Hi all,
sharing this beautiful article from the late Mrs Elizabeth Green with people like me who either were once or still are students of Dr Lee. A bit long, but do read on and think about it!
" In the FIRST place, standing in front of an orchestra or a band and beating time does NOT make one a conductor.But to bring forth thrilling music from a group of players, to inspire them to do their best, to train them (thru one's own musicianship) to become musicians themselves, personally to feel the power of music so deeply that the audience is lifted to new heights emotionally--or gently persuaded, through the music, to forget momentarily the dust of earth and to spend a little time in another world--YES, that can be called CONDUCTING.Fine conductors are, first of all, fine musicians. They are sincere and inspiring leaders. They have integrity where the music is concerned. They know the score thoroughly and can convey its meaning to the players through superbly trained hands. They have developed a sense of pitch, not only to be able to sing any part of the score, but also to be able to hear it in the mind so loudly that when the actual rendition does not come up to the standard fixed in the musical imagination, they will set about attaining THAT ideal during the rehearsal. They know theory, harmony, counterpoint, musical history, form and analysis. They have reached a professional performance level themselves on some one instrument, and they are eternally interested to learn more and more about the problems of each instrument of the ensemble. They have, somewhere along the way, taken a thorough course in orchestration; and all transpositions have become second nature to them. The best conductors are innately endowed with musicality--a term that need not be defined because those who have it know what it means and those who do not will never understand it through definition.
The Art of Conducting is the Highest, Most Complete Synthesis of All Facets of the Musical Activity, And It Should Be So Regarded By Anyone Dedicated to the Profession of the Baton. "- Article by the maestro....Elizabeth Green (Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan)
I'm not sure if any of you realised that Dr Lee was once a student of Mrs Elizabeth Green when he was still an undergrad in the 80's. What the great Mrs Green wrote in her book about conductors is so true and Dr Lee is just the living example standing in front of all of us. You may not realise how great a teacher like Dr Lee you have with you until you see how much Dr Lee actually fits into Mrs Green's description of a conductor!
You may know how Dr Lee has never fail to inspire in his students and sometimes even adult musicians around him, how he would always wish all his students would give their best to feel and get the most out of music, ultimately to deliver a message so strong that the listener could be lifted off earth and drift in a world of their own.
In another perspective, inspiring students and teaching students may be his job. Delivering the message of music is definitely not a one man's show. It is a collaboration between the conductor and the musicians- you! Only if both the conductor and musicians give their best, would they attain their ultimate aim.
In the midst of the SYF, it is not just a gold or a GwH that matters, it is being a true ensemble, giving your best and collaborating with the conductor to bring your listeners out of this world.
Let me post you a challenge to lift your audience to new heights emotionally--or gently persuaded, through the music, to forget momentarily the dust of earth and to spend a little time in another world.
He has done his job, have you?Feel free to share this article to encourage your band mates!
All the best!
Best Regards,
Mohli
I dont know how many of you recieved this email from Mohli, so I thought I'll just put it up and share it with everyone.
Lets go acband. Our hearts Our hopes Our aims Are one.Labels: acband
