The past few months have been eventful. Allow me to start at the end.
This is my last post on this blog. The Flute Project is over, and it's been a success. Last Sunday, I won the Flute Society of Washington's Adult Amateur Competition. The required piece was the Faure Fantasie, which went as well as could be expected. My personally selected piece was the Martin Ballade. I wasn't as happy with my performance of this work as there were some ensemble issues in the middle of the performance. My pianist and I had only about 1 1/2 hours of rehearsal time prior to the competition, which apparently wasn't enough to solidify ourselves as a group. After accepting my award and leaving the competition venue, I said to my friend, "I just wish the Martin had gone better". He said to me, "It was good enough to win first place!" Touché.
I am very satisfied with my progress on the flute over the year. I've met all the goals stated in the initial post of the Project. My personal life has changed along the way as well. My relationship of almost a decade ended over the holidays. Since I would never have moved to DC had it not been for my SO's job, I decided to go back to the Midwest. I have accepted a position in Indianapolis and will be moving there at the beginning of May.
I nearly stopped practicing the flute while dealing with the aftermath of the break-up. When I'd found out I made finals in the competition, I almost dropped out of it. I credit my teacher, Aaron Goldman, for encouraging me to press forward. I'm glad he did. My original pianist couldn't make the performance because of a previous obligation, so I had to scramble for an accompanist at the last minute. But all's well that ends well, yes?
At the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, where the competition took place, I spent a lot of time with a Brannen-Cooper sales rep, Sarah. She introduced me to the pleasure of playing such a fine instrument, and I'm considering getting one in the near future. I loved the 14K gold with a 14K gold Lafin headjoint. Holy mother, that thing played itself!
A few weeks ago, I imagined myself writing this post. I imagined I would proclaim that I am giving up the flute for good. I imagined selling my flute and never thinking about music again. But, after playing those Brannens and winning that contest, I imagine myself sticking with it. Maybe I'll start another blog. Who knows?
The break-up hasn't been all bad for me. I'm excited about my new job and I'm looking forward to moving to a place where I get paid more and everything costs less. I already own a home there! I hired a personal trainer, and I've lost over 20 lbs. I've met someone else. Hughes is an attorney with the SEC. He's a really sweet man and meeting him made it difficult for me to accept the new job in Indy. We decided to try the long distance thing and see how it all plays out.
And with that, dear reader, I bid you adieu.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Monday, September 3, 2012
It's Been Awhile
Hello dear reader. If you follow me on Twitter, then you know I've been at it almost daily, working through lots of cool pieces. I've taken to micro-blogging, precluding the need to update regularly.
My goals that started this The Flute Project have been nearly completed, or, actually, completely completed if I don't make finals in the Mid Atlantic Flute Society Adult Amateur Competition.
If I haven't already updated my dear reader in a previous post, I auditioned for and made the Capital Wind Symphony. Rehearsals start on September 17th. It'll be great playing in an ensemble again. I was also asked to sub for the NIH Community Orchestra on a Borodin symphony, which was a lot of fun.
I made and sent in my recording for the preliminary round of the competition. I'll try to link to it, if I can figure out how. I should find out if I made finals by the beginning of December. The final competition is in February.
I've started using an app to keep track of my practicing. It's called Compound Time. It's elegantly simple, and it's social networking function guilts me into practicing as much as I can. I am at the end of a week long (planned, kind of) vacation from practicing, and wouldn't you know I got an email chastising me from Compound Time? I highly suggest you try it.
The highlight of the past few days has been a much needed visit from my bestie from Louisville, Nichole. She flew in Thursday. Friday, we went to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. My pasty white skin needed the sun. That evening, we went to Central for dinner, and, wouldn't ya know, the chef himself, M Michel Richard, was seated at the table next to us. He was very friendly. He poured his brandy into Nichole's wine glass!
Work is going well. I increased my popularity amongst the office staff, perhaps only temporarily, by having a BBQ at my home yesterday. The turn out was good, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Keith and I took some of the leftovers to a women's shelter in town yesterday.
My daily practice currently consists of the following:
Reichert Daily Exercises
T and G EJ 4 (slow and fast scales)
Andersen op 15 - currently trying to get #3 up to tempo. It's cray-cray.
Orchestral excerpts - currently Mahler Song of the Earth and Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Solo work - putting to bed Martin Ballade and working on Reinecke Undine.
