Scene 10: #4; in class and at home videos

Scene 10: #4; in class and at home videos

In Class Video (This isn't t of my stand, because my phone was dead, but Rebecca sent me her video:)):

At home Video:

Nutcracker Blog post Scene 8: 86A to 89 and Scene 13: 2 measures before 56

Nutcracker Blog Posts

Nutcracker Scene 8: 86 A to 89

This post, I think, is a lot better than my previous post.  I was able to speed up the tempo and I was a lot more in tune.  On the contrary, there are still some areas that I will continue to work on, such as the measure before 88, the notes and intonation.  To add on, I want to wok on adding more dynamics and using vibrato.
Nutcracker Scene 13: 2 Measures  before 56

I worked a lot on this section, but I need to work on getting a little bit faster and also need to make sure that the note g natural, in the measur before 56 isn't too high, and doesn't sound like a g sharp.

Scene 8 of the Nutcracker 86A to 88

Scene 8 of the Nutcracker 86A to 88

Improvements

• In some parts my f natural on the e string was too high and I played more of an F sharp.
• The 32nd note part was ok, I spent A LOT of time on it, but it still wasn't all that great, and when I took it faster the intonation went down the drain, so working on intonation in that part.
• In some places my rythm was a little wierd, for example the last beat of the last measure was a little out of rythm.
• I also only played that at about 55 or something around there, but it needs to be at 60, so working on speeding the tempo up.
• The video quality was also not really good, because in some parts my bow sounded really squeaky.

Fall Concert 2015

Fall Concert Reflection 2015

Aniela Crayton

Thursday October 8th, 2015

Mr. Wolf

Symphony Orchestra B4

Things I Did Well-

• Musicality: This concert I really liked the music a lot, especially the Angel piece.  Due to that, I seemed to be more into the music and play it a lot more musically, and with more emotion. To add on, I also feel like because it was my first time playing with Symphony I was able to feed off of others musical ideas and learn from them.
• Cuing: Last year I didn't cu very much, and had a harder time staying with those around me. On the contrary this year everyone around me was cuing and so it was easier to know when to cu, especially in the unfinished symphony during parts when we would pizzicato.
• Bow Usage:  Some parts of the piece, specifically measures 265-266 in the second movement I had to practice conserving enough bow.  I feel that practicing the scales with 8 and 12 notes per bow helped a lot!
• Rhythm: Some parts of this piece the rhythm was really difficult, but I felt that I did a pretty good job at nearing in on them as practicing them.
• Tone: As I practiced the piece more, I was able to improve my tone and become more confident.  During the concert, I felt very confident in many areas, the whole orchestra had a good tone in most of the piece, which also made it easier to be more confident, and have a good tone.

Things I Could Improve On-

• Memorizing more of the pieces: I felt that I had a good amount of the piece memorized, more than I did last year, but have more would have been helpful.  In some parts of the piece I would get lost, or off tempo, because I wasn't able to look up enough.  To improve for next concert I am going to make sure that I memorize the specific areas that I know I had trouble with.
• Better Intonation:  The unfinished symphony piece had a lot of accidentals, and many times I would miss some of them.  Especially during the 32nd notes I had a hard time getting the accidentals.  I can improve this by practicing passages with accidentals slowly, and then progressively speeding that passage up, while stilling making sure the notes are right, and in tune.
• Rhythm: Though the rhythm in both pieces weren't extremely difficult, there were a few passages in the unfinished symphony that I had trouble with.  For example the 2nd movement before B and E.  Sometimes I would lose track of where we were, and then in some areas the rhythm changed for one measure.
• Certain Techniques and Articulations: There was one specific area in the unfinished piece that I was not able to get.  It was the technique in measures 222-227 of the first movement f the unfinished symphony.  I practiced this technique a lot, but wasn't able to get it.  I feel that being able to play faster and practicing grace notes will help me master the technique used in those measures

Unfinished Piece by Franz Schubert 2nd Movement Letter E

Aniela Crayton

Monday September 14th, 2015

Symphony Orchestra B4

Unfinished Piece by Franz Schubert 2nd Movement Letter E

Video Link:

Areas For Improvement:

• The metronome is only at 76, so I am going to work on being able to play it faster.
• Some of the accidentals, like the F natural and D sharp at the end, are out of tune.
• In the sixteenth note part, I get a little a head of the metronome.
• Some of the f sharps are not high enough.

