HOW TO MAKE PRINCIPAL & TUTTI SECTIONAL REHEARSAL (for youth/student orchestra)
by Kanako Abe translated to Bahasa Indonesia by Alfian Emir Adytia
PRINCIPAL SECTIONAL REHEARSAL
The preparation for the principals of string sections
- Preparing, printing and distributing part scores and full score - Listen some recordings with scores ( not only one version, avoiding to have the stereotyped musical idea ) - Individual practice without fixing the bowing, just verifying notes, phrases and dynamics
First step principal sectional rehearsal ( can be divided in few sessions )
- Concertmaster ( ideally all principals ) must have a full score always with him during the rehearsal and verify if there's any error in the part score - Try to play together slowly each movement, without fixing the bowing, not loudly, keep sempre mezzo piano and try to listen each other to understand which role your part takes exactly in each section of score ( who is the melody part ? with whom to share making the chord ? etc.)
- Make sure of the contact between each principals, the way to take a breath together, to give cues, eye contacts etc.
Second step principal sectional rehearsal ( can be divided in few sessions )
- Try to play more faster and start to fix the bowing ( even if this bowing is the definitive version ) - Make more nuances ( dynamics, phrases, staccato, accent, etc. ) and start to find a good balance and unity between sections - Start to discuss about the sound and color which correspond to the character of each movement - Start to find a global vision of each movement and the contrast between movements
Third step principal sectional rehearsal ( can be divided in few sessions )
- Try to play close to the indicated tempo and start to fix together the technical problem - Start to discuss about the way of playing, sound, color, phrasing which correspond to the style of each composer - Make an exercise of "following conductor". Try to play exactly what conductor shows and get used to be careful at the same time of reading score, leading your section and following conductor
TUTTI SECTIONAL REHEARSAL
The preparation for the tutti string sections
- Preparing, printing and distributing part scores with bowing - Ask them to listen some recordings with part score before the first rehearsal - At each rehearsal, the principal must clearly precise before start the purpose of rehearsal : why we make today's rehearsal ? what we should obtain with today's rehearsal ?
First step tutti sectional rehearsal ( can be divided in few sessions )
- The purpose of the first rehearsal is after all to motivate and get involved all musicians to the music making process. Don't hesitate to explain them how the work we are practicing is wonderful, and try to make understand them how it's important to prepare the individual practice before each rehearsal to obtain a good result of collective work - Try to play together slowly each movement, not loudly, keep sempre mezzo piano and try to listen each other with lot of patience
- Establish a good contact with all tuttist. Tuttist must follow the principal in any circumstance. Verify if the principal's cue is enough clear for tuttist, and tuttist are ready to follow their principal - Don't ask too much things at the first rehearsal. Focus on motivating them
Second step tutti sectional rehearsal ( can be divided in few sessions )
- Try to play more faster, making more nuances ( dynamics, phrases, staccato, accent, etc. ) - Start to find a good balance and unity of sound in the section - Start to discuss about the sound and color which correspond to the character of each movement. To explain, use lot of simple and concrete adjective words ( soft, brilliant, sensual, joyful etc. ) - Start to explain a global vision of each movement and the contrast between movements - If someone didn't make an enough individual practice, please ask him (her ) the reason why he (she) didn't study, and let him(her) recognize the responsibility - Don't forget to remind them that the orchestra music making process is a pure collective work, without investment of all members we waste our time and energy
Third step tutti sectional rehearsal ( can be divided in few sessions )
- Try to play close to the indicated tempo and start to fix the technical problem, repeating patiently the same phrases - Start to explain about the way of playing, sound, color, phrasing which correspond to the style of each composer. Don't forget to let everybody talk, ask questions... let them participate actively ! - Make an exercise of "following principal" and then "following conductor". Try to play exactly what principal and conductor show and get used to be careful at the same time of reading score, following the principal and following conductor - Don't forget to remind them that the orchestra music making process is a pure collective work, without investment of all members we waste our time and energy
