Tag: music

Flute, Performing

Winter Recital 2024

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We had our Studio Winter Recital over the weekend. Even though the weather was 50 degrees, which is considered warm for Utah in January, it was still called our Winter Recital. Each flute student prepared a piece to perform. This was the first time some of them have performed in a recital hall setting on a stage like this.

I was really proud of how well each of my flute students prepared for this recital. A variety of styles were represented with pieces ranging from classical composers by J. S. Bach, G. P. Telemann, W. A. Mozart and C. W. Gluck to 19th century composer Wilhelm Popp and other pieces by modern composers William Billingsley, Chirstopher Nolan, James Rae, and Paul Harris.

Having studio recitals is an incentive to really polish a piece of music and provides an opportunity to share with your family and friends (and fellow flute players) the progress you’ve been making.

I truly believe that if you are going to take the time to develop a talent, you should take the time to share that talent with others. Bravo to everyone last Saturday!

Flute

Performing is Fun

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What is fun about performing?

Sometimes students are scared to play in front of others. I completely understand that. Sometimes I get nervous too. When I was younger my dad always wanted me to play my flute or the piano for anyone that came through our front door, or so it seemed. Did I love that? Absolutely not! But now, years later, I’m grateful that he was so proud of me and wanted to provide opportunities for me to share my talents with others as often as I could.

I went to college and earned degrees in Flute Performance and Pedagogy. Some of the college requirement options were to either do a research paper or do a solo performance. Which one did I choose? You guessed it. Performance!! I had a lot of fun preparing and playing multiple solo recitals during my years in college and graduate school, not to mention all the large and small ensemble performances I’ve been involved in for the past 40 years.

Utah Valley Symphony Sunday in the Park

Last week I played with the Utah Valley Symphony for our second outdoor summer concert in the park. The symphony is on the left just past the large screen and the van. It’s not the best photo, but at least it gives you an idea of the setting. Even though a lot of people filled the park to come listen to us and even though it was being filmed by the local cable company to be rebroadcast later, I wasn’t concerned about the people or the cameras.

I was just so happy to be playing again and even more grateful that the wind wasn’t blowing like our last outdoor concert. I sure missed not preforming last year, thank to COVID.

Our concert was patriotic and movie music such as Battle Hymn of the Republic, Moon River, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Over the Rainbow, Harry Potter and more. Nothing heavy and serious, just a lot of fun and beautiful music. There wasn’t anything scary about playing this summer concert.

So what’s fun about performing?

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