Georgia State University Fall 2014 masterclasses by Marie Speziale and Rebecca Wilt

Marie Speziale visited Georgia State University on September 26, 2014 to present a masterclass. She heard performances by students preparing for Fall degree recitals which included works by Charlier, Vivaldi, Haydn, and Neruda. 

She started the class by giving the students permission to make mistakes and encouraged them to play without the inhibition of being worried about trying to be perfect. She coached the students on breathing fundamentals using language and words that connected to each student's own personality. She helped them find the freedom to sing and dance with abandonment in order to help bring their musical interpretation to life. Speziale’s approach to each student interaction also created an atmosphere of excitement among the observers in the masterclass, who she included by asking questions and requesting feedback for the performers. In addition to coaching from a musical perspective she shared the value of being professionals in all regards of being a musician.

International collaborative pianist, Rebecca Wilt, presented a masterclass and clinic at Georgia State University on September 24, 2014. Trained as a singer and pianist, Rebecca started the masterclass by stressing the importance of using wind as brass players and demonstrated herself by singing and showing ways of supporting the air. She used a sewing analogy to illustrate how the air should be spinning from note to note like thread has in an unbroken connection in sewing stitches.

Wilt shared her experiences collaborating with soloists and how important set up is for communication between the collaborators and in creating a relationship with the audience along with pros and cons for different positioning. She suggested exercises for tuning more accurately with piano and reminded students to listen louder than they play so they can make constant adjustments. The masterclass continued with a collaborative session between Wilt and a student where she coached almost entirely from a breath and wind movement perspective.

At the conclusion of the masterclass, Wilt spent time working one on one with students preparing for Fall degree recitals. Each student received valuable feedback about making musical decisions together in the collaborative process.

Source: Hollie Lifshey, assistant professor of trumpet, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia