Rehearsal Plan for Sunday 10/6

Happy October!!

Thank you for your work on Sunday 9/29, and thank you to our brass coaches. Below is a recap of our rehearsal and our plan for Sunday 10/6

RECAP of 9/29 rehearsal

  • We worked on Tchaikovsky: first, we read and worked from the beginning to the Allegro Giusto. Then, we read (and sort of worked along the way) on Allegro Giusto to letter [O]. Finally, we went back to the Allegro Giusto for some deeper work until letter [G].
  • We did *NOT* work on Orpheus Undone on Sunday 9/29. I thought that we needed the extra time on Thaikovsky.
  • SECTIONALS.
    • Brass sections worked on Mazzoli and Tchaikovsky as needed.
    • Strings and woodwinds worked with me on Beethoven. We practiced the presto, played slowly, worked on the syncopations. Then we read the Allegro until the first trumpet fanfare (with some light work). Beethoven still needs lots of work.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 6

  • 4:00pm-4:45pm – tutti: readthrough of the first draft of “Innamorata” by Elishiya Crain-Keddie (YCP piece) – hard copies of parts will be provided at rehearsal.
  • 4:45pm-5:30pm – tutti: Mazzoli, letter [H] to end of Part 1
  • 5:30pm-5:45pm – break
  • 5:45pm-7:00pm – sectionals (see below)

Sectional split for 9/29:

  • Flutes – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
  • Oboes – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
  • Clarinets – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
  • Bassoons – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
  • Strings, brass, percussion, harp/piano – Tchaikovsky – Letter [G] to end.

Reminder: LISTEN to our repertoire constantly

It’s always a good idea to find several different versions of each of the pieces we’re playing. Add them to your regular listening rotation. You can always start with the recordings that I’ve shared on the sidebar of this blog. The more variety you find, the more informed your own performance will be.

Reminder: Concerto Competition

The webpage for our Concerto Competition is now live. You’ll find all the information you need, including deadlines, rules and forms. The registration deadline is Monday, October 14. Video entries are due Friday October 18.

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

  • As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Musicians | August 2024

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday 9/29

Happy Tuesday!

Great work on Sunday 9/22. Thank you to the string coaches who worked with our sections. Below is a recap of our rehearsal and our plan for Sunday 9/29.

RECAP of 9/22 rehearsal

  • Worked on Missy Mazzoli‘s Orpheus Undone, Part 1: Behold the Machine (O Death). We read the whole Part 1, then worked from the beginning until letter [L]
  • SECTIONALS on Tchaikovsky. String sections covered:
    • Allegro giusto (m. 112) to m.164
    • Letter K to m.285
    • Letter L to m.307
    • Letter O to m. 368
    • Letter S to Letter U.
  • Winds/brass/percussion worked on Tchaikovsky from the beginning to letter [O].

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 29

  • 4:00pm-5:00pm – tutti: Tchaikovsky, beginning to letter [O]
  • 5:00pm-5:30pm – tutti: Mazzoli, letter [H] to end of Part 1
  • 5:30pm-5:45pm – break
  • 5:45pm-7:00pm – sectionals (see below)

Sectional split for 9/29:

  • Horns – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
  • Trumpets – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
  • Low brass – Mazzoli, Tchaikovsky as needed
  • Strings, woodwinds – Beethoven Leonore Overture: Presto (m. 514) to end; Allegro (m. 37) to m. 272.

LISTEN to our repertoire constantly

It’s always a good idea to find several different versions of each of the pieces we’re playing. Add them to your regular listening rotation. You can always start with the recordings that I’ve shared on the sidebar of this blog. The more variety you find, the more informed your own performance will be.

Concerto Competition

The webpage for our Concerto Competition is now live. You’ll find all the information you need, including deadlines, rules and forms. The registration deadline is Monday, October 14. Video entries are due Friday October 18.

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

  • As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

Violins for sale

I have a couple of full-size violins for sale if anybody is interested. Shoot me an e-mail and I’ll give you more information.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Musicians | September 2024

MYSfits Notes – 9/11/24

Hi MYSfits,

Great to see you on Sunday. A few notes below.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 15

  • Mozart, Mov 1 – practice towards goal tempo: 132
  • Read new piece: Jai Ho by A. R. Rahman

Updated Seating Charts (Fall 2024)

Mozart:

  • Violin I – 1. Amir, 2. Esther, 3. Leena, 4, Raúl
  • Violin II – 1. Rhea, 2. Oliver, 3. Seth, 4. Norah
  • Viola – 1. Katya, 2. Soren, 3. Reed, 4. Kenji
  • Cello – 1. Gavin, 2. Margaux, 3. Rowan
  • Bass – 1. Colby, 2. Cyrus

Rahman, etc.

  • Violin I – 1. Esther, 2. Leena, 3. Oliver, 4., Raúl
  • Violin II – 1. Amir, 2. Rhea, 3. Norah, 4. Seth
  • Viola – 1. Katya, 2. Soren, 3. Reed, 4. Kenji
  • Cello – 1. Margaux, 2. Gavin, 3. Rowan
  • Bass – 1. Cyrus, 2. Colby

Updated Schedule

Thanks to the attentive person who discovered an error in my original schedule. The Monday Musical Club performance is on Monday, February 3. A corrected PDF is here. I’ve also removed the All Classical live radio show from October. We’re exploring a couple of other dates in November and March. I’ll keep you posted.

