Which instrumentalists

Technique is essential, but it's a means to an end. Without attention to phrasing—rise and fall, going somewhere and coming away—musicians can't be very musical. Not every singer is a model of musical phrasing and persuasive expression, but it does seem to come more easily to singers than to those who play instruments.

Breath support and the related issue of sustaining sound are also valuable lessons from the vocal world. Again, an instrument sometimes obscures the significance of fundamentals like a deep breath and good sound sustained through the length of a note or phrase.

This is true for strings as well as winds and brass. Some of the string faculty at the festival here informed me that breathing before a piece begins is crucial for producing the best sound.

Yesterday in our opera orchestra rehearsal, the maestro told the violins, "Every inch of the bow should be singing, singing, singing. I write the word in the margins of my Mozart horn concertos to remind myself that in addition to precise rhythm and intonation, I need to take deep breaths and sustain a beautiful sound throughout the entire piece. I also learned from the string faculty that string players borrow from the vocal world by using metaphors of syllables and consonants. One violinist said that to avoid mushy playing with a long run of notes, he plays as though there is one syllable for every note.

Another violinist talked about the initial bowing of a note as the initial consonant of a word: it must have a clear beginning. Hardly a month goes by where a top singer is not forced to interrupt a tour, take a break, or undergo a medical procedure due to problems with their voice.

Medical professionals are making the case that the demands put on one's voice when singing one to three hours is as intense as those made on an Olympic marathon runner's body.

Be clean. Wash your hands before and after to practicing. Do not share instruments and mouthpieces. Regularly clean mouthpieces, flute head joints, bocals, and saxophone necks. Talk with your applied teacher about the best ways to keep your instrument clean. If you are feeling ill, USE the health services provided for you by the University. SHC also provides wellness education and seminars. The Student Medical Insurance Plan SMIP provides health insurance coverage that complements the on-campus primary care services, covering off-campus services such as emergency room, hospitalizations, surgery, ambulance and specialty care.

College of Liberal Arts. Current Students. Talk with your applied teacher about the best ways to keep your instrument clean If you are feeling ill, USE the health services provided for you by the University. Synonyms for instrumentalist Synonyms musician , player Visit the Thesaurus for More. Examples of instrumentalist in a Sentence he excels as a conductor, a composer, and as an instrumentalist. First Known Use of instrumentalist , in the meaning defined at sense 1. Buying Guide Our team at The Usage has selected the best wireless earbuds of Learn More About instrumentalist.

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