MUSC 102/103/104

I took MUSC 102, 103, and 104 string ensemble as one credit elective classes to satisify the Aesthetic Expressions pillar degree requirement during my Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Spring 2022 semesters. Because this class only counted as one credit, three of the semesters I’ve taken of it were added up to meet the required 3 credits for the completion of this pillar. For all 3 of these classes, I received the grade of an A, and as I progressed through class I also saw myself getting better and advancing in class as well. I started my journey in Longwood playing string as a second string violin player, and as of my last semester playing I was moved up to play first string violin, so that was a big accomplishment, especially because I have played second for most of my violin career. When I was first moved, I actually didn’t know how to feel, and sort of had the feeling of regretting being moved up, not only because I was comfortable playing second but also because I knew first had more complex melodies and notes which would take more work, but I knew that once I got those down I would feel a lot more accomplished and it made me feel good to know that the professor felt I was good enough to be in first string. I was also riding high on the fact she said during the playing auditions I was the only one who played at the right tempo. It felt so good :).

We didn’t have ‘official’ tests at the end of the year, but rather we would have concerts at various points in the semester, and the final concert would count as the final test. I remember a lot of the pieces the professor gave us to learn, either because they were really cool and fun to play or they were really difficult or not fun to play, but it’s hard to say the were not memorable either way. One particular piece of music was the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song we got to play one concert that everyone was really excited about. When you think about strings, you generally think about classical music or old timey music, and that is the majority of what we play, so it is always really nice when we can step outside of that to play something a little more mainstream and fun, and more relevant to when we grew up. This piece is really nice because it offers many different levels of complexities which means that you have to work with every section to make sure it sounds perfect (especially at 35 to 43, this part was so difficult to learn). To ensure the rhythm is correct, you have to watch the conductor, you have to watch the bows and listen to the other instruments to match sounds, because sound travels differently at different places. And, sound sounds different based on resin level, pressure on bow, position of bow, instrument string brand, and many more different aspects which means that you have to listen to each other to match pitches. Playing a piece is very much a team effort, and when everyone is working together and communicating with each other through their instruments, the music can sound so breathtaking. The best example of this I can think of is disonant cords. They sound horrible on their own, but put them together and they just make sense. It is the same with any team effort, we all just need to find where we mesh to make the most beautiful music.

Pirates of the Caribbean Violin 1 Sheet Music; Klaus Badelt; 2003; A copy of the violin 1 section sheet music for Pirates of the Caribbean, one of the pieces we played for a concert during the Spring 2022 semester.