So there you go. I'm alive and well, as is the Project.
bit.ly/RBE4rp
My goals that started this The Flute Project have been nearly completed, or, actually, completely completed if I don't make finals in the Mid Atlantic Flute Society Adult Amateur Competition.
If I haven't already updated my dear reader in a previous post, I auditioned for and made the Capital Wind Symphony. Rehearsals start on September 17th. It'll be great playing in an ensemble again. I was also asked to sub for the NIH Community Orchestra on a Borodin symphony, which was a lot of fun.
I made and sent in my recording for the preliminary round of the competition. I'll try to link to it, if I can figure out how. I should find out if I made finals by the beginning of December. The final competition is in February.
I've started using an app to keep track of my practicing. It's called Compound Time. It's elegantly simple, and it's social networking function guilts me into practicing as much as I can. I am at the end of a week long (planned, kind of) vacation from practicing, and wouldn't you know I got an email chastising me from Compound Time? I highly suggest you try it.
The highlight of the past few days has been a much needed visit from my bestie from Louisville, Nichole. She flew in Thursday. Friday, we went to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. My pasty white skin needed the sun. That evening, we went to Central for dinner, and, wouldn't ya know, the chef himself, M Michel Richard, was seated at the table next to us. He was very friendly. He poured his brandy into Nichole's wine glass!
Work is going well. I increased my popularity amongst the office staff, perhaps only temporarily, by having a BBQ at my home yesterday. The turn out was good, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Keith and I took some of the leftovers to a women's shelter in town yesterday.
My daily practice currently consists of the following:
Reichert Daily Exercises
T and G EJ 4 (slow and fast scales)
Andersen op 15 - currently trying to get #3 up to tempo. It's cray-cray.
Orchestral excerpts - currently Mahler Song of the Earth and Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Solo work - putting to bed Martin Ballade and working on Reinecke Undine.
So there you go. I'm alive and well, as is the Project.
bit.ly/RBE4rp
Sunday, June 3, 2012
A Performing Fool
I love performing. I do. Every part of it is addictive, including the practicing/rehearsing, adrenaline rush, the applause, the compliments, and the socializing. It's just the bomb, tops, the bees' knees, and all superlatives synonymous.
The above gush is precipitated by my having performed not once, but twice this weekend. I played the first two movements of the JSB Partita in A Minor for Mr. Goldman's studio recital on Saturday and for the Adult Music Student Forum Cadenza Recital today. Saturday's performance was at the home of the NSO's piccoloist, Ms. Carole Bean. She lives in beautiful, grand home in NoVA. The acoustics were great, allowing for a bit of cover-up of any jittery tones. Five of Mr. Goldman's students performed, four of us adults and one 15 year old, whose playing was impressive. Telemann C Major Fantasie at the age of 15? Just superb playing, especially for her age.
I felt great about my performance of the first movement. I kept a flowing, moderate tempo throughout and I think I captured the mood I was after. There were no wrong notes, no clumsy rhythms, no awkward phrases. I think I did well. The second movement was not quite as good. I asked my teacher for notes after, and his take was it was decently played, just a bit heavy. It is a dance, and I think my dancers were a little out of shape. I also missed some notes and had a few stumbles at the end. The interesting thing about the performance was my nerves. We all get nervous, I think, whether we know it or not. During the first movement, Ms. Bean's dog was whining really loudly! I tried not to take it personally, and, in fact, I barely noticed it. What I did notice was my internal chatter. I envisioned people whispering things about my playing, my movements, my tone (good and bad). In actuality, the audience was silent during my performance. I think this internal chatter, and a bit of fatigue and relief at being nearly done, caused my missed notes at the end of the second movement. Afterward, I met some of my studio-mates. They were very nice people, all of whom had day jobs or former day jobs (retirees?), except, of course, for the high school student.
My performance today was, again, in NoVA, at, again, a beautiful home. The AMSF, which I think I may have mentioned in prior posts, is an organization designed to give adults who have don't make a living playing the instrument they love an opportunity to perform in a friendly setting. Today's recital consisted of 10 participants (8 pianists, one violinist and me), playing upwards of 10 minutes each. The acoustics of the performance space (the owner's living room) were not as forgiving as Ms. Bean's home. The setting was more intimate, too, with my closest audience member just a bit beyond arm's reach. I was the first player after intermission, giving me plenty of time to get used to the setting. I think I played fairly well. My sound, initially, was a bit thin, due to, I think, not having warmed up during intermission. I tried to make my sound ring, but it was difficult for me to do. My internal chatter was a bit more sane during this performance compared to yesterday's, but it was still present. I wonder if it every goes away. Next time I perform, if feasible, I'm going to have someone videotape my playing. I'm not really looking forward to watching myself play, but I think it will be quite educational. I hope I don't do anything weird! The people at this event were so kind and complimentary. The hostess had a great spread of hors d'oeuvres and wine. Unfortunately, I had to rush off after the last person played in order to get home and help Keith with chores.
