• Nov. 1, 2007
A Musician's Musical Life (Part 1)

A very cute me at age 4 playing in an MYC recital

In a world filled with too many sounds, too much hustle and bustle, and the crazy noise of our secular peers, where did the music go? Sometimes I wonder, but then I realize that I am contributing to this beautiful world myself. No need to despair! It’s been an exciting road so far, so let me show you what I’ve done!

As a musician, who am I? What am I doing here? What, truly, is the point? Now, a while back, I had a hard time understanding what the point of music really was. I mean, I enjoyed it and all, but I still didn't see what the point of it was. You may be wondering that yourself! I'm think I'm starting to see the light, thank goodness! I have learned that my music is a tool--a joy-giving effervescent tool--that can be used in so many ways to touch so many lives, including my own.

First let me show you how it has changed me--where I came from in a sense. I started music as a wee little person, with Music for Young Children (www.myc.com). By the way, I highly recommend this program for little ones, and hope to teach it myself one day. It brought me to the point where I loved making sounds, just for fun! I know that experience was vital in keeping me 'alive' in this whole thing. You see, we moved, and at age 5 I started private piano lessons. My first teacher was sweet and loving, but I needed a firmer hand. (I have been known as a 'strong-willed child'.) We then switched to another teacher, who was just what I needed at that time. She was gently firm, and pushed me enough that I would actually keep moving. Somehow through all this though, I ended up not enjoying playing piano much anymore. Why? Who knows for sure but God! In any case, part of the reason was due to the fact that the quality of this particular teacher was seriously spiralling downward. Her personal life was getting into a bit of a mess, and she started taking it out on her students. The final moment when we got so fed up with it that we left was when, the first lesson back after Christmas, she asked what my favourite gift was, and I told her that it was my new Bible, a pink Bible too! She--a supposed Christian--looked at me oddly and asked: "Yeah, yeah, but other than that?" My quizzical expression as a 10 year old raised in a Christian family must have been something to behold. I think I began by saying "Um, it is the best..." I was going to end by saying "...thing I got for Christmas.", but she took it as a lecture about how the Bible was the best book etc. etc. Her flaming face interrupted me with: "I've been a Christian a lot longer than you have! I know about the Bible!" Ahem. We promptly ended the ‘relationship’. Understandably, however, that turned me even more off music, and I hated the stuff. We went back to my original 'very-nice-but-way-too-sweet' teacher for a little while, and then I gave up lessons for a year and played piano (rather badly) for the jazz band at the local Christian school, such as it was. The whole thing was a total catastrophe! I also tried another teacher in there who was the exact opposite of the 'very-nice-but-way-too-sweet' teacher. That wasn't much fun either.

Fortunately, we moved again. Yay! (Although I wasn’t too excited then!) I found a fantastic piano teacher, and was able to get going with her right away. We 'clicked', which was amazing, and I suddenly was interested in piano again! My saddest moment was when, after a couple months with her, she had to move. All my hopes suddenly slipped down the drain. Now what?

Well, I found another teacher who was okay, but I sensed the quality difference so greatly that I cried after the first few lessons. I didn't know what to do anymore, and I was seriously starting to wish I'd never started music, and that I'd done dance or something else. That was one of those "Why me?" years. I absolutely despised practicing, and only did as much as I absolutely had to. Unfortunately, those feelings have hung on and sometimes still make it difficult for me to enjoy practicing piano. That goes to show you how important a good teacher is!

After a year of this, the piano teacher called my Mom and told me that she couldn't teach me anymore. I guess she recognized the difficulties too, so in a way I was glad for that. We phoned my original teacher (The one I 'clicked' with) and discussed what on earth we should do. Well, miracle of miracles, I was able to get back in with her! She came into our town every week, so she now comes to my house for my lessons! It is thrilling to have her back again! I don't know how I would survive the theory, history, and harmony courses I am now taking without her either. That was truly the work of God.

I picked up the flute at age 9. It was one of those "What instrument would you like to play, dear?" moments, so since harp was too big and expensive, I chose flute. Rather a dramatic difference in size! I had some fun with it at first, and was even able to make some semi-decent sounds, but that didn’t last forever. I took lessons from a local high school band student, and as you can maybe imagine, I didn’t get very far with her. We found another lady nearby who was willing to teach me, but with two VERY noisy kids running around and distracting both of us all the time, not to mention the fact that she wasn’t exactly the brightest flute player in the world, it didn’t work either.

