The Milan Lectures, part 3 David Whitwell On the origins of Symbols for Dynamics Here we discuss the symbols for dynamics used in the notation of music—the lower case p
Category: Conducting
Where does Music exist?Where does Music exist?
The Milan Lectures, part 2 David Whitwell Where does Music Exist? In the first lecture in this series I mentioned that Aristotle invented a new branch of philosophy called Aesthetics.
What is the purpose of performance?What is the purpose of performance?
The Milan Lectures, part 1 David Whitwell What is the Purpose of Performance? This is a very important decision for which every conductor must make a choice in preparing a
A Cheat’s Guide to Score MemorizationA Cheat’s Guide to Score Memorization
Music is a special language for communicating feeling. Your job as the conductor is to work out what the composer felt, not what they wrote. There is no music in
How to teach emotionHow to teach emotion
Music is a special language to communicate feeling. All aspects of music performance—composing, repertoire selection, programming, rehearsal technique, conducting and baton technique, recording—should stem from this fundamental truth. Unfortunately, when
The aesthetic challenge for the wind band in the futureThe aesthetic challenge for the wind band in the future
The wind band could perform a great public service in bringing aesthetic repertoire to an audience which has little access to it.
On some problems in performanceOn some problems in performance
Considerations for the future of wind bands, part 3 First we must redefine the word “Music.” Music is something which happens live before a listener. A recording of music is
The need to rethink how we teach musicThe need to rethink how we teach music
Music is a special language for communicating feeling or emotions to the listener. We all understand this, but we do not teach this.
The language of musicThe language of music
The great genetic role of the right hemisphere of the brain is what creates meaning in music and is what we mean by "musicality" in performance.
Considering the Future of the Italian Wind OrchestraConsidering the Future of the Italian Wind Orchestra
The choice of every conductor is to be either an entertainer or a source of uplifting and enlightening the audience. This choice will determine the cultural identity of bands in