2021 Virtual Bassoon Symposium
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Presentations Masterclasses Recitals Vivaldi Competition Exhibit Hall
Presentations
Coffee Talk
When we discuss performance anxiety, we are really discussing the body’s response to adrenaline. Physiology, past experiences, and identity are all factors that contribute to each person’s unique physical response to adrenaline being released into the bloodstream. This presentation will cover research on adrenaline and the complex physical and mental manifestations associated with it, along with possible coping mechanisms and gender identity’s possible correlation to how performance anxiety is experienced.
10:30am EST/7:30am PST (60 minutes)
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This session features a presentation by Margaret Phillips about how her work off the stage has gone beyond performing as entertainment, to places where playing has taken on new meaning. She will outline how we as musicians must understand the power of our language and its essential applications from homeless shelters to recovery programs, from food lines to hospice. Philips will also share her experiences as a Certified Music Practitioner in training and talk about the applications of playing for specific patient conditions.
10:30am EST/7:30am PST (60 minutes)
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This session features an interactive discussion of developing a personal methodology for starting and teaching beginning bassoon students. Discussion topics include teaching fundamental concepts, resources, and repertoire.
10:30am EST/7:30am PST (60 minutes)
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Join Staci Spring for a discussion on the relationship of musicians to their audiences and communities. This talk explores current practices, opportunities, and resources in the bassoon field related to artistic citizenship, community engagement, and the field of teaching artistry, with the intent to broaden the perspective of the skills and roles of professional musicians. How are bassoonists doing as a field in addressing the imperatives of community engagement and artistic citizenship? How might we continue to grow in this effort? What resources are available for students and professionals related to arts advocacy, artistic citizenship, and arts education to help them navigate both the traditional and broadening options for career paths in music? How might we explore more collaborative ways to engage with our communities – ways that value their perspectives? Bring your ideas, experiences, and your morning beverage of choice!
10:30am EST/7:30am PST (60 minutes)
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Those who are professional bassoonists with small hands have unique stories to tell. Most have figured out strategies to make things work for them. Whether it is creating alternate fingerings, key modification, choice of instrument or employment of health and wellness techniques, these musicians can be a source of inspiration and information for all bassoonists. Come join our Coffee Talk and share your stories and strategies and ask your questions!
10:30am EST/7:30am PST (60 minutes)
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In this Alexander Technique class, participants will be instructed to approach movement differently with verbal and manual guidance. You will learn to recognize and change habit patterns that interfere with ease, flexibility, and balance.
10:30am EST/7:30am PST (60 minutes)
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This interactive workshop will give participants practical and useful tools in the form of simple meditations, breathwork, gentle movement, and the principles of LEAN (lifestyle, exercise, attitude, nutrition) to apply directly to their personal and professional lives. Participants should plan to have a chair on hand for a short chair yoga practice as part of the session.
10:30am EST/7:30am PST (60 minutes)
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“Meg Talks”
Towards the Introduction of Electric Bassoon in a School Curriculum
Women Composers in Brazilian Music for Bassoon: an Overview and Proposal for Visibility and Sustainability
Presentation and discussion of database: Woodwind Quintets written by South and Central American composers.
In these “Meg Talks” Fernando Zúñiga-Chanto presents a new approach to bassoon teaching in a pre-college and college level curriculum that includes an introduction to electric bassoon and its possibilities; Catherine Carignan proposes that by engaging women composers, bassoonists, teachers and students in safe spaces, new learning, composing and performing processes will be developed; and Sasha Gee Enegren reveals a database of quintet music by South and Central American composers.
11:30am EST/8:30am PST (90 minutes)
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Rubisphere #4 Milonga Misterio: Homage to Piazzolla
Improvisation as a Tool for Mastering Extended Techniques and Discovering New Sound Worlds
Mexican Contemporary Music for Solo Bassoon and Electronics
In these “Meg Talks” Alex Davis examines the stylistic influence of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla on Valerie Coleman’s “Rubispheres #2” for Bassoon and Saxophone; Dana Jessen demonstrates using improvisation as a tool for better understanding extended techniques on the bassoon to facilitate the discovery of new sound worlds; and Ashley Haney will highlight two compositions for solo bassoon and electronics by Mexican Composers: Mario Lavista’s Plegarias (Prayers) (2009), and Rodrigo Sigal’s Twilight (2001).
4:30pm EST/1:30pm PST (90 minutes)
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The Reimagining of a Forgotten Romantic Voice: A Transcription of Emilie Mayer’s Violin Sonata in A Minor for Bassoon
¨Reavivando nuestra identidad¨ Reviving our identity.
East Asian Women in Classical Music: Moving Beyond Traditional Gender Roles and the Label of the "Female Musician"
In these “Meg Talks” Rachel Fredericksen highlights us to the forgotten Romantic voice of Emilie Mayer by way of her transcription of the composer’s Violin Sonata in a minor for bassoon; Yoon Joo Hwang examines issues of gender, tradition, and power as they relate to East Asian Women Classical musicians; and Rocio Yllescas Jacobo introduces us to new contemporary music for bassoon written by Mexican composers while showing emblematic places of Mexico.
2:00pm EST/11:00pm PST (90 minutes)
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Panels
In this panel socially-engaged bassoonists Gina Moore, Midori Samson, Maya Stone, Lia Uribe, and Jacqueline Wilson will discuss strategies to incorporate more equitable and inclusive practices into pedagogy, performance, and community engagement. Discussion topics will include socio-economic barriers, commissioning projects, administrative representation, and normalization vs tokenizations.
12:00pm EST/9:00am PST (60 minutes)
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Host Jessica Findley Yang will moderate a panel discussion with a group of young principal bassoonists of distinguished US major orchestras about their careers: Andrew Brady (Atlanta), Keith Buncke (Chicago), Catherine Chen (Milwaukee), and Julia Harguindey (Nashville). Discussion topics will include auditioning, gaining professional experience, performance anxiety, and more!
5:00pm EST/2:00pm PST (60 minutes)
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Special Topics
Flutist and breathing pedagogue Keith Underwood has helped many musicians improve their playing through exercises that increase physical awareness. Bassoonist Glenn Einshlag has adapted this approach to breathing and breath analysis to the bassoon and created a curriculum of exercises that utilizes finger breaths, breath builders, and breathing bags that can help troubleshoot inefficiencies in breathing, air pressurization, tone production, and overall physical inhibitions while playing the bassoon.
12:00pm EST/9:00am PST (60 minutes)
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Since the first bassoon concours was held at the Paris Conservatoire in 1797, only four women have been commissioned to compose works for this event. However, those four women composed some of the most challenging and ground breaking works for our instrument and were the first to adopt serial languages, extended techniques and chance notation. This recital presents five morceaux de concours by Odette Gartenlaub, Ida Gotkovsky, Ginette Keller and Marie-Véra Maixandeau and will highlight how each of the pieces expanded the expressive and technical demands of this competition. Download the Session Handout
2:30pm EST/11:30am PST (60 minutes)
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This class will present strategies for improving focus and mental presence during performances as well as tools to help manage and lessen performance anxiety. Participants will examine the causes and effects of performance anxiety and learn how this affects focus and efficacy. Topics covered will include breathing techniques and mindfulness meditation exercises.
12:00pm EST/9:00am PST (60 minutes)
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