I have FINALLY managed to schedule a flute lesson - my first in 6 months, and my first in about 8 years with a "real" teacher... I'm excited and a little scared! Practising lots: it's on 12th May. Hoping that she will not listen to what I have been playing and go "Oh my, you have got a lot of work to do, haven't you...?". On the plus side I have learned the majority of the 5/6/7 scales, so that's progress! & I finally am able to record myself (just onto tape, but hopefully onto the PC soon) and I sound better than I expected which is nice. Anyway. Quite excited. A little scared! I'll let you know how it goes...

yay sarah!

bet you cant wait!

hope you have fun!

I'm very excited. Should be fun. Will probably also be hard work from previous experience of learning with this teacher!!!

I am sure she will not ignore you, with that fantastic grade result which you just achieved she will be proud of you, and I am sure you have improved since last time you saw her Enjoy it!

I'm sure she'll be really pleased with you! Glad you're so excited!

Nope, I don't think she will ignore me...

I'm looking forward to it, with excitement and slight apprehension! Need to work hard this next two weeks...

Go for it! I'm sure she'll love what you've been doing!

Hope so! Working on getting ALL my mjor scales down really pat, then I'll be able to give myself a real pat on the back, and maybe by then all the icky minors won't look so scary... some of them are fiiiiiiiiiiine, others... ugh!!

Yes B melodic minor comes to mind as not being a favourite. My fingers get jumbled up at the top especially after a glass of wine!!
Glad you've got a lesson coming up to look forward to - hope you'll fill us in on the details of how it goes

*nods*.... it's weird some of the ones that sound evil aren't, and others that you feel "should" be simple are thoroughly nightmarish! same with majors actually... for instance, once I got fast the sheer scary-notes-ness of F# major... I'm actually playing it better than Eb major. What's that about then???!

Don't worry, you'll all be hearing ALL about my lesson I don't doubt, however it goes!

I hate ones which have F#3 or G#3 in because if I am tense about playing it, they either won't come out or will sound dreadful!

QUOTE

My fingers get jumbled up at the top especially after a glass of wine!!

Funny you should say this, I had the mad idea of doing some flute practise the other day while marginally less than sober: tunred out to be the best I'd played for a long time!

QUOTE (tamsin @ May 4 2005, 07:58 AM)

QUOTE My fingers get jumbled up at the top especially after a glass of wine!! Funny you should say this, I had the mad idea of doing some flute practise the other day while marginally less than sober: tunred out to be the best I'd played for a long time!

LOL!

It's the balance between losing co-ordination but being less tense, probably!

No doubt, though I was inclined to think perhaps it was because I couldn't tell where I was going wrong etc.

Though I don't think I'd had that much... a couple of glasses max!

Interesting discussion here! Next time I've had something to drink I'll try that!

This topic led me to wonder why I disliked B major scales so much. I knew it was something about my hand position, and realised yesterday that I'm moving my right hand considerably when I play the top B, so I have to lauch myself back to the D sharp key for the G sharp on the way down.

Moral of the story: if you dislike a particular scale, find out why!

QUOTE (andante_in_c @ May 6 2005, 07:01 AM)

Moral of the story: if you dislike a particular scale, find out why!

lol... good advice!

When is your flute lesson, Sarah?

next Thursday evening (12th May)

I need to start writing a list of problems and questions!

Ooooh, I bet you're so excited. I am really sure you're going to impress them!
I have to miss a lesson soon because of one of my exams .

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ May 6 2005, 05:35 PM)

next Thursday evening (12th May) I need to start writing a list of problems and questions!

Wow, you're going to be really well-prepared: good for you!!!

Hope so: managed to trap the middle finger on my right hand in a door today, so it's a bit sore..... argh! Oh well... I guess we'll be able to work on tone even if I have still got a bruised and battered finger...

24 hours till your lesson!! What are you planning to play- piece-wise? How's the list of questions coming on?
Has your finger recovered yet?

All my best wishes for the lesson . I know she is going to be very impressed!

