Packing up the shop for Florida Tour

Here I am, in Wilmington, Delaware, over looking the parking lot for the shop which is icy, drizzly, and foggy, and packing up the shop for a trip to sunny Florida where I hear the high is going to be 76 today!

The schedule is: Wednesday the 25th at University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Thursday the 26th at Stetson University in Deland, FL, and the Florida Flute Convention from the 27th through the 29th, in Orlando.  And then a swing to Delray to visit my daughter and West Palm to visit friends.  A week away, so no way can I do this in two checked in bags!!

Last week, we shipped 4 cartons of music and one big box of flutes to the first venue.  Yesterday I packed up the accessories in one large case, and today the display items and signage, and then the handmade flutes that I will carry on board with me.  My third bag is for me!  How can I pack 4 show outfits, 3 pairs of shoes, flip flops, FL clothes, exercise clothes, and makeup and cram all that stuff in one of the show bags??  Then there are all the charging cords and their items: I-phone, Kindle, laptop, et al.  I love Southwest Air, and one reason is that I only pay for one checked bag.

And then there are all the FPS items clamoring to be taken to Florida!!  Must take Fluter Scooter bags, Wiseman cases, Altieri case covers, Lyricraft pegs, Flute Flags, BG France flute care items, all the point of sale items, display items like the table cloth, handmade flutes, step-up flutes, consignment flutes and piccolos....let's see, what did I forget??  Wristies for sure: I think all I am packing are spoken for.  Thumbports in all colors...

Headjoints!  Two 8-headjoint display cases: lined in violet velvet, leather exterior, and brass catches.  All metals look good in these cases.

How to avoid panic?  Not quite sure, but I will be on that plane at 8:00 Wednesday AM and then what is packed is packed!



Now it is time for some real panic....

Winter flute maintenance

My back yard during the February 10, 2011 blizzard

There have been several emails regarding flute maintenance in the winter months recently. 
Two questions come up: how to avoid costly repairs and how to avoid re-infecting oneself after a cold or the flu.

The winter months are especially difficult for our flutes because of the frigid temperatures (which here in Delaware we haven't really seen yet-and no snow!?!) and the very low humidity in our homes and work places.  Did you know that the average concert hall has the same humidity levels as Death Valley when the lights are up? And then, as the lights remain on, the temperature rises, making for a double whammy for the flute. Conversely, in frigid temperatures, some of the glues used to hold corks, felts, and shims in place can become brittle and fail, which will put the flute out of regulation.  Keeping your instrument at a constant temperature can significantly lessen your trips to the Flute Doctor.

How to protect your flute from this devastation?  Invest in a good case cover and insulated "gig" bag in order to lessen the impact of huge atmospheric changes.  Think of it as the same kind of layering you would do for yourself in the winter.  I recommend the Wiseman case as both case and cover because of the insulating properties it offers.  For those of you with French Cases, the Altieri case covers afford wonderful protection, as do the new Fluter Scooter bags, which offer protection AND fashion!!  You know what I would go for...

As far as a gig bag goes, you really can't beat the Altieri Deluxe Double bag, which can be used as a back pack, or with a shoulder strap.  These bags are superbly insulated and will keep your precious flute free from the stress of difficult weather conditions.

Flute Pro Shop carries all of the above mentioned items, by the way ;)

So what can you do without spending money?  The flute must go in its case at the end of the day.  Make sure you swab it out frequently during your practice times, at least every 45 minutes, which is actually the frequency of breaks you should take.  Thoroughly swab it out before putting it away at the end of the day, cleaning up against the cork plate with your swab.  Flute Flags are  superior in this area.  As carefully as you clean your flute, don't worry if droplets remain in the headjoint.  They will help keep the humidity at the right place while the flute is inside the case.  If you are like me, and practice throughout the morning, and teach in the afternoon, keeping the flute out is a very practical way to go.  A flute peg is a great way to keep the moisture away from the pads and at the same time keeping it available for you to pick it up on an as-needed basis.  Find a studio peg that has a weighted base and a solid peg, lined, like the Lyricraft pegs.  These pegs are decorative as well: they multi-task!  At FPS we prefer the filigree pattern.

