This spring, the Traverse City Philharmonic launched Act 2. It's an opportunity for adults with little to no musical experience to learn how to play an instrument.
Now through June, the Act 2 participants will learn the fundamentals of reading music, how to handle their instrument and how to play in an ensemble.
Listen on demand for the entire conversation and all of the music performances.
Earlier this month, IPR listeners met Sharon Hill, who is learning how to play the euphonium.
She recently visited IPR with her euphonium to show off what she's learned in her first couple of weeks of band.
During her initial visit earlier this month, she played the three notes she had learned during the first week.
Two weeks later, Hill was delighted to report that she now can play five notes, and those five notes are enough for her to play several different pieces.
"I'm actually starting to play little clips of classical pieces," she said.
Since picking up the euphonium, Hill has had to work on a surprising skill: frowning.
"I learned that the euphonium embouchure is more of a frowny face, and I couldn't find the muscles to make that work," Hill said. "Our instructor said that I should stand in front of the mirror and practice frowning with the fingers in the corners of my mouth."
Hill's euphonium practice routine involves frequent, short sessions.
"For me, it's ten minutes here, ten minutes there," she said. "I put my euphonium in the family room, and when I see it, it's a great reminder that I need to pick it up and do some exercises."
Hill says these regular features on Classical IPR are also great motivation for practicing.
"There's nothing like knowing you're going to be performing for all of your IPR listeners to keep you practicing," she said.
The Traverse City Philharmonic's Act 2 band is meeting weekly through June 10. Classical IPR will provide weekly updates from participants in the program.
