Excerpt Introductions
Better preparing the whole musician
A project by Scott Holben
Mission Statement
Excerpt Introductions is creative project in fulfillment of the degree Doctor of Music, Indiana University.
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Musicians spend so much time looking at all of the details of modern orchestral excerpts, that it is often at the expense of understanding the work as a whole. The aim of Excerpt Introductions is to introduce the works wholistically and explore how the excerpt exists in its context. This curated experience guides musicians through the process of understanding how the music came to be understood, including the relevant context in which it was created. Each work was created in a specific time with its own intentions, ideas and reception. Thusly, each excerpt targeted in this project must be presented in a different manner in order to prepare appropriately for each excerpt.
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Students are learning informally in all facets of their life from the internet. One of the most prominent formats on sites like YouTube and Vimeo is the video explainer format. In a 5-15 minute video, content creators often mix knowledge, humor, and exploration of a topic. The most successful of these videos often do so with aesthetic beauty. This project begins that style of video in the realm of orchestral music.
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