A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed. Professional singers and players have great responsibilities, for the composer is utterly dependent on them. A student of music needs as long and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical student needs to become a doctor. Most training is concerned with technique, for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of an athlete or a ballet dancer. Singers practice breathing every day, as their vocal chords would be inadequate without controlled muscular support. String players practice moving the fingers of the left hand up and down, while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm-two entirely different movements.
Singers and instruments have to be able to get every note perfectly in tune. Pianists are spared this particular anxiety, for the notes are already there, waiting for them, and it is the piano tuner’s responsibility to tune the instrument for them. But they have their own difficulties; the hammers that hit the string have to be coaxed not to sound like percussion, and each overlapping tone has to sound clear.
This problem of getting clear texture is one that confronts student conductors: they have to learn to know every note of the music and how it should sound, and they have to aim at controlling these sound with fanatical but selfless authority.
Technique is of no use unless it is combined with musical knowledge and understanding. Great artists are those who are so thoroughly at home in the language of music that they can enjoy performing works written in any century.
相关单词：utterly
utterly解释：adv.完全地，绝对地
utterly例句：
Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
相关单词：arduous
arduous解释：adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的
arduous例句：
We must have patience in doing arduous work.我们做艰苦的工作要有耐性。
The task was more arduous than he had calculated.这项任务比他所估计的要艰巨得多。
相关单词：proficiency
proficiency解释：n.精通，熟练，精练
proficiency例句：
He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？
相关单词：vocal
vocal解释：adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目
vocal例句：
The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。
相关单词：inadequate
inadequate解释：adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的
inadequate例句：
The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。
相关单词：entirely
entirely解释：ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
entirely例句：
The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
相关单词：perfectly
perfectly解释：adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
perfectly例句：
The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
相关单词：tune
tune解释：n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整
tune例句：
He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。
相关单词：coaxed
coaxed解释：v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱
coaxed例句：
She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词：percussion
percussion解释：n.打击乐器；冲突，撞击；震动，音响
percussion例句：
In an orchestra,people who play percussion instruments sit at the back.在管弦乐队中，演奏打击乐器的人会坐在后面。
Percussion of the abdomen is often omitted.腹部叩诊常被省略。
相关单词：overlapping
overlapping解释：adj./n.交迭（的）
overlapping例句：
There is no overlapping question between the two courses. 这两门课程之间不存在重叠的问题。
A trimetrogon strip is composed of three rows of overlapping. 三镜头摄影航线为三排重迭的象片所组成。
相关单词：texture
texture解释：n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理
texture例句：
We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。
相关单词：thoroughly
thoroughly解释：adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地
thoroughly例句：
The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