Let's talk about the cold and flu season and your relationship with your flute.  When you have recovered from whatever nasty bug you have picked up, take a few minutes to rinse your headjoint out with Listerine.  Avoid flavored or sweetened mouthwashes!!! You want good, plain old fashioned Listerine, like my Granny used.  (Really)  Rinse out the headjoint over a sink,  run warm water through it, and then swab it out carefully.  Take a Q-tip, dip it in the Listerine, and very very gently swab the Riser (the little piece of metal that attaches the lip plate to the tube.)  Is your Riser 14 or 18 Karat Gold?  DO NOT use any pressure from the Q-tip on the riser!!!  The metal is very soft and you don't want to alter its shape in any way.

Then there is the regular maintenance of taking your flute to a qualified repair technician on a regular basis.  Make sure this person is your friend!!!  You want them to respond immediately if the unthinkable happens!  I regularly bring in coffee for Dave, our technician, and give him Christmas presents.  At FPS we recommend that if a flute is used heavily, or an average of 2 hours of playing a day, 5 days a week, the minimum is to bring it in every 6 months.  This way you will avoid the last minute disaster right before the big concert or audition.  Think of it this way: if you are under stress for an event, so is your flute.

Just wait till Spring!  Lots of advice for that seasonal change will be forthcoming....

The black patent leather Fluter Scooter bag.  If you look closely, you will see the bag matches her shoes!  A woman after my own heart....

Ellen Fisher-Deerberg's Concert: Cherry Hill, NJ

 Ellen (standing on the right) accepts flowers and applause after her concert, Sunday, January 15 at Jacob's music store in Cherry Hill, NJ.

This delightful concert presented many of the standard pieces of repertoire for the flute, along with other works new to me.  Presented by Ellen Fisher-Deerberg, accompanied by Dr. Chiu-Ling Lin at the piano, and including guest artist, flutist Lisamarie McGrath, the afternoon was filled with musical discoveries and delights.

In the interest of Full Disclosure: Ellen was my student while she was in high school, and we have remained friends ever since.  She went on to Temple University and studied with my teacher, Murray Panitz.  She has been an active freelance flutist in the mid-Atlantic region, and has just recently been appointed principal flute of the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra based in central New Jersey.

The room, as you can see from the photo, had a very low, sound proofed ceiling with exposed beams that gave the feeling of an very closed down space.  There was a nice, thick carpet on the floor.  Admirably, Ellen did not try to overplay this horrible acoustic, so there was no forcing or any unpleasant sounds at all.  Hats off to her for dealing with this difficult situation in a professional manner!

The concert opened with a lovely performance of the Faure Fantaisie, Op. 79 filled with all the excitement that the Allegro movement provides.  Ellen changed the mood decidedly with a wonderfully shaped reading of the Schumann Three Romances, op. 94.  She was joined next by Lisamarie in a fascinating work by the Japanese composer Yuko Uebayashi entitled Au-Dela Du Temps for two flutes and piano.  The four movements of this work sparkled with virtuosic figuration and stunning melodic lines that were shaped beautifully by the performers.  The harmonic language was fresh, open sounding, and not necessarily tonal.  This was a new work for me and I will seek out a flutist to join me on it!

The second half included music of Ravel, Piazzolla, and Godard.  The set of three Piazzolla works occupied the center of the half, and all three were new to me.  Fuga Y Misterio, transcribed for flute and piano, gave a new twist to the art of the fugue.  Two solo works for piano followed: Milonga del angel and Retrato de Alfredo Gobbi allowed the audience to enjoy the artistry of Dr. Lin.  It seemed as if her hands pulled the notes out of the piano in a spirited and energetic performance.  The Godard Suite, Op. 116 ended this recital with a "flutey" and exciting finish.

