True?

17. June 2008 · 3 comments · Categories: Other People's Words

Read online just now:

Oboes typically decline in quality after about three years (often less, depending on how much use they are put to), and most professionals buy a new one every year or two.

Really? Most professionals …?

You mean, once again, I’m different.

Okay … I really doubt most professionals replace their oboes every year or two. Who’d want to be learning a new instrument and breaking it in and all that jazz every other year anyway?

But maybe I just don’t know what it’s like to be real. I wonder.

Advice for Freelancers

16. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Links, Ramble

Jason Heath has a great blog entry called Twelve Survival Tips for Freelance Musicians. Even if you aren’t a freelancer, it’s worth a read; it gives you a bit of an understanding for that sort of life. Gives you some sympathy too!

I’m do most of my work with the groups in which I have tenure. They are close by. If I forget anything, if anything goes wrong, I’m less than ten minutes from home. But I have done some work fifty miles from here, and yes, I double my commuting time as well. I’d much rather be early and sit down for a nice cup of coffee than run in at the last minute and be a wreck. Or be late. Never be late. Ever. That’s a rule.

Anyway, check out Jason’s survival tips!

And now …

15. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble

… I have no playing work. I’ll continue to teach through the summer, but no playing work at all. Nothing at all until the end of August. I will be playing for our daughter’s wedding (woo hoo!) a week from today, but that’s hardly work … it’s merely a joy to play for her as she walks down the aisle. (I’d put up a picture of Kelsey and Mel, but I still can’t put pictures up here!. Sigh.)

And yes, i can do play the wedding. I’ve been asked, “Won’t you cry? Can you play when you cry?” When the reed goes in the mouth, the brain switches and tears won’t be there. Honest. Now once I’m done, and I’m listening to their vows things might change. But who knows … only time will tell, eh?

But if any of you have a gig to throw my way after next weekend, I’m here. I’m happy to work. :-)

It’s Posted

15. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Announcements

Bravi tutti to all three … and to all the contestants. I’m in awe of such fine musicianship! Perhaps we’ll see some of these people back here with Symphony Silicon Valley someday. I would enjoy it.

First Prize:
Christopher Falzone, USA

Second Prize:
Tomer Gewirtzman, Israel

Third Prize:

Chaoyin Cai, China

Honorable Mention:
Xiaofang Wu, China
Hyun-Ah Choi, Korea

The Competition

14. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble

So I’m home from the Russian Music Piano Competition, but I don’t yet know who won. We played with three stunning pianists, and I enjoyed each one. I must admit I didn’t enjoy them completely as I was on edge due to the incredibly limited rehearsal time we had on the works, but I was entirely impressed. We performed with 18 year old Tomer Gewirtzman (Israel), 22 year old Chaoyin Cai (China), and 24 year old Christopher Falzone (USA). After the final performance the jury was to spend something like 30 minutes deliberating, and I’m repeatedly checking this page for the results. I don’t know if they’ll post it tonight … hope so, though!

The audience and orchestra members were to vote for the audience favorite. I just couldn’t. Voting for one meant nixing the other two. So never mind that.

Tomorrow is the 4:00 awards ceremony and 5:00 winners’ concert at Le Petit Trianon, in case anyone is interested!

Orchestra Etiquette

14. June 2008 · 10 comments · Categories: Ramble

I’m thinking that universities and conservatories need to set up a new class, that covers a multitude of things. Some, I know, are beginning to understand that they need to teach young musicians how to survive; it’s not just “Out you go now … win that audition and enjoy life!” That doesn’t happen for everyone. So a survival skills class seems necessary these days.

Included in that class —something I think is rarely taught‐ should be musicians’ etiquette. I’m finding that far too many don’t know that little dos and don’ts of our somewhat confusing world. I do have to remind myself on occasion, in fact.

Recently I’ve heard of or observed some major rule breakers. Not following simple rules can alienate yourself from your section, another section, the conductor, or even the entire orchestra.

And it’s so easy to stay in the safe zone, if only you understand what not to do.

Yes, some of the rules may seem silly to some of you … take ‘em or leave ‘em. You choose. (But I highly recommend you seriously consider them if you are on tenure track!)

So check out my Musicians’ Etiquette page. Feel free to add to it. (Feel free to argue, too, but I’m probably not going to change my mind about most of this stuff.)

