2008 Woodie Awards
Spotlight on Andrew Throdahl
Sara Jameson
Issue date: 1/10/07 Section: Arts
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TC: What would you say your goals as a pianist are? Do you see yourself going from here professionally?
AT: I think I've realized that it's so hard to make it professionally as a pianist…I just don't think that it's a practical career choice. I mean, I think it's wonderful to continue with it and to learn new pieces, but I don't think I'll be pursuing it professionally. Actually, composing has been this great new interest of mine. I think it's always been in the back of my head as something I'd want to do. It wasn't until college that I've actually tried it, so I feel like I'm growing with that interest. And piano feeds composing. That's why I've been continuing with it, because I get ideas and I start to understand music better when I play the pieces. Composition is really starting to take a central place in my musical interests.
TC: How do you practice? Is it a lot of repetition and measure by measure work?
AT: Diana Fanning, my teacher, is so intense about when you make a mistake you have to go over it until its perfect. And just continuing to layer things like that until it's all there. I think that's how I memorize the piece, from just repeating it so much, developing that muscle memory in my fingers. I mean, it's a painful way to practice, but it's so rewarding because it will always be there, and I can play the pieces whenever. I haven't practiced the pieces since the concert, and yet I can still play through them.
AT: I think I've realized that it's so hard to make it professionally as a pianist…I just don't think that it's a practical career choice. I mean, I think it's wonderful to continue with it and to learn new pieces, but I don't think I'll be pursuing it professionally. Actually, composing has been this great new interest of mine. I think it's always been in the back of my head as something I'd want to do. It wasn't until college that I've actually tried it, so I feel like I'm growing with that interest. And piano feeds composing. That's why I've been continuing with it, because I get ideas and I start to understand music better when I play the pieces. Composition is really starting to take a central place in my musical interests.
TC: How do you practice? Is it a lot of repetition and measure by measure work?
AT: Diana Fanning, my teacher, is so intense about when you make a mistake you have to go over it until its perfect. And just continuing to layer things like that until it's all there. I think that's how I memorize the piece, from just repeating it so much, developing that muscle memory in my fingers. I mean, it's a painful way to practice, but it's so rewarding because it will always be there, and I can play the pieces whenever. I haven't practiced the pieces since the concert, and yet I can still play through them.
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