great workshop at NEC
I took the Thoughts on Tone Production workshop with Gabriel Bolkosky at the MA Suzuki Fest at New England Conservatory a few weeks back. What a great musician. I would definitely like to study with him sometime.
There were two things in his presentation that really stuck with me.
One was a metaphor that he used:
“You can’t cram on the farm.”
He went on to make the analogy that like a farmer can’t rush a crop out at the last minute, we can’t rush things into a ready state in our musical preparation either.
When my church asked me to play some solo music for the Maundy Thursday service I was really excited. “I’ll play some solo cello rep.” But, as I got closer to the date, I realized, “geez, I’m not too comfortable with any of that rep right now”. Truthfully, I haven’t been working on any of it. I’ve been working hard on trio and quartet rep, and there’s only so much you can do.
So, rather than try to rush anything out, I thought, “well, I’ve been playing tons of gamba rep”, so rather than stress the gig, I called up my consort-mate Tom and we’re going to play some simple Lassus duets, and a Bach chorale that I know very well.
Another thing that he mentioned is taking full responsibility for the sounds you produce. Constantly monitoring your tone, intonation, bowing, etc, and taking full responsibility at all times for producing the best sound you possibly can. I think that’s just great.
I’m currently playing on an amazing cello, a Jay Haide, which has amazing tone, but when I’m playing my upright bass (which is plywood), I’m too often not taking responsibility for producing better tone. I’ll just say in my head, “well, this bass just has no good tone in it, so that’s that”. In fact, the analogy I often use is that my bass is like eating a cardboard pizza box when you were expecting pizza. But, that approach really doesn’t move me along as a player. My bass can sound better, I can always produce better tone on it. (Although on the other hand, the experience of renting the Jay Haide has made me consider renting a decent bass at Rutman’s, because the Haide just responds and has so much tone potential, it’s really exciting right now. )
Anyway, Gabriel Bolkosky was very inspiring. Definitely check out his playing at http://www.gabrielbolkosky.com
bentorrey :: Apr.17.2009 :: Musical Thoughts :: 1 Comment »
Well, yes and no.
I definitely agree that a farmer can’t rush his crops. But his final outcome is determined to a large part by the climate, the soil, the pests, etc. Preparation and cultivation take time, patience and hard work.
With that, I think our instruments do have some degree of influence over our sound. You plywood bass may never attain the tonal qualities of the Jay Haide, regardless of whose hands it’s in or how skillfully it is played.
I’d also add that, despite our limitations, our efforts at mastery never fall on barren soil. I bet you sound better on that thing than you give yourself credit for. And it has served you well for….how long?