Holding the Flute in Balance

Recently I ran across something talking about "the Rockstro Grip." I had never heard of it, so went digging around on the web. The result of my research is this excellent article.  Go ahead, read it, or at least skim down it, save the link and come back to read it thoroughly later.

It has changed my position! There isn't really anything in this article that my teacher hasn't told me before. But it's all together in one place, and maybe I have come to a point in my development as a flutist to apply it.

I started playing flute with tendinitis, or maybe arthritis, in both thumbs. My hands would often ache, and that had nothing to do with playing the flute. So I have struggled because it seems my hands just don't go the way they should. 

But today they did. My balance was lovely, my tone was awesome, and I felt a freedom in finger movement that I have never had before. Wow.

Now, go check out "the Rockstro Grip," revolutionize your performance!

The Summer Challenge!

It has been a while! I have been focused on healing from knee surgery for the past 3 months. You can read all about that in my blog on that subject: PartialKnee.Blogspot.com

Now that I have two strong legs to stand on, I am back working on my flute performance. I am going to be taking the CM Test, Level 7 next winter, so there is work to be done!

My teacher has decided to focus on daily practice (for herself) this summer, and I like the idea, so am taking up the challenge. We each post our daily progress on her Facebook Page: Stephanie's Students

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On another front, I am working on music theory again. We have been going through "Basics of Keyboard Theory" by Julie McIntosh Johnson. I am doing Levels 5 through 9 simultaneously. Sounds funny, doesn't it?

Here is why and what I am doing. These are really just workbooks. Each book is arranged in the same order: Key Signatures, Scales, Intervals, etc. I worked all the way through book 4, and when I opened up 5, it was frustrating to me to go back and re-learn everything. I felt like I was getting a sample of each subject area, then moving on without really learning it.

So I took Book 5, Key Signatures, did the worksheets, and then moved onto Book 6, 7, 8, and 9. By that time I had actually learned the key signatures, and felt confident with them.

It is really working well for me, except with intervals. My slightly dyslexic brain just rebels at grasping intervals!!!

Since I have been not working on much of anything music-wise for 3 months, this is a good time to step back and attack intervals again. I found a website with great exercises, all very customizable. I first found this site when I wanted a way to quiz myself on key signatures. 

Now I discover they have an app which I can keep on my iPad, so I don't have to be at the computer, or internet connected to study! Sweet.

Now I have the app, and am doing daily practice on intervals. This website is really terrific, and the app is a good deal at $3.99 so I recommend you check it out!

Click here for the website.

Articulations

Whether you are a beginner or advanced flutist, good articulation is key. It is important to understand the different techniques, and learn them correctly to begin, and later on it's a good idea to be sure you haven't gotten sloppy.

Click here to go to an excellent article on articulation.

Now get out your flute and PRACTICE!!

Learning from the Masters

From time to time I run across a YouTube video that offers an opportunity to learn from a Master Flutist. I discovered Emmanuel Pahud a few years ago when I needed a recording of a piece I was learning. I fell in love with his sound, so the other day I was wandering around on YouTube and found this clip from a Masterclass he gave: watch and learn! 

Stance

If you play flute, and you have (or had) a good teacher, you know that proper posture is key to good tone and performance. I am a self-educated expert on posture..not that mine is perfect...but that I know what perfect is/should be, and what muscles lead to it. (Once a Fitness Instructor, always a Fitness Instructor!)

I had the delightful opportunity to go to a Masterclass with Sir James Galway (one of my heros!) and here is what he said: Place your weight on you right foot, lean back slightly onto that leg, and tilt slightly forward at the hip. Tilt your head a bit to the right, but keep the flute at a right angle to your lip. By doing this you have a strong stance, and can move a bit to enhance your performance. The right arm gets a bit of a rest when you are playing for long periods of time.

I tried this stance..but here is the wild thing: I found that FOR ME, I have much better tone when my weight is forward on my left foot, my head erect, lifting from the back of the head, and flute parallel to the floor. (It does make the right arm work more.)

CONCLUSION: EXPERIMENT!!!!!

Try placing your weight in various places--left foot, right foot, central on both feet. Try a slight lean from the hip,or a tilt of the head (always maintain flute at 90 degrees to lips). Experiment and explore until you find the right posture to give you beautiful, round tones. 

More Fantastic Discoveries

I love the process of rediscovery...the times when you make a discovery and it feels fresh and new, but you know that it is something you knew before.

Today's discovery is about standing when practicing. I have always disliked having to standup when I play. And as my knee deteriorated, I found I would get too fatigued to stand and practice, so more, and more I reverted to sitting, and only stood to play when performing or at a lesson.  I liked the excuse, and didn't notice that it made much difference. Yeah, sure.

Today was the second time I tried to practice following my partial knee replacement (you can see all about that on my other blog: Partial Knee Replacement: My Experience . I started to practice, with two chairs, one facing me so I could keep my feet up. But that got a little uncomfortable, so I got up on my feet...Wow!! WHAT WAS THAT!?!

My tone changed 100%! It was incredible! Who knew? Well..I guess lots of people know. But after not being able to stand firmly for months, I am seeing months of effort/practice show up all at once!! 

For more information on proper posture, check out my post labeled "Stance"

About Knees and Shoulders

Who knew that having a partial knee replacement would improve my flute playing? I certainly didn't! For the last 4 years I have had a steadily deteriorating knee due to osteoarthritis. It's not been a big deal until about 6 months ago when it began to catch, lock, and cause sudden bursts of pain. 

Long story short, I eventually found myself in the hands of an excellent surgeon who introduced me to MakoPlasty Partial Knee Replacement...totally awesome. But I get ahead of myself.....

About 9 months ago I noticed I was having more trouble holding up my flute. My shoulders would collapse, my chest would cave in and my right arm would drop. We all KNOW that posture is key to performance/tone/technique. I have always had a weakness in my upper back and shoulders. Until I discovered the world of fitness at the age of 48, I was not able to hold my shoulders back for more than a few seconds at a time. 

In the process of becoming a fitness instructor, I engaged a personal trainer to help me to develop my upper body strength. The process of weight training for strength improved my posture, and ended the pain in my wrists which had developed because of lack of muscle tone of the biceps and triceps. 

Two days ago I made a discovery which is best explained on Day 8 of my other blog, Partial Knee Replacement: My Experience.  

Here is the essence: now that my knee has been repaired, and I am able to stand balanced on both feet, my shoulders no longer droop or become fatigued in a few moments!! Holding up my right arm is suddenly easy. 

Who knew?