Randomness Archives, #2 - Cartoons

Music-related Randomness Archives, #1

I have a lot of pics that I've collected ... This post is the first in an upcoming series, the results of tons of pointless online hours.  You're welcome.

NPR article about pianists and stage fright

To Master Stage Fright, Practice Makes Imperfect OK

The pianist the article is about, Sara Solovitch, also wrote a book about overcoming stage fright, called Playing Scared: A History and Memoir of Stage Fright!

Specialists

It's amazing when pianists have amassed experience in a specific area, such as instrumental collaborative piano - and then specialized even more with a specific instrument*, such as say, the saxophone.  

I found a few pianists who happened to perform saxophone rep as their specialty!  Take a look at the rep lists of these NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance) Collaborative pianists:  Casey Dierlam, Leng-leng Lam and Liz Ames.  

Think about creating your own niche, and check out local and international conferences for opportunities to use your repertoire strengths.



*Often the result of the pianist dating/marrying said instrument player.

Updated Again - Summer Gigs and Opportunities

Collaborative pianists: here are some places to consider spending your upcoming summers - getting experience and/or paid (ideally both).  

Chamber/Instrumental:

Aspen - Instrumental Emphasis (Fellowships Available), Orchestral Emphasis (Fellowships Available), Contemporary Ensemble (Fellowships Maybe Available)

Banff Centre - Collaborative Piano Residency

Bowdoin Festivel Collaborative Piano Fellowship
Castleman Quartet Program Piano Internship
Castleton Festival Orchestra

Eastern Music Festival sometimes hires collaborative pianists for instrumental accompaniment, must be 21 to apply 
Encore Chamber Music Collaborative Piano Fellowship

Heifetz International Music Institute Chamber Music PIano Fellowship
Interlochen Summer Arts Camp hires 4-5 Instrumental accompanists

Hot Springs Collaborative Piano Apprenticeships

Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School and Festival

Music Academy of the West - Instrumental Fellowship

Norfolk Chamber Music Session Fellowships

Emerging Artists Fellowship Program is a four-week chamber music program for string players and pianists aged 18-26

Tanglewood - Instrumental Pianist Fellowships

Opera:

Ash-lawn Opera Festival has a music internship and/or accompanist opportunities

Aspen - Vocal Emphasis (Fellowships Available)

Atlantic Music Festival Fellowship Program  

Banff Centre - Assistant Coach/Repetiteur

Bay View Music Festival - Fellowships

The College Light Opera Company hires staff accompanists 

CoOPERAtive program at Rider University has a training program for singers and collaborative pianists

Crested Butte Music Festival - Apprentice program

Dell'Arte Opera - Pianists 
Des Moines Metro Opera - Apprentice Coach  
Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar Piano Fellows

Glimmerglass - Young Artists program 
Halifax Summer Opera Festival - Collaborative Pianist internships  
Met Festival Summer Institute - Apprentice Collaborative Pianist
Miami Music Festival - Vocal Collaborative Institute Fellowships

Music Academy of the West - Vocal Fellowship

Oberlin in Italy - Collaborative Piano Division

Opera Breve - Collaborative Piano internship
Opera in the Ozarks may hire accompanists 

Opera Neo - Apprentice Pianist

Opera on the Avalon - art song and opera

Opera Theater of Pittsburgh Summerfest - YA Program
OperaWorks Summer Programs for coaches

San Francisco Merola Opera Program

Tanglewood - Vocal Pianist Fellowships

Wolftrap Fellowships

Vocal - Art Song:

Baldwin-Wallace Art Song Festival

Franz-Schubert-Institute - summer course for singers and pianists

Songfest - for singers and pianists

Vancouver International Song Institute

Musical Theatre:

Berkshire Theatre Group Music Directing Assistantship
Colorado Theatre Guild - Pianist

Interlochen Summer Arts Camp hires 4-5 Musical Theatre accompanists
Lexington Children's (summer) Theatre hires a Teaching Artist/Accompanist
Milbrook Playhouse - Music Directing internship
Seattle Children's Theatre Music Directing Intern

Summer Theatre of New Canaan - Music Directing Internship
Surflight Theatre - Internship/Apprentice Programs

Choral:

Berkshire Choral International - accompanist apprentice

Interlochen Summer Arts Camp hires 4-5 Choral accompanists

Dance:

Interlochen Summer Arts Camp hires 4-5 dance pianists each summer 

Church Music 
Lutheran Music Program - Collegiate Internships in Chapel Choir, Worship Team and Collaborative Piano

Etc: 
National Music Festival - Piano Repair Apprenticeship Eastern Music Festival - Piano Technician Intern  
Cortona Sessions for New Music Piano Fellowship

You know a musician's in the kitchen when . . .

Bach research, ongoing

I started collecting ‘classical literature for church services use’* from the Baroque era – first, Bach. As he is an outrageously prolific composer, I kept it simple for now and went with selections from his better-known composition groups. All of these are pieces I found appealing and can work up in a couple of days/weeks. The added bonus is a lot of this is transferable to the organ, also.  Here's what I've picked so far:

Two part inventions – #s 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14

Three part inventions (aka Sinfonia) – #s 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

English Suites - No. 3 in g minor, BWV 808

French Suites - No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 815, No. 5 in G major BWV 816  

Partitas – Partita in Bb Major, BWV 825 

Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - (tbd)

Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - (tbd)

Plus

Fantasies - c minor, BWV 906 and g minor, BWV 917

*What else am I supposed to call it?  ‘Real’ music? 

Outdoor Pianos!

Are you bored?  Check out these outdoor pianos in Melbourne, Glasgow, Albany NY and others!

New Project

I have a project this semester – an Independent Study on church music.  It will have an emphasis on planning out solo organ/piano music for the entire church year.  Specifically, I’ll be pulling together appropriate music for services (prelude-offertory-communion-postlude), both hymn arrangements and accessible music from the ‘solo classical’ piano repertoire.  At the end of the semester, my goal is to have a selection of piano and organ literature that is appropriate for each major church holiday (Christmas, Easter, etc) and the rest of the year. 

Also, the project is to get a better grasp on the many aspects of being an effective church musician.  I’ve begun to see that the pianist can do more than provide pleasant music or lead congregational singing*.  It is similar to how a sensitive choral pianist knows what to listen for in choir rehearsals – they can diagnose the choir’s issues and respond as needed, while anticipating the director’s needs also.  A good choral pianist helps facilitate a pleasant and effective rehearsal for everyone involved.  

A good church musician can facilitate a meaningful experience for the congregation: and one of the ways is to complement the day’s message and tone with thoughtful musical selections.   

I’ll continue working on hymns, also – learning about registrations, varying the hymns to match the lyrics, etc etc etc.  I hope to blog this all out, both because it keeps me honest and working - but also, I haven't found much out there that quite addressed this they way I'm approaching it.  

*It’s the difference between the two compliments “you are a wonderful player” and “you play a wonderful service”.