FPS at UD's Flute Festival featuring Kaz Tokito!

Yesterday,  Kaz Tokito, the legendary brilliant piccolo player of the Philadelphia Orchestra, gave a Master Class and concert at the University of Delaware.  Eileen Grycky, Assistant Professor of Flute at UD, sponsored the event, which attracted an audience from the community as well as her large studio of undergraduates and graduate students.

Flute Pro Shop set up an exhibit, shown above.

The Master Class featured performers from the UD studio as well as those from other area studios.  No matter the performer, they were transformed as a result of Kaz' instruction.  It was particularly touching to hear him sing a line, and then play it.  The inflection, passion, and musical clarity were the same.

After a lunch break, Kaz performed an incredible concert, featuring both piccolo and flute.  He is a consummate artist.  The Bach C minor Suite was presented on piccolo, as well as a Telemann Fantasia.  Then on to the Roussel "Jouers de Flute" performed on the flute.   But the piece "De Resistance" was the Messiaen "Merle Noir" which he performed on the piccolo.  It was superb!  I would never have thought of this, but it was just perfect.  Even the final  bird call up to high C.  Kaz provided verbal program notes that were very entertaining as well as informative.

I must also mention the phenominal accompaniment of Julie Nishimura for the concert, and Christine McCloskey for the master class.

Eileen Grycky's studio is a spirited and supportive group for each other.  The "Spin to Win" wheel was a big hit, and they all cheered as they spun and won, or lost.  Great fun, and added a festive feel to the event!

Let me also provide some perspective: I graduated from the University of Delaware in 1974 with a Bachelor of Music in performance.  I was the first instrumentalist to earn that degree.  Since then, the School of Music had grown in incredible ways.  The venue, the Performing Arts Center, is wonderfully contextually designed with the older University buildings in mind.  It is warm with wood flooring and paneling.  The sound in the Gore Recital Hall is fabulous.  The stages are state-of-the-art.  It is kept immaculately clean.  The student facilities and program managers know what they are doing and are professional in their demeanor.  As an alum, and as an exhibitor, I was impressed and proud.

American Swim Coaches Association Eastern States Clinic

Next to flute playing, I love to swim.  When I started to swim competitively at age 12 (late by age-group swimming standards) the sport changed my life.  The summer of swimming resulted in a 20 pound weight loss, a huge increase in self confidence, and the understanding that if I worked hard enough I could make things happen. 28 years after the end of my competitive swimming career, I started again, at age 44.  I was hugely influenced by my children, elite swimmers.  A couple of zone meet and national masters meet top-10 finishes, I had to take some time off.  Like most swimmers, I learned to swim through pain, and in so doing injured my shoulders so that today I am swimming only 2 days a week, maybe 2500 yards each time.  Not much, but it sure is great for flute breathing. 

Now,  I give back to the sport I love by coaching adults in a group we call "Lapsters" (we have begun to be known as "Lobsters") at the Brandywine YMCA.

Today, I am here in Baltimore with my husband, who coaches 13 and 14 year olds at the same YMCA, attending a swimming coaching clinic.  Lee and I met at a swim practice.  I was 16.  Two years later we were coaching a summer swim team of up to 80 kids, for three hours a day.  Great way for a relationship to start.  We have nostalgic photos of our wedding with many of our swimmers in attendance.

At this clinic, I am taking copious notes. The principles of swimming coaching are the same as teaching music.  So is the work ethic, the respect of technique, the sense that hard work gets results.  Perhaps this is universal, regardless the genre. 

But I think what makes the US so dominant in the sport of swimming is the dedication of the age-group coaches, and the care they put into the myriad aspects of teaching technique.  I am not so sure  that music teaching is as concerned with the basics.  This is where it starts.....

Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT

On Monday, Dave Kee  and I visited the flute studio of Janet Arms.  Hartt School of Music has a proud tradition of a fine flute studio, and this is what we found: a strong, supportive group of students, dedicated to being the best they can be.  Janet Arms is a whirlwind of energy and good will toward all.  An amazing flutist, playing at the highest level of the New York freelance scene, she is absolutely dedicated to each student and their individual needs and concerns.  From repertoire, to flute selection, to the perfect outfit for the student repertoire class, she is involved.

What I truly love: the Technique class at 8:15 AM,  which meets every Tuesday and Thursday.  Wow!    Where was this in my undergraduate years?!!? 

So I challenge all of us with a studio:  set up a technique class on a twice-weekly basis, invite all students to attend, and raise the technique bar for all!!

But back to Hartt:  the rep class I observed was one in which all present were expected to contribute comments  either writing or verbally.  All initial comments were positive.  Constructive criticism came next, in terms that were honest and clear. Then the flute faculty made comments on the same basis:  clear and honest appraisal after a statement of what went well.

What a great model!

Earlier in the day, we had lunch with David Chu and his wife Karen.  They are both flutists, flute makers, and flute technicians.  David is the maker of the fine wooden headjoints we carry in the shop.  We had a lovely time talking about the flute making world, techniques, teaching approaches, and music.  What better way to start the day?  I have found that a fine headjoint is a great teacher, and I have learned a great deal from David's.  Each one is unique, and each one has a different point of view.  Generally speaking, the darker the wood, the darker the sound, and it is great fun to play them in color chromatic order.  Please feel free to come in to the shop and try them for yourself!

Jan Vinci concert in Philadelphia October 22, 2011

What a fabulous production the Flute Society of Philadelphia offered on Saturday afternoon!

