Follow my leader! A fun game
With
Annabel ThwaiteAnnabel explains how a simple game can help each member break free and feel how their playing influences the ensemble as a whole.
What's in the course
8 lessons (0h 26m) · 1 free
01. Introduction to Annabel and developing a pre-formed chamber group
Free lesson1:52
02. The complete sound (the invisible group member)
3:34
03. Body language
3:50
04. The importance of breath
3:34
05. Follow my leader! A fun game
You are here4:12
06. Studying the score
4:11
07. A Musical Conversation and Pareto's Law
2:51
08. Beyond the rehearsal room
2:21
Lesson transcript
Follow My Leader
So this next topic I've named Follow My Leader. It's a little bit of a game. It might raise a few eyebrows, but it's supposed to be a chance for each member of the group to kind of try the experience of being the leader.
Group Dynamics
- There might be one member in the group who is more used to being a soloist, and there might be somebody who's less used to being a soloist and perhaps is a little bit nervous.
- The whole point is, like we talked about with interpretations, is that you've got to be convincing with what you do.
Exploring Beethoven
I'm going to allow this group to take a passage from this Beethoven trio. Hopefully, you're not just tuning in and thinking, What is she doing?
- They're going to just...
- I'm going to allow them to completely break free from the reigns of the classical called Beethoven repertoire.
- We're going to completely explore contrasting dynamics, tempo, articulation, anything you want.
It's got to be completely extreme. So, we're going to have a leader, and then the other two have to follow.
Demonstration
I'm going to demonstrate first. So if I can just have a go.
- We're going to go from two bars before B.
- S.A., lovely! Thank you!
I know it wasn't very together, but as for my experience, I had to be even more convincing to make Emily latch on to answer my melody, which I didn't feel.
- Perhaps I didn't give enough impetus to her the first time, but then she did catch on the second time.
Nikki, do you want to have a go?
- Be as daring as you possibly can.
- Lovely! Great! Well done, guys!
Bringing It Together
Now I'm going to allow them to actually put it back together, and hopefully this will have created a sense of awareness.
- They've locked into each other.
- They're probably thinking, What's she doing? Oh, she's going to do this next!
But now we're in the constraints of Beethoven.
- We're in a regular pulse, we're in a regular tempo, and then you can just create that little bit of ingredient, that little bit of magic if that's what you'd like to do.
In performance, there might be a few stressful times for the pianist, cellist, or violinist.
- It's when the group comes together to support each other.
- It's like being the reins on a horse.
If it's going to suddenly start galloping off, we want to rein it in just to a canter.
- I'm not an equestrian, but anyway, let's have a go at two before B.
- Norma, S.A.
8 lessons
0h 26m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Recognised as one of Britain's most versatile and charismatic pianists, Annabel Thwaite enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, educator and examiner, and has won all the major accompanying prizes, including the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier, Gold Medal, and Richard Tauber Piano Prizes. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel, David Kempster and "Only Men Aloud!"
Annabel has recorded for Universal records with the "Scottish Tenor", whose album was nominated for a Classical Brit Award and is regularly played on Classic FM. Twice the accompanist for the Festival of Welsh Male choirs, her performances at the Royal Albert Hall were recorded by Sain and have been aired on S4C. She is also a film session pianist, having recorded at Abbey Road the music for the film "Awake", the BBC Jane Austen series "Emma", "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister" and, most recently, she has appeared on both Blue Peter and "The Rob Brydon Show".
"...no doubt helped by the obviously brilliant piano accompaniments from Annabel Thwaite...highly enjoyable."
In her MusicGurus courses - Learn Christmas Classics on Piano, Learn Classical Favourites on Piano, and Growing Chamber Groups and Small Ensembles - Annabel shares the musicianship behind that versatile career. You will learn how to bring well-loved Christmas and classical pieces to life at the piano, develop your touch and phrasing, and, drawing on her award-winning experience as an accompanist, discover how to listen, lead and play together when making music with other musicians in chamber groups and small ensembles.
