We worked on the student symphony and the symphony material quite a lot. Jack gave me ideas for working fast passages and we also talked about air in relation to my tricky G. The Beethoven in student symphony has that G quite a lot, and I am getting closer to being able to play it reliably but it still needs work. I also want to try playing it on the keyboard first, as I am starting to think that part of my problem may be that I am not hearing it before I play it. Because there is so little margin for error there either with the slide position or with my embouchure, I wonder if my not hearing it means that I am just taking a stab at it and hoping it comes out right - and that just ain't working.
It was very good to hear Jack play some of the Brahms, as I have a feel for what it should sound like. I also have a lesson with him next week. My goals for practice toward that lesson are:
- Work on 1 - 2 Beeler exercises, just to keep making progress there.
- Work on 1 - 2 duets from the duet book. I have a couple of those almost nailed so a little extra practice could go a long way.
- Work methodically and slowly on the fast passages in the Beethoven. I need to have worked on each one by Monday's rehearsal, but I also want to work on them toward my next lesson.
- Work on the Brahms - at least the Vivace movement (can't remember the number) and the second movement, that Jack played last night. Let's see if I can cement the sound in my little brain.
And Jack did tell me to keep thinking about clean tonguing. That is the first thing that goes when I get lost or confused in a piece, and then I sound really miserable. Better to tongue cleanly on the wrong note that to muddy them all up and be wrong to boot.
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