This was a completely enjoyable concert from the quality of the playing, to the thoughtful selection of music, to the informative verbal program notes.  But a word to the presenters: this is not a pleasant place to hear a concert especially of such professional caliber.  Aside from the acoustical problems presented to the performers, the piano shop downstairs was tuning the pianos!!  The sound of which intruded on the concert.  The parking lot was very difficult to find with no signage of any value around.  Filled with 50 people, the small space quickly became over-heated.  And, the food was put out for the reception, which was in the back of the hall, during the Godard!! Someone like me spent 2 hours traveling, and paid the $20.00 admission.  I feel the audience and myself deserve a more professional setting and handling of the stage/hall management from the part of the concert presenters.

Melomanie Concert-Magical Music!

Tonight was a magical night of music from the unique and provocative chamber music ensemble, Melomanie. (The setting is shown above.)  This ensemble has it all: top drawer performers, an active and informed board, and enthusiastic followers.  They fill a niche: all performers are equally virtuosic on Baroque era and modern instruments.  Co-directors Tracy Richardson, (harpsichord) and Kimberly Reighley (flutist) design programs that combine modern, often world premiere works, with music from the Baroque.  The combination works very beautifully.

Tonight we heard works from Telemann, Couperin, and Boismotier, all from the Baroque, and Mark Hagerty and Kile Smith (world premiere) who are both very much alive and among us!

Kile Smith's musical voice is unique and compelling.  His world premiere of "The Nobility of Women" was a total triumph.  The 20 minute work takes its name from the 1600 dance instruction manual Nobilta di Dame by Fabrito Caroso.  But the connection ends there.  Captivated by the sound of the Baroque instruments, Kile set out to create a sound world based on this, with the expanded harmonic palette of our current time.  The result is entrancing.  This is not simply "accessible" music, it is music that meets you on a common musical plane, and then goes from there.  The eight movements (Overture, Allemande, Branle, Musette, Canario, Sarabande, Branle Reprise, and Ciaccona) each feature one of the instruments (Baroque flute, oboe, violin, harpsichord, Gamba, and cello.)  All movements were characterized by Smith's fresh harmonic language, and counterpoint (this is counterpoint that is not always  imitative-very interesting!) and instrumentation which reminds me of operatic ensembles in which each character retains their personality.

What fun it was to realize that the Mark Hagerty's  piece, "Variations on a theme by Steely Dan" had been written for The Modern Harpsichord Ensemble, of which I was a member many years ago.   This seemingly lightweight work (note: none of Hagerty's music is lightweight) combines so many traditions:  Charlie Mingus, the Viennese School of the 1930's, Baroque-style ornamentation, and then the best:  the layering of L'Apres midi d'un Faun, Syrinx, and the Girl with Flaxen Hair by Debussy, and earlier on, Chanson Medicasses.  It made many of us in the audience shake our heads in memory or humor, and share the cleverness of the composer. Mark Hagerty's music opens so many doors to musical adventure.

The rest of the program was beautifully performed and included a stunning Suite in d minor of Bousmortier performed by viola a gamba-ist Donna Fournier and Tracy, the Telemann Quartet in G Major from Tafelmusik 1 of Telemann, and the Quartet in d minor of Couperin. See what I mean about provocative programming! 

Note to chamber music ensembles: DO WHAT THIS ENSEMBLE DOES!!!  They have created a niche and are becoming a force in the cultural life of Delaware and southeastern PA.

THE RULES

As promised, here are the rules for the flute games mentioned in the Snow Day Survival Guide.  The idea with these games is to have fun and improve flute technique at the same time.  The rules are flexible and can be adjusted for any level of player.

NAIL THAT SCALE

At Flute Pro Shop, we use a wheel of fortune, pictured here.

This is dry-erase board material.  We write in the scales du jour, and spin the wheel for each contestant.  Depending on the age and experience of the players, each one gets one, two, or three chances to Nail That Scale as indicated by the wheel of fortune.  If a player cannot perform the scale in the agreed-upon chances, then they sit out the rest of the game.  A player can re-enter the game if they can perform a scale that another participant is unable to nail. To increase the degree of difficulty, use a metronome, and increase the tempo each round.  Generally 5 rounds (each person spinning and playing 5 times each) will result in every one having plenty of chances and getting a good flute work out.  If you don't have a wheel of fortune, it works out very well to write the scale names on little pieces of paper and draw them from a basket.  If you, too, would like a "Spin to Win," send us an email and we will be happy to sell you one!  I use this to jazz up swim practices for my adult swimmers...

