A musical update
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One of the things I've missed since covid is music parties and playing with other musicians. Since moving to this town in summer 2023, I have had a hard time finding a music community to get connected to. Which sort of surprised me because my uni has a massive (and highly regarded) music school. But I'm finally starting to make those connections!
So here are two updates:
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I found a woman who teaches strings and runs an adult string orchestra, and with her help, I found a cellist. We are meeting tomorrow for the first time. We're planning to work on two pieces tomorrow. I'm super excited!!
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My piano teacher put me in touch with a local group that puts on several concerts a year at a retirement center, so they invited me to play in their November concert. Yay! It's late November, so I'm currently trying to settle on what to play. I can do up to 15 minutes of music. They also have an Oct. concert, that was too soon for me but I'm going to attend and see how it's set up, meet the organizer etc. Hopefully it goes well, and when I play in Nov. I'm not so terrible that they don't want me to come back!
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Sounds like fun! Do you think the retirement center folks would enjoy a piece or two from the Great American Songbook? How would you feel about a sing-along?
@wtg said in A musical update:
Do you think the retirement center folks would enjoy a piece or two from the Great American Songbook?
Possibly, but I am going to play something from my active and/or in-progress repertoire.
My impression is that most of the attendees are retired uni faculty (this is not a "nursing home" in the traditional sense, as I understand it) and I think most of the time, the concert programs are very traditional classical, so again, this is my current understanding, but that's what they'll probably be expecting.
I am attending the Oct. concert next week, so hopefully I'll get a good idea of the way it goes.
But having said that, I will be playing pieces I'm working on, regardless.
@wtg said in A musical update:
How would you feel about a sing-along?
I would be find accompanying myself singing, I used to do that a fair amount although it's been years since I've worked on anything vocal. But I don't think I would be comfortable playing and having the attendees sing, not in the foreseeable future. Not my current skill set.
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@CHAS said in A musical update:
Thanks for posting your piano news. It encourages (enables?) me.
Whatever works!
What are you playing/working on these days?
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@wtg your post got me thinking more about playing at the retirement center… in terms of the question of “who this event is for”… Is it for them, the audience? Or for us, the musicians? Because that might inform how one chooses ones pieces. The impression I got from my piano teacher is that the performers generally use these concerts to prep for recitals and performances they're doing as part of the music degrees. (IOW, are they treating the concerts as if they were for the musicians rather than the audience?)
Anyway, presumably, in your post, you were thinking about what kind of music would be enjoyable, and accessible, to that particular audience, whereas I was thinking "what am I ready to play, what am I interested in playing..."
I don't know, but as I think I said, I'll attend the Oct. concert there next week, so hopefully that will give me an idea.
But ultimately, I'm not going to be able to "take requests" or play pieces that are wildly different from what I normally play. (And my practice time is too limited to include pieces that I'm not actively interested in)
So hopefully it's not a totally mismatch for me to play there...
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@wtg your post got me thinking more about playing at the retirement center… in terms of the question of “who this event is for”… Is it for them, the audience? Or for us, the musicians? Because that might inform how one chooses ones pieces. The impression I got from my piano teacher is that the performers generally use these concerts to prep for recitals and performances they're doing as part of the music degrees. (IOW, are they treating the concerts as if they were for the musicians rather than the audience?)
Anyway, presumably, in your post, you were thinking about what kind of music would be enjoyable, and accessible, to that particular audience, whereas I was thinking "what am I ready to play, what am I interested in playing..."
I don't know, but as I think I said, I'll attend the Oct. concert there next week, so hopefully that will give me an idea.
But ultimately, I'm not going to be able to "take requests" or play pieces that are wildly different from what I normally play. (And my practice time is too limited to include pieces that I'm not actively interested in)
So hopefully it's not a totally mismatch for me to play there...
Yes, I was assuming it was a very senior crowd. Of course my definition of "very senior" is in flux as I get older.
You mentioned that you thought the previous events were along classical lines, which is something I hadn't considered. They might be doing a more formal "concert" rather than a casual, more social gathering. If that's the expectation then my suggestions aren't really relevant.
And I was pretty vague in my description...just to clarify and throw out some ideas...
I wasn't thinking you'd do an "on request" type of performance, but maybe more along the lines of a few well-known songs that you had prepared and could invite the audience to sing if they wanted to. If you didn't want to carry the burden of singing, maybe you could find a singer (either someone you schlep along or you recruit at the retirement center) whom you would accompany and could lead the group. Or just instrumental, no vocals.
Or you could play some of the music that you are working on, like some Einaudi, and incorporate or end with a popular song or two to mix things up.
Anyway, you'll know a lot more when you attend the October event. And I'm sure you'll do a great job. It's so nice that you're volunteering to do this. I can tell you based on the events I attended over several years at the place my Mom was that the residents really appreciate musical events, both concerts (which used to be held in the very large chapel) or smaller functions that were in a gathering area in her residential unit.
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Yes, I was assuming it was a very senior crowd. Of course my definition of "very senior" is in flux as I get older.
You mentioned that you thought the previous events were along classical lines, which is something I hadn't considered. They might be doing a more formal "concert" rather than a casual, more social gathering. If that's the expectation then my suggestions aren't really relevant.
And I was pretty vague in my description...just to clarify and throw out some ideas...