Andy: probably the bits from the Telemann Fantasias I've been looking at, maybe one or two of the grade 4 pieces I did, (though I haven't played those in some time - eek!) I haven't really looked at anything that seriously in the last few weeks because I sort of got a bit glass-ceiling-ed-out and afraid to learn in any mistakes, so I've been largely sticking to scales and stuff... I don't even remember off the top of my head what I have been playing recently! Oh and I was working on the Caplet Reverie and had a brief look at the slow movement of the Mozart Concerto number 1, though whether I'd be brave enough to play either of those in front of anyone...! & haven't looked at the Caplet for ages. There are a couple of pieces in an album I have that I had a go at, may well take those along... including the Caplet, the Gaubert which I've done before, the Faure Sicilienne (it's a nice book!) Can you tell I'm really organised??!

List of questions.... it's somewhere in my head... will I be able to remember any of them...? hmmm...

Finger is a good deal better, I'm amazed how quickly it has started to heal, although it's still tender and I very definitely took a small lump out of it (sorry! you didn't want to know that I'm certain...) but I can bend it and it's not too stiff though slightly lacking in agility... will give me an excuse if I'm terrible...!

Nicki - I do hope she is impressed...

She will be impressed, I mean, it isn't just anybody who gets distinctions whilst being practically self taught!

Good luck, sarah-flute. Let us know how it went.

Thanks guys - I will let you know!

Good luck. Hope you have a great time!

It went really well - very tired now, went to Tesco afterwards!

Got the help I needed with my tone (didn't even have to ask, she saw the problem and corrected it before I had to... she's good like that!), played the Gaubert Madrigal with her, and she got me started on the Macquare daily exercises. Has me getting some new music and aiming for grade 6 at Christmas unless I find out there's a special visit happening nearby before then.

SO tired - going to bed... 15 messages to read but I am shattered, so early night needed!

Awww, glad it went well Sarah. I am sure you gained a lot from it
Grade 6 at Christmas sounds like an excellent idea, and if you can get a distinction without lessons, then you're going to do very, very well at Grade 6.
Hope you had a nice sleep!

Thanks Nicki - you're a real encourager! I do hope I do well...

Awww, thanks *blushes* You will do well, think positive thoughts, like you tell me to do

Glad it went well!! Do tell us the details when you've had a bit of sleep!

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ May 13 2005, 04:04 PM)

Awww, thanks *blushes* You will do well, think positive thoughts, like you tell me to do

Touche! lol!

Well, details...

Suzanne admired my flute (the one I bought while I was having lessons with her got stolen when I was in Berlin, so this one was new to her) which I was glad about as some people are rather "down" on Pearl flutes, & we caught up a bit, I played her the Telemann from my exam and we also played through the Gaubert Madrigal - it goes faster than I remembered! (I haven't played it properly for 8 years) but it was actually better than I'd expected. She's set me going on some of the Macquare daily exercises, and helped me with the tone problem - turned out I didn't have my bottom jaw out far enough and the aperture of my embouchure was a little large. It will take a while to really get the good habits going again, but the improvement was immediately apparent! I'm just about to order some new music - the Baroque Flute pieces book 4, as I will probably do the Leclair or the CPE Bach for my list A piece, and the Russell Stokes Jazz Singles for the study... Suzanne's keen to do pieces which aren't the ones everyone does, and also trying to help me have a nicely balabced programme. I'll also start learning the Rutter Prelude properly so I have a choice between that and the Gaubert for my exam. I quite like the Caplet but she says the piano part is nasty, so maybe I'll just inflict learning that on my piano teacher (a challenge for him!) to play for pleasure. I'll be having a 3/4 hr lesson every 3-5 weeks depending on when she is available and when I have transport to get into Gloucester. She didn't charge me for this lesson - she's such a sweetie... and I do wish I had done this ages ago, but maybe I needed to get to the stage where I knew I couldn't get myself any further. It's good though...

Watch this space! *grin* thanks for all your encouragement, you guys rock (the flute forum is definitely the best )

Which CPE Bach is it? Because I did the Adagio and Allegro of the E minor sonata for my Grade 7.
The Prelude is also lovely too, I love Suite Antique!
I think with just a few lessons you could improve greatly, and I look forward (albeit in a few months) to hearing about your Grade 6 exam success!

Oh, good for you Sarah: sounds like you're doing really well! Is the Gaubert still on the syllabus for grade 6?? I must have missed it then; what a shame! The prelude of the Suite Antique is lovely, but it's one of those pieces you can only play some many times before it gets really annoying . Just to warn you in advance; I can bear listening to it anymore, which is stupid because I did love it! Ah well!

