Research Catalogue

an international database for artistic research

• 3. Internal publication Research published in this issue are only for internal circulation within the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague.
• 2. Royal Conservatoire Investigations Royal Conservatoire Investigations
• 1. Master Research Projects All research in KC

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  Exploring the advantages of singing technique applied to musical practice (2020) author(s): Vittorio Gentilini Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  I have personally experienced that the fact of being able to sing helped me in various ways, both with ordinary life and in practicing music. The study of singing helped me to develop and internalize my own analytical and musical ideas, and helped me with the study of the instrument I play: the trombone. Beyond that I was diagnosed in 2013 of hypothyroidism, a condition for which my thyroid wasn't producing enough hormones. This situation led me to follow a specific therapy including external activities such as meditation, sport activity and singing. Among these, singing was by far the most effective in solving the problem. I suddenly realized I could partially integrate my therapy with the singing of early music ensuring myself some hormone realizing and experiencing uplifting (similar feelings reached through sports such as running). In this exposition I analyzed some early historical treaties, which explain how the playing style should be a “natural imitation” of singing and why, for an instrumentalist of any kind, it was fundamental to master a singing technique before playing. I could also observe and analyze modern trombone and singing practice, establishing five common points between the two: 1) Tuning/ear, 2) Messa di voce, 3) Breathing, 4) Phrasing and 5) The "speaking sound". I will provide a practicing tip for each of the points and make two controlled recording experiments on Messa di voce and the “speaking sound” to observe and compare the tone production of the voice of a singer and the sound of my trombone.
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• Developing of the Greek Wind Orchestras Through the Repertoire (2020) author(s): Alex Artavanis Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  Abstract is missing, will be added later.
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• Acting and performing, what could we learn from each other? How to apply different acting skills to an instrumental performance on contemporary music (2020) author(s): Rosa María Alonso Tejera Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  As a performer, I find it interesting how actors work. There are many similarities between actors and musicians, for instance, they work with a script and we work with a score. The most interesting part for me is how they deal with the different characters of a piece. How they work from the script of the characters and how they create it doing it personal and realistic on stage. It may be due to how actors work with drama tools and as a result, they work deeper on affective skills. Through interviews and practical work with drama teachers on the stage, I would like to show how to work and how to deal with acting tools on music performance and see if I could improve or at least change the perception of my performances.
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• Blow Free: Avoid resistance, tension and inefficiency in your playing. (2020) author(s): Rafael Afonso Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  My goal with this research is to find a solution to my playing problems, which are most of the times related to tensions and stress. For many years, and still today, there are questions related to something I do physically while playing that I couldn’t change, not even with the help of my teachers. It was so deep in my system that I couldn’t control it, I didn’t know what the reason was and I even didn’t realize when I was doing it. This was the starting point and the motivation to write this paper. I firstly looked at the symptoms and investigated them in order to understand whether it was a medical problem or just bad habits on using my body. Then I realized that the problem was not always there and that is was worse when I was under pressure. So I chose two main topics to research: Alexander technique, to help me reducing tension and use my body more efficiently; and Arnold Jacobs approach of “Song and Wind” to improve my playing by directing my focus and avoiding stress. In this paper I also add some observations I made about some lessons I followed and interviews I have done with people who helped and/or inspired me during this process. Finally, I close this research with the description of some exercises that I implemented in my own daily routine. I can feel the improvement in my playing since I started this research so I really hope I will accomplish my goal and who knows one day be able to help other people with similar issues.
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• A holistic approach to practicing (2020) author(s): Karolina Aurelia Walarowska Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  Inspired by the researcher’s recent hand injury caused by stress and misuse of the violin technique this research demonstrates an insight into the recovery process and an experimental self-intervention conducted in this case. Having observed the correlation between experienced stress and body pain, the researcher developed, experimented and explored a way in which she can help the change of negative physical as well as mental habits that could enhance the process of recovery and the building up a new “healthy” technique. In the first part the researcher shows and explains what inspired her when exploring how to approach her situation and describes the process of creating an intervention. The intervention itself consisted of various techniques and exercises that were implemented in her daily routine: including the use of deliberate practice, different learning strategies, musical imagery, warm ups, time planning, meditation, physiotherapy exercises, Alexander Technique, Yoga, and changing mindset. Processes were monitored by noting the level of concentration, engagement, motivation, physical state, and enjoyment during practice sessions, as well as comparing the overall state and playing before and after the intervention. The results show a positive impact of the mentioned exercises on the researcher’s general mental and physical state and comfort and enjoyment of playing. The researcher also observed higher body awareness and increased ability to both focus and deal with stress. The research itself is an example of how one can approach a musical routine in a holistic way and its benefits on playing and the overall wellbeing.
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• An Organological Approach to the History of the Flauto Piccolo with a Pre- and Post-Beethoven Analysis, Including the Complete Study of Beethoven’s Implementation of the “Ottavino” [Review copy KC - 2020-02-25 12:12] (2020) author(s): Rikki Wolpowitz Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  This thesis is an organological approach to the role of the piccolo in the orchestration of compositions from the seventeenth through the nineteenth century, classifying these periods as Pre-Beethoven, Beethoven, and Post-Beethoven. From research and review of the literature, composers and their compositions which specifically called for the use of the piccolo are tabulated and analyzed. The analysis is categorized into the evolution of the debutante piccolo, by observing its accomplishments by the following analysis of what the piccolo accomplished in that role: [1.] As an extender of range and dynamics; [2.] Programmatic effects achieved; [3.] Its inclusion in solo arrangements either within a movement or as the complete soloist; each of these concepts will be built into the Pre-, Beethoven and Post-Beethoven periods. For this thesis, the Pre-Beethoven period ranges from the possibility of Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (1567 – 1643) for ‘Flautino,’ written in 1607 to Mozart, including the military music of the French Revolution. The Beethoven period is covered by a discussion of the role of the piccolo in Beethoven’s orchestration dividing his career into his early period that has not been previously examined in any detail in existing research literature. His middle and late period including a re-examination of his symphonic works related to the piccolo from this authors perspective including his symphonic works follows. These include the Fifth Symphony, the Sixth Symphony, Egmont, and the Ninth Symphony. After that, the document examines the post-Beethoven period until its maturity into a solo instrument as conceived by Tchaikovsky in his 4th Symphony.
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