Master class
A
master class is a
class given to
students of a particular
discipline by an
expert of that discipline--most usually
music, but also
painting,
drama, or any of the
arts.
The difference between a normal class and a master class is typically the setup. In a master class, all the students (and often spectators) watch and listen as the master takes one student at a time. The student (typically intermediate or advanced, depending on the status of the master) usually performs a single piece which they have prepared, and the master will give them advice on how to play it, often including
anecdotes about the
composer, demonstrations of how to play certain passages, and admonitions of common technical errors. The student is then usually expected to play the piece again, in light of the master's comments, and the student may be asked to play a passage repeatedly to attain perfection. Master classes for
musical instruments tend to focus on the finer details of attack,
tone,
phrasing, and overall shape, and the student is expected to have complete control of more basic elements such as
rhythm. The value of the master class setup is that all students can benefit from the master's comments on each piece.
Many concert performers give master classes, including such greats as
Franz Liszt,
Yehudi Menuhin,
Isaac Stern, and
Vladimir Horowitz. Often, a touring performer will give a master class the day before, or the day of, their performance in a particular city. Giving a master class before a concert provides both artistic stimulation for the performer and a means of obtaining a larger audience.
Aspiring classical musicians, and their teachers, typically consider master classes to be one of the most effective means of musical development, along with
competitions,
examinations, and practice.
*
Clinic (music)
