First Aid for the Instrumental Rehearsal
Presentation to the Texas Orchestra Directors Association
Jordan Randall Smith — Friday, July 21, 2022 — 3:00 PM — CC 008
Handouts
Reading
Cavitt, Mary Ellen. A descriptive analysis of error correction in expert teachers' instrumental music rehearsals. The University of Texas at Austin, 1998.
Feldman, Evan and Ari Contzius. Instrumental Music Education: Teaching with the Musical and the Practical in Harmony, 3rd ed. New York: Routledge, 2021.
Naderi, Zeinab Yakouboff. "An Analytical Study of Rehearsal Techniques of Three Professional Orchestra Conductors (Observation)." PhD diss., Teachers College, Columbia University, 1985.
Byrd, JoshBand Directors Talk Shop. “Listen with your Eyes: Identifying the Physical Roadblocks Behind Common Performance Issues.” Band Directors Talk Shop. [Accessed 6 February 2022].
Books
Case Study
Below is a hypothetical example that shows these various phases in motion.
Repetition: Tutti orchestra begin in measure 247.
Orchestra performs starting in m. 247.
Conductor seems to look skeptically at the basses. (Detection)
Internal: Conductor reasons that the mistake is due to the difference in phrase length between this location in the recapitulation and the parallel location in the exposition. (Diagnosis)
Internal: Conductor determines that the basses would be helped by knowing that they enter with the principal cellist, meaning that in addition to counting rests, they could watch the principal cello for additional security regarding the entrance. (Prescription)
Conductor stops the orchestra around m. 256 to address the early bass entrance: "Basses, please note that you have an extra measure of rest here because the composer has extended the phrase in comparison with the exposition. Importantly, you enter with the cello solo, so you can watch Emily's bow for added security. Orchestra, can we begin at m. 234 to give the basses another oopportunity." (Direction)
Analysis
Performance Object Size/Scale: Small
Group: Bass Section
Element: Ensemble (Cohesion): Entrance
Additional Notes
The next time through, the basses may receive a visual indicator of success, if achieved, in order to positively reinforce and indicate that the time was well spent. If the basses repeat the error, the conductor most likely made an error in one of the steps. One or more of the following might be true.:
Preparation: The conductor was incorrect about the cello entrance, failing to notice that the principal cello comes in contrapuntally as a point of imitation on beat 3 of the previous bar.
Preparation: The conductor incorrectly analyzed the difference between the exposition and the recapitulation. The guidance provided misled the basses. Preparation
Diagnosis: The conductor correctly understood the cello entrance and the formal structure. However, the conductor failed to notice that a stage technician had come on stage unexpectedly and accidentally dropped something backstage that served as a distraction to the basses on the second time. A different error caused the second performance problem.
Detection: The conductor might not have been able to tell that a few of the basses who were further away from the incident actually came in correctly this time, which might have led to clarity about the diagnosis.
Prescription: the cellos and basses do come in together. However, the last stand of cellos sit on a box and the basses behind them, happen to be short. It is not possible for the basses to clearly see the principal cellist's bow, and the entrance is piano, anyway.
Direction: The conductor gave the instructions in a medium, conversataional voice. However, between wearing a mask and the distracting HVAC unit, the instructions were not clearly audible to the basses in the back. The conductor also did not notice the looks of confusion.