Author: utahfluteteacher

Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving 2023

utahfluteteacher

Special thanks to Ross and Danette Landon from the Landon Team, Realtypath Home & Family for this blog content.

These words from an unknown poet remind us to be thankful on Thanksgiving and all the other days, too.

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times, you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

www.LandonHomesUtah.com
www.LandonTeamUtahHomes.com

Flute, Performing, Utah Valley Symphony

Out of This Universe

utahfluteteacher

The Utah Valley Symphony presents an “Out of This Universe” concert Thursday and Friday, October 19th and 20th, 7:30 pm at the Covey Center in Provo.

Guest conductor Kory Katseanes directs an experience that brings the cosmos to life at this epic concert! Holst’s “The Planets” will transport you to celestial realms, followed by a thrilling Williams “Star Wars Suite” that’ll ignite your inner Jedi.

Prepare for a musical journey like no other! Plus, come early for the chance to take pictures with your favorite Star Wars character!

Orchestra members will be in costume, and we absolutely encourage you to join the intergalactic fun by dressing up too!

The Planets by Holst requires extra players to create an even bigger, majestic sound. The Planets is definitely on my Top 10 list of favorite pieces to play with the symphony!!! It has some amazing flute parts (there are 4 flute players – our own flute choir within the symphony) and the Star Wars Suite features some exciting flute parts and some beautiful flute solos as well.

Get your tickets early!! Please visit www.utahvalleysymphony.org for tickets and more information about season tickets.

Flute, Utah Valley Symphony

What Can I Learn?

utahfluteteacher

I’ve worked with quite a few conductors in my lifetime of music. Recently I asked myself if I would still play with the Utah Valley Symphony if our current conductor retired.

I’ve worked with our current conductor for over 20 years. Even though he hasn’t retired yet, we had the associate conductor do last season’s concerts and we are having some guest conductors this year. I like the photo above how it appears that the conductor is helping the music emerge from nowhere. It’s as if the conductor is pulling the music out of the darkness. That indeed is one of the things a conductor can do–help pull the music out of the musicians.

Conductors, like people, come in many varied personalities and styles. I’ve been fortunate to have many conductors that I loved working with and others that–well, were different.

Each conductor has their own style, philosophies, analogies, strengths and weaknesses, as we all do. One thing I have been reminded of recently is that you can learn something from everyone, whether we are talking about conductors or neighbors or family members or strangers.

I’m looking forward to this year to see what I can learn from our guest conductors. And since I love music so much and it’s still rewarding to play with the symphony, I anticipate staying for a while, regardless of the conductor.

No matter what our situation is, we can learn to adapt. We can learn to accept. We can learn how to work with others. We can look for the good and ask ourselves each day, “What can I learn from this?”

Flute

National Flute Association Convention

utahfluteteacher

“Beyond Borders” was the Convention Theme for 2023

I just returned from Phoenix, Arizona, my hometown, where I attended the 51st Annual National Flute Association (NFA) Convention. It was inspiring!! I kept thinking to myself, “I can’t wait to go home and practice.” It was fun to see old flute friends, hear extremely talented performers, talk with other teachers, and attend masterclasses and recitals all day and all night long.

I also came away with so many fantastic ideas to incorporate into my teaching studio. I took pages and pages of notes. For today, here are 10 gems I want to share, not in any particular order:

  • Where do your head and your heart combine?
  • Stand tall so you don’t collapse the air space.
  • Once you start living the music, accept it and there won’t be time or space to be anxious.
  • Be in the moment.
  • Always strive for a good tone.
  • Don’t second guess yourself.
  • Have the conviction that you are sharing the best you have at that moment in time on the stage.
  • Create something better than the day before.
  • Silence is critical.
  • Never compromise the feeling of the music.
Flute, Practicing

Practice Makes Progess

utahfluteteacher

Perfectionism vs. Progress

Perfectionism is a terrible disease. I suffer from it as I know many others do. Especially as a flute player or musician or artist, perfectionism can be helpful or it can be detrimental. Yes, we should always strive to have all the correct notes, correct rhythms, correct dynamics, breaths, style, interpretation, vibrato, tone colors, phrasing, etc.

Can you see why perfectionism is an ongoing struggle?

In music and in sports, you often hear the phrase Practice makes Perfect. I prefer to use the phrase Practice makes Progress. Here I thought I was so brilliant in coming up with this, but when searching for a photo to use, I found that I wasn’t as brilliant as I thought I was – haha.

The picture above says it all. If you don’t practice, you can’t expect progress.

Practicing is a developmental process to learn what methods are helpful to you. As a teacher I can attest that every student is different. What works for some doesn’t always work for others. That’s one of the things that makes teaching so fun. Finding and creating new ways to affectively teach each music student.

If you want to become a better flute player – or better at anything for that matter – you have to spend time working on that skill.

The more you practice, the better your flute playing habits will be whether those are good habits or bad habits. Hence the need for a private flute teacher to ensure you are practicing good habits.

The more you practice, the more confidence you can achieve with your tone, scales, songs and flute playing. It’s fun to really know a piece well and be confident with it, especially when preparing for a performance. That is impossible to achieve unless you are practicing smart. (That will be another post for another day.)

The main point is this: If you expect to improve as a flute player or anything else in life, you should practice consistently and regularly. That’s all there is to it.

“Practice makes Perfect Progress”.