I received an email from one of my studio-mates asking my to sub for the second flutist in the NIH Community Orchestra this weekend. Of course I said yes. I'll be playing Borodin's Symphony Number 2. I've never played it before, but I'm really excited about the opportunity and grateful for being asked.
My next project is to record the preliminary audition CD for the Adult Amateur Competition with the Mid Atlantic Flute Association. I'm going to ask one of the accompanists from Saturday's recital to record it with me, and Mr. Goldberg has given me the information for a recording studio who can make the CD for a relatively small fee. I'll keep my dear reader apprised.
Here's what I'm practicing currently:
Breathing exercises (Wye)
Long tones (Moyse): De La Sonorite, pages 6-9 (the classic long tones everyone does), and pp. 15-22 (the ones where you start on one note and progress up chromatically in triplets, e.g. F-F#-F F-G-F F-G#-F etc).
T and G: EJ 1 and 2, various articulations, 120 bpm; page 2 of EJ 1 in third register at 50 bpm; EJ 4, various articulations, 120 bpm.
Throat tuning and harmonics (Dick) - p. 11 and 15.
Etude (Andersen op. 15) - Second study
Solo Work - I'm putting the Bach to bed for now and starting again on the Faure Fantasie for the competition.
And that's where I am. I'm pleased with my progress, but I'm motivated by a desire to get a lot better. Someday, dear reader, I'll post a recording of my playing. But, when I do, please be kind :)
The above gush is precipitated by my having performed not once, but twice this weekend. I played the first two movements of the JSB Partita in A Minor for Mr. Goldman's studio recital on Saturday and for the Adult Music Student Forum Cadenza Recital today. Saturday's performance was at the home of the NSO's piccoloist, Ms. Carole Bean. She lives in beautiful, grand home in NoVA. The acoustics were great, allowing for a bit of cover-up of any jittery tones. Five of Mr. Goldman's students performed, four of us adults and one 15 year old, whose playing was impressive. Telemann C Major Fantasie at the age of 15? Just superb playing, especially for her age.
I felt great about my performance of the first movement. I kept a flowing, moderate tempo throughout and I think I captured the mood I was after. There were no wrong notes, no clumsy rhythms, no awkward phrases. I think I did well. The second movement was not quite as good. I asked my teacher for notes after, and his take was it was decently played, just a bit heavy. It is a dance, and I think my dancers were a little out of shape. I also missed some notes and had a few stumbles at the end. The interesting thing about the performance was my nerves. We all get nervous, I think, whether we know it or not. During the first movement, Ms. Bean's dog was whining really loudly! I tried not to take it personally, and, in fact, I barely noticed it. What I did notice was my internal chatter. I envisioned people whispering things about my playing, my movements, my tone (good and bad). In actuality, the audience was silent during my performance. I think this internal chatter, and a bit of fatigue and relief at being nearly done, caused my missed notes at the end of the second movement. Afterward, I met some of my studio-mates. They were very nice people, all of whom had day jobs or former day jobs (retirees?), except, of course, for the high school student.
My performance today was, again, in NoVA, at, again, a beautiful home. The AMSF, which I think I may have mentioned in prior posts, is an organization designed to give adults who have don't make a living playing the instrument they love an opportunity to perform in a friendly setting. Today's recital consisted of 10 participants (8 pianists, one violinist and me), playing upwards of 10 minutes each. The acoustics of the performance space (the owner's living room) were not as forgiving as Ms. Bean's home. The setting was more intimate, too, with my closest audience member just a bit beyond arm's reach. I was the first player after intermission, giving me plenty of time to get used to the setting. I think I played fairly well. My sound, initially, was a bit thin, due to, I think, not having warmed up during intermission. I tried to make my sound ring, but it was difficult for me to do. My internal chatter was a bit more sane during this performance compared to yesterday's, but it was still present. I wonder if it every goes away. Next time I perform, if feasible, I'm going to have someone videotape my playing. I'm not really looking forward to watching myself play, but I think it will be quite educational. I hope I don't do anything weird! The people at this event were so kind and complimentary. The hostess had a great spread of hors d'oeuvres and wine. Unfortunately, I had to rush off after the last person played in order to get home and help Keith with chores.
