A bit of catch up, first:
The past few weeks have been focused on preparing for the OCG VII. Improvisation is a regular feature, but we've also begun to hammer at repertoire again, in anticipation of "anything could happen". The 60 Points is a common touchstone, as well; one thing we have been doing with this involves circulating while cycling the 60 Points. The most recent exercise in this vein involved moving around the space, circulating to each other while calling each of the 60 points (a three person circulation, while calling each point every four notes). Interesting work.
Some of the repertoire has been outside the "official list" that the Orchestra has been reviewing AAD. At the end of the day, it's good work to revisit some of this material. Hope got a check-in with this circle for the first time since last year's course.
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In attendance: Victor, Chris, Brad
Small group tonight. 28 Bars while warming up, with a little clarification on bar 24, beat 4.
A bit of discussion, and then jumping right in with some very focused right-hand work. Slow metronome, working from a very deliberate follow-through release stroke, to a deliberate follow-through return stroke, then alternating, then a stop-stroke (picking through the string and stopping immediately on the other side of the string), followed by alternating stop-strokes with 16th note picking, then moving this to each string. Some basic 2nd Primary work, moving to the 16 Bar Exercise. 1st Primary work, with focus on the right hand, moving to ambulating while running the 1st Primary
Where is the Nurse?, twice through.
Break, during which Victor makes some reading suggestions to Chris.
Back on stools. When ready, Begin, with each others' guitars, as if we'd never played the instrument before.
When ready, Begin. Probably 20 minutes. Hot.
When ready, Begin, while recording (using the mic on Victor's Macbook). Not quite as hot, but good moments, and similar strategies being used. We head up to the classroom to listen through a couple of times and make observations about the playing and habits presenting themselves. Even just among us three, this is a markedly different group from last year.
Calling it a night around 11:20 p.m.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Work Day, Camp Caravan, 04-27-2013
In attendance (from GCNE): Alex, Dev, Glenn, Chris (later), Brad. Others participating in this day included members of the Bennett groups that are involved and connected with the Millers River Educational Cooperative.
7:30 a.m.: Group sitting.
8:30 a.m.: Breakfast.
9:30 a.m.: Meeting in the "Conservatory" to discuss practical work and inner work for the day. Today's practical work is primarily focused on preparing Camp Caravan for the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists Special Performance Project. Inner work is focused on the present moment. Stops will be held every half-hour.
9:45 a.m.: Alex, Dev, Glenn, and Brad walk through the main house to check rooms and see what needs to be moved, and where it needs to be moved to. We also touch on the electrical work that Rick and Dev finished last weekend. A large portion of the other attendants are dusting out the dorm.
10:15 a.m.: moving bed frames (30ish bunk beds) from a storage cabin to the dorm, and then beginning to assemble them.
11:30 a.m.: Movements. Participation for those who are experienced, and active watching for those who are not. Chris arrives at some point in the middle.
1:00 p.m.: Lunch, discussion of what the afternoon holds.
1:45 p.m.: Finishing assembling of bed frames, checking the cabins, and then moving furniture and bed frames and such in the main house to accommodate the staff that will be staying inside the house for the project.
3:10 p.m.: Final meeting and observations about the day for the work day proper.
3:45 p.m.: Tea and cookies.
4:00 p.m.: Back to work, tying up loose ends, moving mattresses.
4:45 p.m.: End of the day discussion about things that need to happen from a practical point of view. The list of truly necessary and unfinished items is beginning to shrink noticeably.
5:30 p.m.: Final departure for the Circle.
7:30 a.m.: Group sitting.
8:30 a.m.: Breakfast.
9:30 a.m.: Meeting in the "Conservatory" to discuss practical work and inner work for the day. Today's practical work is primarily focused on preparing Camp Caravan for the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists Special Performance Project. Inner work is focused on the present moment. Stops will be held every half-hour.
9:45 a.m.: Alex, Dev, Glenn, and Brad walk through the main house to check rooms and see what needs to be moved, and where it needs to be moved to. We also touch on the electrical work that Rick and Dev finished last weekend. A large portion of the other attendants are dusting out the dorm.
10:15 a.m.: moving bed frames (30ish bunk beds) from a storage cabin to the dorm, and then beginning to assemble them.
11:30 a.m.: Movements. Participation for those who are experienced, and active watching for those who are not. Chris arrives at some point in the middle.
1:00 p.m.: Lunch, discussion of what the afternoon holds.
1:45 p.m.: Finishing assembling of bed frames, checking the cabins, and then moving furniture and bed frames and such in the main house to accommodate the staff that will be staying inside the house for the project.
