Music projects

Project #1

One week of Cavallini Caprices sight-reading practice

Participants can select any one of the five sets of caprices for practice.

Goal: Record yourself sight-reading through the music and pick out problems when you listen back to the recording. Make a second recording after working on the piece for a while with a more appropriate tempo, articulation, and expression. This process can help you quickly locate problems and recognize your personal growth over time.

Music score:


Project #2

One week of Solo Clarinet repertoire sight-reading practice

Participants can select music from the list given below or use their own’s.

Goal: Record yourself sight-reading through the music and pick out problems when you listen back to the recording. Make a second recording after working on the piece for a while with a more appropriate tempo, articulation, and expression. This process can help you quickly locate problems and recognize your personal growth over time.

Note: Based on your abilities, feel free to select one or more pieces to work on throughout the week. You can also split the long movement into sections to work on it separately.

List of solo repertories:

MessiaenAbyss of the Birds (from the Quartet for the End of Time)
OsborneRhapsody for Clarinet *
RozsaSonatina for Clarinet Solo, Op. 27
SierraCinco Bocetos for Clarinet Solo (1984)
SmithFive Pieces for Clarinet Alone
StravinskyThree Pieces for Clarinet Solo
SutermeisterCapriccio for Solo Clarinet in A *
Jenni BrandonChansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette for solo B-flat Clarinet
MartinoA Set for Clarinet
CarterGra for Bb Clarinet Alone
TowerWings for Solo Bb Clarinet **
LarsenDancing Solo for Solo Bb Clarinet **
YiMonologue: Impressions on the true story of Ah Q **
*Friendly to beginners
**Contemporary

Project #3

“Food for thought”- reading project

Participants should first decide a specific reading topic and set a timeline for reading completion and content processing. Note-taking is highly encouraged.

Goal: To cultivate the habits of reading and active thinking. Reading is a good way to calm yourself down and make plans for the future.

Recommended books:

  1. Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music – Angela Myles Beeching
  2. John Bertalot’s Immediately Practical Tips for Choral directors – John Bertalot (Suggested by Tian)
  3. The Horizon Leans Forward: Underrepresented Communities in the Wind Band Field –  Erik Leung (suggested by Sam)
  4. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work – Mason Currey (suggested by Dr. Westgate)
  5. Alber, R. (2015). Five Highly Effective Teaching Practices. http://www.edutopia.org

    Suggested by Paula Corley 
  6. Colvin, G. (2010). Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else. Portfolio, Penguin Random House LLC, New York.
  7. Concina, E. (2015). “Music Education and Effective Teaching: Perspectives from a Critical Review.” Literacy Information and Computer Education Journal.
  8. Duke, B. (2005). Intelligent Music Teaching: Essays on the Core Principles of Effective Instruction. Learning and Behavior Resources, Austin.
  9. McPhearson, G. et.al. (2019). “Applying Self-Regulated Learning Microanalysis to Study Musicians’ Practice.” Psychology of Music

Project #4

Learn an performer/educator/administrator each day

Participants should write down the name of that person and take brief notes to summarize his/hers most distinctive characteristics.

Reasons: There are so many powerful and inspiring individuals in the world that worth discovering and learning about. Hopefully, through this project, all of us can have a chance to do some researches about them, listen to their recordings, watch their masterclasses and presentations, and most importantly, continue to build upon our previous knowledge.