I received an email from one of my studio-mates asking my to sub for the second flutist in the NIH Community Orchestra this weekend. Of course I said yes. I'll be playing Borodin's Symphony Number 2. I've never played it before, but I'm really excited about the opportunity and grateful for being asked.
My next project is to record the preliminary audition CD for the Adult Amateur Competition with the Mid Atlantic Flute Association. I'm going to ask one of the accompanists from Saturday's recital to record it with me, and Mr. Goldberg has given me the information for a recording studio who can make the CD for a relatively small fee. I'll keep my dear reader apprised.
Here's what I'm practicing currently:
Breathing exercises (Wye)
Long tones (Moyse): De La Sonorite, pages 6-9 (the classic long tones everyone does), and pp. 15-22 (the ones where you start on one note and progress up chromatically in triplets, e.g. F-F#-F F-G-F F-G#-F etc).
T and G: EJ 1 and 2, various articulations, 120 bpm; page 2 of EJ 1 in third register at 50 bpm; EJ 4, various articulations, 120 bpm.
Throat tuning and harmonics (Dick) - p. 11 and 15.
Etude (Andersen op. 15) - Second study
Solo Work - I'm putting the Bach to bed for now and starting again on the Faure Fantasie for the competition.
And that's where I am. I'm pleased with my progress, but I'm motivated by a desire to get a lot better. Someday, dear reader, I'll post a recording of my playing. But, when I do, please be kind :)
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Still At It
This is the part where I apologize for not having posted in so long. Well, guess what, dear reader. I'm not going to do that. I moved since my last post, and, suffice to say, I've been occupied with other things. So there. Hmph.
Anyhoo, I am still playing and practicing and taking lessons. My musical life is fuller than I would have expected at this point of my comeback, as it were. My lessons with Aaron Goldman are beneficial, fun, challenging, and just tops. I love them. I auditioned for the Capital Wind Symphony today, and I got in! Rehearsals start in September. Ms. Trimber, who is principal flutist, thinks I'll probably be principal second, which is okay by me. I'm thrilled I was accepted. The group has a YouTube clip if any of my 2 to 3 dear readers wants to check it out. They're pretty good!
Coming up next for me:
Performance with the Adult Music Student Forum. I'm going to play the JSB Partita in A Minor. I don't yet know which movement(s).
Preliminary recorded audition for the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair's Adult Amateur competition.
And to review the goals stated in the first post of this little blog and my progress:
Buy flute - check.
Practice (near) daily - check.
Journal my (near daily) practice - check, although when I wrote that goal on my blog, I meant journal on the blog. That's a bit tedious, though, for both me and my dear reader, so my practice journaling is done on my iPhone for me only.
Take lessons - check.
Join a community orchestra - check (I know, it's not an orchestra, but it's a great ensemble).
Enter the Adult Amateur competition - working on it.
And this is what I'm working on:
Breathing exercise (Wye)
Long tones (Moyse)
Various tone, intonation and articulation exercises (Wye)
Super Slow Scales (T and G/Goldman)
Scales (T and G) - EJ 1, 2 and 4, 112 beats per minute, various articulations, mezzo forte)
Etude (Andersen) Opus 15, number 1. Goal is to learn one per week. Mr. Goldman wasn't thrilled with the Cavally book. He thought it was too easy.
Orchestral excerpts (Baxtresser) - Recently Daphnis, Brahm's 4th, Mendellsohn Scherzo, Beethoven Leonore and Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn for the CWS audition. I suppose Mr. Goldman will choose some more for me to work on at my lesson tomorrow.
Solo work - Mozart G Major Concerto for the audition today. No doubt we'll work on the JSB Partita in tomorrow's lesson. Following that, Faure Fantasie for the competition.
As for work, well, it's busy. And when things are busy at work, my dear reader knows, things are also stressful. The good thing is my surgical volume seems to be picking up a bit, so there's that. The OR is a magical place. No one can bother you. Perhaps I should have been a general surgeon. Nah...
