Showing posts with label Level 5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Level 5. Show all posts
2015-04-29
2014-11-17
Exam pieces
Previous exams have been somewhat easier. Not only because the pieces given to play aren't as demanding as the ones we're facing this time, but... well, they have all been ordered. For the final exam we are giving an actual concert and it's going to include a concerto by Mozart and the Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy by Doppler. And one piece by our own choice - the only demands are these: it must be from outside the Suzuki repertoire and if it's chamber music, flute has to have a "soloist-like" part.
Why is it more difficult then, one might ask. First thought would be of course that it's easier, you're able to play just what you like! Noooope. In my opinion. I don't want to have same kind of style that there already is (concertos, virtuoso fantasies), also I want my concert to represent me in some way. Would have Loved to play Carmen-fantasy (Borne), but no can do... :D
It felt like a struggle to know where to start searching or choosing, so I decided to go for my own sheet music piles. Dug out all that I've liked in recent concerts etc. The pile consisted of J.S.Bach (sonatas & solo suite), C.Ph.E.Bach (solo sonata), Telemann (solos), Schubert (sonata), Takemitsu (Air), Piazzolla (Histoire du tango), Villa-Lobos (Assobio a játo), Burkhard (solo suite), Widor (suite), Vasks (solo), Martin (Ballade). Now it's narrowed down to 4 options: one father, one son, one suite and one landscape. I think I'll consult our trainer and then think a bit more. And play a Lot.
Oh and by the way, my Mozart's in quite a good state :) Or at least it's on the verge of "by-the-heart"... :D
2014-09-11
Last year!
It's beginning to look a lot like... Examination time!
Well, the plan is to have them in the beginning of July, but still. It's less than a year and I can tell you, the days FLY by. I'm revising the books 1-9, but should really take up on a more constructed system with it. And kick my own butt a bit, to practice more often... Aaaand what should I also be doing on daily basis? LISTEN more.
Anyhow, I've been carrying a small notebook with me at work. I write down when I've played, which book and pieces. Many times the books aren't with me, but I play as much as I know/remember. The reason why I don't have them with me all the time is that I teach in 3 different places, so there's a lot of stuff to carry around. But the plan is to take 2-3 books every day: one of 1-2-3, one of 4-5-6 and one of 7-8-9. Maybe I'll call it my "triple system"... :D
One problem still. We had an outdoors Tango Club 2 weeks ago, on a Friday evening. The weather was quite cold and humid. The club was a concert given by our chamber music society, we did it in May also. But, I played in the opening quartet and everything was fine. Then, after waiting for about 45 minutes or so, I played with another quartet. And during the first phrases I knew something was wrong with my flute - the left thumb keys were fumbly and leaky. A piece of felt had dropped on it's own, from the b flat key. So the flute's a bit broken now, but it'll have to wait till I take it to the doctor. In the meantime, I'll play with my old one.
(p.s. The Tango Club was a success! :)
I've been organizing my portfolios into new albums. At the same time I read the essays and check if I want to move any material to another level's album. On levels 4 and 5 I've been taking notes on my laptop during the lectures, so there's some stuff to print out. I like having this/pages I can write on, with a pen. Also I'm a fan of real books.
...and at the moment I'm reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (in English, to practice my skills, haha...) and the first Suzuki book I ever bought: Nurtured with Love (this one in Finnish, Rakkaudella kasvatettu). My goal is to read the other books included in our training also. I must admit, I always dread the interview most, in the examination. The philosophy is so familiar and speaking English ain't a problem, but still. You get all sweaty palms and heart beats really fast... On second place is the teaching part, but that's just because we don't know the piece beforehand. Last time I got (level 4) the one we thought would never be asked! :D It was the 1st part of Cimarosa concerto. But we had a fairly good time with it, with the great student.
And well, I love playing so the exam pieces won't be "too much" of a deal. Don't get me wrong, of course I'll be nervous when the time comes and I do think they're difficult - both to play and remember. I still have to choose the third piece for the concert, as Mozart in D and Doppler's Hungarian are obligatory. There are 3, maybe 4, of us taking the 5th level exam, so we've been talking about maybe playing something together.
And of course the Biggest Problem is... What to wear!!! :D
Bunch of random thoughts today, I see. But to sum it up: It's Fall and a new school year has begun, time to do new things and get better in the old ones.
Well, the plan is to have them in the beginning of July, but still. It's less than a year and I can tell you, the days FLY by. I'm revising the books 1-9, but should really take up on a more constructed system with it. And kick my own butt a bit, to practice more often... Aaaand what should I also be doing on daily basis? LISTEN more.
Anyhow, I've been carrying a small notebook with me at work. I write down when I've played, which book and pieces. Many times the books aren't with me, but I play as much as I know/remember. The reason why I don't have them with me all the time is that I teach in 3 different places, so there's a lot of stuff to carry around. But the plan is to take 2-3 books every day: one of 1-2-3, one of 4-5-6 and one of 7-8-9. Maybe I'll call it my "triple system"... :D
One problem still. We had an outdoors Tango Club 2 weeks ago, on a Friday evening. The weather was quite cold and humid. The club was a concert given by our chamber music society, we did it in May also. But, I played in the opening quartet and everything was fine. Then, after waiting for about 45 minutes or so, I played with another quartet. And during the first phrases I knew something was wrong with my flute - the left thumb keys were fumbly and leaky. A piece of felt had dropped on it's own, from the b flat key. So the flute's a bit broken now, but it'll have to wait till I take it to the doctor. In the meantime, I'll play with my old one.
(p.s. The Tango Club was a success! :)
 |
| You can find me in Instagram also, under the name iepukka :) |
I've been organizing my portfolios into new albums. At the same time I read the essays and check if I want to move any material to another level's album. On levels 4 and 5 I've been taking notes on my laptop during the lectures, so there's some stuff to print out. I like having this/pages I can write on, with a pen. Also I'm a fan of real books.
...and at the moment I'm reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (in English, to practice my skills, haha...) and the first Suzuki book I ever bought: Nurtured with Love (this one in Finnish, Rakkaudella kasvatettu). My goal is to read the other books included in our training also. I must admit, I always dread the interview most, in the examination. The philosophy is so familiar and speaking English ain't a problem, but still. You get all sweaty palms and heart beats really fast... On second place is the teaching part, but that's just because we don't know the piece beforehand. Last time I got (level 4) the one we thought would never be asked! :D It was the 1st part of Cimarosa concerto. But we had a fairly good time with it, with the great student.
And well, I love playing so the exam pieces won't be "too much" of a deal. Don't get me wrong, of course I'll be nervous when the time comes and I do think they're difficult - both to play and remember. I still have to choose the third piece for the concert, as Mozart in D and Doppler's Hungarian are obligatory. There are 3, maybe 4, of us taking the 5th level exam, so we've been talking about maybe playing something together.
And of course the Biggest Problem is... What to wear!!! :D
 |
| At my mom's birthday in March -14 |
Bunch of random thoughts today, I see. But to sum it up: It's Fall and a new school year has begun, time to do new things and get better in the old ones.
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