Author: Bryan Holten - Page 5

Your recording device is like an honest friend. Here’s how to use it to your benefit.

Even the simplest audio setup—perhaps an iPhone audio recorder app—can be a powerful tool for self assessment in music. Here’s how to make the best use of it.

First, a story.

The perils of self-assessment

Imagine that you are having lunch with a good friend named Sam. You’ve known Sam a long time, and you know that she shares your values and wants you to succeed. You know that she’s in a romantic relationship with Theo, and it’s not going well. She wants to talk about it. You are hoping that the conversation will unfold organically and you’ll have a chance to help her without forcing your opinion.

If only it were that easy. Instead, you talk in platitudes for 45 minutes, growing ever more uncomfortable. Finally, Sam asks you a blunt question without segue: “What do you think of Theo?”

A Tale of a Choir Rehearsal

I had the opportunity (now somewhat of a rarity in my life) to show up at a choral rehearsal and simply observe rather than act as a direct participant. The work in question was categorically “standard” repertoire—the sort of piece you find in numerous dog-eared editions on countless American bookshelves. It just so happened that the pianist that day was playing from a very heavy-handed edition from the early twentieth century; tremolos, parallel sixths and thirds, octaves, sweeping slurs, and dramatic dynamic shifts were the operators in this busy score. This is a difficult (but fairly typical) situation that calls for special accompaniment techniques.

After a few minutes, it became clear to me that the accompanist, while solid in technical facility, was not entirely fluent with some of the passagework. Tempos began to waver; important details vanished beneath a mess of notes. It was not long before the conductor gave the tempo for a particularly fast and exciting movement…or perhaps not so fast and exciting. What was going on here? Why was thing dragging so much? Who was really in charge of the tempo?

Self Assessment through Audio Recordings (for Musicians)

Your recording device is like an honest friend. Here’s how to use it to your benefit.

The perils of self-assessment

Accompaniment Technique: Why It Matters

A Tale of a Choir Rehearsal

Never miss out on free resources for church musicians.

Bryan Holten

Your recording device is like an honest friend. Here’s how to use it to your benefit.

The perils of self-assessment

A Tale of a Choir Rehearsal

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Never miss out on free resources for church musicians.