Music, Cats, and Coffee

Instead of NaNoWriMo, I'm going to aim for a short essay every day on a topic I feel like yammering about.

Just finished a practice session that felt shorter than the 45 minutes it was. Spent the entire time on alto flute. After my recent solo performance and trying out some other altos, I am doing some wishful thinking about going back to school for music.

( Read on )

I'm slowly resuming flute playing following 2 surgeries. My alto is out on loan to my teacher, so I'm starting with my C flute (Mercedes). Given the alto is much heavier than the C, probably an excellent choice.

I had such a wonderful, illuminating experience at the 2017 Alto and Bass Flute Retreat in Boulder, CO with Chris Potter that I decided to use her Alto Flute Method book as a starting point for my C flute! I noticed last fall (before I was ordered to stop playing by my Dr.s) that my low register sound was lacking. The alto exercises are about perfect for what I need.

I'm starting with the Tone Development exercises, #1, 2, 4, & 6. I've only done them twice and I'm noticing a difference already!

My structure for practice session is:
1. Warm up on a duet Based on Sonata in B-flat, K. 378, an adapted Mozart - this thing is like a zillion pages long. I'm switching parts as I go to keep things interesting),
2. work through the tone exercises (with metronome),
3. practice applying the techniques using the Tone Studies pieces (with metronome),
4. practice some of the duet again,
5. then finish by cleaning flute inside & out.

Things I'm doing well:
-Practicing!
-Developing a "taller" embrochure
-Listening closely for subtle, minute variations in sound and pitch

Things to work on:
-Releasing tension in neck, throat, and jaw
-Taking a leisurely, comfortable breath instead of this weird straining sort of slurp I've got going on
-START SOFTER. Just, always. No matter how soft I think I'm starting a phrase, it's still too loud. This wastes air, disrupts phrasing, reduces my ability to play expressively, and is probably lousy to listen to. :P

Once my abdominal surgeon releases me to lift/carry over 9lbs, I will be rejoining the KC Flute Choir for the Spring 2018 season. Music is life for me. I needed the hiatus I took over a decade ago, but I should've ended it earlier than I did. I've suffered for lack of music. Going forward, I am making music a priority and dedicating my life to truly living music again.

VIVA LA VIDA FLAUTA!