Hello! This is Eleni from Chasing Crescendos. These are the essential things I cannot leave the house without before I head out the door for rehearsal.
The number one item I never leave home without is my practice journal. This journal is much more than just a place to take notes on the music I am learning. It also functions as my general planner and to-do list, and if I have extra space at the bottom of a page, I like to use it as a place to express gratitude or positive affirmations. The journal itself also has a special significance for me. My mom had it made from a sketch that my grandmother drew, a contour line drawing of a woman in profile. I am named for my grandmother and was very close with her when she was alive. Seeing her art every day reminds me of her and the love and support of my family.
Every double reed player needs somewhere to soak their reeds before they play, whether in rehearsal, in performance, or just at home practicing. Most of us use a little cup, shot glass, or pill bottle. I have certainly gone through more than my fair share of reed water cups. They are so easy to misplace or break! This is my latest cup, and I am trying my best not to lose it because it was a gift from someone special. My fiancé got this for me while we were both at a music festival in Lake George, NY last summer. It brings back memories of a very special place and music– making. Plus, it can hold more reeds than I could possibly use in one concert!
Files, pliers, plaques and holding mandrels, oh my! As a bassoonist, you aren’t just a musician, you are also a craftsperson. These are some of the most practical and frequently used tools for on– the– fly reed adjustment. The pliers help pry open the tip of the reed. This can impact the pitch and help you play better in tune with your colleagues. The files are used to shave small amounts of a reed to help with response. A more responsive reed allows for better articulations and a larger dynamic range. The plaque holds the reed open, and the mandrel keeps it stable while I work on it. If you think that’s a lot of tools, you should see my reed–making desk!
iPad and foot pedal. I keep all of my sheet music on my iPad and use it for all my performances and rehearsals. It is incredible to have thousands of parts and scores all on this one device. The foot pedal wirelessly connects to the iPad and allows me to turn pages without having to take my hands off my instrument! Right now, the “top of my stack” is David Bruce’s woodwind quintet “Natural Light” which I am premiering with Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara, CA next month.
Last but certainly not least, I never leave home without making sure my dog, Beans, has a full water bowl and is freshly walked. She is my little companion and loves listening to me play the bassoon!
