Sor, Fernando; op.60/10 - D02 Video [Updated]

[NylonStrung]

Apologies for the sound quality, a little more 'hiss' than I would like, but I hadn't quite got the hang of my camera when I recorded this. Apart from that, it's not too bad.

[edit]Thought I'd post this update. I think it's an improvement on the previous video.


Youtube

[Erik Zurcher]

Lovely! I like it. It sounds a bit timid. So, switch off the camera and let yourself go!

[NylonStrung]

Many thanks Erik, good feedback as ever.

I'm not sure how I can make it less timid though, I thought it was meant to be a fairly slow study piece?

By the way, when I uploaded this to YouTube I got a message saying that it "matches third party content". How is this piece infringing some kind of copyright?

[Erik Zurcher]

Sor's music is definitely public domain.

Less timid is not about tempo, but digging deeper into the strings. It gives more volume, tone and confidence. Try to add more drama.

[George Crocket]

Thanks for posting.

It was very clear and I enjoyed listening. To me your style of playing is very controlled but at the same time relaxed. Perhaps this is related to what Erik says. If you could show a bit more expression and movement while playing I believe it would add to your performance.

You seem to be distinguishing each phrase and perhaps it would be worth trying to make it more free-flowing. I think you can do that while still controlling the tempo.

Looking forward to more.

[NylonStrung]

Thank you both for your observations and advice, it's all very helpful to me.

I think the 'problem' is that when I first started learning I was very rigid in the way I played the notes and my way of getting round this was to force myself to relax as I played because that seemed to make things flow more. It's possible that this is now more detrimental to my playing but I don't really know how to reverse that. I'm also not a 'confident' player, it doesn't seem to come naturally to me. It's all a learning process though.

[Erik Zurcher]

It's a struggle for all of us.

[NylonStrung]

I was thinking about this last night and another thing I need to look at is that I am perhaps too much of a perfectionist (although it probably doesn't show in my videos). I spend a lot of time while playing concentrating a lot of my energy making sure that I hit each note perfectly - this is probably linked with my lack of confidence in my playing - and this no doubt contributes to my 'careful' style. Changing that mindset is probably going to take some time though, unfortunately.

There's also a case for over-analysing things

[George Crocket]

I was thinking about this last night and another thing I need to look at is that I am perhaps too much of a perfectionist (although it probably doesn't show in my videos). I spend a lot of time while playing concentrating a lot of my energy making sure that I hit each note perfectly - this is probably linked with my lack of confidence in my playing - and this no doubt contributes to my 'careful' style. Changing that mindset is probably going to take some time though, unfortunately.

There's also a case for over-analysing things

I agree with all of this. One of the reasons I don't record stuff is that I want to be sure of getting it right. It's really a bit silly, because I know I should be using recordings as an aid to improving my performance. I have no illusions about being able to perform anywhere near professional level, nor do I have any illusions about being able to make commercial recordings. I should just get on and record more, review my recordings, learn from them, and make better recordings.

Over-analysing can, indeed, lead to under-acting.

[NylonStrung]

I totally see where you're coming from, George. You really should record more, even if it is only you that looks at them or listens to them, so often they tell you more than you can hear when listening to yourself play. The reason I record is mainly to get feedback as I have no other sources from the outside to tell me how I'm doing. I look at a lot of the videos posted on here and a lot of them are amazing but instead of being inspired to make myself a better player, I often come away disillusioned because there is no way I will ever reach that kind of standard. It's an odd, negative way of looking at things but it feels like a realistic one from where I'm sitting right now.

[George Crocket]

The last thing I want to do is compare myself with other people. It would make me give up.

I can see three reasons to record: for self-analysis; for analysis by others; to entertain others. I guess you are right and I should get on with the first.

[Erik Zurcher]

My teacher stresses to record myself more often. Not a whole piece, but just a few measures for self-analysis. It really helps.

[NylonStrung]

The last thing I want to do is compare myself with other people. It would make me give up.

Oh, I don't compare myself with other people. I just look at what other people are playing and can play...then I think "oh dear"

[George Crocket]

The last thing I want to do is compare myself with other people. It would make me give up.

Oh, I don't compare myself with other people. I just look at what other people are playing and can play...then I think "oh dear"

I delight in how and what others can play, wish I could do the same, but carry on with what I am capable of enjoying playing.

[mverive]

This is one of my favorite Sor exercises, and you play it well. You *do* seem a bit preoccupied with playing the notes rather than the music, which I find happens to me when I'm recording (audio or video), as I want to make sure I don't make mistakes. Oddly enough, when I'm playing for sheer pleasure, I'm actually *less* apt to make mistakes. I play for patients and visitors at my hospital, either alone or with a harpist, and find that when I'm in "performance mode" I play better than when I'm in "practice mode". So, when I record, I try to forget that I'm recording (or at the very least *allow* myself to make mistakes), and try to get into performance mode. This lets me focus more on the music as a whole than the notes themselves.

As for this piece, you might want to slow it down a bit, and let the notes really ring out. Enjoy each note, and how the arpeggios present themselves.

Mike