Adventures with Air Turn

Yes, this old flutist is learning a new trick!  Just in time for Sunday's SPARX concert.  All of my music for the concert is loaded onto my iPad, which is pictured above, snug in its "GigEasy" iPad mount, which is in turn attached to a microphone stand. Pages are turned utilizing the foot pedal assembly on the floor. The right pedal turns forward, the left pedal turns back.

On the iPad, the music for the concert is stored in a set list, in concert order. It is also accessible in a general index. Over 6,000 pieces of music can be stored on my iPad, completely organized however it makes sense to me.

And so, eager to implement the new technology, I began practicing and rehearsing with my Air Turn. many of the people I mentioned it to had lots of questions. I will attempt to answer these here.

1.  Is there a glare on the screen? A:  You can avoid any glare by changing the angle of the iPad on the "GigEasy."

2.  The print seems so small!  A: The smallness is relieved by the clarity of the notation.  Alternatively, you can size and re-size the music to what is ideal for you. The pedals work to advance the music as you need to.  I have reading glasses stronger than I need for daily reading tasks to magnify the notation.

3.  You can't mark the music. A: Oh yes you can!  Tap on the center of the screen.  You will see a pencil icon on the menu bar. Tap on that, choose whether you want a pencil or highlighter, and mark away to your heart's content.  There is also an eraser icon.  Tap that, and with a whisk of the finger, all is erased.

4. Is it hard to remember where the pedal is? A: I must admit that was a fear of mine, as a known klutz (just ask my sister.) I stand during performances, and there is real concern that using my feet just might end up badly!  I have found that depressing the pedal with my left foot works best as I read from my left eye, and my left shoulder is always closer to the music than my right.

Other highlights include an "on-board" metronome,  the ability to download music from the internet for free, or drastically cheaper than paper music, lots of tutorials from Air Turn, and more.  Flute Pro Shop will soon bring out a video that will be specific for the needs of flutists.  And in the future, we hope to provide downloads from our new website for our customers.

Everyone who uses this fabulous technology will find their own system.  And, as my graduate school harmony teacher, Dr. Stimson Carrow, would say, "System is Comfort."