Now what? Well, right there was close to a year of not playing the flute! It sat in the corner, and believe me; you didn’t want to be around when someone mentioned the instrument. It was not a pretty picture! We then tried one more teacher who was not bad, I could have stuck with it fine, but my parents noticed my lack of motivation…hmmm.

They stuck me in a local Christian school’s Grade 7 concert band, because they knew that without some sort of motivation, I wasn’t going to go anywhere. Of course, these kids had only had a month or two of band, and I’d been playing the instrument off and on for a couple years, as well as having several years of piano under my belt. (I was 11 then.) Musically, I had a great advantage over these kids, even though they were a year older, so I excelled greatly, which is what I needed to press on. I probably wouldn’t be still playing the flute if it wasn’t for joining that little band. It certainly presented its own problems; however, as I soon discovered that I ‘liked’ the school scene and wanted to be part of it. How glad I am that my parents didn’t let me go. They chose to keep me home, and to keep my time with these ‘friends’ to a minimum. Paying off immensely over the years, I have now learned what that scene can really do to a person, and I am thrilled to know that I never really got into it.

We moved again. (This was the move where I found the piano teacher that ‘clicked’.) I didn’t just hook up with another school band though! I found a simply SMASHING teacher, that has been my flute teacher ever since. We moved in January of that year, and I began with her in June, so I guess I’ve been with her about 2 ½ years. Seems longer, because I’ve learned so much! It is extraordinarily exciting now! I wouldn’t give up that instrument for anything anyone could offer me.

I’ve come from despising the instrument lying in the dust to taking it as my own first love. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoy playing piano, and I know that it is absolutely vital in music, at least in my opinion, but I’ve come to the point where it is the flute that gives me the most joy. I could spend hours on end practicing it without even having to think a whole lot, whereas with piano, I have to actually figure out what I’m going to spend the next hour at the piano doing. Composing is a lot easier at the piano, and so is just sitting playing to relax, however. There is a lot more you can do in that regard on the piano. Another plus with piano, is that you can start at a much earlier age than flute (due to body and hand size, as well as coordination.), and you learn to do and read more things such as the bass clef, etc.

It has certainly been an exiting journey so far! I’ve learned so incredibly much, from what it takes to be a bad teacher, to what it takes to be a fantastic musician, to what it means to have peer pressure, to how degrading it can be to have a bad teacher.

So, that is my past life in music. There is so much more I could tell you, but I’m not sure how to fit it all in without boring you. If you have questions about it, feel free to ask! I’m excited about this whole thing, and I can’t wait to see what will happen in the future!

Part 2 will cover my present and my future in music! ‘Stay tuned!’

May the peace of God be with you,

Sheila

(2 Replies/Comments) (Permanent Link)

• Oct. 12, 2007
Me Fluting!!!

Well, I've finally figured out how to post audio clips!  I recorded myself playing a piece this morning on the flute, and I'll (hopefully) have a piano one up soon.  :)  I don't have piano accompaniment for it, since I just recorded it in my house.  I'm also a bit sore from rock climbing on Wednesday night, so by the end of the piece, I am a little tired and it isn's so great.  Sorry!  Hope you enjoy it anyway. :)

Without further ado, let me play for you: 'Out of the Cool', a very different 20th century piece. 

'Out of the Cool'   <--Click there to play

In Christ Alone,

Sheila

(7 Replies/Comments) (Permanent Link)

• Jun. 16, 2007
Recital Day!

Hello all!

As I mentioned in my little PS. to the flute section of my last entry, I had a flute recital today!  It was so fun!  If you didn't read my previous post, and so don't know what I played, I performed the Syrinx, by Claude Debussy, and The theme and 5 variations from Les Folies D'Espagne, by Marais.  Wow!  Such beautiful pieces!  They are both unaccompanied, so I was free to stretch and pull wherever it felt good.  I love that!  I watched the videos after, and I sure move a lot, but I suppose that's just because I'm really into the music.  I think that's a good thing. ;)  There were a lot of other students, and a flute ensemble, and it was lovely to hear them!  It's so fun to realize that there are lots and lots of other flutes in the same room as you, and you're a part of it!  I'd love to post a video for you, but I'm not posting pictures of myself online for now.  I'm sorry!  Anyway, I just wanted to share how much fun I had! 

