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.