[9/12/24 UPDATE!! – We’re confirmed for Thursdays at 3 on November 21, 2024. I’ve updated the PDF schedule on the sidebar of this webpage and will send an e-mail]

New piece: Jai Ho by A. R. Rahman

  • We’ll bring hard copies of this new piece on Sunday. For the time being, please listen to the video linked below, and check our Online Library periodically for PDFs (they will be uploaded before the weekend). The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

2023-2024 Concerto Competition Winners

Hi everybody,

As I mentioned in rehearsal on Sunday, this year’s Concerto Competition was the most evenly competitive contest since I’ve been at MYS. Every single participant played extremely well, and it took the judges a long time to deliberate and make a final decision.

The winners and runner-up are below, along with their performance assignments.


Strings Category Winner: Ian Ko (cello)

  • Performs with Symphony Orchestra on March 3, 2024 (Lalo Cello Concerto, Mov 1)

Winds/Brass/Percussion/Piano Category Winner: Mia Hale (oboe)

  • Performs with Symphony Orchestra on June 16, 2024 (Ruth Gipps Oboe Concerto, Mov 1)

Overall Runner-Up: Margaux Hicks (cello)

  • Performs with Concert Orchestra on May 12, 2024 (Haydn Cello Concerto in C, Mov 1)

Again, congratulations to all, and please join me in celebrating all the participants and winners!

Best,

Dr. G.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, April 23 | MYS S.O.

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Plan for Sunday 4/23, 4pm-7pm

@ The Melody Event Center (615 SE Alder St., Portland OR)

(Percussionists: You’ll be with Kevin for half of the time)

  • 4:00pm-4:45pm – Stuppler
  • 4:45pm-5:30pm – Mayer
  • (break)
  • 5:45pm-7:00pm – Bernstein
    • Scherzo (m. 347 to m. 399)
    • Cool and Rumble (m. 581 to m. 812)

UPCOMING REHEARSAL CHANGES

Adding two rehearsal dates for strings

Based on how rehearsals have gone so far, we’re adding two rehearsal dates for strings. Both of these rehearsals will be at the MYS Office (4800 S Macadam Ave.), from 6:30pm to 9:00pm:

  • Tuesday, May 2nd, 6:30pm-9:00pm
  • Thursday, May 11th, 6:30pm-9:00pm

Time change for May 14th rehearsal

Because of an MYS Community Concert taking place on 5/14 at 4pm, we are moving Symphony Orchestra rehearsal to 7:00pm-9:30pm.

Concert week evening rehearsals will be at The Melody

Wednesday, 5/17 and Thursday, 5/18 rehearsals will be at The Melody.

UPDATED document with all current rehearsal information

All the changes outlined above are included in the document linked here.


Reference Recordings

MAYER:

BERNSTEIN:


Part Assignments

Part assignments for all pieces can be accessed here. Please let me know if you spot any errors. Assignments are subject to change.


Thank you, and see you Sunday 4/23!

Dr. G. 

Rehearsal Plan for 3/19 | MYS S.O.

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REHEARSAL PLAN FOR MARCH 19, 2023 (sectionals!)

@ The Melody

  • 4:00pm-4:55pm – tutti (see parts assignments for detailed instrumentation. No low brass for concertos — if you don’t play the concertos you can come at 5pm)
    • Mozart Piano Concerto
    • Beethoven Piano Concerto
  • 5:05pm-5:55pm – sectionals (Faust Overture)
    • Violins & violas with me
    • Cellos & basses with David Eby
    • Winds and brass with Tristan Weitkamp
  • 6:05pm-7:00pm – sectionals (Faust Overture)
    • All strings with me
    • Woodwinds with Karen Wagner
    • Brass with JáTtik Clark

Part Assignments

I’m waiting on “leadership auditions” to create Bernstein assignments. Assignments for Faust Overture and the piano concertos can be accessed here.


LEADERSHIP AUDITIONS (optional) due March 24

I will hold voluntary leadership auditions this term for principal chairs. Record a video of 2 minutes (minimum) of your best playing. Any repertoire. Send to me directly by e-mail.


ADD ALL REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES to your calendar!

Go to our full season schedule here. Please mark your calendars very carefully for this term. Please note our weeknight and Saturday rehearsals on concert week.


Thank you, and see you Sunday!

Dr. G. 

12/4 Rehearsal Plan | MYS S.O.

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Hi everybody! I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. I very much look forward to seeing you all this coming Sunday (12/4), at our regular venue and rehearsal time.

We have a little bit of catching up to do, as we missed our 11/20 rehearsal. Below is our rehearsal plan.


Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, 12/4

(percussion: click here to check your plan on our “MYS Percussion Corner”)

  • Debrief about 11/13 concert
  • Read Margot Pullen’s 2nd draft (for March 5 concert)
  • Watch Eric Carle short films (for January 8 concert)

— break —

  • Project Back Pocket!! (2 volunteers)
  • Read through Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Read through Wallace and Gromit
  • Read through “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “The Mixed-Up Chameleon”

REMINDER: don’t forget to practice what we did in the last rehearsal during the first half of your week. Then, after Tuesday, you can focus on what we’re doing at the next rehearsal.


Part Assignments

Click here to go to the blog post that contains part assignments for our January 8 concert


TRIPLE-CHECK WEEKNIGHT REHEARSAL DATES/TIMES!!

Go to our full season schedule here, and please make sure you can make the additional rehearsals on January 5, 6 and 7.


Thank you, and happy practicing!

Dr. G.