Tag: Flute Treat
March 21, 2012 at 6:56 pmCategory:Flute Treats
Can you say flash mob? How amazing that a group of flutists was assembled to do this, and they seemed to have learned it very well! What an interesting idea, and there are all kinds of instructional videos to go with it so you can do try it with your flute friends!
January 22, 2012 at 5:26 pmCategory:Flute Treats
Here’s more coolness from Greg Patillo, this time rockin’ it out on Robert Dick’s fabulous Glissando Headjoint. Is’nlt it great that people are still finding new ways to make flute playing cool and fun!
September 4, 2011 at 12:56 pmCategory:Flute Treats
Here is a new Flute Treat for you! An excellent use of circular breathing, extended techniques, and a little beat boxing thrown in. The piece is pretty cool, too! Thanks to Greg Patillo to posting this on Facebook.
August 7, 2011 at 2:30 pmCategory:Flute Treats
This is such a cool thing! Imagine, a whole orchestra drifting in to a busy transit station, performing Ravel’s Bolero, and then quietly drifting out again. Take a look!
The Bolero is the perfect kind of piece for this kind of thing, since it starts out with one lone musician, gradually adding instruments as the music builds. It is also recognizable by non-Classical music fans.
The keys to the effectiveness of this performance is that it starts out small and builds, so the “audience” is constantly being surprised and engaged. It is also in a busy, enclosed space with OK acoustics. The piece is readily recognizable to a wide audience. The musicians are in ordinary street dress so they do not draw (much) attention as they drift in to play and then drift back out again. Though I do wonder, how do you bring in timpani inconspicuously? They don’t quite fit in a backpack or luggage trolley!
Of course, I’m inspired to do something similar, but with a flute ensemble. So, what flute ensemble piece would work for this? The players either have to drift in and add to the show, or come together quickly and quietly and start playing with no prep. (In other words you can’t stand there forever trying to find the perfect tuning pitch or the best embouchure placement, just put it together and go!) It has to be clear that you are not busking, that this has the effect of a random event, but not a performance where you are putting on a show and the audience is your captive. You just go and do and leave. One of the best parts of the video is the shot at the end of the lady who is left looking completely befuddled, like “What the hell was that!”
I suppose you could have several small groups performing in different places at once. Instead of flash mobs, maybe you could call them “sparks”! Maybe you could do several small groups leading up to a large group performance. If you did this in a walkable downtown area, choosing some high profile spots to start in, maybe you could draw people with you as you move to the next location, like a Pied Piper effect. Hmmmmm . . . I think I’m on to something here! Better get to work on that. Of course repertoire suggestions are appreciated!
June 11, 2011 at 12:14 pmCategory:Flute Treats
Well the freelance editing job is done, so I can get back to work on the flute stuff. I am one out of shape flutist! My plan to get up early to practice for a bit and maybe practice a wee bit more after getting home from work lasted about a week. The one thing that working the extra job proved to me is that I CAN make more time to work on playing and writing. It’s just so much easier to make that choice when you have a deadline and a concrete reward at the end! Guess I have to be as ruthless with myself by setting carved-in- stone deadlines and finding or creating rewards that motivate me to put in the extra effort. It’s easier when you are in school or in an active performing group; it’s much harder when you are on your own as so many trained musicians end up being. So, time to put the pity away and pick up the flute.
Check out the little treat that I found! It’s not really flute-related, but I am sure that flutists can relate. After all who says you can’t have fun with the classics? Maybe someone can come up with a flute arrangement!