Author: utahfluteteacher

Festivals, Flute, Thoughts

End of Semester Thoughts

utahfluteteacher

As this flute semester is drawing to a close, I’m pausing to reflect on my students’ development. I’m really pleased with how they have grown with tone, vibrato, dynamics, and rhythms, to name a few. Beyond their flute abilities, and perhaps even more important, is how they have grown in their confidence, their patience, and their dedication.

We finished our flute festivals a couple of weeks ago and all of my students received Superior ratings (again)!! Woohoo!! Way to go everyone!! However, for me, the recognition of their hard work by receiving Superior ratings is not the end goal. I believe that what is more important is what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown this past semester. Festival is a way to help push flute students to polish songs and really focus on improving certain aspects of their playing. In fact, I had one student who ended up being sick and wasn’t able to participate in festival, but I rejoice in the progress she made in preparation for the event, even though she wasn’t able to participate.

And so in music, as well as in life, we should periodically pause to reflect on the progress we’ve made since the new year and pause to reflect on what steps we can now take to continue our improvement and progression. Choose one thing you can do to strengthen your skills as a flute player. And choose one thing you can do improve yourself as a person.

Practicing

Expert Advice from Itzhak Perlman

utahfluteteacher

Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also to the irrepressible joy of making music, which he communicates. (Taken from his biography from https://itzhakperlman.com/)

He said in an Instagram post:

“When you practice it has to be slow. You cannot practice impatiently. You know, putting in the time of practicing is not enough. I would rather you practice with your head for two hours and somebody else just mindlessly for eight because that doesn’t work. So I can tell you if you want to practice really correctly, Number 1: SLOWLY.

Number 2: HAVE AN AGENDA. Why do you want to practice? You know, make sure that you practice in small sections. You want to make sure that you don’t repeat anything without actually hearing what you’re doing because when you repeat certain things and for example let’s say that you practice something for the bow and you keep repeating it and you’re playing it slightly out of tune then you are actually practicing to play out or tune. That’s why you have to listen really carefully to what you’re doing and so on so I know that this is very, very general but at least the important thing is to do it very slowly and to do it in small sections and to have patience. If something sounds great on Monday and it does not sound so good on Tuesday don’t give up. It means that it’s not yet there. Keep practicing slowly again and again and by Wednesday it will be slightly better and by Thursday it will be even more better but patience is very, very important.”

Flute, Practicing, Thoughts

A New Year – A New Day

utahfluteteacher

We are eleven days into the new year. What have you done differently these past eleven days? Have you made a long list of goals or does that just discourage you? Resolutions are great but also hard to keep, especially if you are over zealous with your goals. I hear that January is the busiest time at the gym with everyone and their new goals, but then gradually attendance tapers off as people give up on their goals.

A new year seems to be more of a fresh start for many people. Although, in reality, each day should be a fresh start for all of us. A new day is a new opportunity to accept who we are yet view the fresh possibilities that lie before us for the next 24 hours.

How will YOU use this new day? How will YOU use this new year?

My advice is to start small. Goals don’t have to be monumental. Perhaps your goal today is simply to smile just a little more than you did yesterday. Maybe your goal is to be a little kinder or more forgiving. Or maybe your goal really is to exercise more. Whatever it is, start small.

Now in terms of flute practicing, again, my advice is to start small. Perhaps your goal is to practice for 5 more minutes. Maybe your goal is to listen to your tone instead of going through the motions. Or your goal could be to memorize one more measure of your song. Whatever you choose, make some kind of goal when you get your flute out and don’t just go through the motions.

And, also as with life, don’t just go through the motions. Live each day. Try a little harder and if you don’t achieve your goal, remember that tomorrow will be a new day.

Flute, Performing, Utah Valley Symphony

A Covey Center Christmas

utahfluteteacher

A Covey Center Christmas is the perfect way to invite the warmth of the Christmas spirit into your holiday season! Join with Broadway legends Mindy Smoot Robbins, Dallyn Vail Bayles, and emcee Marvin Payne for a musical extravaganza featuring the Lux Singers and Utah Valley Symphony under the batons of UVS Associate Conductor Dr. Blanka Bednarz and Lux Singers Director Leland Spindler . With traditional Christmas classics and new music that will inspire you, this is a faith-centered celebration that the whole family will love.

December 6th and 7th, 2024, 7:30 p.m. Click here for tickets.

Covey Center for the Arts 
425 W Center St, 
Provo, UT 84601