719.884.2110 |
719.884.2110 |
Each time the Philharmonic performs one of our Young Peoples’ Concerts, we get stacks of wonderful letters from students, thanking us. We REALLY appreciate those letters! Some of the students ask great questions. Here in the “Philharmonic Kids” section of our website, our Associate Conductor, Thomas Wilson, will be answering the best of those questions. Students should check the Philharmonic website a few weeks after each YPC to see if their questions were chosen. Later on, we’re hoping to expand “Philharmonic Kids” to include educational materials about the orchestra, so stay tuned! 
Dear Amy:
Your letter is both a question and a compliment! I agree with you about how beautiful the flute sounds, especially in the hands of our Principal Flutist, Mr. Paul Nagem. You see, any instrument of the orchestra can make a beautiful sound if it is played well. Paul is an excellent musician, and he can make his instrument sound beautiful, or happy, or playful, or angry, because he has practiced long enough to control his instrument.
If you’re serious about playing the flute, I suggest that you start in your school music program. Talk to your parents and let them know you want to learn the flute. Also, talk to your school’s band director. Playing an instrument in your school program is a great way to start in music, and it’s fun, too! If you decide you really like it and want to get better quickly, take private lessons from a professional flutist and practice, practice, practice!
Happy fluting!
Maestro Wilson
Dear Lucinda,
Not all conductors use a stick, which is usually called a “baton.” Some conductors, like Kurt Masur of the New York Philharmonic, use only their hands. Most conductors like to use a baton so they can show the musicians what they want with the tip of the baton, which gives clear information since it’s so pointy and small.
Conductors actually do not show the musicians “ everything they need to know” to play a piece of music. In front of each musician is a music stand, with the printed music. Almost everything the musicians need to know is written on the music, like what notes to play and in what rhythm, how loud or soft to play, how long or short to play the notes, whether to play the notes separate or smooth them together, etc. The conductor controls the tempo (or how fast the music is played), and may show a little more about how to play the music. The conductor also helps the musicians to know when to play and when to stop playing. In short, the conductor’s job is to keep the orchestra together and get them thinking and playing as a team.
“Stick” to it!
Maestro Wilson
Dear Gregg,
When we play the National Anthem, the musicians stand up if they can. However, one can’t play the cello, bassoon, or tuba while standing. All of those players still want to play the National Anthem, so they have to sit down and play it.
Stand and deliver!
Maestro Wilson
Dear Adam,
Most of our musicians practice between 2 and 4 hours a day, and that’s without rehearsals and concerts. Some practice even more.
Getting into the Philharmonic isn’t easy. Most of our musicians played their instrument in their school band or orchestra and practiced every day through their childhood. Most of them also took lessons from professional musicians when they were young, (probably from the symphony musicians in their town). After high school, most of them went to a conservatory or music school at a college or university, earning one or more degrees in music.
The hardest part about getting into the Philharmonic is the audition. For a single opening, we’ll often have 25 or more musicians auditioning. We hear each musician behind a screen, so we don’t know anything about them, and we judge only based upon how well they play. So, you can’t charm your way into the Philharmonic!
On to the practice room!
Maestro Wilson
Dear Jared,
My arm almost never gets tired from conducting. The orchestra actually plays better if you keep your conducting small and simple, since the information is clearer to them. Most likely, your shoulder got tired. Try conducting more from the elbow and the wrist, keeping everything small and clear.
Happy conducting!
Maestro Wilson
Dear Javan,
Brass instruments are naturally loud. That’s why, even in ancient times, trumpets and horns were used to send signals over miles between villages. When the orchestra was formed hundreds of years ago, they discovered that they needed more stringed instruments to be able to balance the volume of brass instruments.
There are a few other things to think about: First, changes have been made to all the instruments in the orchestra in the past 500 years. All of the instruments have become more powerful, but brass instruments have undergone more changes in the last 100 years than the winds, strings, or percussion. Second, a really good brass section, like the brass section of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, has good players in every chair, so they can play very strong, or very soft, and do it well. Lastly, any section sounds stronger when they work together as a team and play in tune.
Blow forth!
Maestro Wilson
Dear Scott,
Musical instruments can be very expensive! Oh, sure, you can find a beaten up trombone at the pawn shop for $50, but that doesn’t mean it’s good enough to play in the Philharmonic.
Percussion instruments are probably the most diverse in price: A small triangle or a pair of claves can be found for $30, but ONE excellent timpani drum can run $2500 or more.
Brass are probably the most reasonable. The average professional trombone might run around $1500, while a good tuba can run about $8,000.
Woodwinds spend a little more than brass. They also have to spend more to keep up their instruments, since they have reeds and corks that need to be replaced often.
It’s even crazier when you get to the strings! Stringed instruments are made almost entirely of wood, and the wood sounds better as it ages. So, the older the stringed instrument you get, generally the better it is, if it has been well maintained. Just to give you an idea: A good friend of mine just bought a cello made in 1720, and he says he got a “good deal on it” for $70,000! Some of the best Stradivarius violins are worth millions of dollars.
But don’t worry! If you want to play an instrument, there are still many “student line” instruments that are very reasonable. If you’re not 100% sure what instrument you want to play, you can also rent instruments. Check with your local music store.
Don’t wait for the ½-off sale!
Maestro Wilson
Dear Jenny,
If you want to learn more about our Philharmonic, there is a “Meet the Philharmonic” section on our website. We’ll be adding more educational information for kids on our website very soon.
Happy webbing!
Maestro Wilson