“Only after I have become familiar with the style and character of the work can I start shaping an interpretation.” Yo-Yo Ma The Musician’s Way, p. 24 On a primary level, musical interpretation conveys fluctuations in emotional intensity. And one of the best ways to...
“Whatever music you play or sing, your aim is to express musical ideas, not spew out notes.” The Musician’s Way, p. 24 Many years ago I had lunch with two veteran music teachers who advocated what I call the “notes first” practice method. In their estimation, students...
“There must always be a sense of progression or movement towards definite landmarks.” –Tobias Matthay, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 23 Rhythm comes alive when it propels listeners through a phrase via what we musicians term “forward motion.” Aside from...
“I may play the same program from one recital to the next, but I will play it differently. And because it is always different, it is always new.” —Vladimir Horowitz, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 75 Most of us musicians develop a core repertoire that we perform for...
“Only after I have become familiar with the style and character of the work can I start shaping an interpretation.” —Yo-Yo Ma, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 24 Suppose that you’re an actor who has been hired to perform in a play. When you receive the script, what...
“The quality of your tone will probably have a more immediate impact on listeners than any other feature of your execution.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 22 We performers know the power of tone quality. Sweet tones can charm, almost like magic, and harsh sounds quickly put...
“Whatever music you play or sing, your objective is to express musical ideas, not spew out notes.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 24 Accomplished musicians bring vibrancy to every sound they make – there’s an emotional power to their music that...
“The performers who connect from the stage establish emotional relationships with their audiences.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 188 What endows a performance with the power to stir listeners’ hearts? At a minimum, a spellbinding concert melds first-rate...
“One should hunger after the whole concept, the whole mood, what the music stands for.” –William Pleeth, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 71 When we approach an unfamiliar composition, I recommend that we map out a preliminary interpretation before we deal with...