Forth step tutti sectional rehearsal ( can be divided in few sessions ) - Start to go through ( first the big section like "whole exposition section", and after "whole movement"), respecting all indications written on the score. The fact to go through without stopping makes you recognise how many concentration and energy you need to perform the work - Get used to "catch up" quickly during the performance, if they make mistakes or they are lost. This reflex training is important to be "professional" on stage - Don't neglect to check all small mistakes of every musicians to let them keep the concentration and the involvement during whole performance - Don't forget to congratulate them if they make progress. Find the balance between scolding and congratulating ;-)
PRINCIPAL SECTIONAL REHEARSAL
Persiapan pra-rehearsal
− Menyiapkan, mencetak dan mendistribusi partitur serta full score
− Mendengarkan beberapa rekaman dengan membaca score ( tidak hanya satu versi, hindarkan memiliki ide
musikal yang stereotype )
− Latihan individu tanpa membenahi bowing; hanya memastikan nada, frase dan dinamika
Step pertama untuk principal sectional rehearsal
− Concertmaster ( idealnya semua principal ) harus memiliki full score dan selalu dibawa ketika rehearsal untuk memastikan jika ada kesalahan pada partitur
− Bermain bersama dengan tempo lambat di setiap bagian, tanpa membenahi bowing. Jangan bermain keras dahulu, mezzopiano saja dan usahakan mendengarkan yang lain untuk memahami tanggungjawab masing-masing seksi sebagai apa pada bagian tertentu menurut score ( siapa melodi, dengan siapa anda menghasilkan kord dll. )
− Pastikan kontak antara principal; cara bernafas, cue dan kontak mata
Step kedua
− Coba bermain mendekati a tempo dan perbaiki bersama permasalahan teknis
− Diskusikan tentang bagaimana cara bermain, produksi suara, frasering dll yang berhubungan dengan style komposer masing-masing
− Buat latihan “ikuti conductor”. Coba untuk bermain tepat seperti apa yang conductor tunjuk serta biasakan untuk berhati-hati pada waktu yang sama dalam membaca score, memimpin seksi masing-masing dan mengikuti conductor
TUTTI SECTION REHEARSAL
Persiapan pra-rehearsal
− Menyiapkan, mencetak dan distribusi partitur lengkap dengan bowing
− Minta mereka mendengarkan beberapa rekaman dengan sambil membaca partitur sebelum rehearsal pertama
− Pada setiap rehearsal, principal harus jelas dengan tujuan setiap rehearsal diadakan: kenapa kita hari ini melakukan sectional? Apa yang kita inginkan dari sectional hari ini?
Step pertama
− Tujuan rehearsal pertama adalah untuk memotivasikan dan membuat semua pemusik terlibat dalam proses pembuatan musik bersama. Jangan ragu untuk menjelaskan mereka betapa bagusnya latihan yang kita buat dan betapa pentingnya latihan individu sebelum rehearsal bersama akan menghasilkan pekerjaan kolektif yang baik
− Coba untuk bermain perlahan setiap bagiannya, tidak terlalu keras, pertahankan mezzopiano dan coba mendengarkan semua dengan penuh kesabaran
− Bangun kontak yang baik dengan semua tutti. Tutti harus mengikuti principal. Jelaskan jika que dari principal cukup atau kurang sehingga semuanya akan bisa mengikuti principal
− Jangan meminta/berharap terlalu banyak hal pada rehearsal pertama. Fokus pada memotivasikan mereka
Step kedua
− Coba untuk bermain lebih cepat, membuat nuansa lebih (dinamika, frase, staccato, accent dll.)
− Mulai mencari keseimbangan suara dan kesatuan suara dalam setiap seksi
− Mulai mendiskusikan tentang bunyi dan warna suara yang terkait dengan karakter setiap bagian. Untuk menjelaskan, gunakan kata-kata yang simpel dan konkrit seperti lembut, brilliant, sensual, gembira dll.
− Mulai menjelaskan maksud secara global dari setiap bagian dan kontras setiap bagian
− Jika seseorang tidak latihan individu, tanyakan mereka kenapa dan buat mereka sadar tentang tanggungjawab individu
− Jangan lupa untuk mengingatkan bahwa proses pembuatan musik orkestra adalah murni kerja kolektif, tanpa investasi dari semua anggota akan membuang waktu dan tenaga yang lainnya
Step ketiga
− Coba untuk bermain mendekati a tempo dan mulai membenahi permasalahan teknis dengan mengulang beberapa kali frase tersebut
− Mulai menjelaskan tentang cara bermain, produksi suara, warna suara dan frasering yang berkaitan dengan style komposer masing-masing. Jangan lupa untuk membuat semua orang berbicara dan berikan pertanyaan. Buat mereka terlibat secara aktif
− Buat latihan “ikuti principal” dan “ikuti conductor”. Mainkan benar-benar tepat seperti apa yang principal dan conductor tunjuk serta biasakannya dengan sambil membaca partitur
− Jangan lupa untuk mengingatkan bahwa proses pembuatan musik orkestra adalah murni kerja kolektif, tanpa investasi dari semua anggota akan membuang waktu dan tenaga yang lainnya
Step keempat
− Mulai berlatih go through ( pertama setiap bagian kecil seperti seluruh eksposisi/development/rekapitulasi lalu seluruh bagian ), membaca dan patuhi semua tanda yang tertulis pada partitur. Fakta go through tanpa berhenti akan membuat anda sadar betapa besarnya konsentrasi dan energi yang dibutuhkan dalam setiap memainkan karya
− Biasakan “menangkap” dengan cepat ketika melakukan kesalahan ketika bermain. Pelatihan ini penting untuk situasi professional di atas panggung
− Jangan ragu untuk memastikan setiap kesalahan kecil dari pemain untuk memastikan mereka terus konsentrasi dan terlibat di seluruh karya
− Jangan lupa untuk memberi ucapan “selamat” ketika mereka membuat progress. Temukan keseimbangan antara “memarahi” dan memberi “selamat” ;-)
