Spotlight on Andrew Throdahl

Author: Sara Jameson

Andrew Throdahl '09 is an accomplished pianist who recently performed three pieces in a concert at the end of semester. Throdahl has been playing the piano for almost twelve years and won the 2006 Concerto Competition. He is happy to be attending Middlebury College, where he studies with Diana Fanning. He manages to successfully balance music and academics; following his passion for the piano while exploring other areas of study.


The Middlebury Campus: So many times kids will drop an instrument out of boredom or frustration - what made you persevere?

Andrew Throdahl: I've always loved music and I think I had the appreciation for music before I started playing it. I think that's what helped. Sometimes kids are thrown into piano lessons and they don't really like the musicÖI guess I had some incentive because I always really liked classical music and it was so exciting to play it and know that I would one day be able to play harder pieces.

TC: Does it ever bother you that in college you have so many things conflicting with your piano? Why did you come to a liberal arts college?

AT: Well, I've met some people who have gone to conservatory and I was really struck by the fact that the only thing they do is music and they're not well rounded. They can't really articulate how they feel about music. I just don't feel like it's a full education. Maybe you're not as focused at a liberal arts school, but at least you get the whole shebangÖnot just one facet. I think that's for grad school. I mean, here you're doing other things that inspire you as well.

TC: Is there a specific composer you like to play? Or is there a time period or musical movement that especially interests you?

AT: Well, I like all composers. But I have to say, I love Beethoven. I've only played one Beethoven Sonata, because I'm pretty much scared to go near it. It's so heavy. I think that you have to be very mature to play it well.

TC: Last year you won the Concerto Competition. What was it like playing with the orchestra?

AT: Oh, it was great! I think it's psychologically better to play with an orchestra than it is to be alone on stage. And with the concerto, it's not like you're playing the whole timeÖyou'll have these pauses where you can listen to the orchestra. It was so much fun.

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 pianistÖI 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.