Our First Read
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 - When we first played this song....it was a mess. I do not think that many of us understood how our rhythms went, and we weren't sure about what the tempo should have been. I noticed that I have lip slurs (A to E) at measures 11-18, 23-35, 99-106, and 115-117. The lip slurs are more difficult than I had first imagined; I was unable to play the notes quickly and loudly. At measures 143-150, there are eighth notes that I have seen before (my freshman year) and I was unable to play them quickly and accurately. I hope that this song turns out to be one of our best because I have loved this song for years, and I have always wanted to be able to play it.
Once in Royal David's City - When we first played this song, it wasn't bad for the first time through. Sadly, we failed to apply the key signature changes. I accidentally skipped the change at measure 21, and before I noticed it, we were almost at measure 37. The first time signature messed us up a bit, but after that, we figured it out. I think that once we start doing detail work, this will be a great song!
Rejoice the Season! - Well...I tried. Just as we were about to play the song, I forgot how the beginning was supposed to sound. I don't know how, but I couldn't think of it quickly enough. Once I was able to find where we were (measure 4) I decided to play an F (only to find out later that I was going to be playing an A since there was a divide). After the divide, I was unable to play my sixteenth notes at measure 4. At measure 24, I was not able to play the high E (it sounded more like a C) but I will continue to work on it. Like most songs on the first full reading, our dynamics were almost non-existent, and our tempo was not held.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Concert Medley - It wasn't terrible. I thought that measures 1-5 sounded nice, and so did measures 76-83. I missed some of the accidentals (oops) but I was able to play most of them. Measures 22-28 were a nightmare for me, since I wasn't sure how I was supposed to play it, or how it was supposed to sound. Although I don't play at measures 31-39, I couldn't tell that it was supposed to sound like "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". "Welcome Christmas" is my favorite part of the song, mainly because it is easy for me to play, and it sounds quite pretty.
Once in Royal David's City - When we first played this song, it wasn't bad for the first time through. Sadly, we failed to apply the key signature changes. I accidentally skipped the change at measure 21, and before I noticed it, we were almost at measure 37. The first time signature messed us up a bit, but after that, we figured it out. I think that once we start doing detail work, this will be a great song!
Rejoice the Season! - Well...I tried. Just as we were about to play the song, I forgot how the beginning was supposed to sound. I don't know how, but I couldn't think of it quickly enough. Once I was able to find where we were (measure 4) I decided to play an F (only to find out later that I was going to be playing an A since there was a divide). After the divide, I was unable to play my sixteenth notes at measure 4. At measure 24, I was not able to play the high E (it sounded more like a C) but I will continue to work on it. Like most songs on the first full reading, our dynamics were almost non-existent, and our tempo was not held.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Concert Medley - It wasn't terrible. I thought that measures 1-5 sounded nice, and so did measures 76-83. I missed some of the accidentals (oops) but I was able to play most of them. Measures 22-28 were a nightmare for me, since I wasn't sure how I was supposed to play it, or how it was supposed to sound. Although I don't play at measures 31-39, I couldn't tell that it was supposed to sound like "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". "Welcome Christmas" is my favorite part of the song, mainly because it is easy for me to play, and it sounds quite pretty.
First Impressions
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 - When first looking at this, I am very nervous about the amount of measures (175). I am nervous that I will become very tired during this piece, or during the previous songs. Also, I am leery about the accidental that appear in measure 143, mainly because when I tried to play a song similar to this last year, I could not play the notes correctly! There are also high E's at measures 19-20, 69, 83-84, 87-88, 91-92, 95-96, and 118, which I have not been able to play well before, but I'll definitely try to work on those.
Once in Royal David's City - When looking at this song, it seems fairly easy. The time signature changes from 4 4 time, to 2 4 time, back to 4 4 time, at measures 18-20, 32-34, 43-45, 52-54. I don't think that the time signature changes should be a problem for us. One problem may be found with the key signature changes. From measures 1-20, my key signature is one flat; from measures 21-36, I have one sharp; and from measures 37-63, I have no sharps and no flats.
Rejoice the Season! - As I looked through this song, it seemed like it was going to be somewhat simple. At measures 24 and 30, I have a high E as a half note, followed by a high E as a quarter note, and two eighth notes (D and C#). I am just starting to be able to hold my high E's, so hopefully I will be able to play it well during the concert. At measures 4 and 107, I have four sixteenth notes (C, D, C, D) which I should hopefully be able to play.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Concert Medley - When I first looked through this, I did not recognize any of the songs (with the exception of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"). The rhythms at measures 22-28 and 84-86 look a little complicated, but I think I'll be able to figure them out soon. At measure six, we go from "Slowly" to "Lively", so I think that change may be a problem for us until we start detail work. My key signature is natural, but I have seen accidentals throughout the song (20, 21, 40, 41, 50, 52-54, 57-58, 72, and 75).
Once in Royal David's City - When looking at this song, it seems fairly easy. The time signature changes from 4 4 time, to 2 4 time, back to 4 4 time, at measures 18-20, 32-34, 43-45, 52-54. I don't think that the time signature changes should be a problem for us. One problem may be found with the key signature changes. From measures 1-20, my key signature is one flat; from measures 21-36, I have one sharp; and from measures 37-63, I have no sharps and no flats.
Rejoice the Season! - As I looked through this song, it seemed like it was going to be somewhat simple. At measures 24 and 30, I have a high E as a half note, followed by a high E as a quarter note, and two eighth notes (D and C#). I am just starting to be able to hold my high E's, so hopefully I will be able to play it well during the concert. At measures 4 and 107, I have four sixteenth notes (C, D, C, D) which I should hopefully be able to play.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Concert Medley - When I first looked through this, I did not recognize any of the songs (with the exception of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"). The rhythms at measures 22-28 and 84-86 look a little complicated, but I think I'll be able to figure them out soon. At measure six, we go from "Slowly" to "Lively", so I think that change may be a problem for us until we start detail work. My key signature is natural, but I have seen accidentals throughout the song (20, 21, 40, 41, 50, 52-54, 57-58, 72, and 75).