You know how to play the notes. You can
read instructions on the sheet music. But how do you go about making it sound
like music and not just a series of notes. Truly an advanced topic. One beyond
all the technical questions we usually discuss. This is one for the players that
are advanced enough technically that they no longer have concern for how to play
but need to learn how to play it. Hope some find this interesting enough to
reply.
How to attack playing a piece of music
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
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AG950Flute
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2003 4:24 pm
How to attack playing a piece of music
Penny, I don't know if this
will really answer your question, but I came across this one day, and really
like it a lot. I don't know where it came from or who said it, but see what you
think... "The greatest musicians are the greatest performers. And the greatest
performers have no words to say, but too much to play. For all that they play is
an expression of the insurmountable pain which burden their souls. It is only in
the language of music that they are able to give justive to the expression of
their anguish. And you will know when you watch them perform; when you follow
the movement of their body; and when you yourself are moved by the manifestation
of passion across their face, their mouth, their eyes. And in that moment, they
will have communicated more to you than you have ever heard from the lips of any
other."
will really answer your question, but I came across this one day, and really
like it a lot. I don't know where it came from or who said it, but see what you
think... "The greatest musicians are the greatest performers. And the greatest
performers have no words to say, but too much to play. For all that they play is
an expression of the insurmountable pain which burden their souls. It is only in
the language of music that they are able to give justive to the expression of
their anguish. And you will know when you watch them perform; when you follow
the movement of their body; and when you yourself are moved by the manifestation
of passion across their face, their mouth, their eyes. And in that moment, they
will have communicated more to you than you have ever heard from the lips of any
other."
Courtney
Morton
Morton
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fluteluversmom
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2003 10:22 pm
How to attack playing a piece of music
This is an interesting topic. I
know that I have noticed my daughter really starting to feel the music lately in
her playing. She told me recently that the first time she plays a piece she trys
to put a story to the music. For instance...one duet that she was working on
with her teacher turned out to be a story of 2 little birds talking to each
other and they chased and played in a forest. Yet another song that she was
working on was a story of a boy and girl that were separated because the boy had
to go off to war and the girl was so sad and in the end they were reunited. My
daughter is into creative writing also so maybe this is where she gets this
theory but it seems to work for her. Just recently she had finished playing a
song and I told her what story I thought the song was telling to me and she said
that is exactly what I was thinking when she was playing. Kim
know that I have noticed my daughter really starting to feel the music lately in
her playing. She told me recently that the first time she plays a piece she trys
to put a story to the music. For instance...one duet that she was working on
with her teacher turned out to be a story of 2 little birds talking to each
other and they chased and played in a forest. Yet another song that she was
working on was a story of a boy and girl that were separated because the boy had
to go off to war and the girl was so sad and in the end they were reunited. My
daughter is into creative writing also so maybe this is where she gets this
theory but it seems to work for her. Just recently she had finished playing a
song and I told her what story I thought the song was telling to me and she said
that is exactly what I was thinking when she was playing. Kim
Some
days you catch the bus and other days it runs over you.
days you catch the bus and other days it runs over you.
How to attack playing a piece of music
The coincidences continue. My
daughter is also a very good creative writer. I will pass along the story
telling information you posted and hope she can relate to how your daughter is
using it in her flute playing. Thanks
daughter is also a very good creative writer. I will pass along the story
telling information you posted and hope she can relate to how your daughter is
using it in her flute playing. Thanks
How to attack playing a piece of music
Personally, I have to learn the
piece technically, and go from there. Most musicians are creative souls
(excluding the "my mother is making me play an instrument" types) and are
usually pretty sensitive about interpretation (Again, both of you are commenting
about your daughters being creative writers - it sort of goes with the
territory). On the other hand, my younger daughter's violin teacher always asks
her to name the sections of a piece. Even if the composer had something specific
in mind, she has her students come up with something that is important to them.
I always thought that "making music" was intuitive - it was interesting to see a
technical approach to bring about the right performance.
piece technically, and go from there. Most musicians are creative souls
(excluding the "my mother is making me play an instrument" types) and are
usually pretty sensitive about interpretation (Again, both of you are commenting
about your daughters being creative writers - it sort of goes with the
territory). On the other hand, my younger daughter's violin teacher always asks
her to name the sections of a piece. Even if the composer had something specific
in mind, she has her students come up with something that is important to them.
I always thought that "making music" was intuitive - it was interesting to see a
technical approach to bring about the right performance.
How to attack playing a piece of music
Personally, I have to learn the
piece technically, and go from there. Most musicians are creative souls
(excluding the "my mother is making me play an instrument" types) and are
usually pretty sensitive about interpretation (Again, both of you are commenting
about your daughters being creative writers - it sort of goes with the
territory). On the other hand, my younger daughter's violin teacher always asks
her to name the sections of a piece. Even if the composer had something specific
in mind, she has her students come up with something that is important to them.
I always thought that "making music" was intuitive - it was interesting to see a
technical approach to bring about the right performance.
piece technically, and go from there. Most musicians are creative souls
(excluding the "my mother is making me play an instrument" types) and are
usually pretty sensitive about interpretation (Again, both of you are commenting
about your daughters being creative writers - it sort of goes with the
territory). On the other hand, my younger daughter's violin teacher always asks
her to name the sections of a piece. Even if the composer had something specific
in mind, she has her students come up with something that is important to them.
I always thought that "making music" was intuitive - it was interesting to see a
technical approach to bring about the right performance.