Thank you to everyone who was there and clapped and told me what a great job I did.  It really means a lot to hear that from people you respect.  I sometimes feel a little insecure after the performance unless somebody says it was good.  I mean, after all, you clap for a student even if it was yucky!  I don't usually get nervous, unless it's a really big thing, like an exam (I'm trying to convince myself that it's no different, but there's this thing in my head that says it is!), but I think I might get a little bit nervous sometimes wondering if I did a good job, because it's so easy to notice all of your own mistakes and think that it was a lot worse than it was.  That's why I love video taping and audio recording.  Then you can watch/listen to it, and see that it wasn't as bad as you thought!  All that to say thank you everyone for your kind words.  They go a very long way in making me a better musician. 

This is a list of who is currently helping me in my flutey endeavors!  I'd also just like to make mention of the the people at church who compliment me on my flutistic-ness on the rare occasion that I play there.  Thank you!

1.) I couldn't do it without my fabulous flute teacher who means the world to me.  Tuesday is my favourite day of the week!  Thanks so much!

2.) None of this would be possible without my Parents leading every step of the way.  Their continued financial support, emotional support, and undying love creates an environment in which I truly can learn about the subject I find most fascinating.  Thank you!!!

3.) My best friend and accountability partner, who keeps me in check whether I've practiced enough, and reminds me that she has accomplished a lot more that day than I did, and I should perhaps have spent less time blogging and more time making music.  The fact that I have a musical friend is so perfect, too.  I really appreciate you in everything.

4.) Last on the list, but first in my heart: Jesus.  If it wasn't for his incredible gift of music to me, and the other fantastic musicians around the world, our world would be a sorry, silent world.  How dull!  Thank you for this precious task you have put in my heart, Jesus!  You are so amazing!

Now I'm off to finish making my Father's Day card and wrapping the gift!  A new breadboard!  He really needs it! :)  Shhhhh...don't give it away! :P

I hope whoever reads this finds it interesting!  :)
Sheila

PS.  Why is it easier to be goofy and fun-like when you type than when you speak?  I want to be silly all the time!  Sometimes it's hard! :D

(2 Replies/Comments) (Permanent Link)

• Jun. 6, 2007
Another lovely year in music!

Hello faithful readers!  Yes, I exist!

I apologize for my lack of posting.  I've been terribly busy!  I've been working, and taking my AWSI course (I'm totally overjoyed, because yesterday I passed with flying colours!), and doing school and music, and enjoying the sunshine, and setting up the pool (finally) and so many other things.  Needless to say, I really haven't had much chance to post. :)

I'm really here to post about Music things and such.  First off, I want to thank my flute teacher for reading my blog!  I appreciate the compliments!  After finding out that you'd read it, I noticed that I really haven't posted much about music lately!  I have, however, beeing thinking and doing a lot about music!  Where do I start? 

I guess I'll begin with flute.  First off, I have the best flute teacher in the world, and I feel sorry for all you other flute students who don't live near enough to me to have such an awesome flutey person as a mentor.  Add the awesome, flute-ish,goofiness that comes out at every lesson, and it's just so fun.  (A.K.A. making a Marais variation into a story about a rabbit hunter and his little wife and kids over the hill....haha!)  Thanks a billion!

I've learned tons this year.  I think I've taken a rather large leap with tone, thanks to some long tones every day as I wander the house reading whatever happens to be lying on the kitchen counter.  That has helped me immensely in creating the sounds I want in every piece.  It's not yet perfect, but it's getting there!  The flexibility in tone is marvelous when you start to really discover it!  I've played several 'big' pieces this year, including two three movement Concertos, one by Pergolesi, and one by Tartini.  I also played the first movement of the Andante Pastoral and Scherzettino by Taffanel (Of the Taff. and Gaubert book.)  Those, along with numerous studies and duets, plus the Syrinx, and much more, made up my repertoire this year.  I performed in Festival a few months ago, too, playing two movements of the Tartini Concerto, and the Andante Pastorale.  There were four flute classes, and two flutists.  One of them was me.  Ha!  I also won a little bursary with it!  It really was fun to do, and was an awesome day I'll never forget.  My flute teacher and piano accompanist were there, and so were my Mom and Dad and some homeschool people we knew, and we just had so many laughs.  I went to bed with overwhelming joy in my heart that night.  That's what music does to you, folks!  Thanks to everyone who made it an awesome day! 