Anyhoo, I am still playing and practicing and taking lessons. My musical life is fuller than I would have expected at this point of my comeback, as it were. My lessons with Aaron Goldman are beneficial, fun, challenging, and just tops. I love them. I auditioned for the Capital Wind Symphony today, and I got in! Rehearsals start in September. Ms. Trimber, who is principal flutist, thinks I'll probably be principal second, which is okay by me. I'm thrilled I was accepted. The group has a YouTube clip if any of my 2 to 3 dear readers wants to check it out. They're pretty good!
Coming up next for me:
Performance with the Adult Music Student Forum. I'm going to play the JSB Partita in A Minor. I don't yet know which movement(s).
Preliminary recorded audition for the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair's Adult Amateur competition.
And to review the goals stated in the first post of this little blog and my progress:
Buy flute - check.
Practice (near) daily - check.
Journal my (near daily) practice - check, although when I wrote that goal on my blog, I meant journal on the blog. That's a bit tedious, though, for both me and my dear reader, so my practice journaling is done on my iPhone for me only.
Take lessons - check.
Join a community orchestra - check (I know, it's not an orchestra, but it's a great ensemble).
Enter the Adult Amateur competition - working on it.
And this is what I'm working on:
Breathing exercise (Wye)
Long tones (Moyse)
Various tone, intonation and articulation exercises (Wye)
Super Slow Scales (T and G/Goldman)
Scales (T and G) - EJ 1, 2 and 4, 112 beats per minute, various articulations, mezzo forte)
Etude (Andersen) Opus 15, number 1. Goal is to learn one per week. Mr. Goldman wasn't thrilled with the Cavally book. He thought it was too easy.
Orchestral excerpts (Baxtresser) - Recently Daphnis, Brahm's 4th, Mendellsohn Scherzo, Beethoven Leonore and Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn for the CWS audition. I suppose Mr. Goldman will choose some more for me to work on at my lesson tomorrow.
Solo work - Mozart G Major Concerto for the audition today. No doubt we'll work on the JSB Partita in tomorrow's lesson. Following that, Faure Fantasie for the competition.
As for work, well, it's busy. And when things are busy at work, my dear reader knows, things are also stressful. The good thing is my surgical volume seems to be picking up a bit, so there's that. The OR is a magical place. No one can bother you. Perhaps I should have been a general surgeon. Nah...
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Musical Explosion
Oh, dear reader, I can't believe it's been 9 days since I last posted. Please forgive me. Never fear, though. The Project is alive and well. It's so alive, in fact, that I've been incredibly busy (musically and otherwise)!
Since I last posted, I played for an adult amateur masterclass with Linda Chesis. She is a dynamic teacher. I played the first movement of the Bach Partita. She helped me realize that I don't need to "tank up" with a huge breath before I begin playing. I have plenty of air in my lungs at any given time to successfully start the piece. This tidbit has helped me conquer a fear that I almost didn't know I had - the fear of beginning to play. Another good point she made is that I try to make my sound too pure. Her comments and suggestions have helped me strive to have a sounds that projects and is vibrant rather than a sound that is pure and fails to reach the back of the concert hall. She also talked a lot about the physical aspects of playing the flute, and her comments and demonstrations were spot on. Other pieces played by the participants were the CPE Bach Sonata in A Minor, Rivier Sonatine and Reinecke Undine Sonata. I received an email afterward from the event sponsor, Ms. Trimber, saying that Ms. Chesis has invited me to an adult amateur chamber music weekend, which is part of her Cooperstown Music Festival. Apparently the amateurs are grouped with professional muscians for a ton of chamber music performances. I'm already planning the trip! I haven't received any further emails, so I hope it still happens.
The following day I had my lesson with Aaron Goldman. He's simply brilliant. His comments and demonstrations in one lesson have been unbelievably accurate and helpful. One of many examples is his use of what he calls "super slow scales" to help develop even technique. I've always thought of technique as fast, impressive playing, but his approach is to play the T and G EJ 4 at a metronome marking of 80 bpm and play one note per metronome click. Sounds easy, but the work is incredibly exacting. The fingers must move instantaneously BEFORE the click of the metronome in order to get the note to speak exactly on time. Another example of his teaching is the concept of the "laser to Mars". In order to project one's sound, the player imagines his sound as super focused on a far away place (e.g. Mars), whether he is playing softly, loudly, with a bright color or dark color. The teaching point that has probably caused the biggest improvement in my playing in a short amount of time is the fact that I play with the corners of my lips drawn too tight. His opinion is that the corners of the lips should be completely (or near completely) relaxed and the majority of the work with the embochure should come from the middle of the lips. I have an off-center embochure, but my lips were still too tight. I've been working on relaxing my embochure and already I think my sound has improved.