Someday I’ll tell some stories (I think I have already) … even tattling on myself for some very stupid things I’ve done.

Now it’s time to get ready to teach … which makes me remember that I should really write up a page for that someday. I hate to be and uptight old lady who thinks manners matter, but … well … they do.

Jessica Pearlman

14. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Concert Announcements

Oboe/English Horn recital to benefit the Coastside Community Orchestra

featuring Juilliard graduate student
Jessica Pearlman

Including special guests
Lisa Spector and Media Luna Ensemble

Sunday, June 22, 4:00PM
Community United Methodist Church
777 Miramontes Street
Half Moon Bay, California

Suggested donation $15.00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Biography – Jessica Pearlman

Oboist Jessica Pearlman grew up on the coast south of San Francisco, California and attended the School of the Arts High School in San Francisco. She began studying oboe with Kathy Conner at the age of 12 and was a member of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra and San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Since moving to New York in 2007, Ms. Pearlman has performed and toured with some of the city’s most esteemed ensembles, including the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Last Fall she participated in a ten-city American and European tour as oboist of the Verbier Festival Orchestra led by Charles Dutoit. As a soloist Ms. Pearlman was featured with the San Jose Chamber Symphony, a performance MetroActive described as “extraordinary… [she] dazzled through the overlapping melodies and 32nd note runs of a bravura show-off piece by Antonino Pasculli…[a] barrage of acclamation followed her tour de force…” Other solo appearances include Mozart’s Concerto with the Colorado College Summer Music Festival and the Bach Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin with the Mansfield (OH) Symphony Orchestra where she also served as Principal Oboe during the 2005 – 2006 season. Among Pearlman’s other talents, she is a dedicated and passionate teacher. While pursuing her own studies she taught oboe to undergraduate students at Oberlin College and Yale University, and in 2006 served as woodwind professor for the Associaciòn Nacional de Conciertos youth music festival in Panamà. Ms. Pearlman received degrees in both oboe performance and neuroscience from Oberlin College, where she studied with the late James Caldwell. Her research on brain tumor models conducted at Johns Hopkins University was presented at the 2006 conference for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Ms. Pearlman is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School as a student of Elaine Douvas, Nathan Hughes and Pedro Diaz, all of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

You know how I’ve written in the past about how, after flubbing something, we musicians have been known to say, “Well, at least I’m not a brain surgeon”? Heh. I guess some people might not be able to say that. Or at least have the brains to be a brain surgeon! I couldn’t have majored in neuroscience if you put a gun to my head and said I had to. Ms. Pearlman sounds like one amazing person!
And yes, it’s 3:17 AM and I’m blogging. Ah, sleep … I could use some!

Argh

13. June 2008 · 6 comments · Categories: Links, Ramble

I’ve been at concerts where one audience member applauds before that wonderful silence that follows an incredibly moving performance. It’s distressing, but of course not all that surprising. Some people are so uncomfortable with silence they can’t allow it to happen. Others want to be sure they let the rest of the audience know the work is over. Or at least that’s how it feels. And others, perhaps, want the limelight.

Read this and tell me what you think.

Does a conductor have the right or responsibility to reprimand? Should the person be ignored? Are we ruining the rest of the audience’s experience if we on stage react negatively to something like this?

Recently orchestras are getting reprimanded by their bosses and audiences about their on stage behavior. Does it only go one way? I’ve recently read comments from audience members that say we shouldn’t have water on stage with us (Have they played oboe? I wonder.), nor should we have our bags with us (Have they ever had an instrument or reed go bonkers on them? I wonder.) We are supposed to look like we are having fun (Have they ever had an incredibly difficult solo that scares the pants off of them? I wonder.). I realize our appearance is important. I realize we can lose an audience if we don’t look like we care. I love what I do, and I smile when I can, but we are working. Some people forget that. I’m not sure I can get some people to comprehend what kind of concentration is involved in a concert. But whatever. That’s not my job, and if they don’t get it, they don’t get it.

Okay, maybe I’m too defensive. I do know we sometimes need reminders about how we look on stage. We are busy with the music. We forget how much the audience sees (and hears). Or … okay … at least I forget. I can’t speak for others, can I?

But the audience … sigh … we love our audiences … but some people can be so clueless. And yet we rely on them. Without an audience we’re pretty much sunk.

