Instrument Players - Come and chat (Part II)

[CoteDAzur]

Previous thread is here.

We filled one thread, so here’s another

It's easy to play (some) Mozart but very hard to play well - phrasing, lightness of touch, getting the balance between the hands right.

I find that Mozart looks easy on paper but is harder in practice. Some bits that look as if they should be simple are ridiculously hard to get up to the right speed.

Yes... Mozart is surprisingly hard to play right. It's not just about the melody ... Though if I want melody I'd go for Schubert...

I haven't played any Mozart. He's not one of my favourite composers - I tend to prefer baroque or romantic composers. And jazz... Just got After Hours Jazz Vol 2 by Pam Wedgewood and I'm learning Blue Moon. Also started using Lang Langs technical exercises which are helping to consolidate the more complex key signatures as well as strengthening my 4th and 5th fingers which are particularly weak on my right hand. Lovely piano lesson today.

If you like playing Jazz Fluke, have you come across Jamey Aebersold's books and playalong CDs? I've bought a couple and really like them. You can download his basic Jazz Handbook as a free pdf here: www.jazzbooks.com/jazz/fqbk

Is the Pam Wedgewood one written arrangements of jazz standards?

I'm trying to get my head around walking bass at the moment. For some reason I've found this a lot harder than playing around with chords, but I think I'm getting the basic feel for it now...after taking it back to really simple patterns. (Always seem to have to do that to do anything new!)

It's this one Tintini

www.fabermusicstore.com/After-Hours-Jazz-2-0571529097.aspx

It's a mix of her own music and her arrangements of some classics. I'm working at grade 6 sorry of standard, and the ones I've had a look at aren't too difficult.

I hadn't heard of Jamey Aebersold. I've got plenty of stuff to be looking at just now - some pieces I'm getting to grips with and soon to be starting looking at the grade 6 exam pieces in earnest - but I'll check his music out.

Hi all, guess this is a 'playing instruments' thread so may be off topic, but has anyone come across polyphonic overtone singing before?? (Ie one person singing two notes at the same time)

I just stumbled across this: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=vC9Qh709gas

Amazing!

How is that even possible?

Can it be a hoax? The higher notes don't sound like the voice of a human.

It's so odd isn't it. Seems to be a feature of music from several cultures: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtone_singing

People do do the most astonishing things.

The circular breathing thing for playing blowy instruments (technical term!) is pretty amazing too.

Just place marking so I don't lose the thread. Not doing much music right now, been a busy period with a lot of travel. Brexit may put paid to my travel plans in April and May so the piano might get more of a look in...

Hope you get lots more time for piano Mistigri.

Went through St Pancras yesterday. Two pianos were in use and the other one was locked! Must have seen me coming...

In other news, I bought a new flute this weekend and since it's about a million times better than my 30-year-old student model, I'm pretty happy.

Has been almost impossible to practise much due to work but next week is proper booked holiday! Also I got my Kabalevsky book back from DS2's piano teacher so will be trying out some easy pieces.

Tintini congratulations on the new flute! What make is it?

It's an Azumi. I tried quite a few and was a bit worried beforehand that since I've never played any flute other than my old Yamaha student flute, I might not have the 'ear' to hear the difference.

I could definitely tell the difference, immediately!

The better ones are also actually easier to play. The problem was that they were all so much better than my old one that I found it was hard to distinguish between them.

It must have been a difficult choice! But lovely that the new one is so much better!

It's great. I also went on a Kodaly musicianship course (busy weekend) which was brilliant. This is the side of music that I missed out on for so many years. I always found the aural parts of music exams the hardest bit (and assumed I just wasn't naturally very 'musical' - you either had it or you didn't), but I realize now it's because no-one taught me! Now I can sing intervals and sight-sing simple songs (eg pentatonic songs) - like anything, there are ways to learn it and improve.

I think ear training is a very important part of being a musician...but somehow it didn't seem that way when I was younger...just something to get through in the exam...

Oooo Tintini you're new flute sounds great! Can I be really nosey and ask how much you paid for it? I still have my 25 year old student Yamaha. I've been wondering whether to treat myself to something better.

Tintini New flute and new music course! How exciting!

Sure Fluke, it's this one: www.justflutes.com/azumi-az-s2-flute-product1339673.html?sku=1339673

I got it from that shop - I think it's worth visiting somewhere where they have a lot to try and can give advice. I tried a range and was willing to spend a bit more than I did, but I just couldn't really tell much of a difference so went for the one I thought felt and sounded nicest. The next model up from this one is solid silver (and £600 more) but I think the general feeling is that it's having a silver head joint that makes the most difference in tone. My ears could tell no difference!

Also the people in the shop (who are professional flautists) suggested that it's at the £2500 mark that you really see the next 'jump' in quality and choice, and I didn't want to spend that much. I think I got an appropriate one for me - this is a very significant improvement on my old one and I'm not about to turn professional anytime soon!

Do you have a Yamaha 211? If you can go for something over £1000 I think you will easily tell and greatly appreciate the difference.

Yes Tintini I have a Yamaha 211. It's hard to justify spending a lot on a new one as I don't play it that much - I've recently performed in Handel's Messiah, which was great after 20 years of not playing at all since I did grade 8. I think I'll do some saving and then think about it again.

I think I've just cracked a tricky bit of the Bach fugue I've been glossing over for a few weeks... Really thrashed it out this afternoon and it's not perfect but it's definitely getting there! Just repetative playing to get the muscle memory sorted and get the fingering clear in my head. Bet satisfying!

Very satisfying, not bet...

BUT fluke...if you get a new lovely flute you will likely immediately be playing lots! Although, yes, it is a lot of money. My husband's comment was "that was quite an expensive metal tube wasn't it".

Bach fugue sounds good. I have only been doing jazz, pop and folk stuff recently. And the scales of course (can't understand why I didn't like them 20 years ago). Maybe a bit of baroque would be nice...but having to do the bass clef notes from the page is so hard!

Who do you play your flute with Tintini? I've been playing in the orchestra with a choral society, but it's hard to find other opportunities to play in ensembles. I play the piano loads on my own but it's not quite the same with a flute

Not strictly about instruments but I lately discovered NormalComposers (Composers doing Normal Shit) on Twitter and thought this thread might be amused:

twitter.com/NormalComposers

Although in John Cage's case he is plainly performing

twitter.com/NormalComposers/status/1110531335620304901