Tag: Utah Valley Symphony

Flute, Utah Valley Symphony

What Can I Learn?

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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?”

Utah Valley Symphony

Young Artists Concert

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Brilliant young artists will join the Utah Valley Symphony in concert Wed & Thurs, Feb 23rd & 24th. The soloists will perform works by Rachmaninoff, Handel, Saint- Saëns, Beethoven, and more.

The symphony will also perform Dvořák’s Carnival Overture and The Moldau by Smetena. Great flute parts!

Click here for tickets.

Utah Valley Symphony

Thoughts on Performing

utahfluteteacher
  • Superhero Flute Section
  • Super Moms

If you came to our superhero symphony concert last week, thank you. If not, you missed out on some concert fun and marvelously majestic music.

During the dress rehearsal and the performances several times I thought to myself, “You know, this is fun. I really enjoying doing this.” Last year, I wondered that if our conductor retired, would I still keep playing in the orchestra. We’ve had a guest conductor for our summer concert and last week’s concert and I’ve decided that the answer is definitely YES. I would still keep playing with the Utah Valley Symphony.

I enjoy playing my flute. I enjoy making music with others. I enjoy the thrill of sitting in the center of the orchestra, the best spot in my opinion. I enjoy the comradery with others. I enjoy performing.

At the beginning of each school year, I send out a list of performance dates to my flute students. The ones who have taken lessons for more than a year expect it. Those who just started lessons inevitably, shall I say, “Freak out”. We have masterclasses, also known as group flute classes, recitals, and festivals throughout the school year.

Scientific evidence supports that learning a musical instrument is great for your brain, but it is also great for your soul and helps build character.

Why do we perform?

To work towards a goal and accomplish it. To stretch yourself. To learn from it. To share with others. To make music and express the emotion, the passion, the energy and the beauty through it.

One of my college professors, Dr. Ted Wight, often said that whatever happened at the recital was not the most important thing. The most important thing was the progress I made since the last recital. I wholeheartedly agree.

A performance is the culmination of time and effort to create a work of art.

Don’t hide from performance opportunities but rather seek them out and embrace each chance to perform.

Music expresses what cannot be put into words and yet cannot remain silent.

Victor Hugo
Utah Valley Symphony

Utah Valley Symphony Super Heroes

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Tickets are now on sale for our Utah Valley Symphony Superheroes concert. Thursday and Friday, October 20th and 21st, 2022, 7:30 pm at the Covey Center in Provo. Click here for tickets.

Experience a mash-up of contemporary and classical heroines and heroes with the Utah Valley Symphony. Spiderman meets Franz Liszt. Wonder Woman goes head to head with Beethoven. Benjamin Britten makes way for music from Frozen. Join us in enjoying these family friendly heroic themes as well as photo ops with Spiderman, Elsa, and Wonder Woman for an adventure packed evening. The orchestra musicians will be in Halloween costumes, so audience costumes are also encouraged.

We all have our favorite super hero, whether it’s Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Thor, Iron Man, or dozens of others to choose from.

Synonyms to superhero include defender, model, fighter, guardian, or rescuer. Merriam-webster.com lists some synonyms for heroic as “brave, courageous, fearless, and valiant,” to name a few.

Setting all Marvel and Detective Series and Disney movies aside, who is a super hero to you?

Someone who has fought cancer multiple times? A single mother or a single father raising their children? A helpful neighbor who serves in a quiet way? Someone who donates to a humanitarian fund? A flute teacher who changes your direction in life for good? A friend who stands by you and doesn’t judge you whether it’s through good times or hard times? Someone who shovels the snow from your sidewalk on a cold, brisk, winter morning? Or simply someone who is there to truly listen when you most need them?

The following is a quote from cbr.com.

In Spider-Man 2, Aunt May is clearing out her house with her young neighbor Henry, who asks Peter where Spider-Man has gone. When Peter replies that Spider-Man is gone, Aunt May delivers a heartfelt speech about why it is important to be a hero. [A partial quote is…]

I believe there’s a hero in all of us that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally, allows us to die with pride.

https://www.cbr.com/best-superhero-movie-quotes-ranked/

Superheroes are around us every day. I challenge you to look around and notice the superheroes near you or strive to be a superhero for someone else.

And then, buy tickets for our Utah Valley Symphony concert and come enjoy some heroic music on October 20th and 21st at the Covey Center in Provo.

Flute

Fun with Music at Any Age

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Jon Schmidt
Utah Valley Symphony at the Scera Outdoor Theatre

Last Night we (the Utah Valley Symphony) had our concert with Jon Schmidt of The Piano Guys at the Scera Outdoor Theatre. Talk about FUN!!! It was great.

First, I have a story to share, even though it’s not about one of my flute students. Earlier yesterday afternoon I was teaching one of my younger piano students about how any finger could play middle C; it isn’t always played with your thumb. I told him that you could even play it with your toe or your nose. It didn’t matter; that key would still be C. So he immediately tried to play the piano with his toe and his nose, of course. Then while he played the 8 measure Middle C March from Faber’s Primer Level of Piano Adventures, he tried to use his toe to play the last measure.

I often do silly things like this with with my younger students. But last night I realized that I also need to have more fun with my older students. How does this relate to Jon Schmidt and our concert? Read on.

Continue reading “Fun with Music at Any Age” →