Oh yes, and I participated in the a Chamber Orchestra's Concerto competition as well.  I didn't win, but I did my all out best, and I'm so glad I've now had the chance to experience an audition, even if on a small scale.  As I said, I didn't win (Hey, only one person could, and they were quite a bit older, I'm still thrilled with how I did!!!), but at their concert, recently, I was given 'honourable mention' and a round of applause, along with another flute student.  It was such a good feeling to know you worked hard at something and succeeded.  So that is a short little condensation of what I did with my shiny silver tube (A.K.A. Flute) this year.  Maybe sometime in the next few years, I shall join the 'Shrieking Twig Set'.  (In regular language: Maybe I'll get a piccolo.)

PS. June 15: Oh yes, and guess what?  Tomorrow I get to play at a little recital!  I'm really excited, as I love performing flute!  I'll be playing the Theme and 5 short variations, by Marais, and the Syrinx! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOTE: For all of you who don't live in Canada, we have 10 music Grades here.  There are two options: The Royal Conservatory of Music (www.rcmusic.ca) has a program that is hugely widespread and well-known, and the newer, less-known, in my opinion better option; Conservatory Canada (www.conservatorycanada.ca).  I am in the process of completing grade 9 in both instruments at the moment.  As you probably guessed, I use Conservatory Canada, and always have.  I love it, and think it's worth traveling an extra hour to get to exams!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I shall get on to the black and white keyed end of things!  Piano is wonderful, finally.  It is such a blessing to have a teacher like I have.  After rather many trials with previous teachers, it's a huge relief.  As with flute, we have alot of fun at lessons, and have been working on catching me up with the theory I missed with the yucky teachers.  It was hard to get her as my teacher, in fact, I lost her once, but then was able to get her back a year later!  Boy was it worth it!!!  Thanks so much, you're fabulous!

I've done lots as well with Piano!  I was going to be in festival, but the festival people messed up a bit!  So I didn't, but I did take a piano exam in February!  I took my Grade 8, and passed with a nice, clean, 81.3 %  I was very excited about that, because I thought I'd done a lot worse on my technique etc.!  For my exam, I played some really lovely pieces.  I played 'Les Carillons', by Kirnberger, and the 'Moonlight Sonata' by Beethoven, and a rather famous Waltz by Brahms, and a rather interesting but quite different, more modern 'New Year Waltz for Ferdinand Eckhardt'!  I also played a Scarlatti Sonata, and a Lullaby by Grieg (studies) and my all time favourite: 'Milonga del Angel' by Astor Piazzolla.  Gorgeouss piece!

Now I'm into the Grade 9 stuff!  It's challenging, but really neat!  One of my pieces is called the 'Hymn to Freedom' by Oscar Peterson, and it's so fascinating, because it's obviously about black freedom, but it really applies to all of our hearts!  I'm now learning the 'Girl with the Flaxen Hair', and a Chopin Nocturne and a Fantasia by Mozart, along with a couple other things.  What a neat selection I have this year!

As you might already know by reading my posts, I've been teaching two little children piano.  They won't be returning next year, as they've decided it would be easier for all their kids to go to one teacher.  Oh well!  I really hope I can find some new students, though, and possibly for flute too, because it is such a joy.  I truly believe I've chosen the right profession.  I love teaching!  Whether it's flute, piano, or swimming, I just love helping children to learn new things, and making things that seemed awful, hard and un-interesting to be fun, exciting and fascinating!  It's pure delight to see their eyes sparkle as they perform a tast previously laborious to them!  They've been with me a year and a half now, and I really think they've learned a lot.  It's sad that I have to let them go, but I hope they do well.  They are brother and sister, and vastly different, yet both fantastic musicians.  It has been an almost magical task to teach these kids.  They are far from perfect (who of us isn't?), but it was still a real pleasure.  Teaching: Satisfaction Guaranteed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So all that to say that I am thriled to be a musician, and while I sometimes wish I could dance better, skate better, swim better, or even sing better; I am glad I have put my full effort into this thing which will last a lifetime and not just untill my leg muscles give way or my voice dips down and crackles.  Boy is it worth it.  If you have not yet picked up an instrument, or sat down at the piano, do so soon.  It's never to late if you can dedicate an hour or two a week.   Before you know it, however, you won't be able to stop at two hours a week, soon it will be five, and more!  What I say is pursue it to the best of your abilityt!  You never have to become a concert pianist, or professional teacher, but get to the point where you can make glorious sounds for Jesus, and fill your soul with joy on those sad, low-key evenings.  Take it far enough that you can play for your children, and sing with them, or just comfort yourself in your old age.  Whatever you do with the sounds you make, you will be glad you did it.  I hope somehow, my sharing what I've done with all of you will inspire someone, somewhere, someday, to pick up that instrument that has been lying in the closet for years, dust it off, and produce golden music. 

