Personal Musicianship Statement
MUSED 150
My level of personal musicianship is fairly strong, but I definitely have room to improve in many areas. I have always been able to sight read well, and I love learning other instruments besides my primary. I’m an adequate guitarist and pianist, and I have relatively strong chops on euphonium, trombone, and various other brass instruments. Although I haven’t dabbled too deeply in other instrument families, I love learning how to play other instruments, how they are made, and the various techniques in how to perform on them. I can echo pitches and isolate harmonies fairly easily as well. I believe my intonation is decent, but I tend to be a little low when I’m by myself. Singing while playing accompaniments on piano and guitar take me a little practice, but it’s something I can definitely manage. I enjoy learning about, listening to, and performing different styles of music, though jazz and improvisation have taken much of my focus lately. Although I may not excel in any one area, I believe I have a strong, well-rounded sense of personal musicianship.
Although I feel like I have improved quite a bit this semester, I plan to grow even more in the following semesters. Since guitar and vocals have received a lot of attention in this course, I have been able to focus on improving my skills in those areas. Though I was able to practice transitions between chords and singing with accompaniment this semester, there is still some slight uneasiness in this area. I plan to take lessons on piano, vocals, and possibly even guitar this summer to help improve my skills on these instruments and be able to better lead a classroom. Furthermore, in order to have a broader understanding of other instruments, I played euphonium as a secondary instrument this semester in lab band, and I may possibly play it again this summer in a community band. I believe the most effective way to develop in any area is to experience it first hand.
As I continue in school and in my career, I plan to develop my musicianship even further. For starters, playing and singing in ensembles after I graduate will help me maintain, and hopefully improve, my current level of musicianship. This summer, in fact, I plan on putting together a brass quintet for wedding or church gigs. Performing live and at a professional level on my own time will be vital in this regard. Also, my hometown, Fort Wayne, has various professional level ensembles and various venues in which to perform in. Also, I intend to go to conferences and conventions, such as IMEA, which have such diverse groups, concepts, and ideas to see and learn about. Practice on my own will also be important, because a teacher cannot expect anything of his students that he cannot do himself.
As the French essayist Joseph Joubert once said, “To teach is to learn twice over.” Analysis of my students and myself will be equally as vital as gathering experience. Knowing how others, such as my colleagues, address and improve their musicianship can give me ideas for improving myself, which hopefully I can pass on to my students. Though I am proud of my current level of musicianship, there will always be room to improve. I love being exposed to new music, new concepts, and new experiences, and I will constantly search for these as I continue in my endeavors.
My level of personal musicianship is fairly strong, but I definitely have room to improve in many areas. I have always been able to sight read well, and I love learning other instruments besides my primary. I’m an adequate guitarist and pianist, and I have relatively strong chops on euphonium, trombone, and various other brass instruments. Although I haven’t dabbled too deeply in other instrument families, I love learning how to play other instruments, how they are made, and the various techniques in how to perform on them. I can echo pitches and isolate harmonies fairly easily as well. I believe my intonation is decent, but I tend to be a little low when I’m by myself. Singing while playing accompaniments on piano and guitar take me a little practice, but it’s something I can definitely manage. I enjoy learning about, listening to, and performing different styles of music, though jazz and improvisation have taken much of my focus lately. Although I may not excel in any one area, I believe I have a strong, well-rounded sense of personal musicianship.
Although I feel like I have improved quite a bit this semester, I plan to grow even more in the following semesters. Since guitar and vocals have received a lot of attention in this course, I have been able to focus on improving my skills in those areas. Though I was able to practice transitions between chords and singing with accompaniment this semester, there is still some slight uneasiness in this area. I plan to take lessons on piano, vocals, and possibly even guitar this summer to help improve my skills on these instruments and be able to better lead a classroom. Furthermore, in order to have a broader understanding of other instruments, I played euphonium as a secondary instrument this semester in lab band, and I may possibly play it again this summer in a community band. I believe the most effective way to develop in any area is to experience it first hand.
As I continue in school and in my career, I plan to develop my musicianship even further. For starters, playing and singing in ensembles after I graduate will help me maintain, and hopefully improve, my current level of musicianship. This summer, in fact, I plan on putting together a brass quintet for wedding or church gigs. Performing live and at a professional level on my own time will be vital in this regard. Also, my hometown, Fort Wayne, has various professional level ensembles and various venues in which to perform in. Also, I intend to go to conferences and conventions, such as IMEA, which have such diverse groups, concepts, and ideas to see and learn about. Practice on my own will also be important, because a teacher cannot expect anything of his students that he cannot do himself.
As the French essayist Joseph Joubert once said, “To teach is to learn twice over.” Analysis of my students and myself will be equally as vital as gathering experience. Knowing how others, such as my colleagues, address and improve their musicianship can give me ideas for improving myself, which hopefully I can pass on to my students. Though I am proud of my current level of musicianship, there will always be room to improve. I love being exposed to new music, new concepts, and new experiences, and I will constantly search for these as I continue in my endeavors.
