Heifetz update
I have done so much since my last post here. The internet has been down, and I only recently have been able to get back on here. I plan on posting more often considering the internet cooperates!
I am in my third week here. This week I begin a class on improvisation to improve my performances and make them more personal and genuine. The first week, the course was singing (to make us comfortable with our true musical voice), and last week was a public speaking course to allow us to approach an audience more comfortably. They call these ‘communication classes’ because we, as performers, need to be able to communicate our art uninhibitedly. Every week we will have a new course, but I have not been told what each week holds. Supposedly, we will have an acting class, and rumor has it that a big-time actor will be here. More later on that if it turns out true. That would be so great if Morgan Freeman or Meryl Streep walked in the door one day!
I have had two one-hour private lessons per week every week. For these first 3 weeks, Barry Snyder from the Eastman School of Music has been here teaching the 7 pianists in the program. He is a fantastic teacher that I would LOVE to study with in graduate school. I figure the time I’ve spent here with him is a little like a mini-graduate school audition. Chances are we’ll stay in touch and when the graduate school audition comes around, he’ll remember me, my playing ability, etc etc. Next week we have a major international competition winner, Andre-Michel Schub from Manhattan School of Music to teach us for two weeks. I’m not sure what to expect from that, but it should be really exciting.
I performed this past Sunday morning at a nursing home in town. A handful of people were chosen to play for them, and though it was a difficult situation for performance (very loud, busy, coughing, talking, nurses, etc) I think all of us played well and hopefully made somebody happier as a result.
The caliber of musicians here is astounding. Everyone plays so well and only a handful of people here (including myself) come from a school that is not a major conservatory. It’s very eye-opening to be here and to see and here the caliber of musicianship that’s actually out there.
I’ll update my week in detail very soon. Bis bald! ~Brian