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How to Interpret Mozart Scores

A musical score is a written document that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Jazz musicians have the freedom to improvise as they interpret a piece of music. Classical musicians, on the other hand, have to pay rigorous attention to the musical score. Interpreting a piece of music in a classical context, such as Mozart, requires a requires a different approach than the improvisatory one of the jazz musician. Interpreting Mozart's music requires finding the balance between Mozart's musical intention with the piece and your own musical ideas and expressivity.

Instructions

    • 1

      Develop technical proficiency on your instrument. Playing Mozart's music requires a high level of musical skill: Mozart was one of the leading figures of the classical period (1750 to 1820) in classical music, which emphasized clarity, sophisticated musical ideas, and virtuosity. Mozart was also a piano virtuoso at a young age, and his music can be very demanding to play.

    • 2

      Study Mozart's life. Reading biographies about the composer, whose music you are performing, provides insights into that composer's life and insights into the way he thought about his music, which offers keys to interpreting the music.

    • 3

      Listen to how other performers interpret Mozart. Performers listen and learn from one another. Listen to a variety of recordings of the Mozart piece that you preparing and listen to other pieces in Mozart's repertoire to develop a general appreciation of and understanding of Mozart's music. Attend live performances of Mozart's music, as well.The energy of a live performance is different from listening to a recording.

    • 4

      Pay attention to the musical directions indicated on the score. Classical composers use a variety of terms, such as "allegro," "andante," "diminuendo," and "forte," to indicate how they want the piece to be interpreted.

    • 5

      Decide if you want to utilize a traditional or more contemporary approach to the piece. A traditional interpretation remains faithful to a piece and recreates it as authentically as possible so that the audience is able to hear the music as it was originally intended. A contemporary approach presents an updated interpretation of the piece that speaks to a contemporary audience.

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