an excellent one.
Another is to analyze
the harmonic structure (such as it is) of the piece. It helps to
orient yourself to how the harmonic base modulates. If you look,
you'll find patterns and formulas common to late 19th & early
20th century music. You may even find some parallels in Popper. Get
used to hearing the music in the context of its own
harmony.
This next statement may sound like sacrilige to the
serious musician but I'm going to say it anyway: IMO ntonation in
late 19th music and beyond into pan-tonality is important but not as
critical as in earlier music. That is because it is easier for the
human ear to hear and distinguish consonance (perfect intervals)
than dissonance. The less a piece of music adheres to the rules of
harmonic rhythm and modulation as set down by Father Bach, the less
likely it is to hear a clearly "wrong" note. I don't think that
means you can play any old note you want, but if its hard for you to
hear the intervals in a harmonic context, its harder for everyone
else too.
If rhythm is giving you trouble, get a metronome.
You must be able to tap it out in time a tempo. You can do this away
from the cello. If you can't tap it, you can't play it.
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Laura
Wichers
Moderator
Posts: 1028
(6/27/01 6:53:56 pm)
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Re: Starting a
new piece...
I actually got myself an orchestral score of the Bloch this
afternoon and have been going over it measure-by-measure. I never
thought my theory classes taught useful things, but I guess they
did. 
Rhythm
isn't usually a problem, although I am infamous for coming off ties
late. My teacher's solution is to get me to stomp (little lift my
right leg off the floor and crash it down) on the beats. It's
nerve-wracking but it works!
Maybe I'm a masochist, but I
actually enjoy Popper etudes. Well, most of them. I could do without
13.
Laura
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dennisw
Registered User
Posts: 208
(6/27/01 7:45:32 pm)
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|
Re: Starting a
new piece...
Looks like you're on the right track...
Use the theory to
gain an understanding, use the sound to gain true mastery.
There is a way a modulation from Dmaj to F#maj feels when
you hear it. It will always feel that way. These modulations are
formulas, so you just get used to hearing them and they sound
natural. Playing an interval that goes from D to A# isn't the
easiest thing to hear if you think D major. But, if you think
D-to-F# major it's pretty easy to hear.
I remember a jazz
horn player (tenor sax) once telling me: "There are no wrong notes,
only questionable resolutions". In the context of 20th century
music, this is largely true.
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