LAST FLUTIST STANDING

 This game is great fun for all flutists.  The degree of difficulty is governed by the piece.
Everyone stands in a circle, with a metronome in the center, preferably one with a very loud click.  The group starts the piece, playing it all the way through, to the tempo on the metronome.  The metronome speed is increased by one notch and the piece is repeated.  This process is repeated until no one can play the piece at the tempo! 

Repertoire suggestions: Advanced J. S. Bach: Allegro from C Major Flute Sonata; Paganini: No. 5 from the 24 Caprices, Op. 1, the middle section known as perpetual motion; J. S. Bach: Badinerie, from the Suite in b-minor;the flute solo from the scherzo of Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream.  Intermediate Rondeau from J. S. Bach's Suite in b-minor; first movement of the Pergolaisi Concerto in G Major; Allegretto from the Godard Suite, Gossec's Tambourin.

SCALE ROULETTE

This game works best with a large number of flutists.


Stand in a circle.  Starting with the leader of the group, the person on their right to play a scale.  That person gets 3 tries to play the scale perfectly.  If they can't play the scale, they sit down.  The game continues around the circle, until it gets back to the leader.  At this point, the scale requests are reversed, with everyone asking the person to their left to play a particular scale.  The game continues until only one person is standing.

Some interesting points: because the direction is reversed, if you have been nasty and asked the person on your right something like g# melodic minor, that person can "return the favor" on the next round, and ask you something like Eb melodic minor....

This game can be simplified to include only a small number of scales, such as 3-b's and 3-#'s.  Or, it can be made more difficult by including all Major, minor, chromatic, and whole tone scales.  To add yet another degree of difficulty, do the scales to the extreme ranges of the flute, going past tonic to the highest and lowest notes, and finally resolving to tonic.  Implementation of a metronome is another way to make it extra challenging.  Use your imagination!

Have fun with these, and please be in touch with any ideas you have to make these games more entertaining!!

 

 

Chili Recipe!

Chili Recipe!

Now, before I start, you should know that I am not a very organized cook.  I have been known to start a recipe and then make sure I have the ingredients...so this can be a free-form type recipe.  Fortunately I play the flute better than I cook.


CHILI
2 large onions, diced
2-4 large garlic cloves
2 lbs ground beef or turkey (my friend Donna uses lentils)
2 32-oz cans of crushed tomatoes
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 15 ox can chili beans (optional in our house)
1 tbs oregano
 1 tsp basil
2 tsp Tabasco Sauce
2 tbs Chili powder (or more as desired)
Dash or two of cinnamon
Dash of Coca

Saute the onions and garlic until translucent.  Add the ground beef and brown.  Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.  Add beans and spices.  Simmer for as long as you like, probably at least 2 hours.  The longer it simmers the better it tastes.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve over noodles or rice.  Top with sour cream and/or shredded cheese. 

Enjoy!

Flute Pro Shop's Snow Day Survival Guide

Hello all you fans of snow, ice and days off!  But then there are times when we all have had enough.  Enter Flute Pro Shop with our exclusive Snow Day Survival Guide.  A sure fire cure for a dose of cabin fever.

Circuit Training

Start this early in the A.M. and you’ll feel saintly by the end of the day.  Comfortable clothes are recommended.

PowerLung®
 1 set of 10 reps at your most comfortable setting.
*
1-mile brisk walk on the treadmill (or ‘dreadmill’ as my friend calls it.) No treadmill?
Walk up and down a flight of stairs 20 times.
•
30-minute flute practice:
Long tones and chromatic scales/an etude/a new piece for you!
•
Upper body stretches
•
15-minute flute practice:
Any etude that is a challenge, or orchestral excerpts/standard repertoire that may have become rusty for you.
•
Repeat an additional 2x.

Guaranteed to make you exempt from shoveling! (At least that’s how it works at  Flute Pro Shop.)