I wasn't thinking you'd do an "on request" type of performance, but maybe more along the lines of a few well-known songs that you had prepared and could invite the audience to sing if they wanted to. If you didn't want to carry the burden of singing, maybe you could find a singer (either someone you schlep along or you recruit at the retirement center) whom you would accompany and could lead the group. Or just instrumental, no vocals.
Or you could play some of the music that you are working on, like some Einaudi, and incorporate or end with a popular song or two to mix things up.
Anyway, you'll know a lot more when you attend the October event. And I'm sure you'll do a great job. It's so nice that you're volunteering to do this. I can tell you based on the events I attended over several years at the place my Mom was that the residents really appreciate musical events, both concerts (which used to be held in the very large chapel) or smaller functions that were in a gathering area in her residential unit.
Ok, so I probably should have done this right away, but after reading your latest post, I googled. (duh)
This place is a "senior living community" and it looks like they have mixed offerings, i.e., maybe 75-80% are apartments (totally independent living) and then some living spaces for people who need more direct assistance. They have an events calendar and there are lots of musical events happening regularly, some look fairly formal and classical (like a clarinet recital). I think there's a dedicated room for those concerts. So IOW, the concert I'll play isn't like a piano in the middle of a cafeteria...
@wtg said in A musical update:
It's so nice that you're volunteering to do this.
Yeah, so now I feel sheepish.
because I'm not sure this is an accurate characterization of what I'll be doing. This opportunity arose because I've been talking with my teacher about finding opportunities to play/perform and to connect with other musicians, so he connected me to a group that does regular concerts here. They do put out a call for musicians, but my original aim wasn't "where can I volunteer to do something helpful" but rather "how can I find opportunities to make music with other people."
(we need that "leaving" emoji from old WTF)
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I attended several concerts at the facility where I was recovering from my knee issues in their skilled nursing facility. The same place also housed a senior living segment and those residents were the main audience for the concerts.
In my opinion, at least some of the people in those facilities welcome any opportunity for social engagement and listening to a performance. You are unlikely to encounter many critics. Your attendance at someone else's concert will give you more to consider.
During my mother's last years, she resided in an assisted living/nursing home where I would visit her. I'm frankly a very poor pianist, but she still liked to hear me play. I usually brought some volume of popular songs or made use of some hymnal already there to play for her on a piano in a lobby. Sometimes, we'd attract a couple of other listeners.
I think you will enjoy the experience and find a most receptive audience for whatever you choose to play. Don't overthink this.
Big Al
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I attended several concerts at the facility where I was recovering from my knee issues in their skilled nursing facility. The same place also housed a senior living segment and those residents were the main audience for the concerts.
In my opinion, at least some of the people in those facilities welcome any opportunity for social engagement and listening to a performance. You are unlikely to encounter many critics. Your attendance at someone else's concert will give you more to consider.
During my mother's last years, she resided in an assisted living/nursing home where I would visit her. I'm frankly a very poor pianist, but she still liked to hear me play. I usually brought some volume of popular songs or made use of some hymnal already there to play for her on a piano in a lobby. Sometimes, we'd attract a couple of other listeners.
I think you will enjoy the experience and find a most receptive audience for whatever you choose to play. Don't overthink this.
Big Al
That sounds like it must have been lovely, @Big_Al
@Big_Al said in A musical update:
Don't overthink this
This is always good advice!
I would love to be able play while people sing Christmas carols.... my sightreading has improved over the years, maybe that's something I could do in the future with less prep than I anticipated...
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Was told by a member of the Tucson banjo group that some of the people in that nursing home had responded to nothing for a very long time. Those people responded to the banjo and they seemed to smile.
Go and play. I suspect the louder the better. You will be appreciated. -
In case anyone is curious, here are the pieces I'm thinking I'll play (I say thinking bc I still might tweak the selection, but I'm 90% decided)
Obviously, these are performances by the original composers, my performance will be.... not this good.
This is about 14 minutes of music, I think.
- Moment by Alexis Ffrench Link to video
- September Song by Alexis Ffrench Link to video
- Reminiscence by Takashi Kako (this link is cued so it should start at 1:40, which is where this piece starts) Link to video
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Well, shoot. I was planning to attend a concert this evening at the location where I'll plan next month, it's organized by the same group. But several of the performers cancelled at the last minute, so the concert itself has been canceled.
That means I won't be able to see the venue and see how the concert is run before playing myself. Also, it makes me worry about whether the Nov. one is at risk of being canceled.
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Well, shoot. I was planning to attend a concert this evening at the location where I'll plan next month, it's organized by the same group. But several of the performers cancelled at the last minute, so the concert itself has been canceled.
That means I won't be able to see the venue and see how the concert is run before playing myself. Also, it makes me worry about whether the Nov. one is at risk of being canceled.
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@ShiroKuro
Can you find out why the others cancelled? -
@ShiroKuro
Can you find out why the others cancelled?@CHAS said in A musical update:
Can you find out why the others cancelled?
Probably but I don't want to bother the organizer too much.
I suspect that maybe some of them are sick, and others maybe just weren't ready (they're college students in the music program here). It sounds like this concert had a smaller number of performers to begin with, so maybe the Nov. concert will be ok since there are more people on the program...