Final Concert Blog Reflection

Final Concert Blog Reflection:

• What I improved on:
• My intonation got a lot better, because I was able to learn all of my major scales and understand the different keys.
• My rhythm got better, I feel that I was able to maintain a steady tempo and interpreter the different rhythms, that maintain the writer's mood and theme.
• I became a lot more confident in my playing.  I belief the main reason for this is because I started taking private lessons.
• Finally, I believe that my tone improved.  This was mostly due to my increase in confidence.
• What I can improve on for next year:
• I still need to learn my minor scales, I will be continuing lessons, so that will hopefully be better by the time school starts.
• I would like to get my left hand to become faster, allowing me to play at faster tempos and shift faster and more accurately.
• Finally, I would like to be able to play more artistically.  For example be able to do more artistic things with my right hand.
• I did the actual concert reflection with Tess, Varsha, Carmen, and Eliana on a video.  I believe that the video is on Tess' blog.

Symphony Audition Scales

Symphony Audition Scales:
A Flat Major:

 

G Flat Major:





B Major:

D Major:



G Major:



There are only major scales on my blog because I have not yet learned minor scales.  I am taking private lessons right now, and will continue over the summer.  Therefore, I feel confident that I will be able to learn all of the minor scales by the time that school starts next year.

Thank you so much for you time,

Aniela Crayton

Symphony Audition Pieces

Symphony Audition Pieces:
Concertino in G Major:

I only played to about two minuets
Both Excerpts:

A flat Major Scale:

D flat Major Scale:

I have not learned any of my minor scales, but I will be taking private lessons over the summer (and after that), so if I can learn all the major scales in 3 months, I think I can learn the minor scales over the summer!

Festival Reflection Tuesday March 17th 2015

Festival Reflection

1.  Dies Irae: Fantasia

• Not together in the beginning from 3-7.
• 13-17 1st and 2nds could be more together.
• Good dynamic contrast at 26.
• 1st pretty good at 37 (tone and intonation).
• Rushed some at about 59.
• Good intonation and tone from 51-67.
• 80 needs work, sections were not together.
• The ending was super good and came to a climax.
• We were pretty together through the whole piece.
• Violas were really good at 67, also at slowing the whole orchestra done at 65-67.
• Some rushing on whole and half notes.
• Some intonation issues still, especially sharps and flats.
• Some parts the pitch lacked.
• Good dynamic changes.
• Violins good shifts.

2. Andante Feativo

• Some intonation issues.
• 1st violins missed the 4th finger hits position
• Fairly good dynamic contrast
• Together through most of the piece
• Not that bad of a 4th finger in 4th position.
• Good job on the memo part where 1st shift down to 1st position, we remembered the sharps and flats.
• Intonation gets better through the piece.
• Sounds very good between sections, we collaborated very well.
• He ending was a little wired on the cut of of the measure before the last.
• Need to watch Mr. Wolf more.
• Sometimes it was super musical and everyone fit together, but sometimes not so much, we gave it a tuff sound when it should have been pretty, and not everyone was together in dynamics and style.
• Intonation was a major issue through the piece.
• Pretty strong opening.
• We had a hard time transitioning between the fast upbeat piece of Fantasia and the slow, soft, pretty piece of Andante Festivo.
• The 1st violins were slightly overwhelming, could also be the speakers though, but still....
• Rushing in the beginning.
• Not a very good balance between sections, 1st violins need to blend with others.
• 1st violins, especially need to do a lot more vibrato.
• Bring out ending more.
• VIBRATO
• Don't cut a note short, all notes should be connected, don't rush on the 4th beat.
• All ways 4th finger no open E.
• Never go 4th finger then shift up and play 4th finger.
• Section leaders and others, use body language, to stay together.

3. Red Gully

• The beginning was a little out of tone.
• Nice full tone at 25 and Rythms like it.
• The long slow part for 1st violins could have been pretty.
• The 16th notes sounded rushed and not fully understood or stable.
• At 71 not together on the 8th notes.
• 75-76 sounded really cool
• 81 sounded pretty good.
• Pretty could rythms, but in the beginning it was a little not together.
• The ending sounded really good and rang
• The beginning was sold, and so was the end, but the middle was bad.
• The high second finger needs more tuning.
• Don't over play, don't over accent, just under accent other parts.
• Good style.

4. Overarching

• Need to improve

- Intonation: Affects our confidence, we back down

-Confidence: We cannot back done if we feel unsure.

-Rythm: Sometimes sections aren't together with other sections, which sounds bad.  Also, if we look at Mr. Wolf more it will be better.

-Balance: Sometimes certain sections overplay other sections and take away.

• Strength

-Musical Interpretation: Makes the piece tell a story and become more lively.
-Bowing: Most bowings were together, which helps keep each section together.
-Style: Most sections were together on style, which also makes us stay together.
-Tone: In most places we maintained a fairly good tone.