I’m not a big one for New Year’s resolutions, but what the heck, most people violate them within hours of formulating them, so I’m safe from being a hypocrite, most likely.
So, without further ado, here are my music-related resolutions for 2007 and beyond (in no particular order):
1. Practice more. I know this should be a no-brainer, but when you spend quite a bit of time with the instrument most every day at work, it’s hard to come home and shed a few hours on something that isn’t work-related. I’m hoping to make it through some etudes and studies that I never got through (or even started) in school. Beginning with Rode Caprices and Vieux.
2. “Perform” more. By this I mean, be more of a performer on stage, rather than an emotionless automaton. Not that I usually am, but I am becoming much more aware of the effect that demeanor has on the audience’s enjoyment of what we do. As much as the purists in the ivory towers protest, it isn’t just all about the music, stupid.
3. Better integrate music into my life. This one probably has you all scratching your collective heads, but it’s easy to turn an orchestra job into “now I’m at work” and “now I’m not at work and am therefore a ‘normal’ person”. It’s time for me to integrate music more fully into my life – there has been an unhealthy distance that’s been creeping steadily into the mix that I don’t want to see progress any further.
4. Love the journey as much or more than the destination. As an orchestral musician, it’s easy to get wrapped up in what notes and pieces have to be learned for the next rehearsal. It’s all about getting the notes learned so you can not make a fool out of yourself at the rehearsals and concert. As long as there’s so much learning going on, why not make the act of learning the most enjoyable part of the routine, and eliminate the routine?
5. Push my limits. I’m not getting any younger, so why not do a couple recitals this year, do more work with the quartet, take a couple auditions for bigger gigs, and play a concerto somewhere, too? No good reason not to, so I’m going to go for it!
That’s my short list for now, I’d love to hear what you all are planning on doing this year – go out there and grab 2007 by the throat and make the world your oyster!
One reply on “resolutely into the breach”
Love your second resolution. Performers often underestimate the effect of gesture on listeners — a frown, a smile, gestures of affirmation, denial, shock. Carlos is good at this. Audiences are constantly looking for clues as to what the music means and what the performer makes of it. A blank face suggests impassivity. A stolid posture suggests immobility. We yearn to connect with performers, not just the music.