High School Symphony Orchestra

September 10th, 2019

Investigation:

I have been with the middle school and high school symphony orchestra, as a cellist, since grade 8 in UWC. I have also played the cello in the orchestra at my old school from grade 6 to 8. I really like to play the cello and really like to play as a group in an orchestra, where we play a range of pieces from classical to modern to scene (movie) music. I want to continue playing the cello but also have aims of possibly playing the double bass on some occasions as we are missing a double bassist in our orchestra. I have skills in both these instruments which I can develop through the orchestra and work with the orchestra to develop my music skills.

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September 17th 2019

Preparation: 

In today’s session, we started looking and playing Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson which is a Christmas song which will be perfect for our Wavelengths concert in December. This is a string double bass part below which I will be playing which gives me a chance to try something new and jazzier with the double bass. This will be a new skill that I may be able to transfer to a possible chance at the Jazz band. In this session, we clarified our different roles as different musicians playing different instruments to practise at home and be able to play without sight-reading so we can improve as an ensemble, not as individual players.

#LO2

———————————————————————————————–September 27th, 2019

CAS Audio Conversation Reflection

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We’ve been working on a new piece which is Kashmir by Led Zepplin, which may seem unusual for an orchestra to play (as it is a rock song and not the more usual classical music piece) but it actually works. In this piece, I have to work around the rhythm and the notes are not too hard (I actually almost just play the D note in this piece) and listening to the other players. This will be a quite interesting piece to listen too and although I have a quite an easy part, it will still be fun to play this piece and something different as well.


November 26th, 2019,

Despite my skateboarding injury, I can still play, and it is getting better. We have been working on a new piece called Glow, and it is from Disney World of Colour Winters which will go nicely with our winter theme in the concert. This is a relatively easy piece despite being in B major (meaning lots of sharps so like black keys on a piano) and we are working with the choir in this piece. So it is a great learning opportunity to play music along with a choir which I actually haven’t done. It is both a new and familiar learning piece. The human voice is a special “instrument” so it is quite unfamiliar and new in that sense. So playing music to fit harmonically is a bit of a stretch, however, the same principle of listening to other players and one’s own in an orchestra is essentially the same thing. So that is a skill I am developing through the partnership with the choir in this piece, as shown below.

#LO2


December 18th 2019

Action:

Today I had my concert where I played the three pieces: Kashmir, Sleigh Ride and Glow. We had two dress rehearsal before the concert, one on Saturday last week and one on Tuesday of that week. From my point of view, the concert went really well, not only our performance but all the other performances including jazz band, Sonos (singers), marimba, samba and more. This year, the concert was quite unusual this year where instead of a traditional formal concert, there were a lot of unusual acts along with the music. For instance, the circus club performed with the middle school orchestra, there was salsa dancing in the jazz band, solo performances, and for the first time, we played along with singers in the string ensemble. Also, not to mention that the pieces we played in the orchestra were very untraditional, and not classical. We played a quite a jazzy Christmas piece and a rock piece along with drums, electric bass guitar and electric guitar. There were no classical pieces either.

 

More evidence (more?)

 


December 19th 2019

Reflection and Demonstration:

The concert went really well even if I made a few minor mistakes in playing, but luckily in an ensemble, it is barely noticeable. However, since the double bass is a relatively new instrument and I’m the only one, it does require me to really focus and the double bass is sort of like the rhythm and I guess engine of an ensemble so I have to keep it steady. Also, playing more vibratos and better bowing will be things I will be working towards next year and next year’s concert in March.

It has been really fun to work with the ensemble and the concert was both amazing and fun to perform in. By trusting that others in an ensemble will practice and have as much fun as you have, it can create a really exciting and great performance.