I've been keeping a practice journal, and the following is from my most recent practice session:
Breathing exercise from Wye's series.
Moyse long tones in minor thirds.
Dick's Tone Development Through Extended Techniques, the first three lines of the first throat tuning study and the first harmonic study.
Super slow scales.
Articulation study from Wye's series.
T and G EJ 1 and 2, first page, articulation number 2, 96 bpm. I've added exercises that practice high C, C# and D per Mr. Goldman's suggestions, but I must say they are really difficult. I've resolved to practice them at a painfully slow metronome marking until I get a handle of them.
EJ 4, all the sharp scales (alternating between the "sharp" and "flat" scales each day), artic 2, 92 bpm. Again, I'm trying to be more complete with my scale practice by expanding my range to the higher notes.
Excerpt from Brahms Fourth.
Mozart G Major Concerto, first movement, exposition. Mr. Goldman has suggested I set my metronome to click on the downbeat of every measure rather than every beat in order to fine tune my rhythm. This is very challenging. In order to do this, I downloaded an app called DrBetotte, which is clearly a Dr. Beat ripoff. It was $9.99, I think, and it's okay. I'd prefer the actualy Dr. Beat, but I don't want to part with the money just yet.
Work has been going okay. I had an evaluation with my Chair today, and she was very complimentary. We have a boring retreat scheduled this Saturday that will take up the entire morning. Joy :)
Since I last posted, I played for an adult amateur masterclass with Linda Chesis. She is a dynamic teacher. I played the first movement of the Bach Partita. She helped me realize that I don't need to "tank up" with a huge breath before I begin playing. I have plenty of air in my lungs at any given time to successfully start the piece. This tidbit has helped me conquer a fear that I almost didn't know I had - the fear of beginning to play. Another good point she made is that I try to make my sound too pure. Her comments and suggestions have helped me strive to have a sounds that projects and is vibrant rather than a sound that is pure and fails to reach the back of the concert hall. She also talked a lot about the physical aspects of playing the flute, and her comments and demonstrations were spot on. Other pieces played by the participants were the CPE Bach Sonata in A Minor, Rivier Sonatine and Reinecke Undine Sonata. I received an email afterward from the event sponsor, Ms. Trimber, saying that Ms. Chesis has invited me to an adult amateur chamber music weekend, which is part of her Cooperstown Music Festival. Apparently the amateurs are grouped with professional muscians for a ton of chamber music performances. I'm already planning the trip! I haven't received any further emails, so I hope it still happens.
The following day I had my lesson with Aaron Goldman. He's simply brilliant. His comments and demonstrations in one lesson have been unbelievably accurate and helpful. One of many examples is his use of what he calls "super slow scales" to help develop even technique. I've always thought of technique as fast, impressive playing, but his approach is to play the T and G EJ 4 at a metronome marking of 80 bpm and play one note per metronome click. Sounds easy, but the work is incredibly exacting. The fingers must move instantaneously BEFORE the click of the metronome in order to get the note to speak exactly on time. Another example of his teaching is the concept of the "laser to Mars". In order to project one's sound, the player imagines his sound as super focused on a far away place (e.g. Mars), whether he is playing softly, loudly, with a bright color or dark color. The teaching point that has probably caused the biggest improvement in my playing in a short amount of time is the fact that I play with the corners of my lips drawn too tight. His opinion is that the corners of the lips should be completely (or near completely) relaxed and the majority of the work with the embochure should come from the middle of the lips. I have an off-center embochure, but my lips were still too tight. I've been working on relaxing my embochure and already I think my sound has improved.
I've been keeping a practice journal, and the following is from my most recent practice session:
Breathing exercise from Wye's series.
Moyse long tones in minor thirds.
Dick's Tone Development Through Extended Techniques, the first three lines of the first throat tuning study and the first harmonic study.
Super slow scales.
Articulation study from Wye's series.
T and G EJ 1 and 2, first page, articulation number 2, 96 bpm. I've added exercises that practice high C, C# and D per Mr. Goldman's suggestions, but I must say they are really difficult. I've resolved to practice them at a painfully slow metronome marking until I get a handle of them.
