Today I played my saxophone jury. It was a good performance overall, and I am relieved to have it over with. I am excited to work on new rep over the summer, although I haven't decided exactly what I'm playing yet. I'm leaning toward Brilliance by Ida Gotkovsky and maybe Sarabande and Gigue, just because I've already bought them. What I have decided is that I am going to learn ALL of the Ferling etudes over the summer!
Ok, so maybe not all of them. But close. I've assigned myself 2-3 etudes per week, and by August, I will have learned all but 6 of the 48 Ferlings. How exciting, right? I've already started working on 2, 6, and 11 this week!!
I realized today just how much I have improved since last year. I mean, I know it's obvious that I would get better, but I am noticing tangible stuff... my tonguing is up to about 120, my tone is warmer, my control of the low register/tuning on most notes is good, or at least getting there... and most of all, my technique and sight-reading has skyrocketed. I feel like learning music is just getting easier and easier. After trudging through the Bozza etudes and Muczynski and Dionysiaques and just listening to the other players in my studio, I have become a much better musician overall. I can just tell.
I feel very ready to join McAllister's studio next year. Not just in terms of performance ability, but also in terms of perspective. I am starting to get a totally different attitude about playing saxophone now that I've gone through a year of college.
I know that a lot of this probably sounds like bragging, but that's not what I'm getting at with this post. I just feel that I have grown so much this year, and I've learned a lot about the mindset/attitude it takes to be a great musician. I am nowhere near greatness yet, but I can see it around me and I feel pulled towards it. Every day gets me one step closer.
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