How to do a Basic Score Study

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to talk about how to do a basic 'Score Study'. This will be ideal for anyone whose approaching their higher grades, and how wants to try doing a 'Score Study'. 

Analyse Your Sheet Music

By analysing your sheet music you will be able to see how your part interacts with the piano, as well as being able to spot any 'tricky' passages. Also, if your sheet music has included then also read over the performance notes that have been provided by the author/ composer. By reading over the performance notes it will give you an idea on how to perform the piece and what to aim for in your sound. Another benefit of performance notes is that in some cases it will provide you with a short history for that piece of music, and the era/ genre that it falls in. Also, when analysing your sheet music you can also make note of any important reference points.

Listen to Recordings

By listening to recordings of the piece/s that you are analysing, it will give you inspiration on how you would like your own interpretation to sound. These recordings also don't have be of artists' performing on the same instrument as yours, but you can listen to the same piece by different artists' on a variety of different instruments; as this will enable you to get loads of inspiration from a variety of different playing perspectives. I would definitely recommend that you listen to a few versions that have the piano accompaniment, as well as an orchestral version.

Practice Plan

Once you have all of your ideas and analysis written down; it will then be time to figure out a practice plan for those pieces. This also doesn't have to be 'set in stone', as this is more of a starting point for your practice. You might want to focus on the 'tricky' areas first, or just start by getting used to the piece/s and working on your tonal colours at the same. Another thing you could also do is listen to one of your favourite recordings again, and try and imitate one of the areas that you have taken inspiration from that recording.

 

Orchestral Excerpts

Hi everyone,

In todays post I will be talking about orchestral excerpts.

As you progress through your musical journey you will be introduced to orchestral excerpts; and these are extracts taken from well known orchestral pieces.

Orchestral excerpts can be used as part of the higher music grades, music degrees, and orchestral auditions. There's loads of resources out there to help you to prepare, and these are just my own personal selection of Orchestral Excerpts for the flute and piccolo. You can buy orchestral excerpts for all instruments, and you should be able to find a nice selection for your chosen instrument.

Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions (Peters Edition)

The Test Pieces for Orchestral Auditions is required for the technical option for Trinity College London grades 6 - 8, and this is an alternative to doing scales and arpeggios. It's also available for a wide range of instruments.

Orchestral Excerpts for Flute/ Piccolo by Jeanne Baxtresser

This is a series of orchestral excerpts books by Jeanne Baxtresser who is a former Principle Flute for the New York Philharmonic, and what I really like about these books is that Jeanne gives you advice and guidance on how to get the best out of the orchestral excerpts throughout. There's two books for the flute and one for the piccolo.

Orchestral Studies

These books just focus on one or two composers, but this range of books does consist of four books featuring different composers. There's also a glossary at the front of each book explaining the layout of the book and what each symbol means.

Flute Materials: Solid Silver

Hi everyone,

In todays post I will be talking about solid silver flutes.

Step Up Flutes

On step up flutes you will find a solid silver head joint with a silver nickel body and mechanism. With the silver head joint it should give you a little more flexibility in the tonal colours that you produce and a better playing experience.

The below flute options that I'm going to talking about have the option to either have a solid silver mechanism or a silver nickel mechanism. The flute that I currently play is solid silver with a silver mechanism. All of the silver purities that I'm going to go through can be purchased from an intermediate standard right the way up to professional models.

925 Silver Flutes

925 silver flutes produce a brighter tone, and most flutes on the market seem to made up of 925 solid silver. Also, 925 seems to be the ever so slightly least expensive option. But, this will depend on your personal preferences and if you choose to have any add ons.

958 Silver Flutes

958 silver flutes produce a darker tone compared to a 925 silver flute. The flute that I currently own is made up of 958 silver, and I absolutely adore as it gives me this lovely rich, dark tone which I love as well as flexibility that I need while playing. 958 silver is slightly more expensive than 925 silver, but if you are looking for a flute that gives you a little more depth in your playing; then I would recommend that you look into flutes made from 958 silver.

990/ Pure Silver Flutes

This is rare within the world of silver flutes, but they do exist. I'm aware of one flute brand that has cracked the 990 purity for silver flutes. 990 pure silver flutes produce an even darker tone compared to 958 silver.

Benefits of Doing a Score Study

Hi everyone,

In todays post I'm going to talk about the benefits of doing a 'Score Study'.

The benefits of doing a score study prior to starting learning a new piece of music is that you will be able a better understanding of that piece of music, and what it is your aiming for to get the best from that piece of music for your own performance.

Performance Notes

Performance notes aren't always provided for a piece of music, but exam boards have now started to include them within their graded sheet music materials. But, with stand alone pieces this isn't always the case. Performance notes will give you an understanding of the composer, genre/ era, how the piece is meant to be interpreted, any tricky markings in the piece and the explanations behind those markings and the history of that piece of music and how it came to be.

