Momoko Takahashi

Einsatz and scales.

Episode I:

Studio class. It's M H's turn. She's a Chinese twenty year old from China. Her solo rep is Sibelius. She's having a hard time with the pitch and the tune.

Teacher: No, no, no! That's e flat! This is in diminished scale!
M: ?
Teacher: Look, this is in diminished. Not dominant. Have you played the scale? Listen to the harmony!
M: Scale?
Teacher: You've played it, yes?
M: Yes, but I don't know what the scale has to do with e flat.
Teacher: if you have the scale in your head, then you should notice right away that the e flat doesn't belong there. Didn't you ever wonder why we all tell students to do scales?
M: For correct intonation?

Lesson of the day: scales are an important part of solfège instruction. Scale is important.

Episode II:

Quartet instruction. It's the string instructor (German) and us (cello is also German).

Teacher: Alright, who gives the satz?
Us: The what?
Teacher: Einsatz.
D (cello): Oh. He means cue.
Me: Er, uh, uh, me?
Teacher: No. The piano. Einsatz is everything to ensemble! I don't care if you don't play correctly at the moment. Give a visible satz. Dance if you have to.
J (piano): ... er, dance?
Teacher: Yes. Jump. Flail your arms. Stick your tongue out.

Lesson of the day: cues are crucial. Personal technique seems second at this point.

Evah Gold arrived by mail. It's in a shiny sleeve. Wonder how it sounds.

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Previous entries: May 2012