Comments on: Help! I don’t have time to practice!

By: Eli U-V

Eli U-V — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:13:05 +0000

I just site read tchaik 4 in the wisconsin symphony orchestra, I wish I had a chance to see the score, there are some off beat entrances and I think seeing other parts would probably help with this.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:37:22 +0000

Definitely true on the studying the scores and seeing where your parts fit in. A good musician doesn’t just know his or her own part but knows everyone else’s parts as well and seeing how they fit together. If you focus not so much on how you sound but on how you sounds within the context of the ensemble, then your playing improves by leaps and bounds.

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:02:33 +0000

Thanks! I agree that bassists need to study more scores. With the local festivals performing Tchaik 4, seeing how all the parts fit together would immediately improve the ensemble.

I did have a the score to another piece they’re playing and I lent it to my student!

And along with listening – if you fill in the other parts during the rest then you haven’t listened enough times!!!!

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:30:23 +0000

Great post as always, Pete! Simply studying the score (something that few bass players do) can do wonders for comprehension and can really help to guide improvement.

By: Benyamin

Benyamin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:51:28 +0000

AS Maestro Guy Tuneh said in his Interview to Jason (CBC -30):
work hard and use your head and heart, because there is no other way to get what you want.
If player of his caliber say it, i believe!!