Beyond the Rehearsal Room

I wanted to go back to why we play chamber music. It's a social event. People used to get together and play in chamber salons.

Sometimes, when we're with our instruments, they can become a hindrance. We can get too involved with the intricate technical aspects and start to feel a bit of anxiety.

A Different Approach

So, I thought that perhaps the students could:

• Take away their instruments
• Get together on a social occasion outside of a rehearsal room
• Look at the score in a different way

They could sing their parts. They can get back to the rawness of the inner voice, the human voice. They could perhaps walk around and feel the pulse together.

Mapping the Music

They could map out where they're going within the structure of the music. In the Beethoven Piano Trio, we have:

• An exposition
• A development
• A recapitulation

Are the exposition and recapitulation different in emotion? Are they trying to say something?

• Is one more final?
• Is one more questionable?

They could also explore the emotions they want to transmit within the music. This might differ in the concert hall or performance situation.

The Power of Imagination

I love working with young people because they're very alive with their imaginations. Perhaps they could get together and think of a silent movie.

Every dynamic has a meaning behind it. They need to be so convincing to lift the notes and make them dance off the page, transmitting it to the audience.

Enjoying the Process

So, it's got to be fun.

The students can get together, have a giggle, and get to know each other and their personalities. They can be more sensitive and negotiate with each other, creating magic as a group.