EJ 4, all the sharp scales (alternating between the "sharp" and "flat" scales each day), artic 2, 92 bpm. Again, I'm trying to be more complete with my scale practice by expanding my range to the higher notes.
Excerpt from Brahms Fourth.
Mozart G Major Concerto, first movement, exposition. Mr. Goldman has suggested I set my metronome to click on the downbeat of every measure rather than every beat in order to fine tune my rhythm. This is very challenging. In order to do this, I downloaded an app called DrBetotte, which is clearly a Dr. Beat ripoff. It was $9.99, I think, and it's okay. I'd prefer the actualy Dr. Beat, but I don't want to part with the money just yet.
Work has been going okay. I had an evaluation with my Chair today, and she was very complimentary. We have a boring retreat scheduled this Saturday that will take up the entire morning. Joy :)
Sunday, April 15, 2012
A Quick Update
It's official. We got the house! We are moving the first weekend of May.
I now have a flute teacher. Aaron Goldman, associate principal flute with the National Symphony Orchestra, has agreed to take me on as his student. I'm quite excited. I hear he's a fabulous player and teacher.
I now have my flute. The Hammig headjoint didn't quite fit, so I took it to a repairman's house/shop on Saturday. It took him all of 10 minutes to get the job done.
My life has recently exploded with music-related events. I'm going to a Linda Chesis masterclass this Saturday. I have my lesson with Mr. Goldman on Sunday. I have an audition for the Capital Wind Symphony on May 19th. Finally, I perform the JSB Partita in A Minor on June 3rd. This is more than I ever thought would happen in such a short amount of time.
Practicing is going well. I recently started keeping a practice journal. It's extremely useful. It's surprising to me how much I forget from the prior day's practice session.
Here's where I am:
I've started doing a breathing exercise from Wye's Practice Book 5. It's basically a complete exhalation followed by extreme inhalation of air to the point of pain. Repeat x 6. I think it will take awhile before I see results. I was inspired to start doing this when I couldn't sustain notes from his long tone exercises.
Long tones (Wye): exercises from Practice Book 1, including pitch control exercises that focus on getting C# in tune.
Harmonics (Wye): I got the high Bb to speak! I still am inconsistent, but this is huge!
Etude (Cavally): 18th etude in book.
Excerpts (Baxtresser): Mendelssohn Scherzo and Daphnis.
Solo work: I am done working on the Faure Fantasie for now. I'll get back into it closer to time to record for the competition. Working on the exposition of the first movement of Mozart G Major Concerto for the CSW audition.
And that's all. I wanted to post quickly tonight (it's late). I didn't want to go too long without posting since so much is happening so quickly!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Beautiful Day Off
It's a gorgeous day in DC. The temperature is in the mid 60s, sunny, a bit windy, and the best representation I can recall of what a spring day should be. I'm post-call today, which gives me the chance to raise my vitamin D levels a bit. I've already spent a few minutes outside. My housekeepers come on Mondays, so I took the pooch out for a walk and sat out on a bench until they were finished.
Have I mentioned my pets before? In case I haven't, there's Molly, a 7 year old pug; Gandalf, a 15 year old cat; and Kitty Poo, a 7 year old cat. Much like people, they're all great and all awful in their unique ways. The newest drama is trying to give Gandalf medication to stop him from marking outside his litterbox. He deftly spits pills out, so the vet had the same medication compounded in liquid form, chicken flavored, no less. He apparently doesn't like the chicken flavoring, as he runs away as soon as I get the medicine in his mouth and then salivates terribly. I'm waiting on a call back from the vet about this one. I hope to be on the way to solving the inappropriate urination issue soon, as our potential new home has carpeting on two of the four levels.
Speaking of potential new homes, I have news. The owner's realtor called and told me it's ours for the renting! She then qualified the news by saying that it's all pending finalizing our application, which should be complete today. Finally, after living in a tiny condo with only one bathroom for a year, I'll be back in a single family home, with multiple bathrooms, and with a garage! And let's not forget there is a third bedroom that I'm going to use as a studio. It has skylights! We should be moved in at the beginning of next month, fingers crossed.
I have changed up the content of my practice routine a tiny bit. Here's where I am:
Long tones (Wye, Practice Books for the Flute, Book 1, Tone): Low register exercise 1; middle register exercise 1; high register exercise 1. I know these exercises are simple, but I do get a lot out of them.