#LO1, #LO4, #LO5


February 13th, 2020

In the Symphony Orchestra, we have started two new pieces, of them is the Greatest Showman which we will play together with the Middle School Orchestra and the other a Brahms piece (the fourth symphony). His piece is from the Romantic classical period, so for a double bassist, the pieces may be difficult with difficult rhythms and melodic harmonies that are similar to a cello solo or violin melody. So this will be something to work on. In addition, we have tried playing a few theme songs from Lord of the Rings and the Firebird by Igor Stravinsky. These have been more sight-reading practices. I am not too bad a sight-reading, but when it is with difficult rhythms and high notes, especially on a relatively new instrument like the Double Bass, it will be challenging. However, I am committed and these are great practices, that can even help with other instruments I play like the piano. Despite this, I also think that being able to hear and interpret music is also important, and not just reading exactly what is on the page. Sort of like poetry, interpret the meaning or theme or idea that the poet is trying to convey.

Today, I have also been fortunate to practice with the Jazz band, on a piece called the Sunny Side of the Street. This is a relatively easy piece because it is a solo and there is a rigid form (of course I can add some improvisation). Also, instead of only giving the loos skeleton structure and having to create a bass line or walking bass line, I can follow the notes given as shown below similar to any other piece I play in the orchestra or Chamber Ensemble. So I guess it is an easy start however, I will working on a few bass solos and perhaps do some improvising but still largely keeping to the written notes on the sheet. This sort of music is meant to be exact and not laid back, pieces during this era usually kept at the same pace and with precision and tightness (not quick agitated ones but full and concise ones) on notes.

#LO4, #LO2, #LO1


14th June 2020

Almost nothing has happened in terms of orchestral music but I have continued my learning of the double bass and other instruments at home. For instance, instead of partaking in an ensemble with others, I did it myself through an app called Acapella. I have recorded many jazz pieces by playing the piano, double bass, guitar and since I have an electric piano, saxophone and drum kits sound as well. Even if I am not actually playing these instruments like the sax or drums or trumpets, or just brass and wind instruments in general, I have developed an appreciation and some knowledge in the ways they replayed in an ensemble. What I mean is that for an instant the sax usually plays the melody or improvises and solo, the drums provide the backbone of the piece and I have learnt a few jazz and R&B type beats and so on. I have played Green Onions, All of Me, In the Mood, Blue Bossa, Autumn Leaves and more. So this has been a fantastic experience to develop and improve on the strengths that I have in many areas of music and musical instruments.

I will certainly partake in the symphony orchestra next year, most likely playing the double bass but perhaps the cello in some cases. It has been a great chance to continue the orchestral journey I have had since middle school across two different schools. I absolutely love the experiences I have had and there are a few sentimental feelings in playing in the ensembles as I have played in them for so long and have always been enjoyable. I have improved my skills in new instruments and improved my listening skills as well. I will be grateful for the experiences I have had in the symphony orchestra.

#LO1, #LO4

22nd September 2020

I had my first orchestral session today as I was sick last week and I am quite excited about this piece. Like last year it has elements of jazz (The piece is neo-classical but has elements of jazz and 20th-century music styles). So the real difficulty I have had is switching from the thinking in the emphasis on beats 1 and 3 to 2 and 4. Sometimes it is really difficult to get that pattern but once it is set it becomes second nature. It is sort of like flying to another country and adapting to the new time zone, so I am switching my inner clock to another style. My aim in this year’s orchestral session is really to have fun, it is my last year here and I want to make most of it. I love playing music so orchestral pieces will be fun and hopefully, I can spread that joy in performances if that will be allowed of course due to Covid-19.

#LO1, #LO4

24th November 2020

We had a recording session of the piece above which was exciting and great. I made a few mistakes (with the rhythm) so I think that my goal for future pieces is to really work with the rhythm as that is often the most difficult part of a music piece for me. It is nearing the end of the year and we have just been practising a few Christmas music that we will record for the younger students at our school. Next year, we will start more classical pieces of music and although it is nearing the end, the symphony orchestra has truly been a great experience and I will miss playing with a big, talented group. I am also grateful that I have been able to challenge myself with the double bass. I hope that in the future, perhaps during my time in university, I will still be able to practice music and play in some sort of band or orchestra because it has really been a fascinating and exciting experience throughout my time here but also at other schools. I was quite fortunate in grade 6 in my old school because we all had to play an instrument and in the school orchestra. I realised how much I really enjoy playing music so I am really grateful for that experience at my old school.