Here’s a quick blog post about a question that has come up so much lately: flute dynamics. Specifically HOW do we play louder or quieter? Basically, flute dynamics are a function of the quantity of air. If you want to play louder, you have to use more air. If you want to play quieter, you …
Read more “Flute Dynamics: Quiet High Notes and Loud Low Notes”
5 Advantages to Learning and Playing Flute as an Adult: Learning a musical instrument as an adult can seem like a daunting task, but it’s one that offers a wealth of benefits—both personal and professional. If you’ve ever considered picking up the flute, there’s no better time than now. Here are benefits of learning and …
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🎵 A Beginner Flute Practice Plan That Actually Works So, you’ve just picked up the flute—congrats! Whether you’re learning on your own, taking lessons, or getting back into it after a long break, having a solid practice routine can make all the difference. Below is a beginner flute practice plan that actually works! The key …
Start Every Practice Session with a Fuller, Sweeter Sound: Flute Warm Ups Let’s be honest—when you’re short on time, it’s tempting to skip the warm-up and dive right into scales or pieces. But if there’s one thing you can do in just 5 minutes to dramatically improve your tone, breath control, and overall sound… it’s …
Read more “5-Minute Flute Warm-Ups to Instantly Improve Tone”
Do you need a flute fingering chart? I tend to get a lot of questions about how to play certain notes, or where to find a reliable source of finding how to play certain notes. A fingering chart lists every (well, for the most part) note that we can play on the flute, and it …
2017 in review: 2017 brought some very rewarding projects, some happy surprises, and a generous handful of disappointment. Continued from last year was the constant adjustment to tripling the number of children in my house (with now-toddler twins). For next year, my plans are on a larger scale and more geographically diverse. In terms of …
Fall 2017 Tour Fall 2017 tour was a whirlwind few days of friends, collaborations, and satisfying musical experiences. One big takeaway: performing multiple times within an intensely-compressed time period is really effective in keeping one on one’s toes, performance-wise. There’s no time for nervousness and no time for mistakes. The program has to be clearly …
Where to start when taking a look at a piece for the first time? Obviously there are as many approaches as there are musicians, and different pieces call for different attention. For an example, let’s take a look at the Duos for Flute and Clarinet by Robert Muczynski. (I’ll be performing this with my clarinetist …
St. Simons Island, 5 July 2017, 11:00pm
In the World Music class I teach at South Dakota State University, my students are required to write a research paper. The topic they have to explore is the country of Indonesia, and they have to look beyond the musical traditions. It’s a good opportunity for them to learn about a country they usually have …
