Looking to a life in music

Press, 16 July 1980, Page 18

Looking to a life in music

, Reading a biography on the composer Shostakovich might be hard going for anybody, let alone a 16-year-old school girl. But for : Jennifer Moreau, who ; casually confirms that “yes she is reading the book, it is just a natural extension of her interest in music. A promising violinist. she is one of the youngest people to receive an Arts Council grant. A member of the council commented that “she is to the arts what Geoff Hines is to the All Blacks.” .The grant is to cover tfie cost of travelling to Wellington to have lessons with Peter Schaffer, the concert master of the New Zeland Symphony Orchestra. . JFor the economy conscious, however, the grant is not likely to drive New Zealand - into bankruptcy. Miss -Moreau says she has gone .to Wellington only four times this, year — more -often she. has managed to have her lesson when Peter Schaffer is in Christchurch. . - The- grant does not cpver the cost of the lessons, .which she pays herself. At $2O a time it is a sizeable sum. - “It is a lot of-money to find "— that is what I think every- time I hand it over,” she says. . She .goes to Peter Schaffer because he is "so good.” "He has a marvellous technique and has studied under very good people, so he can pass it all 0n.”.. As - well as . technique, • she also picks up tips on interpretation and how to produce the- best tone from her 1977 Belgian violin.. . • • . - The ; Burnside High School- sixth former .has few -romantic illusions about her musical talent. She - started ' playing the eight,- at the, .Christchurch.

School of Instrumental . Music. Most children start on the recorder, but the school ' was short of recorders and needed more : violinists, . so they suggested she take up ' the violin. -Q ~ She'does not think the 1 instrument- she.; chose would have made much • difference. “If ; you. have jhusjcal ;X J. c/m apply it to,. any. .in-.

strument,’’ she says. Her family is interested in music, but none of . them are professional players. Although she has doubts about going.<;into such a competitive field, she does see her future in terms of music. At'-, present. she is, compiling : a tape ; .to go with her applications for a scholarship to study in j America. ' , .^^ : She. has.' decided, on America because “the best

string teachers seem to be there,”'and because she is an American citizen. “B am aiming to be as good as I can be. I feel I have to try ..as hard as I can and. work as hard as I can because of all the money and time that is being spent 'on me,” she says.

By

KARREN BEANLAND

She enjoys playing solo, although she does not know whether she will . ever be 1 good enough to be a solo performer. She also enjoys orchestra / and chamber music, and would like to be in a position where she could db all three forms of performance. ; ‘ ’

After as much as five hours practice each day, there is little time left for other interests, but . Miss Moreau enjoys theatre, travel, and all forms of art. At school her main subjects are languages. She transferred to ■ Burnside this year from Christchurch Girls’ High School because Burnside offered a course in performance. If-she-.is accepted by. an

American university she will concentrate on performance, and "hopefully” will not have to do “much of the other stuff.” : She enjoys other aspects of music besides, performance, such as. composition. She also likes pop music and has just started listening to jazzi * 7 “I haven’t really explored those areas much yet, but I’m . not like some "stuffy musicians who only

like classical music,” she says. “I asked Peter Schaffer' about going into jazz and he said that for recording they always use the best classical musi* cians, so you have to make it in that field.” She , does not have any favourite composers, and has played works from most musical periods. Last year she played a lot of Mozart; and this year she has performed a number of Baroque pieces. “I go through phases of liking things. But it is always the same. When I first start a piece I might like it, or be only lukewarm. Halfway through I love it, and at the end I hate it. But after a year I will come back to it a gain.” Her practice hours vary from one to five hours a day. Asked how she enjoys something that for many people is pure 'torment, she says: “I would say rarely I look forward to it." But she says that it helps /to have a performance to work for. : ' “You 'know that you have to get something ready because you will feel a fool if 7 you play badly; and you.also want ,to be asked. to play • again.” ;: , " '' Although Miss Moreau was bom in America she sees New Zealand as her home. She moved out here with her family when she was six and has lived here since except for a holiday overseas when she was 12. However, she will probably settle overseas where there is a more stimulating musical environ-, ment. -. ' Miss Moreau . does lipt. enjoy being thrown .Into the limelight, althoughZshe • admits that she likes being noticed. “I hate this: sort, of thing,” was her comment when asked for an interview. As to the reaction of her school-mates, she says they take "a mild sort'd, interst” in her playins,