Student's feedback on their visit to the London Philharmonic Orchestra (part 3)
| Type of post: | Orchestra news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | Zoe Utley |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Thu, 13 Mar 2025 |
Three students recently visited the London Philharmonic Orchestra. We spoke to them afterwards to find out how it went. Last but not least: principal timpanist Will Hume.
Watching the LPO rehearse was an amazing experience. We heard both full run-throughs, as well as seeing the process of fine-tuning certain sections of the pieces. This was amazing to see, especially considering the exclusivity of this opportunity. It was truly inspiring to me, making me even more excited to expand my knowledge in this area as I go on to study Music next year.
My lesson with Simon Carrington began by talking about my experience playing percussion to find the right place to start. This led to an overview of the basic setup of the timpani along with how to position myself at the drums, focusing on stick techniques. More specifically, we looked at how to hold the sticks to achieve a range of timbres in different situations. This is especially pertinent in Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony which requires the several specific techniques to achieve the right sound. This is something I can work on regularly at home with sticks and a practice pad to build strength and muscle memory as advised by Simon.
All in all, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will remember for the rest of my life. What Simon taught me in this lesson has improved my knowledge, not just as a percussionist but as a musician in general, which is something I am extremely grateful for!
Watching the LPO rehearse was an amazing experience. We heard both full run-throughs, as well as seeing the process of fine-tuning certain sections of the pieces. This was amazing to see, especially considering the exclusivity of this opportunity. It was truly inspiring to me, making me even more excited to expand my knowledge in this area as I go on to study Music next year.My lesson with Simon Carrington began by talking about my experience playing percussion to find the right place to start. This led to an overview of the basic setup of the timpani along with how to position myself at the drums, focusing on stick techniques. More specifically, we looked at how to hold the sticks to achieve a range of timbres in different situations. This is especially pertinent in Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony which requires the several specific techniques to achieve the right sound. This is something I can work on regularly at home with sticks and a practice pad to build strength and muscle memory as advised by Simon.
All in all, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will remember for the rest of my life. What Simon taught me in this lesson has improved my knowledge, not just as a percussionist but as a musician in general, which is something I am extremely grateful for!
