Tag: efficiency
-
Reading a New Piece
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…
-
Practice Tips
The following was a result of a handout I put together for a workshop. More detailed information can be found about these topics in separate blog posts on this site. Establish a solid practice schedule: Actually block off time in your schedule designated specifically for practicing. Avoid using it for lunch, socializing, homework, errands,…
-
Practicing Difficult Sections
What do you do when you’ve practiced that one difficult section over and over and over again, and it still isn’t right? It’s not fast enough, or smooth enough, or loud enough, or … It can be really frustrating when you’re making an honest effort to improve but you aren’t seeing results. Next time you…
-
B-flat options
I will readily admit that I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to playing B-flat on the flute. I’m always very deliberate when it comes to which fingering I choose for this note. It’s really important to make sure that you’re using the most advantageous fingering for the passage you’re playing to make sure…
-
Breaking down practice
To follow up on my last blog post, Practicing: run-throughs vs. small chunks, here are some ways to break down your practice to get more work done in less time. I’ve chosen an example from the Rubank Elementary Method for Flute, but these ideas apply to all music at all levels of difficulty. Copyright by…