Conducting the Phrase and not the Pattern

Many young conductors spend time learning to conduct patterns. And, rightly so. With a single glance toward the conductor, a musician can see the current musical location within the measure just by recognizing where the baton is in the beat pattern. This is nice, clean, and simple.

However, once musicians get past the basic skills of ensemble playing, simple beat patterns from the conductor are no longer required at all times. Some challenging mixed-meter sections certainly dictate a due diligence in showing patterns, but skilled musicians no longer need to see patterns at all times. So, what does the conductor show when working with a higher level ensemble? This blog is perhaps not long enough to allow for a complete answer. However, the most important element to remember is to show the music. Huh? I thought that's what the beat pattern did? A pattern just shows one simple construct of the music. Conductors must lead the ensemble in a musical journey in a clear visual display indicating not only dynamics, articulations, and instrumental cues, but phrases that tell the musical story. Understanding and showing the phraseology of works is essential in conveying the meaning and interpretation to the orchestra and ultimately, to the audience. This means conducting the phrases in the music while showing the technical aspects of dynamics, articulations, and instrumental textures.

Get past the beat pattern and look at the bigger picture. What do you really want to convey to the ensemble? Is it where beat 3 falls? Or, is it where the apex of the woodwind choir leads to a dovetailed connection with the violas? You can see this by looking at the phrases. Where is the drama and excitement of beat 2 versus the drama of letting a melody unfold magically from a soft dynamic to a more prominent foreground position? The conductor can foster this by helping the instrumentalist lead the melody by showing it visually!

Drop the pattern and adopt the phrase.

Musically Yours,

D. Oertel

PS - On a personal note, I just got engaged to be married!! Wooohoooo!

Who's skin is this anyway?

Who's skin is this anyway?

It's interesting as conductors we put on different "skins" so we can be everything we can be for the orchestra so we can aptly present a good show for the audience. Different skins are what people "wear" when speaking to the board or to the audience or even to the orchestra. Who are we, ourselves? I think it is important as people and as musicians to be true to ourselves and wear our own skin and not pretend to be anything else at anytime. Wearing your own skin means learning to be comfortable with your own personality with your own interpretation of musical works. Whether the interpretation is supported by research, by balance of the concert program, or whether you just decided to do something on a whim. Either way, you must be comfortable with yourself and how you present yourself. Forget about what people are thinking about you. Be yourself and be true to yourself and your own personality.

Wear your own skin.

Modern Musical Lessons?

Sometime in my university music education, someone impressed the significance of keeping up with musicalogical trends. Some years later, I fully understood this significance. However, I now feel it equally important that classical music educations should include the current popular cultures and trends. My undergraduate 20th-century music history class ended before Elvis was born!!


There is an apparent arrogance with musicologist in researching the history of music. Very rarely do you see research of 20th c. topics. I feel it is short sighted of us to ignore the recent and current popular cultural and musical ideologies. With music changing so rapidly, we have much to learn to fully understand where we are going. I have to say, it is almost a betrayel of educational responsibilities if universities do not offer a class or classes in current music and performance practices.


I suppose to understand musical trends one must understand social trends. And, to predict a future trend, one must fully understand the historical paths and project a future based on where we have been and what we have accepted and denied as social and musical "norms". Perhaps I just described a successful Marketing campaign, but I hope I have also ignited some interest in current musical trends. Now we can take this to the next level and discuss music technologies, because much "new" music is electronic and perhaps a bit aleatoric. But, I'm currently interested in what can be recreated in a live performance.


Hmmm, perhaps I'll ponder this more with a holiday cookie.





Cheers and cookie up!

Life Lessons - Careful what you ask for...

Recently, a young friend asked me what life lesson I could impart to her. She said, and I paraphrase (because sometimes I feel my partially photographic memory is fading like an old black and white photograph although I'm far too young to be complaining about such things albeit, here I am, but I digress), "is there anything you could tell me that you wish you knew when you were my age?". This gave me pause. It was an open door. Do I dare walk in? How much do you say? As a teacher, I was now set loose to offer my wisdom. Well, in retrospect the answer I gave her was probably a cop out. I told that there are many things I could tell her - MANY things and the more "lessons" I shared, I told her, the less important they would appear. Sometimes less is more. So, I said simply, "take advantage of your time in school and learn everything you can. School is fleeting and through out life you will say, 'rats, I wish I would have paid better attention in that class'. Or, 'Geez, I took two semesters of astonomy and I still don't know where Leo is!'".

What I really wanted to do is give her a long list of things to watch out for, when to be aggressive and when the passive approach is more effective, the importance of a knowing a second language, being versed in multiple disciplines, and essentially the value of a liberal arts education. That would have inundated her. So, I told her that one bit of wisdom.

Admittedly, I told her that I will share things with her every now and then as the situation presented itself. But, really who doesn't do that anyway?

What one thing would you share with a college-aged curious individual? What would you tell someone that you wish you would have known when you were back in college?
(Don't drink the blue stuff!!" is too easy an answer!)

I love that my friend is going through this wonderfully healthy stage of craving information. However, careful what you ask for...

