Miles Acquaviva

Appalachian Week:

Appalachian music gained popularity with Mark O’Connor’s recording of Appalachia

Waltz. The style is easily recognizable by the use of stringed instruments, drones and syncopated
rhythms. Professor Jackson joined O’Connor’s string quartet through connections with her
record label. The quartet performed all across the country, including a performance at Berklee!

Hip-Hop/Pop Week:

Hip-hop/pop producers often use string players in their recordings to create a fuller sound
in their production. Professor Jackson has recorded and played with musicians like J. Cole,
Alicia Keys and Kanye West. She attended the Juilliard School in New York City, and was very
close to where these musicians would often record their albums. It’s not uncommon to have a
session gig and not know who you’re playing for, but you should prepare for every gig as if they
were all equally important. In situations like these, it is very important to take the gig, even if
you don’t know what you’ll be playing. When someone first starts to be offered gigs, it’s
important to take every opportunity offered to you, in hopes that you will make connections to be
offered more gigs in the future. In addition, it is important to be on time, be prepared and be
professional. Be sure to know your part so that fewer recordings are needed. A professional
musician is more likely to get hired for more opportunities in the future.

Classical Auditions:

Classical auditions consist of a solo piece, an excerpt, and sight-reading. Auditions

usually take place over many weeks, with different stages of the audition. It costs quite a bit of
money to audition for multiple orchestras, but the chance to play with a professional orchestra
makes it all worthwhile. The first round may ask for you to play an excerpt from a piece, just to
see if you’ll get an in-person audition.
When you first arrive at an in-person audition, you’re sent to a warm-up room with
everyone else that is auditioning. There will likely be a piece of paper on the wall, telling which
excerpts the jury would like to hear. Try not to listen to what they’re playing, and just focus on
your own work. Once you’re called in, the jury tries to create as little of a bias as possible.
They’ll have a carpet on the floor and have you play in front of a curtain, so that they’ll never be
able to see you. You will likely be asked to play a section of your prepared piece, the excerpts the
jury asked for, and a short sight-reading. If you advance to the next level of auditions, you’ll
receive information telling you when and where to audition again.