And Helloooo to January exams, deadlines and more crazy weeks! Yes, the new year is wonderful in so many ways - resolutions, new goals, reflecting on the past year etc, but sadly for Conservatoire students with it comes the daunting prospect of the dreaded "Orchestral excerpts exam" and other deadlines depending on your year. For me this meant the Applied Musicianship arranging assignment, which you'll understand more about in a short while... I have also been up to loads of other stuff I hope you'll enjoy hearing about.
Due to the messed up order of my blogging recently, you'll find more information about the orchestral excerpts exam in the post entitled "Back in the swing of things".
As for Applied Musicianship, well I actually quite enjoyed this assignment apart from the fact it was to be assessed... I love arranging music and writing the occasional piece (usually a fanfare) so when we were asked to write a theme and variations I was quite excited. Using the theme from Mozart's Voi Che Sapete (an Aria from his Marriage of Figaro Opera) - look it up if you don't know it - we had to employ a range of different textural ideas throughout at least 4 variations composing for 4 instruments or more in the Wind and Brass department. I chose to compose for brass quintet as I know the capabilities of these instruments well. Before the assignment began we were taught a few techniques to arranging this style of piece so had some ideas to get running with so I incorporated things like giving the melody to the bass, modulating to the relative minor, embellishing the main tune, turning it into a waltz and also exploring the different possibilities for the harmonic basis. I was quite pleased with the outcome and you never know, you may hear my brass quintet playing it at some point!
You may remember I work with and old people's group called "Young at Heart" on a fortnightly basis and this term I am involved again, however this time we have been working on a collaborative project with a special needs school. This has meant going to both centres to work with the groups individually on some musical ideas, then recording and sharing them. I played my trumpet to the children in the first session and they loved it! I don't think they'd ever heard one live before so it was truly amazing to see the joy on their faces. Returning to the elderly people, we took a Samba kit in with us last week and I could not believe how much they enjoyed themselves - it was mainly the deaf ones having a go to be honest!
Recently I've taken on a temporary private student as well, covering for another teacher while they're away - more experience on the cards and a lovely student to teach, looking forward to seeing him progress!
On Saturday I played "Prince of Denmark's March" for a wedding - good practice in preparation for my Trumpet and Organ concert in August, did I tell you about that?!
Just realised I must dash as I have a meeting with the careers advisor to help update my CV and create a suitable one for my Erasmus application - have a great day!
S x
