Speaking of masterclasses…

 thoughts and insights  No Responses »
Apr 202010
 

I found out last week that I will be presenting a piece in a masterclass with John Corigliano on Saturday morning at 10am. I’ve been a bit anxious about it since then. Anyway, yesterday, the same day Corigliano arrived in our fair city, John Adams posted a funny and thoughtful essay about composition masterclasses on his blog.

If you’re an instrumentalist or a singer, such a class is a pretty straightforward affair. You play your Chopin etude or sing your Puccini aria, and some honored guest artist, after politely listening, heaps gobs of fulsome praise on you and then over the next twenty minutes ritually disembowels you before an audience of your peers and your embarrassed teacher. And the whole thing is captured on video so you can enjoy it over and over.

With composers it’s a slightly different kettle of fish…

…The piece is over and now it’s time for The Master (i.e. the guest disembowler) to say something meaningful. This is not as easy as you might think. You want to be helpful and not just make bland, encouraging comments like Mom and Dad. On the other hand you remember your own student days and recall how super super super sensitive you were. An unkind cut can be devastating…

Be sure to read the whole thing and click through all of his hyperlinks. You’ll be glad you did.

 Posted by at 1:25 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Corigliano Residency Schedule

 announcements  No Responses »
Apr 182010
 

This week, the MSU College of Music is pleased to host John Corigliano for a residency. Mr. Corigliano is among today’s most prominent American composers. He has won a Pulitzer Prize , an Academy Award and three Grammy Awards. Kevin Sedatole, Director of Bands at MSU recently sent out the following schedule for the Corigliano residency along with an open invitation to any of the events listed.

. . . Next week we will host composer John Corigliano for a week long residency.  Mr. Corigliano will be working with the Symphony Orchestra, Chorale/State Singers and Wind Symphony in preparation for the grand concert of the residency to be presented on April 24th.  Joining the major ensembles will be Richard Sherman, performingPied Piper Fantasy and violin soloist Margarita Krein performingThe Red Violin Caprices.
In addition to working with the ensembles, Mr. Corigliano will present several seminars for various student groups within the College of Music as well the Department of Telecommunications, Information Studies and Media.
Everyone is welcome (along with your classes)  to attend any of the listed seminars and rehearsals.  All rehearsals will take place in the Wharton Center, Great Hall.
I hope you all have the opportunity to take part in this unique residency with Mr. Corigliano.
Kevin Sedatole

_______________

Corigliano Residency Schedule
April 18-25, 2010

Sun., April 18-        7:00-9:30 p.m.         Wind Symphony- Wharton- Great Hall
(without Corigliano)
DC Fanfare, Circus Maximus

Mon., April 19-        9:30-11:30 a.m.        Open time- possible media interviews
3:00-5:00 p.m.    Orchestra/Chorale rehearsal- Wharton
Center- Great Hall
Chorus and Orchestra- Fern Hill
Orchestra- Pied Piper Fantasy

6:30-7:30        Orchestra/children’s rehearsal-
Pied Piper Fantasy

Tues., April 20-        8:30-10:00 a.m.        Joint conducting seminar (Rm. 120)
(Seminar with graduate conducting students from band , choral, orchestral areas)-

3:00-4:50 p.m.        Wind Symphony- Wharton-Great Hall
DC Fanfare, Circus Maximus
7:00-9:00 p.m.        Wind Symphony- Wharton-Great Hall
Circus Maximus

Wed., April 21-        10:00-12:00        Session with High School Students and
Music Ed. Faculty- Music Aud.
(Seminar for high school students who are interested in careers in music.  This will only be a 30-45 minute session for JC to talk about careers in music that young people might be interested in and to field any questions from students)

2:00-2:45        Piano Studio Class- Etude Fantasy- Music Aud.
(JC will work with student performer on Etude Fantasy, full piano department will be present)

3:00-5:00 p.m.        Orchestra/Chorale- Wharton- Great Hall

7:00-9:30 p.m.    Orchestra with children rehearsal

Thurs., April 22-        10:00-11:15 a.m.    Session with Film and Music
(Comm Arts.-Studio )
(Session for film studies majors to discuss film music composition.  Clips from The Red Violin and Altered States will be shown for JC’s comments on how he fit the music to the scene etc.  Also, members of the Lansing Film Society will be involved)

3:00-4:50 p.m.        Wind Symphony- Wharton- Great Hall
DC Fanfare, Circus Maximus

Fri., April 23-        10:00-12:00        Open time to work with Margarita Krein
(violinist play The Red Violin Caprices) and a bassoon quartet working on How Like Pellucid Statues, Daddy, Wharton Center

3:00-5:00 p.m.        Orchestra/Chorale- Wharton- Great Hall
3:00-3:45        Orchestra/Chorus
4:00-5:00        Orchestra
7:00-9:30 p.m.        Dress Rehearsal
6:15-6:40        Red Violin Caprices
6:40-6:55    D. C. Fanfare
7:00-7:30    Fern Hill
7:40-8:25    Pied Piper
8:30-9:00    Reset stage
9:00-9:45    Circus Maximus

Sat., April 24-    10:00-12:00        MSU Composition Seminar-  Rm. 120 work with
mainly graduate students on their compositions

2:30-4:30        Composition Seminar- Rm. 120
For composition students and composers from around the state to hear a more indepth talk about the music being presented on the evening concert.

7:15 p.m.        Pre-Concert Talk- (for concert-goers.  Talk will be hosted by Kevin Sedatole, Ricardo Lorenz and
Mark Sullivan)

8:00 p.m.        Concert

 Posted by at 11:28 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Summer Film Scoring Workshop

 music  2 Responses »
Jan 182010
 

A few people had asked me about my experience at the 2009 NYU/ASCAP Buddy Baker Film Scoring Workshop in New York. It was a very informative ten-day workshop during which each participant selected and scored a film clip. The scores were then recorded some of the finest orchestral musicians in the New York area. Here is the final product that I came up with:


Serenity 2m9

Kevin Wilt | MySpace Music Videos

 Posted by at 6:54 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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