Blog on.

Differences Between a Cold and H1N1 "Swine" Flu

OK, readers. It's time to talk H1N1 again. Apparently this darn flu is spreading more rapidly than the health professionals know how to handle.

Remember the obvious preventative actions:
1) wash your hands
2) repeat #1

I can't tell you how many times I see guys in public restrooms that DO NOT wash their hands after they do their business. Jeez, so you take an extra minute and a half longer in the stinky room. Get over it and wash your hands!

Okay, so let's say you find yourself (with clean hands) coughing and you start thinking, "oh no, I have the dreaded Swine Flu! Oh no, oh no! Head for the hills!" Now stop and think, do I really have it?

Here are the primary differences between a cold and the H1N1 "Swine" Flu (click chart to enlarge):


If you really think you have it, then seek medical attention.
For now, wash your hands frequently. If not for you, then for everyone else you come in contact with. Thank you in advance.

Be safe. Be happy.




The above chart was sent to me by a friend, but it can be found at this website: http://www.turnto23.com/news/19337804/detail.html

Top 5 Qualities to Strive for in Life

Top 5 Qualities to Strive for in Life

While looking out my window and seeing the absolute beauty in nature, I find that my mind wanders to searching for the big picture or the answer to the answered question. Although I will not be discussing Charles Ives “Unanswered Question” at this point, it is an interesting piece worthy of conversation…perhaps later. At any rate, here are my thoughts as I examine ways to improve myself.

I narrowed it, albeit naively, to the top 5 qualities one should strive for in life. These qualities will help you socially, professionally, and probably land you a job if you are true to yourself. In every day life we run across people that at takers and not givers. People that do not value a good day, but rather take advantage of others while the day is good are the ones I’m addressing. I’m speaking of that bum that cuts us off on the highway, or jerkoid who tries to rip you off at the cell phone store, or most recently, the moving company guy who delivers your furniture late, damaged, and dissolves himself of responsibility (long story, but again, another blog for another time).

Here are the 5 qualities to hit that sweet spot in life.

1. Intelligence
No doubt about it, intelligence is important to survive in life. I’m not just talking about book smarts, but street smarts as well. As important as it is to be informed in many areas of life as literature, fine arts, math, language skills, it is also important to have the know how to survive in the urban wilderness. This “street smarts” is essentially modern Darwinism – the survival of the urban fittest. Only the resilient and the wise tend to rise to the top.

2. Integrity
Integrity is one of the illusive words that too many people just do not understand. Truth, honor, and faith are qualities of integrity. Truth and honor are both self explanatory (I hope). With faith, I am referring to that faith you can have in others for doing the right thing and for others to have in you. Faith is that others believe you will complete your task as promised. Faith is that others believe you will pay your debts on time. And, faith is that you are truthful and honorable to your fellow person. This is non-negotiable.

3. Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm = excitement and drive for life. Isn’t always more enjoyable to be around people who are enthusiastic about what they are doing, excited by their project or activity? This is extremely contagious and equally important.

4. Curiosity
If you are always looking for answers to problems or find yourself solving issues, resolving contentions, or even just wondering what’s around the corner, then you have got this one covered. They say that curiosity is the spice of life and I’d have to agree.

5. Diversity
A diverse individual is one that is multifaceted in interests, open-minded, tolerant, patience, and able to see beyond what’s directly in front of them. This is probably the most difficult attribute one can strive for because it calls for a diverse outlook in life. People will judge you by who surrounds you. Only you can choose your friends. Choose wisely. Keep a diverse outlook and remain open to feedback, information, ideals, and even religion.

Cheers,

David

The 3 Ps - not 3 Bs

Last night I went to a cocktail party honoring the founding board members of an organization in Houston called Children At Risk. My mother, Betty Oertel, was among the group being honored. The party and conversations were engaging and enjoyable, but one toast really stuck with me. Jim Mickelson, The first CEO of the C.A.R. said he prescribes to the 3 Ps for success. Of course I related that with the three Bs of composers (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms). However, in today's economy and current state of unemployment, this rang strong with me.

The three Ps are a formula for an organization's success.
Policy + Politics + Passion = Power
Power to change the world to make it better...and in this case, make it better for the children in Houston.

How can this be applied to the world of music, business, or even personal success?
If you know the policy - the facts surrounding the topic and you are familiar with the politics or discussions surrounding the topic and you know you have a committed passion about the topic, then this will empower you to success! It is simplified here and I hope I haven't cheapened Mr. Mickelson's statement with this blog entry.

The most important aspect is the passion. Have passion in your work and for your desired outcome. If you are not completely committed to your project, you will have a more difficult time in reaching your goal.

Power.
Getting power is typically a political agenda and can have negative implications. Power or empowerment is important to success, not for manipulation, but for giving yourself the confidence to succeed, for creating a positive environment poised for success, for having the knowledge and ability to bring the appropriate people together at the right time and place to achieve the goals at hand.

If the 3 Ps do not fit your world, then give it some thought and create your own formula to reach you or your companies goals.

Cheers!