How awful that your flute got stolen!! And when were you in Berlin (I live there )? Would you reccommend your pearl flute (cos I'm thinking of buying a new one; well, my parents said they would get me one for my 18th birthday!)?

Keep up the good work!

Oh wow, I'm glad you enjoyed your lesson. I'm not a flautist but even I can tell that your teacher sounds wonderful! I'm sure you'll do wonderfully at grade 6!

Nicki: the Allegro from sonata in D - it's in the AB baroque pieces book.

I have the music for the E minor sonata actually - it's in the same set that as the G major which I did part of for my A Level recital. Did you enjoy playing it?

I think I will improve... though I drove myself mad this evening trying to keep my embouchure right!!

Charlotte: yes, I think the Gaubert is a staple of the syllabus for grade 6! It is a lovely piece - I know you're going for grade 8 now, but I'd recommend it to learn for pleasure (and to you, Nicki) as it's fab. The fact that I'm not totally and completely sick of it when I practised it like crazy getting up to standard for my A Level tells you something!

I can imagine that about the Prelude... although it's very pretty, it is quite samey isn't it? Oh well, at least I have two nice pieces as possibles from that list!

Yes, my flute was stolen in Berlin in July '01: fortunately it was insured! I had a Yammy... I forget the model number, open holes but not French pointed, silver head, silver plated body. I was on my way home from an IFES mission trip in the north of Poland, and had to stay in Berlin for a few nights on my way home because of flights. Me & a friend stayed in a youth hostel the first night and then were planning to explore a bit (go visit checkpoint Charlie) before she caught her flight home. We were both exhausted, and my flute, cameras (fortunately only disposable ones) and all my precious bits were in a smaller bag... someone must've cut it off my shoulder and we were so exhausted I didn't notice till we had got to the next metro station. Good came of it though, because I would probably never have upgraded if it hadn't been stolen.

I WOULD recommend my Pearl - I adore it! It's a 765 (hope that's right!) solid silver head & body, silver plated french pointed keys, open whole. I think Pearls have a gorgeous sound... I ordered it after trying a few lower in the range of several makes, and had it ordered on approval, and fell in love the first time I played it. Much warmer and more resonant sound than a Yamaha, not so brilliant and not so projecting, but gorgeous. What flute do you have now?

It does depend how much money you have to play with & what you want: many will prefer a flute with less silver but a more handmade mechanism. Lots of people are a bit down on Pearls - but I think they are fab, and I love mine! (and I feel like having a solid body makes a difference, and it's my opinion that counts!!!) So yes, I do love it, but play as many as you can in your price range... if at all possible go to a big music shop, preferably a flute specialist, and have them show you all the flutes in your price range, that's what everyone seems to recommend.

Rainbow: she's brilliant! What more can I say??!

I have a Yamaha 211s, the one everybody starts off with! Somehow it's rather limiting now, I can't play the top notes as loudly as I would like to, and my teacher has suggested that I should get a proper 'advanced learner's' flute. I'll definitely have a look at Pearl flutes then! My teacher has a M....something with azu/atsu (sorry, can't remember the name) but then her's cost a fortune, and I'd be perfectly happy with a silver head joint. Though my ultimate dream would be a wooden flute! Has anyone ever played on one? I find the tone is softer and doesn't have this metally sound to the high notes.
Ah, well, I'm still saving so I have time to look around...

Well, if you're thinking of getting a new flute, I would recommend you try as many as you can before buying one. Yamaha 211S are not that bad, but you definitely notice the difference when you start getting solid silver headjoints etc. I have a Yamaha 574 body with a silver headjoint, and it sounds beautiful! I nearly, nearly ended up getting a Powell Sonare 5000 (I think) which was also nice. It was such a tough decision!

I liked doing the E minor, although getting a bit sick of it now, having done it since about January!

I have never played any Gaubert!

I had a yammy 211n! the same but with no silver plate!

Not surprised it is limiting, especially when you are working towards grade 8 (what pieces are you doing or have you not got to that stage yet?)

I'm guessing your teacher has a Muramatsu? They are supposed to be fabulous, although I have never tried one (the flute I own is actually the best flute I've ever had a go on - probably a good thing, at least I am not yearning after an instrument I couldn't possibly afford!!!)

Sonare are supposed to be good... again, never actually tried one!

There is a Pearl with just a solid head - the 665 I think - same as mine, just has a plated body.