Thanks for listening to my passions!

In Christ,

Sheila

(5 Replies/Comments) (Permanent Link)

• Nov. 20, 2006
I did it!!!

Well, today I got around to making a little 'Music Studio' brochure on Microsoft Publisher!  I wanted to have something to give to people if anyone is interested in taking lessons from me.  I have two little piano students, as you know, and I wouldn't mind having another and/or a flute student or two.  I would feel ever so much more comfortable knowing that I can teach flute just as well. :)  So, I had to come up with a name, and I thought 'X Music Studio' sounded, good, but I had to figure out what the 'X' was going to be, lol.  I decided that allitteration with 'Studio' would fall prettily upon the ear, so I looked up a music terms dictionary online.  "Okay, which one of these 'S' terms sounds good?  I came up with either 'Symphonia' or 'Siciliano', the latter also translating 'Siciliana' or Sicilienne'.  Now it was decision time.

Symphonia means Consonance in Greek, and is a term for instruments that make more than one sound at a time, and something else, and the three 'Sicili-' words have something to do with an aria and singing, and recitation and poetry.  [Thankyou Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary]

So, neither meaning really makes the choice for me, so what sounds best?  Hmm.  Sicilienne!!! :D  So, I decided to go with 'Sicilienne Music Studio'!  Sounds great, eh? I thought so.
Sheila

(2 Replies/Comments) (Permanent Link)

• Nov. 13, 2006
Scales - A New Approach

Warning: If you are not 'musically inclined', you may get slightly confused while reading this.  But no worries, Google unknown words to find easy definitions!

About Teaching Scales to Beginner Piano Students

When I was a beginner in piano, I was taught 'scales'.  It became so that the list of 'technique' (which in the early days, was just scales) was a boring, awful, terrible thing which had to be completed every day during my practice time.  Besides, by the time they began to teach me minor scales, I was as confused as a right-side-up bat!  In any case, I did make it through, and make a startling discovery, but only recently.  Practicing scales and other technique can be a fun activity!  Simply amazing!

First, I will begin by telling you how I was taught scales:

Teacher: Okay, this is a C major scale. [plays C major scale]
Sheila: Okay... [ding ding ding...] um...

Well, I finally learned it, lucky me!

Teacher: This is a G major scale [plays G major scale]
Sheila: [Frowns] {Thinking: Major what?} [ding ding ding...]

Once again, I did muddle my way through and learn G major.  I can't quite remember if I learned more major scales before proceeding to the minor key scales, but it doesn't really matter all that much.  In any case, after a while, I'm not quite sure when, I got introduced to the minor scale.

Teacher: This is an A minor scale, it is related to C major because they have the same key signature! [plays A minor scale]
Sheila: {Thinking: Wait a moment, you just played a G sharp!  C major doesn't have a G sharp, therefore, how can A minor have the same key signature as C major?  Oh well.} [ding ding ding...]

I, while still a little confused, learned A minor with a raised G sharp, and eventually was told that this kind of minor scale was called a 'harmonic minor' scale.  "Great.  Why?" I learned that A minor and C major were related, I learned other minor scales, I learned the melodic minor, but nobody ever mentioned the natural minor. 

Not until several years later when I started to study music theory rudiments, did I start to 'get it'.  A natural minor has no sharps or flats, just like C major.  So A minor had no sharps or flats in it's key signature.  'Click'.  "I get it now!"  I didn't fully understand it untill I started writing out the scales in harmonic, melodic, and natural minor.  I saw a chart connecting the major and minor scales.  The penny dropped.  Why didn't it drop sooner?

If I had been introduced to the natural minor scale at the beginning, I would have been able to grasp the concept of the major and minor being 'related'.  My Granny and I are 'related', but we look different, and sound different, just like the relation between C major and A minor.

I am teaching two beginner students, and this is how they are learning scales.  I introduced them several months ago to 'Five-Finger-Patterns'  They put, for instance, their right thumb on C, and play up to G and back down.  There are five fingers on their hands, and five keys under their fingers.  They don't have to try to figure out the 'thumb under' etc. of a full scale yet.  Goodness, they've only been taking piano since March!  What a wonderful introduction to technique.  It's simple, clear, and understandable.  Little children's minds are so different than ours.  They work fast, but they are still learning the basic things in life.  Start them early with something they understand and can grasp, and it becomes one of those basic things in life.