No snow in your region of the country? No problem! Choose a location that gets lots of snow—like Buffalo, NY or better yet for this year, Alaska—and ‘adopt’ it. When they get snow, you do too—virtually, of course.

Celebrate the Snow!

My neighbor invites us over for Brandy Alexanders the evening of the first real snowfall (it being Delaware, we haven't had one yet: snowfall or Brandy Alexander...) and it has become one of my most-cherished traditions. Take this opportunity to meet or get reacquainted with your neighbors.

Comfort Foods

I always keep the ingredients for chili and cornbread on hand for the above occasion. Check out the next blog for a copy of my favorite chili recipe, and by all means, use it to create your own tradition!

Advice from the Animals

There is nothing more enjoyable than watching dogs frolic in the snow. My two Labradors love it!
Watch your pets and try not to smile. Better yet, throw a bumper for them and give them a piece of puppy heaven.  Take a Nap. Enough said!

Power Outage?

What a mess.
Once the generator is running and you have a little light, read that travel book you’ve had on the coffee table since 2006 and enjoy pictures of the Caribbean!

Learn New Music

Prepare for the inevitable with the purchase of some exciting music.

Here are some of my favorites to get started:

Joseph Jongen: Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 77 Fabulous, and your technique will improve from the practice of this fine piece.

Boosey & Hawkens: Anthology of Flute Music (Composers include Harty, Lees, Gorecki, Del Tredici, Alwyn & Butterworth.) Some wonderful works that are not always in the standard repertoire.

Pizzolla: Histoire du Tango for Flute and Piano, Guitar, or Harp.  Wonderful, evocative works that will make you think of warmer climates.

Khachaturian: Concerto for Flute and Piano. Originally for violin; fabulous for low-register articulation.

Geisiking:Sonata for Flute and Piano, editied by Trudy Kane.  A real gift to the repertoire and destined to be a standard.

Gaubert: 3rd Sonata for Flute and Piano.  Not for the faint of heart!

All of this music is in stock at Flute Pro Shop.  Please email: info@fluteproshop.com to order!

Snow Day Flute Party — Woot! 

Invite your flute friends over and play fun games like
~Nail that Scale, 
~Scale Roulette, or
~ Last Flutist Standing!
Look for all the rules in the next Blog!

Here are Blitz and Maverick having a great time!  Last year.

Now that you are all set and prepared for your next snow day, share some of your snow survival stories with us.  Comment on this blog, or post them on the Flute Pro Shop Face Book Fan page.

New Photos for Joan

I have never been one that the camera likes.  You know how some people, well, the camera just loves them?  They look better, much better through the lens than in real life?  That is NOT me. 

The industry standard "head shot with instrument"  is a problem in itself.  How can you make a flute look interesting?  No curves, no real physical presence, and yet it must always accompany you in publicity photos.  Let's face it, how many interesting flute-holding angles are there??

I've had photos that make me look like I haven't slept in days, or much older than I really am (a total travesty.)  I remember once, early on, when we still had black and white photos taken, I came home from the shoot, my kids took one look at me, and ran screaming from the room.  For b/w photos, your face was made up in reverse, and the colors were shades of brick red.  Wicked Witch of the West must have been their impression.

Then there was the make up artist/hair stylist that used so much hair spray I had to shampoo my head 3 times to get it out!

Photos with the harp were fun, too.  Getting both flute, harp, and 2 musicians in a photo made for hours of contortions sitting on a stool, shouldering the harp, getting just the right hand angle on the flute.  Not fun.

Then December 29 happened, and I had FUN in a photo shoot.

Make up Artist extraordinaire, Kristen Lober, came to the shop, expertly applied make up that let me look my age (don't even go there!!) and at the same time polished and professional.  See for yourself:

And we had FUN!!  Lots of conversation about flutes and flutists, since  Kristen herself is a talented flutist.  But also chatted about make up, fashion, accessories, all that really fun stuff that makes me glad I am a girl.

But what was so wonderful about this session is that she listened to me, really understood what was important to me and my shop, and came up with photos that make me very happy.  Such a relief.  And my kids, now grown, recognize me.

Need a good photo?  Shoot me an email (pun intended) and I will give you Kristen's contact information.