I've been playing the flute for about 6 years now, and passed my grade 8 exam in march. Since then, it's all been downhill- i never practise, because i have nothing to practise for- and my playing has obviously gone to pot. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? I really don't want to stop playing, because i love it- i just don't feel motivated enough to practise anymore

well i dont play the flute (i play piano) but ive got a suggestion for u...mayb u can go to the music shops and pick a (or a few) music book with some pieces inside that u fink u will like and den try and learn dem urself...

i mean fink about it...y did learn to play the flute anyway? and since u love it so much it must play some part of a role in ur life...so treat it as a hobby...something u do in ur spare time...

hope my suggestion is useful...

gone

whoops

try joining a local orchestra or band - I joined a chamber orchestra and a harmony group I found lots of inspiration there, and other musicians to play with. We formed a trio of two flutes and me on clarinet and then another duo of cello clarinet. It is always stimulating playing with other musicians and you HAVE to practice or you let the others down !
Also try and find a pianist to accompany you - that is very rewarding and again a stimulus for working and improving !
Hope that helps

Three times.

Try teaching! That'll keep you practicing.

If you find exams a good motivator why not get hold of the diploma syllabus and pick out some pieces from there to work on.
If you want technical exercises get Taffanel and Gaubert's Daily Exercises for flute - they're one (or maybe more!) step up from playing scales. I read a good book by James Galway on the flute which I am sure is still available and I found it very interesting and he gives lots of suggestions on how to improve your flute playing at different levels and recommends books/music too.
Only wish that I had more time to practise!

BTW - congratulations on passing your grade 8!

now you see them, now you don't - just realised I can edit my own texts - oh the wonders of modern science. It was a bit embarassing having three messages all the same !!

Do you play in an orchestra or band?
I think that this would give you a different slant on playing.

Try playing some of the pieces from the diploma syllabus, motivation: if you do practice enough and get good enough then you could do the exam; if not you haven't lost anything and you have learnt new pieces.

I'mk looking at finding myself in a similar situation after I've done my Grade 8, and as a result have joined a local orchestra, and intend to join the college one when I start in September.

I made a similar quiery in the teachers forum a little while back, I think it was under a thread re: diplomas, so you might find some more suggestions there.

QUOTE (little_kitty @ Jul 6 2004, 10:59 AM)

well i dont play the flute (i play piano) but ive got a suggestion for u...mayb u can go to the music shops and pick a (or a few) music book with some pieces inside that u fink u will like and den try and learn dem urself... i mean fink about it...y did learn to play the flute anyway? and since u love it so much it must play some part of a role in ur life...so treat it as a hobby...something u do in ur spare time... hope my suggestion is useful...

well, you could go on to Diplomas and such, but exploring along the way is fun! People think I'm such a cheap person when I go to the public library in the next city over and check out stacks of sheet music . . . but, hey, I'm saving money by xeroxing the music in my school library! (first 4 copies free, but I managed to get a month's worth of sheet music copied before I was identified as the Xerox-machine-stalker ). Plus, the library has 3 whole aisles on opera, piano, violin, and guitar . . . my kind of heaven!

You may find that some random music you come upon will interest you in some way or another. And, really, this should be something fun - don't feel obligated to move up into higher levels if you don't feel like it just yet (or if you want to, by all means, good luck!). You never know what you can do if you try different things out . . .

I was drawn to your message by your name, i happen to be a Debussy fanatic too! Carry on enjoying your Debussy, ask to be involved in music concerts and see if there is a woodwind band near where you live, or any band of that matter! And if you really enjoy playing the flute, teaching others will certainly carry on your love of music, if not boost it! And if you feel like staying aroudn the home, why not compose or arrange some music for the flute in the style of Debussy, seeming as you enjoy his music?

Good luck for the future.

Kees xxx

I can't believe there is that much music in your library!

When I had a look (actually for a theory book, which I never found) there was one shelf-full and that was mostly piano music, which is of little use when you play the flute, and this was in the second largest library in Cornwall!

I feel so deprived...

why not try to improve all the aspects of your playing to perfection, like vibrato etc