Choosing your words wisely

It’s important to choose your words wisely.

D# or Eb?  Why does that matter?[i]

Chamber Music Coaching - what to wear

Traditionally I get my younger groups to wear a white top and black trousers/skirt and my older groups to wear all black.  This is a formal occasion, so try hard to avoid black jeans, t shirts with writing and sneakers.  

I prefer hair tied back, but that’s just me.  Feel free to argue that one.  But it does look tidier.  I try to avoid “gimmicky” costumes.  It distracts from the music and the performances.  

Little unifying touches such as matching ties, waistcoats, hair ties are fine.  I once had a group perform a medley from “Carmen” and they wore a rose tucked discretely in their hair, which was a nice reference to the opera and identified them as a group.

Chamber Music - Stagecraft

Stagecraft:

I’ve watched many chamber music contests in my time.  Many.  And I feel that stagecraft is the thing that either gets left literally till the last moment (the teacher whispers a hurried “BOW!” just as the students are about to go on stage), or never gets addressed at all.  But for me, stage etiquette is just as important as preparing the music.

Coming on stage

Decide who will come on first.  Think about this logically.  If you are coaching a flute trio using three music stands, it makes sense to come on (if entering the stage from Stage Left)

Player 2        Player 1        Player 3

Why?

Because they’ll be coming on in front of their music stands to introduce their piece.  Then, after the introduction, Player 2 moves to their stand from the left, Player 1 follows, and Player 3 turns to the right and moves to their stand.  It’s kinda hard to explain in words.  Try it with three different coloured pens or something.  You’ll see what I mean.

If you are a flute quartet, you would come on

Player 2        Player 1        Player 4        Player 3

The same thing happens.  Players 2 and 1 move to the left.  Players 4 and 3 move to the right, then BOOM – you’re in the right order.

Think about your ensemble and what makes sense for where they are positioned on stage.  (Page turners – you’re not actually part of the ensemble.  This means you don’t come up the front when the performers are introducing the piece and you don’t take a bow at the end.  Just come on stage after the players and head straight for the piano).

When the group comes on stage, they should have their music in one hand and their instrument in the other.  If possible, I like to have their instrument in the hand that is facing the audience.  That way the audience (most of whom are proud mums and dads and aren’t necessarily musical) can see.  Music should be in a folder (at the very least) and ideally should be matching.  I have made up black folders that my students all share.  They are made of three pieces of black A4 cardboard that can be spread out for pieces that require 3 pages to reduce page turns.

Once on stage, don’t bow.  The audience will have started clapping the moment the players are on the stage and more often than not they have stopped clapping by the time the players are in the middle.  And then you get that awkward thing where they don’t know whether to clap again, so some do and others don’t then everyone laughs with awkward embarrassment and it’s just not worth it.  Just walk (briskly) on stage and smile.

You should have decided in advance who will speak and what they will say.  Something along the lines of: “Good [morning/afternoon/evening], we are [insert name here].  Today we will be performing [name of piece] by [composer].”  That’s it.  No “witty” in jokes, no explanations of the group name and no “We hope you enjoy our performance.”  Because you know what?  You say that to me, I lean back, cross my arms and think “Yeah? Make me.”  All you need to say is a greeting (and “hi” or “g’day” or “umm…yeah…” are NOT acceptable), who you are, what you’re going to do.  That’s it.  No-one cares about anything else. 

Once the introduction is over, go to your music stands.

Why not go to your music stands first, tune up, then address the audience?  Because it’s rude.  You don’t walk into someone’s house, make a cup of tea, sit down, then say hello.  Acknowledge your audience first.  It just makes sense.

Once at your stands, do adjust them so they’re in the right position and at the right height for you.  The stage manager will have done their best to put things the way you want them, but they’re not psychic.  DON’T put your flute on the floor.  Arrange beforehand which of your teammates you’ll give it to while you adjust yourself.  Then return the favour for them. If you’re not familiar with how the music stands operate, cast a look over at the stage manager.  They’ll help you.

Tune up, then begin the piece.

Finish the piece.

At the end, all lower your instruments at the same time (pianists excluded) and LEAVE YOUR MUSIC WHERE IT IS.  Seriously.  Don’t touch it.  Come back around to the front of your stands, in reverse order of how you got there.  Don’t come through the middle of them.  Hold your instruments in an appropriate manner.  One person needs to lead the bow.  Everyone else looks at them out the corner of their eyes and you bow together.  Make sure everyone is in the line before you start the bow.

How to bow?  Go straight down, then straight up again.  Pretend you’re in a barrel and can only move down and up.  Look at your feet and in your head say “Ooh! I’m wearing shoes.”  This is the correct amount of time to bow.  Don’t flick your hair out of the way on the way up, adjust it after you’ve stood back up if needed.

It’s a lot to explain in words.  Try it, step by step and hopefully it should make sense to you.[i]

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[i] If it makes you feel any better, one parent, observing me coaching a group in stage etiquette, did remark that it was like being in the army…

Chamber Music Coaching - Rehearsing

Rehearsal process/procedure:

Advanced players should be able to warm and tune up their own instruments.  Less experienced players will need your help.  If possible, have them come 5 – 10 minutes before the rehearsal time so you can do this. 

Chamber Music Coaching - what you'll need

What you’ll need for rehearsals:

Score and individual parts

Music stands for everyone

Tuner + metronome

Music dictionary

Pencils (not pens!)

Recording of music

Recording device (e.g. phone)

Coaching Chamber Music - initial set-up

It’s coming up to chamber music contest season[i].  You may have had some of your students request you find them some music, or they may have been given some music from school.

How to tell off a student

It’s tricky when you realise you have to discipline a student.  You want them to like you, and by telling someone off, you’re risking them not liking you.  Or so you think…

Group Lessons - Discipline

Ok – here we go.  Because, let’s be honest, sometimes you just have to tell someone off.

Group Lessons - Classroom Management

Ahh, the big one.  The question every beginner teacher asks: what if they’re naughty?

Firstly, let me remind you that corporal punishment is illegal…

Group Lessons - Dealing With Non-Students in the Room

Sometimes you have to deal with parents or other siblings in the room.  Feel free to tell them to shut-up or go away.  Be as polite as you feel you need to be.