I've played on a wooden flute but it was YEARS ago (about 12 at a guess!) and I had not been playing long/had never had lessons, so I wasn't really in a position to know what it was really like. I do remember it was fairly heavy and hard to play but had a lovely tone. Did you know you can get wooden headjoints to fit metal flutes? Apparently they give a lot of the tone quality of a wooden flute... (your parents *won't* thank me for telling you that!!!)

I reckon when you upgrade you'll be flying - you've done incredibly well on your Y221s, a really good flute and you'll be set to take the world by storm!!

Try as many as you can get the chance to that are within your price bracket! And do look at the Pearl... they are nice flutes (plus, I have had mine for almost four years and it's never had a COA and is still in good working order... even though it has a small dent, poor thing - not my fault I hasten to add!)

I just finished my practice... had a mare getting my top register even vaguely nice I was very frustrated, but had a good warm up and did some longtones and it improved though wasn't really mp or tranquillo (was playing the prelude!) On the positive side I was listening to a recording from the other day when I was literally in tears because everything sounded so pants both to my ears and on the tape, and when I listened I realised that although it wasn't great, it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd thought... phew!

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ May 17 2005, 07:20 PM)

I have never played any Gaubert!

Ahhhh nicki, you should play the Madrigal - it's fab!

If you need to treat yourself to some music for pleasure at some point, invest in "The Flautist's Collection" Book Three - it has some lovely pieces in it, all well arranged and about grade 5-6 standard (so would be good for sight-reading ) It's also a lot cheaper than buying the Madrigal seperately! It has Handel, Nielsen, Faure, Caplet, Bach among others.

I've also played "Orientale" from "Deux Esquisses" but not for a long time!

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ May 17 2005, 07:29 PM)

(what pieces are you doing or have you not got to that stage yet?) I'm guessing your teacher has a Muramatsu?

I haven't really decided yet, because I want to buy the CD first and listen to all of the suggestions! Probably the Mozart (3rd movement of concert in G), a Telemann fantasia (love 'em!) but I don't know any of the B list pieces, so I need to decide on that. I don't think I'll do more Rutter, because I think I've had too much of him recently!

And yes, Muramatsu was it! She did tell me hers was really expensive and way beyond my financial capabilities! As are wooden flutes, I'm afraid!

I hope that getting a new flute will get me to progress a little faster. I kind of feel rather like I'm not getting anywhere at the moment, but that might just be post-exam related!

I think a new flute will help a lot - you won't know yourself. Don't worry, 138 in grade 6 is a massive massive achievement, and you have done very well on a Y221s which, although a good flute, could well be holding you back. And post exam blues are pretty common!

Yes I know the Mozart you mean... good stuff The only list B pieces that I know are the Poulenc and the Rutter. The Poulenc's great (though don't tell Tamsin I said that ) but possibly somewhat overplayed. (not that I can play it I hasten to add - well, I can play most of the *notes* but not well!) I'll be interested to hear what you choose, I have heard of but not heard so many of the pieces. I'd be tempted by the Vivaldi, just cos I like him!

Yes, even the basic Muras are very very expensive - the EX which is plated body is over £2000 where I've seen it...

The wooden headjoint would definitely be something to save up for for the future vastly cheaper than a whole flute I should think - and probably lighter. Have fun flute shopping when you get to do it!!

My personal favourites from List B are the York Bowen and the Mouquet first movement. If I were doing Grade 8 again I'd probably go for the Quantz in List A, or possibly the Schubert or either of the Bachs. I love the Telemann Fantasias too, but prefer the D major or the G minor to the E major.

It's a nice list on this current syllabus - I prefer it to the old one. Have fun choosing.

Thanks, Sarah and Andante in C! I'll keep you posted on what I decide on in the end (both flute and music wise) .

But first I have a 'gig' coming up in two weeks. I'm playing a movement from a double flute concerto (loosely translated from: Doppelkonzert für Querflöte) with a friend, by Domenico Cimarosa. Anyone heard of him? The piece is really nice and kind of relaxing (not too difficult). Just hope I manage to conquer my nerves! Am reading a chapter of 'The Inner Game of Music' every day, so hopefully I'll be prepared!

Sounds fun! Double concerto type things are fun... like the Bach double violin... 'sgreat!

The Inner Game of Music is really good, I have only read it once or twice but I do have less of a critical side now!