The students learn a Five-Finger-Pattern starting on C playing both hands seperately, and eventually, the teacher shows them how to start the Five-Finger-Pattern on G, which is the only other scale that doesn't have any sharps or flats (accidentals) in the first five notes.  Very clear!  Then they learn how to play them hands together, so both hands are going at the same time.  It may be an easy feat for nimble hands of someone who has used them for many years, but little hands are not so coordinated yet.  "It's hard because I have to play with different fingers in each hand at the same time instead of playing the same fingers in both hands!" was a complaint I got.  No 'Left hand (LH) thumb and Right hand (RH) thumb', or 'LH pinky and RH pinkie', it is 'LH pinkie and RH thumb'!  What a concept!  Then they master it and feel proud, but not frustrated. 

Now they can play Five-Finger Patterns on C and G, hands together!  They learned legato in their songs, so why not play Five-Finger-Patterns legato (smoothly).  Wonderful!  Now they can play it legato or detatched!

Next, they will learn to play C major scale, hands seperately, legato and detatched.  Then they will learn G major scale! 

Me (Teacher): Listen to C major scale: [plays scale] Now listen to G major [plays G major without F sharp] can you hear the note that sounds wrong? [plays both scales again]

If they notice the missing sharp, great, if they don't, point it out. "Does that sound better?" "Yeah." (If they think that you think it sound better, they will most likely answer in the affirmative.) They then start to 'get' the idea that it sounds better with the sharp in.  I'm not going to try to explain the tone/semitone order in scales yet.  That would be much to confusing for them, and that's what I'm trying my best to avoid.

Asking the students if it makes sense is worthless.  They don't want to be embaressed or look ignorant, so they always say yes, or "Yeah, kinda."  They best thing would be to ask the students parent privately (in a private meeting, over the phone, or by email) if they have noticed they're child being confused about something, or asking them questions about something.  If the parent is musical, the answer will most likely be clear: "Yes, Tommy asked me about G major and said he didn't understand why there was an F sharp in it.", but if the parent is not musical, they might only say: "I'm not sure, Tommy mentioned something about a scale being hard, though.", so in that case you have to read into the answer and cover any ground with the student that the parent might be implying with their vague response.

Eventually, after a long while, maybe only once the student starts Grade 1, it depends on their personality, you can introduce them to the minor scale.  No matter about having to complete Grade one by June and having learned certain things by then, only move ahead if the student is ready to.  The student will then learn an A natural minor scale.  It is really that simple.  No harmonic minors, melodic minors, or confusion about key signatures.  That way it is incredibly easy to understand how C major and A minor are 'related'.

They will have already learned about other major scales and triads and maybe even arpeggios, and learning the most basic minor scales like A and E will come very easily.  When they have mastered the natural minor scale in a few keys, and only then, the harmonic minor can be introduced as a 'Prettier sounding minor scale!' (avoid the word 'nice')  Eventually melodic minor can be introduced, but wait for a while and let the rest of the scales sink in.  Melodic minor sounds different going up than it does going down, so it can be introduced as a 'More interesting kind of minor scale!'. 

These children will still be young, and yet will have mastered the most fundimental parts of technique, it will have become a 'basic thing in life', and because they never had the chance to get frustrated about it since their teacher took it slowly, and carefully - layer upon layer - instead of skipping ahead to things the student was not yet read for, they will be able to enjoy practicing technique, an ability I was severly lacking until just recently when I discovered the secret joys of understanding what you play.

Sheila

(2 Replies/Comments) (Permanent Link)

• Nov. 12, 2006
Fluteyness!!!

Yay! I'm feeling Flutey!  As many of you know (Not that there are many of 'you'...) I play the flute and the piano.  Well, I found a great flute website with a ton of info and fun stuff, it's wonderful!  So I've been listening to James Galway's teaching/practice and some 'radio shows'.  It's so much fun, and I have listened to some gorgeouss music, too!  It makes me excited about practicing my flute tomorrow...I almost can't wait!!!  I love playing flute, in fact, I just played it for company, and they liked it! Yesss!  Anyway, I guess this is getting rantish.
God bless...and keep flutey!
Sheila

(2 Replies/Comments) (Permanent Link)