How to Survive a Master Class
by Mahaliah Edwards
Masterclasses can be a daunting prospect for musicians. Playing to a prominent musician who is then going to critique and teach is a big thing. In addition, there will probably be an audience. Here are a few ways you can bring your A-game to the masterclass:
Preparation is key; it goes without saying but it is absolutely vital to be prepared. Have your piece ready to perform. Try to arrive early to set up and relax before your performance. Make sure that you have had rehearsals with an accompanist (if you need one) before the day. If there is an accompanist you haven’t played with before, try to have at least a conversation with them about the way you want to play. If this is not possible, try to communicate clearly with them while playing. Make it known when you want to do something different with the tempo, etc. There is nothing worse than being prepared but having your performance suffer due to miscommunication with the accompanist. Good accompanists are like gold dust so when you find someone who you play well with, never let them go!
If you can, it's always good to get a feel for the space you’ll be performing in. If you can have a prior rehearsal at the venue, it’s a good idea to get used to the acoustics and work out any adjustments you make have to make with dynamics etc. By being extra prepared, you’re giving yourself the best chance to do brilliantly in the performance.
Have an extra score ready for the visiting professor. This is useful, as they can pinpoint specific places in the music that they want to talk about. Also, the visiting tutor can write things onto the score directly which you can then study afterwards.
If you can, record your masterclass with audio and / or visual. You can then use the footage to add to your portfolio and for your own archive too. Recording the class is a good way to reference or remember anything you may have forgotten. The video footage is recommended because you can also look at the visual aspect of your performance.
Finally, remember that a masterclass is only someone offering their opinion and ideas on how you could play the piece. You don’t have to implement all their advice into the piece; you may not even agree with everything the teacher says. The point is that you have the opportunity to play to a professional and they give you ideas to play with. Be prepared to try new things and experiment with metre, tempo, timbre and everything in between!
Mahaliah Edwards is a student at the Birmingham Conservatoire and a blogger for Behind the Bridge.