LHSPre-CollegeSMS

2005 Leigh Howard Stevens Pre-College Summer Marimba Seminar

July 11-15, 2005 ≠ Plano, Texas

Student Questionnaire (Feedback from 05 students)

1. What are some of your favorite moments from this seminar?

- masterclasses and recitals

- every rehearsal, the idea of "everyone" playing together and hearing it is even better

- every session with Mr. Lee and the technique sessions with Mr. Stevens

- discovering a lot more things about marimba I would never know otherwise

- I loved the acoustics class. I had no idea the shape of the resonators would change the sound so much

- being able to work with Mr. Stevens

- every moment with Leigh Stevens and Mr. Lee

- LHS Evening Concert

- meeting new people and hearing the concert

- Mr. Stevens' stories and his history

- small ensemble, lecture, and technique time

- LHS talking about Malletech marimbas, all directors talking about ways to get better

- the teachings of Mr. Stevens

- the performances

- Being able to meet many different and interesting people from other parts in Texas and the U.S.

- masterclasses, student recitals

- meeting old friends and playing with a diverse group of people and hearing Leighπs lectures

- technique with Mr. Stevens

- the lectures, learning about the history of marimba, and dust flying up in Mr. Steven's face because the resonators had not been cleaned in a long time!

2. In an ideal situation, you would change?

- maybe some more theory

- spread the 1^st parts around some

- nothing.

- longer classes

- maybe a little one on one time with Leigh Stevens

- more technique classes

- longer technique classes

- more 4-mallet practice

- Add to total amount of time so we could do more stuff

- have more 4 mallet and independence

- add sight reading to the audition

- make the camp longer

- I believe the camp was very good and would not change a thing

3. How would you rate the literature you were asked to prepare?

- appropriate for the amount of time we have

- grade of A

- good because it broadened my horizons

- interesting and hard enough that we had to practice

- it ranged from sight readable to a bit of a challenge

- A minus

- fair

- easy

- I loved it

- scale of 1-10: a 6

- Yes, it was pretty extensive as far as style

- challenging but not too hard

- fun but challenging

4. When did the "Wow! That's cool!" moment hit you?

- some of the discussions w/Mr. Lee, Mr. Stevens about music stuff

- the first mass ensemble rehearsal

- when we talked about acoustics in lecture

- right after the Stevens concert

- about 6 times a day, in the theory classes with Mr. Lee, in a lot of the masterclasses

- working with Mr. Stevens and he was enforcing a point by holding his hand over a bar and telling me to stay on the edge and not hit his hands...pretty intense, but it helped.

- during masterclasses

- Lone Star Percussion trip!!

- learning 4 mallets and going to Lone Star

- music theory and Mr. Stevens playing a concert

- parts of masterclass

- too many to count

- first technique class with Mr. Stevens

- I saw a piece by John Serry on the recommended repertoire list. He is my favorite unknown musician whose music I love and want to play. Suddenly I realized I could!

- when some of the kids played their solos for us during the recitals.

- when I was told that there would be people all over coming and when Mr. Stevens told us what his music is about.

- Stevens' concert

- when we hit section A of Italian in Algiers!

- technique class with Mr. Stevens

- Stevens' concert on Monday

5. What most surprised you about yourself this week?

- that I have so much to work on

- the amount of change I was able to go through in order to properly use the technique.

- I am bad at sight reading

- how much I still needed to learn

- that I need work on my technique

- how much I need to improve

- I know where the notes are without looking at them

- how fast I learned new things

- I want to go out and learn new marimba music

- that I need to practice a lot

- that I did not get stressed as much as people said I would

- I can one-hand roll!! I need to build a better and more extensive repertoire.

- my ability to be myself around a world artist

- my grips needs help

- I can sight read better than I thought

6. What do you wish the staff could've done better?

- nothing, they were fabulous!

- really nothing, like Mr. Stevens said, it was like a well oiled machine

- nothing

- you guys are all great!

- I thought they were great

- the staff was pretty much solid, dress better, I guess

- introduce the pieces and their style/background so we have a better understanding of the music.

- the staff was excellent, "a well-oiled machine"

- perfect combination of teaching and humor

- Nothing, I believe that y'all did a great job and if I could I would come back next year.

- not much, you guys were great!

7. What do you wish you could've done better?

- mostly about my reading and adapting better to my surroundings

- I wish I could have played my audition material better

- sight reading. I felt behind, but Mr. Wylie made good suggestions to help me get better.

- sight read

- sight reading

- come more prepared

- take more notes during sessions

- played my solo better

- I should have taken notes during the masterclasses and lectures

- the preparation for the auditions and practiced a few more times

- audition better, build a better repertoire before I came.

- maybe practiced more, had more time.

- played my solo better for Mr. Stevens

- practice

8. If your best friend was an ear, you would?

- put an air horn next to him every morning

- tell him about the LHS PreCollege Seminar

- whisper really soft because I don't want to damage their DRUM

- I would be either really wacko or an ear ring

- use him to help me tune

- cut it off

- play it music

- attach it to my head so I would have 3 ears

- be a very unusual person

- put a leash around it and whenever something was waxie, I would pull him out.

- talk forever and make him listen to me explain the kinetics and background of the marimba.

- ask about his family

- tape him to my head and hope it gave me perfect pitch

- shout loudly

Comments:

- like the theory stuff w/ Mr. H.

- organization was the best it have ever been. It was flawlessly prepared

- thank you for this great opportunity to learn more about one of my passions. This was the most fun Iπve had this summer.

- This camp has been amazing and one of my top musical experiences. I came home everyday with a headache from learning so much.

- The camp really showed me how much there is to learn about music: technically, artistically, and structurally as far as theory goes.

- had a blast, learned a ton

- Keep up the great work

- good start on 4 mallets

- Opened my mind to new things.

- I loved the pens!

- I like this camp.

- Hope to see you all again soon!