Music History

Music history is important when analysing a piece of music, as it will give you a better understanding of the era that the composer was living in and the music that was around during that era. Through the understanding of music history you will be able to find out if there was any new music playing techniques was around during that time; say for example during the Baroque period playing using vibrato wasn't used during that era, as playing using vibrato was a technique that hadn't been discovered during that time period.

Developing Your Interpretation

This is where the fun begins when putting together on how you like the piece of music that you will be working on to sound. You might want to experiment with different tonal colours or change the phrasing slightly. You might not get it to sound how you like the first time, but the more you explore and develop your piece of music, the more you will gain an understanding of what it that you are personally aiming for. But, what you start aiming for during the beginning stages of learning and exploring the piece may be completely different to what you end up with in the final stages. You may also want to refine certain areas if your not happy with them, and then once they have been refined; see how they sound and interact with the rest of the piece.

There's no right or wrong way when it comes to interpreting a piece of music to make it your own, but they maybe 'rules' to somewhat follow depending on what genre/ era that piece of music was composed in.

The point of doing a score study is to give you a better understanding of the piece of music, the composer and the genre/ era that it was composed in. This is just for starters, and then when you to learn, develop and explore the piece; is the time that you will be able to have some fun and make it your own.

Score studies can also be done for any genre in music, and it doesn't have to be focused on classical or jazz music. Anyone can do a score study, no matter what genre of music they are interested in learning and exploring.

'Orchestral Excerpts for Flute' by Jeanne Baxtresser

Hi everyone,

In todays post I will be talking about 'Orchestral Excerpts for Flute' by Jeanne Baxtresser.

'Orchestral Excerpts for Flute' by Jeanne Baxtresser is great resource for any flute learner whose starting to explore the world of orchestral excerpts. It's also split into two volumes.

At the beginning of the first book, Jeanne explains how to use the books, as well as how to prepare and practice the orchestral excerpts, preparing for an orchestral audition, playing an orchestra and playing the orchestral excerpts with a pianist.

For each orchestral excerpt Jeanne gives you a wealth of knowledge to help you get the best out of each orchestral excerpts. Also, with some of the excerpts Jeanne has also included alternative flute finger placements. The wealth of knowledge that Jeanne has put into each orchestral excerpt is amazing, and this doesn't stop at the first book. Jeanne's knowledge carries right the way through to the second book.

If your ever in a music store, and they have this series of books; I would recommend that you take a look at these books. As there's so much wealth and knowledge within these books that I can't explain how much there's actually in these books.

I would highly recommend these books for anyone whose just starting out learning and exploring orchestral excerpts.

Music Theory: How to Use 'First Steps in Music Theory' & 'AB Guide Book One'

Hi everyone,

In todays post I will be talking about 'First Steps in Music Theory' and the 'AB Guide Book One'. Both of these books are written by Eric Taylor.

First Steps in Music Theory

This was the first book in music theory that I was introduced to when I first started learning the violin over ten years ago. 'First Steps in Music Theory' is great way to give you a basic understanding of music theory; especially if your starting out learning a musical instrument.

AB Guide Book One

This is similar to 'First Steps in Music Theory' and the only difference is that it goes into detail and it also covers a lot music theory than 'First Steps in Music Theory'.

Method

When your first starting out learning and gaining an understanding of music theory start off by reading 'First Steps in Music Theory', as its written in an a 'bite size' format to make it easier for you to understand. It's also broken down by grade.

  When you are ready to expand on your music theory knowledge; this is when you introduce the 'AB Guide Book One', as this builds on the knowledge that you have already gained from 'First Steps in Music Theory'.

The way this method works is that within 'First Steps in Music Theory' you will see Foot Notes throughout the book, and these foot notes will prompt you to go and read the 'AB Guide Book One' for further reading and to give you a more in depth understanding of music theory.

I can also understand why its split across two books, as the 'AB Guide Book One' can be overwhelming for someone whose just starting out learning music theory. So, to make it make manageable and easier to understand in the earlier stages of developing your understanding of music theory.

Please note that you don't have to buy both books at the same time. You can just buy 'First Steps in Music Theory' first and see how you get along with it, and then whenever your ready you can buy 'AB Guide Book One'.

Flute Materials: Silver Nickel

Hi everyone,

In todays post I will be talking about flute made from silver nickel.

Silver nickel is mainly found on student flutes, and also some step up and intermediate flutes.

What is a Silver Nickel Flute?

Silver nickel flutes are mainly student model flutes, and the silver nickel is a nickel head joint, body and mechanism that has been silver plated in silver.

Why Silver Nickel?

Silver nickel is an ideal material for student flutes, as these flutes are very durable. Also, student flutes are mainly produced in a factory and have not been handmade. But, once each flute has come off the assembly line they are usually checked by a qualified flute technician.

Silver nickel flutes are great beginner instruments, and they are very durable. Beginner flutes are also mainly come with closed holes, C foot joint and a split E mechanism. You sometimes will have the option to have a curved head joint for younger players. Also, a beginner flute should be fairly free blowing to make it easier to play.