And I’m not sure about reprimanding a person … what good does it do? Did the guy even get it? I dunno.

Ramble, ramble ….

13. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Links, Ramble

“Many performing artists are underemployed,” Mr. Gioia said, “but one of the stereotypes we’re trying to debunk is that artists are mostly marginal and unemployed.”

(RTWT)

I don’t know if my teaching counts as employment as a performing artist. Seems like it should, though, as it’s still about oboing and all that jazz. (Or classical, or whatever ….)

I’ve been at this biz since 1975. I’ve had other jobs along with music (bookstore clerk and then bookkeeper at the same store and, later, music librarian) but really I’ve been mainly music for what seems like forever.

I used to puzzle over this. I’ll never make the big bucks, living here in Silicon Valley, place with lots of money and big buck earners galore. But I’ve never been unemployed long enough to bother with unemployment. Funny how that happens.

I like my work. I’m fine with not being rich. (In truth I’m richer than much of the world, yes?)

Sleeping in is nice too. ;-)

Betcha You Can Guess!

13. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble

… and get it right …

Walking into the theatre yesterday in the middle of the afternoon, I was greeted by a strange, strangulated sound. Was it a plastic saxophone? A type of Bavarian bagpipe? I couldn’t identify the instrument.

Read the rest here. From twang twang twang. (Surely a beginning harpist doesn’t sound all that bad …? Except maybe to a harpist.)

Gergie … Who?

12. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Links, News

(Yes, I know who he is, I’d be more likely to say “who?” to Slash. And since when is a concert hall “crusty”? Sigh.)

Virtual Maestro, a piece of software that uses the Wii and its Remote to allow players to conduct an orchestra, has been brought to the UK and will be on show before LSO concerts.

The game was developed by a team led by Teresa Nakra, an assistant professor of music at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. It has already been on display in the US using a 42″ plasma screen. The team hopes to develop the game further, but its sponsor – investment banking firm, UBS – says there are no plans for it to make it into homes any time soon.

“For so many people, classical music is about a crusty music hall”, uttered Ann Drew of UBS. “The design was intended to bring a new, different experience to concert-going.”

SPOnG sees no reason for gamers to favour one breed of rhythm game over the other. We encourage the gaming community to get along to both and see if they can do Gergiev as well as they do Slash.

I doubt that playing virtual conductor is going to convince gamers to come to symphony concerts, but I’ll be happy to say I’m wrong about that.

I don’t really get virtual conducting, guitar playing or even cello playing. Just not my cuppa.

Now virtual gardening, on the other hand, I think I could get into. Just don’s ask me to do the real stuff.

News You Can Must Use

12. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: News

… well … if you can figure out how to use it!

The four chemical elements cited most often in musical songs and compositions are, in this order, silver, gold, tin and oxygen, followed by copper and iron, according to a study carried out by Santiago Álvarez, professor at the School of Chemistry of the University of Barcelona, and recently published in New Journal of Chemistry.

(Read here.)

Seen It?

12. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Fun, Ramble, Videos, Watch

Most folks have seen the Voigt “Little Black Dress” video by now, I suppose, but just in case …

In case you’ve forgotten what the fuss was about, check out this:

and this:

I had actually forgotten just how much weight the woman lost. Wow.

And then, I’ll leave you with the video below. The Battle line is too darn funny:

I’m Dead Too

11. June 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Listen, Videos, Watch

(Thanks, DK. You’re right.)

No. More. Words.

Maybe The Only One?

11. June 2008 · 4 comments · Categories: Ramble

There’s a review in the Merc for last week’s concerts. It’s so-so. What I expected, except he really liked the first half. A lot.

I do wonder, though, if reviewers know 1) how difficult the bassoon solo is (do they know the words? Sing along, “Why not an English horn? This note’s too high for me.”) and 2) that my friend DK played it so incredibly well. Perfectly. Truly better than the video I was watching and listening to of a major orchestra. Really.

Meanwhile …

I’m listening to a very muffled recording of the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 1. I’ve never even heard this one before, to be honest. (And I only found one recording at emusic.com so I’m guessing it’s perhaps not frequently played.) One piece nearly heard (an easy one) … a good number to go. (I’m starting with Prokofiev … moving alphatebetically. Or alphabetically. You choose.)

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