3:10 p.m.: Final meeting and observations about the day for the work day proper.
3:45 p.m.: Tea and cookies.
4:00 p.m.: Back to work, tying up loose ends, moving mattresses.
4:45 p.m.: End of the day discussion about things that need to happen from a practical point of view. The list of truly necessary and unfinished items is beginning to shrink noticeably.
5:30 p.m.: Final departure for the Circle.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Brad's Apartment, 04-07-2013
In attendance: Brad, Glenn, Dev (arrives later), Rick, Chris
Warming up with some simple exercises; touching on the 1st Secondary, running the 1st Primary up and down the neck (rushing).
Askesis to get the blood going. A scratched "gap" gets a rerun from the tricky bit to the end. A little more spot work on the end, and then another full run of the piece. We haven't really run this piece for some time, and it feels good to touch up on repertoire.
Eye of the Needle gets some work, as well; Glenn stresses the need to let the phrases breathe, which means getting into the intricacy of the timing. A couple of plays through helps iron out the details.
Now we get into some serious work on Chrysanthemum: instead of working from the beginning, Glenn chooses to jump into the middle, at the beginning of the upside portion. Dev arrives while we are deep into this. Brad is also taking notes for transcribing later.
A break to give our minds a break.
Back at it. We eventually get the entire middle section, up to the beginning of the end.
Some more repertoire. Chris mentions an article he'd read regarding excessive tension being produced as a result of trying to "get a sound". Dev suggests we put this into action, and the natural piece to test this is apparently Flying Home, on the brisk side. Good observations all around.
Calliope, as well. Serious rushing.
Some circulation work. Adopting a basic +2 -1 form, we eventually drop to not changing our notes just to get the timing right. This has the unintended effect of writing a surprisingly haunting and lovely melody that Glenn rightly insists on recording. A bit more experimenting with this (shifting down a minor third, shifting down chromatically, trying to find the right spot to reverse the circulation).
Calling it a night around 11:15 p.m.
Warming up with some simple exercises; touching on the 1st Secondary, running the 1st Primary up and down the neck (rushing).
Askesis to get the blood going. A scratched "gap" gets a rerun from the tricky bit to the end. A little more spot work on the end, and then another full run of the piece. We haven't really run this piece for some time, and it feels good to touch up on repertoire.
Eye of the Needle gets some work, as well; Glenn stresses the need to let the phrases breathe, which means getting into the intricacy of the timing. A couple of plays through helps iron out the details.
Now we get into some serious work on Chrysanthemum: instead of working from the beginning, Glenn chooses to jump into the middle, at the beginning of the upside portion. Dev arrives while we are deep into this. Brad is also taking notes for transcribing later.
A break to give our minds a break.
Back at it. We eventually get the entire middle section, up to the beginning of the end.
Some more repertoire. Chris mentions an article he'd read regarding excessive tension being produced as a result of trying to "get a sound". Dev suggests we put this into action, and the natural piece to test this is apparently Flying Home, on the brisk side. Good observations all around.
Calliope, as well. Serious rushing.
Some circulation work. Adopting a basic +2 -1 form, we eventually drop to not changing our notes just to get the timing right. This has the unintended effect of writing a surprisingly haunting and lovely melody that Glenn rightly insists on recording. A bit more experimenting with this (shifting down a minor third, shifting down chromatically, trying to find the right spot to reverse the circulation).
Calling it a night around 11:15 p.m.
Thacher Montessori Gym, 03-31-2013
In attendance: Victor, Brad, Glenn, Chris, Scott
Several activities; largely focused on prepping for the OCG. A fair amount of warming up, and encouragement provided from the team for a member.
Victor trying out something new with an improv. Lights on for this one, and we're asked to use the full space of the gym. As a directive, though, we're also asked to phrase everything in fives (a slow five, a long five, fast fives). This comes to a stop, eventually.
Running the sixty points while circulating a simple +5 -4 pattern.
Improvising and ambulating in the dark.
Ending the meeting somewhere around 11 pm.
Several activities; largely focused on prepping for the OCG. A fair amount of warming up, and encouragement provided from the team for a member.
Victor trying out something new with an improv. Lights on for this one, and we're asked to use the full space of the gym. As a directive, though, we're also asked to phrase everything in fives (a slow five, a long five, fast fives). This comes to a stop, eventually.
Running the sixty points while circulating a simple +5 -4 pattern.
Improvising and ambulating in the dark.
Ending the meeting somewhere around 11 pm.
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