How to attack playing a piece of music
Although I am new to the flute
but I am no stranger to other wind instruments so this might still be
applicable. To play a piece of music expressively and musically, you must first
learn and know how to sing it beautifully. Since singing is a very natural part
of the human, anyone should be able to do it and you do not need to have a good
voice. Besides, you can always hum the music in your mind. Once you are able to
sing the music expressively, you should be able to incorporate it into your
playing.
but I am no stranger to other wind instruments so this might still be
applicable. To play a piece of music expressively and musically, you must first
learn and know how to sing it beautifully. Since singing is a very natural part
of the human, anyone should be able to do it and you do not need to have a good
voice. Besides, you can always hum the music in your mind. Once you are able to
sing the music expressively, you should be able to incorporate it into your
playing.
How to attack playing a piece of music
I look at a musical piece as a
story first. Some posters above mentioned creative writing which I have little
experience in, but there's so much you can elicit from dynamics, repeats,
time/key signature changes even before you put your flute to your lips. Take the
same time it takes to just READ your sheet music with your eyes and mind as it
takes to sight read it with your flute. There's a story being told in every
piece of music! The awesome thing about our art is that it's left to each of us
to figure it out as our individual experiences, values, egos, failures and
successes dictate. Find a story in the music you're playing - your flute and
the sound you make with it is an extension of whatever you figure out and
discover. This is what makes what we do so much fun!
story first. Some posters above mentioned creative writing which I have little
experience in, but there's so much you can elicit from dynamics, repeats,
time/key signature changes even before you put your flute to your lips. Take the
same time it takes to just READ your sheet music with your eyes and mind as it
takes to sight read it with your flute. There's a story being told in every
piece of music! The awesome thing about our art is that it's left to each of us
to figure it out as our individual experiences, values, egos, failures and
successes dictate. Find a story in the music you're playing - your flute and
the sound you make with it is an extension of whatever you figure out and
discover. This is what makes what we do so much fun!
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powayflute01
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:29 pm
- Contact:
How to attack playing a piece of music
That's actually a great way to
look at it-- my flute teacher uses the same analogy. The notes are like the
basic storyline, and tone/technique are like voice inflection used in telling
the story...
look at it-- my flute teacher uses the same analogy. The notes are like the
basic storyline, and tone/technique are like voice inflection used in telling
the story...
Haha, this one is my favorite: :shock:
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
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whsmusicguy05
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 5:02 pm
How to attack playing a piece of music
When I want to attack a piece of
music, I like to go to the kitchen and get a knife. Then I stealthily sneak up
on it, and then I tell it "prepare to die!", and then I die it... Anymawho... I
just play it how I feel it. Music is an artform of self-expression, and it
can't be dictated by written words and directions (IMHO)
music, I like to go to the kitchen and get a knife. Then I stealthily sneak up
on it, and then I tell it "prepare to die!", and then I die it... Anymawho... I
just play it how I feel it. Music is an artform of self-expression, and it
can't be dictated by written words and directions (IMHO)
How to attack playing a piece of music
Interesting topic...my goal is
to get my students to "feel" the music instead of just playing the notes. As a
creative artist type, I try to paint a picture of what the music is trying to
convey (sometimes we just have to guess..) by telling silly stories, or
conjuring up "mind pictures" or colors. I happen to have a few...."aah"...stiff
players, for lack of a better term. Notes are played correctly, but there is no
heart behind the music. I will gently suggest that they think of something while
they play..."fluffy pink tutu's", or "happy daisies", a "spy/sneaky movie",
"hand-on-hip cocky attitude", or a "lingering, finish-each-others-thoughts"
mood, depending on the song we are working on. For example, sometimes I will
draw little ballet slippers on the page to remind them to imagine
wearing/playing like them, instead of a "work boot" attack! It inevitably draws
giggles, and they all think I'm wierd, but they get the point, and it really
helps! LOL I remind them that the flute is now their singing or speaking voice -
I have them imagine a really boring teacher who talked in a monotone voice(
we've all had those!), and push them to move me to tears or laughter or
whatever, by their flute playing style. Sometimes they "get it", and sometimes
they can't seem to break out of their shell. Either way, at least they are
exposed to different ways of playing...tone colors and what can be done with
their flute. Have them try to play the same passage in a totally different style
- aggressive, plaintive or sweet. It's fun! It also addresses tonguing and
vibrato styles.
to get my students to "feel" the music instead of just playing the notes. As a
creative artist type, I try to paint a picture of what the music is trying to
convey (sometimes we just have to guess..) by telling silly stories, or
conjuring up "mind pictures" or colors. I happen to have a few...."aah"...stiff
players, for lack of a better term. Notes are played correctly, but there is no
heart behind the music. I will gently suggest that they think of something while
they play..."fluffy pink tutu's", or "happy daisies", a "spy/sneaky movie",
"hand-on-hip cocky attitude", or a "lingering, finish-each-others-thoughts"
mood, depending on the song we are working on. For example, sometimes I will
draw little ballet slippers on the page to remind them to imagine
wearing/playing like them, instead of a "work boot" attack! It inevitably draws
giggles, and they all think I'm wierd, but they get the point, and it really
helps! LOL I remind them that the flute is now their singing or speaking voice -
I have them imagine a really boring teacher who talked in a monotone voice(
we've all had those!), and push them to move me to tears or laughter or
whatever, by their flute playing style. Sometimes they "get it", and sometimes
they can't seem to break out of their shell. Either way, at least they are
exposed to different ways of playing...tone colors and what can be done with
their flute. Have them try to play the same passage in a totally different style
- aggressive, plaintive or sweet. It's fun! It also addresses tonguing and
vibrato styles.
With
a joyful song...Ladyflute
a joyful song...Ladyflute