How did I learn to study technically difficult passages ? As Jonathan said it well: study set particular passage slow first, so to get the melody in your memory. o.k. But to make it run at the requested speed, make your study somewhat harder by yourself by playing it in awkward transpositions.
If the passage gives difficulties because relatively high range, study it in A or if your personal range will allow even in Bb alto. If the passage is quite low, study it in E-flat or D or C-basso. If the fingering is difficult, try it on the F-side. If you have problems with a passage in E-major, make it harder by studying it on the Bb-side. If the passage would give you endurance problems, try it on the F-side entirely. Apply the previous mentioned method of "never miss any note in a row of ten takes". You will wonder very much, how you will improve your accuracy after a while. The improvement might be really dramatic. But also observe one important rule: NEVER FORCE THINGS ! When I was about 21, already first horn in a very good orchestra, I prepared myself for the auditions to win a better job. One afternoon I played the entire Long Call about 50-times until I got it right ten times in a row. Well, there were some breaks after every ten takes, but I played all on the single F Viennese. After that I knew my personal risk factor. "Without Sweat, No Prize". _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
