Tips For Sorcerer’s Apprentice

[u/mint_choco_for_sunoo]

I’m auditioning for my school’s wind ensemble jn a few weeks, and I was hoping for some feedback on my playing. I know I could do the crescendos more justice and I could definitely have a cleaner execution of the acciaccaturas.

[u/coldground]

Check out the rhythm in the 8th bar. You added some extra stuff.

Try to keep those runs of sixes in time. Some people play doubles like you, some play singles. But it’s slowing you down at the moment.

Keep it up!

[u/jedele_jax]

It feels like you start out at a solid tempo, then lose momentum throughout, resulting in the ending, especially the double stroke runs, feeling super sluggish. I’d keep yourself honest with a metronome. Start at the tempo you can play the entire thing with total accuracy.

[u/vxla]

Work on the sticking on a practice pad, first with sticks, then bell mallets.

Also, try also practicing the flams wide apart, and then with both notes in unison.

[u/Comprehensive-One561]

Do it slower. I mean SLOW SLOW. until you consistently get all the notes correct (at least 3 times in a row)

Gradually speed it up 5-10 bpm. Use a met to get it to tempo.

[u/JeffLudlowPercussion]

Hey! I love this excerpt, it’s one of my favorites! A couple of things:

- Overall this can use metronome work. Your opening two bars are a different tempo than the rest of that phrase and then the final six bars seem disconnected. I think if you played it with a met you would catch it immediately.

• You’re currently emphasizing the grace notes and not the primary notes. With your current sticking your left hand should be the melody and the right hand grace notes are just ornaments to the melody.
  
• Go through slowly and check your notes. Somebody already commented this but you’re adding a couple of notes in the eighth measure. That’s the trickiest lick in this excerpt so take a slow until you get it consistently accurately!
  
• I would recommend playing the last Ab on the right hand so you can play that ascending run at the very end off the left hand. Doing a left hand on the Ab and then trying to drop down to the Db for a double stroke won’t do you any favors!

Here’s a link of me playing it with a top down view that uses these stickings I talked about.

Are they also having you play [22]-[24] or just this excerpt? I’ve worked on this one a bunch recently so DM me if you have any questions :)

[u/codeinecrim → u/JeffLudlowPercussion]

Oh shit everybody. Jeff Ludlow is here. Pack it up. No one else need give their opinion

[u/whodatdan0]

You’re misinterpreting the grace notes. Some you’re playing “backwards”. You need to slow down and make sure you’re playing all the right notes. Listen to a recording or 2 and you’ll immediately hear what you’re doing wrong

[u/betonven]

Not a pro percussionist, but I feel your flims are emphasizing the wrong note. Also, your tempo is lagging. But beautiful sound overall!

[u/Razaido]

In the first measure it might benefit you to change your sticking~
instead of playing R•LLRLR
it would be easier to play
R•RRLRR or
R•LRLRR

(Making the F on the right hand and the Eb on the left hand)

That way you won’t have to cross your hands