How often are Jennifer Higdon, Katherine Hoover, Cynthia Folio, Marc Vinci, Jeffrey Khaner, Loren Lind, and Eileen Grycky in the same room?  When Jan Vinci is in town to premiere the Jennifer Higdon Flute Sonata co-commissioned by the Brannen Brothers Flute Foundation, the Greater Philadelphia Flute Society, and Skidmore College. 

First let me say that Jan Vinci is an artist of the highest degree.  She displayed brilliant tonal colors, enviable technical mastery and elegant musical phrasing.  Every piece on the program was performed with integrity and understanding of the composer's intent.  And what a program it was!  Jan played her husband Marc's solo flute work, "Crow's Nest" which was a fusion of jazz, extended techniques and the influence of beat boxing.  Katherine Hoovers "Medieval Suite" is a brilliant display of technical and musical drama.  The Jennifer Higdon Sonata is three movements long, and picks up where the Liebermann Sonata leaves off, with demands made on all aspects of technique and musicality.

 I must also remark on the power and beauty of the piano playing of her collaborative pianist, Pola Baytelman.  She performed the Lowell Liebermann "Gargoyles" with complete mastery and power.  The almost fiendish 3rd movement was so exciting chills were going up and down my spine. She also played the George Crumb "Christmas Suite" for prepared piano with the same energy and flare.

It was an event not to be missed-although well attended, the performance deserved an SRO crowd. 

Fun at Flute Pro Shop!

Pictured above:  Justin, Joan, and Todd in front of a cabinet full of flutes!

If you are in need of total entertainment, I suggest the "South Pacific" production currently at the duPont Theatre.  This Lincoln Center version performed by the national touring company is an amazing, top drawer professional show!  On Tuesday this week, the reed/flute section visited the shop, and we had a great time talking about and playing flutes, reading new music, and of course, gossiping!  (We are musicians after all)Todd and Justin brought along percussionist Kevin.  Kevin is a very good sport, in that we don't have anything here to bang on!  It was a total pleasure to hear how great they sounded that night. 

Kutztown University: beautiful autumn campus!

Yesterday was a beautiful day to take the 1 1/2 drive to Kutztown University and the flute studio of Susanna Loewy.  The campus has a real college feel, with 19th century red brick buildings lovingly restored, beautiful grounds and hanging baskets flowing with colorful autumnal flowers.  Such a gem of a campus!

Susanna's students gathered for the studio class in which I presented a talk on flute manufacturing today, materials and price points, and guided a student through the flute trial process.  They had great questions, seemed to absorb everything.  I had the chance to hear Susanna work with a couple of students and I admired her exacting yet thoughtful guidance.  She asked the students several times: "Does that make sense?" which to me gives the student the dignity of asking for clarity without feeling dumb.

The other thing about Susanna is her dedication to triathalons.  She invites her students to go on a run with her on Tuesday AM's.  Wow!!  Talk about a multi-dimentional person who walks the walk!  If I lived closer, I would show up and join the run!

Back at the shop today, my awesome publicist Michelle, of ArtsInMedia and I organized photos for publication on the web site.  What a process a web site is!  Well worth it-sales online are increasing steadily.

Evesham Flute Studio in Marlton, NJ

Yesterday, Dave Kee and I visited Renee Bloch's Evesham Flute Studio in Mralton, NJ.  Renee has a very successful studio with more than 30 students and a whole roster of events from recitals, summer workshops and camps, and competition preparation.  Several students came last night to try flutes, and they all sounded great!  We celebrated several sales, and Dave worked on at least 1/2 dozen instruments.  I love Renee's approach to running a business, and yet she is warm and supportive of her students, pushing them when they need to be pushed, and encouraging them when they need support.  It was fun to catch up with all she is doing, and to see her son and husband.  Too bad the Phillies lost last night.  Guess there is always next year?!?

Moravian College, Betlehem, PA

Yesterday was the perfect day for a drive up the Northeast Extension of the PA turnpike to visit the stunning campus of Moravian College and the studio of Robin Kani.  I have known Robin for a very long time-we decided not to do the math-since the days when I was playing in the Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra.  We had lots of fun then, and we did yesterday.  Robin is a very fine flutist, one of the best: she studied at Michigan and Julliard, and is principal flute in the BBFO, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, and in any other musical event in the culture-rich Lehigh Valley.  She also substitutes with the Philadelphia Orchestra.  I have long admired her playing and valued her friendship.

So the trip to Bethlehem was personally and professionally rewarding.  I was greeted with a small army of students who made loading in much easier than usual! We set up in Hearst Hall, and members of Robin's studio tried out flutes, browsed through music and checked out accessories.  People from the community came too, so it was lively and fun.  Jason Blank and Andrea Fisher (Fluterscooter) accompanied me on this trip, and when it was quiet the 4 of us played quartets and had a wonderful time.

Robin's students sound great, and the small college has an atmosphere of support and comradarie not found in large schools.

Some Fun Facts

Ohio University at Athens is a beautiful place, and here are some fun facts: founded in 1804, it was an outpost in the then-northwest frontier.  Hard to believe, but then drive west on I-50 and go 2 hours + before anything looks civilized.  (I was glad I followed my Dad's advice: "When traveling alone, don't let the gas tank get lower than 1/2 full." )  The town of Athens is on the same parallel as Athens, Greece, and is surrounded by the same number of hills and ridges.  The University boasts 21,000 students, doubling the size of the town when school is in session.

Good to be home.  The welcome from Blitz and Maverick was very warm indeed!