Harmonics (Wye): This is such slow, painful progress. I still can't get the fifth harmonic of low Eb to speak. I think it will happen soon, though, and that day will be a glorious one.
Scales (T and G): EJ 1 and 2, second page, two octaves, mezzo forte, articulation # 8, 84 beats per minute; EJ 4, A Major through C Major, mezzo forte, articulation #7, 80 beats per minute.
Etude (Cavally): The 17th study in the book. These etudes are becoming more difficult, as one would expect. I can no longer breeze through them in a 15 minute practice session. I played the prior etude for 5 consecutive days before I was satisfied enough to move on.
Orchestral excerpts (Baxtresser): William Tell. I wish I knew a pianist who could play the English horn part while I practice this. I'm sure it would make all the difference. It would be so easy to get behind on those 32nd note rests.
Solo work (Faure): Fantasie. This is the required piece for the adult amateur competition I plan to enter. I've known the piece for a long time, and I love it. It's such a fun work. It's been so long since I've played it that it's a bit like playing it for the first time. The preliminary round recordings aren't due until September or so, but I really want to find a pianist soon so I'm not scrambling at the last minute.
I must find a teacher soon. I emailed the gentleman in Maryland again, but he hasn't responded. I don't know if he's busy, or flaky, or both. If I don't hear from him by Friday, I will seek another teacher. Ms. Trimber is delivering my new flute to me that day, so I will ask her for recommendations. She seems to be in-the-know when it comes to the flute scene in DC.
Here's a photo that could very well have been taken today (it wasn't, but it could have been!)
Have I mentioned my pets before? In case I haven't, there's Molly, a 7 year old pug; Gandalf, a 15 year old cat; and Kitty Poo, a 7 year old cat. Much like people, they're all great and all awful in their unique ways. The newest drama is trying to give Gandalf medication to stop him from marking outside his litterbox. He deftly spits pills out, so the vet had the same medication compounded in liquid form, chicken flavored, no less. He apparently doesn't like the chicken flavoring, as he runs away as soon as I get the medicine in his mouth and then salivates terribly. I'm waiting on a call back from the vet about this one. I hope to be on the way to solving the inappropriate urination issue soon, as our potential new home has carpeting on two of the four levels.
Speaking of potential new homes, I have news. The owner's realtor called and told me it's ours for the renting! She then qualified the news by saying that it's all pending finalizing our application, which should be complete today. Finally, after living in a tiny condo with only one bathroom for a year, I'll be back in a single family home, with multiple bathrooms, and with a garage! And let's not forget there is a third bedroom that I'm going to use as a studio. It has skylights! We should be moved in at the beginning of next month, fingers crossed.
I have changed up the content of my practice routine a tiny bit. Here's where I am:
Long tones (Wye, Practice Books for the Flute, Book 1, Tone): Low register exercise 1; middle register exercise 1; high register exercise 1. I know these exercises are simple, but I do get a lot out of them.
Harmonics (Wye): This is such slow, painful progress. I still can't get the fifth harmonic of low Eb to speak. I think it will happen soon, though, and that day will be a glorious one.
Scales (T and G): EJ 1 and 2, second page, two octaves, mezzo forte, articulation # 8, 84 beats per minute; EJ 4, A Major through C Major, mezzo forte, articulation #7, 80 beats per minute.
Etude (Cavally): The 17th study in the book. These etudes are becoming more difficult, as one would expect. I can no longer breeze through them in a 15 minute practice session. I played the prior etude for 5 consecutive days before I was satisfied enough to move on.
Orchestral excerpts (Baxtresser): William Tell. I wish I knew a pianist who could play the English horn part while I practice this. I'm sure it would make all the difference. It would be so easy to get behind on those 32nd note rests.
Solo work (Faure): Fantasie. This is the required piece for the adult amateur competition I plan to enter. I've known the piece for a long time, and I love it. It's such a fun work. It's been so long since I've played it that it's a bit like playing it for the first time. The preliminary round recordings aren't due until September or so, but I really want to find a pianist soon so I'm not scrambling at the last minute.
I must find a teacher soon. I emailed the gentleman in Maryland again, but he hasn't responded. I don't know if he's busy, or flaky, or both. If I don't hear from him by Friday, I will seek another teacher. Ms. Trimber is delivering my new flute to me that day, so I will ask her for recommendations. She seems to be in-the-know when it comes to the flute scene in DC.
Here's a photo that could very well have been taken today (it wasn't, but it could have been!)
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