Afternoon Chocolate

It's a cold, windy, end of January Wednesday afternoon.  I have had enough coffee for 3 people, and I still need a little boost to end this day productively.

The answer: Afternoon Chocolate!

Not anything formal, just a nice square (or two) of dark chocolate.  Atkins?  Ha!  This sublime lift to the jaded afternoon palate will power me through till lessons are finished and shop closed up.

This little habit started after Christmas, when at the urging of my husband, I took all the holiday chocolate from the house into the shop.  I hid it.  Yup.  There are people here with REAL chocolate habits, and I didn't want to foster any unhealthy patterns.  Squirrel-like, I have several spots that serve for hiding places.  Surprising in a shop like this just how many little places there are.  Squirrel-like I sometimes forget where I have stashed the chocolate, and then when its found I have to act like I have absolutely no idea how it got there....

Occasionally we will go out for a chocolate bar and share this feast amongst ourselves.  That happened today, and the dark chocolate had candied ginger in it.  The ying/yang was perfect as the wind howls, and the prediction of 2 inches of rain looks like it will come true.

Chocolate as a mood elevator is well documented.  I experienced it with my daughter who, as a little girl of 6 to 10, had a real metabolic need for it.  I could watch her mood darken, and could predict the perfect moment to give it to her to avoid a melt-down.  I kept some in the glove compartment of the car.  Until one hot summer.  Boy was that a mess that was to clean up...

Then, we have the musical parallels.  Colors of chocolate relate to the colors of wooden David Chu headjoints:  the lighter headjoints are like milk chocolate.  The coco-bola are like  Dark milk chocolate.  And finally, grenadilla.  My favorite in head joints.  Dark chocolate-my favorite in chocolate.  I see a pattern here.

So, it is my firm advice to indulge in Afternoon Chocolate when in need of that little lift regardless of the weather, situation, personnel, or mood.  Guaranteed to make your day BETTER!!!

To Christopher on his next chapter /adventure

Today, my son Christopher departs for the Netherlands and a year at Maastricht University for a Masters Degree in International Business.

He decided what he wanted, worked toward it, and accomplished it.

As he has done his whole life.

Sometimes it takes a while for Christopher to know what course he will persue.  But there is little doubt that once his mind is set, he will make his way to the top.

Let's take swimming.  We put him in the water at 18 months.  Both Lee (his Dad and my husband) and I are swimmers and love the sport.  Christopher loved the sport.  At 6 years old, he was swimming 100 yard races.  At 14 he swam his first mile (and promptly lost lunch.) As a senior in high school, he was swimming at the Quad A level in USA Swimming: an elite level.

Let's take business.  As a junior in high school, he took a job working at a local produce business. By the summer after his senior year in high school, he bought the business.  He grew the business, learned its intricacies, purchased a truck, stands, licenses, signage, built relationships with his farmers and customers. For 12 weeks each summer until this last, he worked 18/7, getting up each morning to make the drive to New Jersey so his customers could enjoy day-fresh produce. He has since sold the expanded business for a nice profit.

Twice he has traveled to South Africa, participating in game capture, serving as a safari guide, doing community support, and helping to set up water purification for the indigenous people.  Interacting with them allowed him to understand and perceive that their simple lifestyle is often more rewarding than our fast paced modern lifestyle.

My boy has brought me much joy with his joie de vivre, his big personality, his unbridled enthusiasm, his ability to express emotion, his deeply held convictions. How he whistles around the house. How he wrestles with our Labradors.  His love of bon fires, hot wings, juicing, bad weather, Christmas decorations, and now this new goal.

What I am most grateful for is his character.  His ability to show honest empathy.  Integrity.   The fierce desire for justice for all, which he inherited from his father.   His curiosity.  The type of intelligence that absorbs everything around him, and applies it in new and original ways.

I will miss him terribly.  But I am glad to know he is out there, in the world.  I know he will bring his qualities to all who interact with him.  And I know our connection will last no matter where in the world he is.  If the world can hold him...

Learning the Left Handed Flute

Curious about the emails I have been receiving from a German flute maker who specializes in entry level flutes, and has developed a left handed flute, I ordered one for the shop.

A left handed flute is played to the left side.  The right handed flute it played to the right side, and is how 100% of the flute players play and have played for centuries.

This dominant sided activity has led many of us to injuries to necks, shoulders, upper backs, tendons, carpal tunnels, and more.  The  German flute maker's theory is that this flute can be a sort of therapy for all of these strained muscles and soft tissue.  This sounded reasonable to me, and as I have some of these injuries (well actually all of them, but not just from flute playing)  I thought this left handed flute could help me and others.

It arrived today. Of course, I had to try it.  Right away.  Forget about packing for the Florida Flute Association Convention that starts Friday.  Here was this flute to try, although truth to tell, just looking at it made me dizzy.

Then I had to try to figure out how to hold the thing.  Balance was an issue.  Still is. Finding the keys is another challenge, as is using actual left handed fingerings, and not translating them into the right hand set up.

The other consideration is that I play out of the right side of my mouth, so the asymmetrical embouchure gets in the way when playing the left handed flute.

But, as I played, things got better!  The sound became more focused, the hands more trustworthy, the fingerings remembered.  Now, I am still only playing long tones. But I must be using a totally different side of my brain, which should reinforce what I am doing with the right handed flute, right?  Bach Sonatas, here I come!

Canine Obedience Class

My Labrador Retrievers and I have returned to Canine Obedience class in a move that has taken great courage for yours truly.

The way it will work is that I will take each dog every-other week.  Last week, Blitz was the candidate because he is a yellow lab = calm, zen-like approach.  Except for the recalls in which he broke through all 6.

What is a recall?  All of the dogs and handlers line up at one end of the room.  Every-other handler leaves their dogs, and goes to the other end of the room.  Let's say 20 feet away.  Your dog is to sit and stay while you are at the other end of the room, and wait until it is your time to call your dog to come to you.  Blitz came at the first call, not at my call, leaving me to take the walk of shame, say "no" firmly (ok...I did stifle a laugh or two because he looked so guilty, which means his forehead wrinkled in that cute way of his), put the dog back in a sit, walk back to the handler position, and wait to be instructed to call my dog.  You call.  He comes bounding back to you, whereupon he is to sit directlyin front of you, stare lovingly into your face, and come into heel position at your left side, when you are instructed to have him do so.

It was waiting for his turn that was Blitz's downfall.

My gentle yellow lab is 85 lbs of Labrador affection.  10 years old and still looking good.

My enthusiastic black lab is 104 lbs of Tigger-like bounce.  6 years old.  Perennial teenager.

Oh boy.  Tonight is his night.

You see, Maverick likes to show off. He anticipates the turns during the heeling exercises.  He rushes ahead in the figure 8's.  And now, tonight, the recalls, after our two year hiatus, will be another exercise in courage and keeping on my feet for me.  Because, in all of his enthusiasm, Maverick will joyfully, grinning, with that big pink tongue of his hanging out of the side of his mouth, come to me when I call him alright.  And in all probablility (because he does it when we practice at home where there is no audience) he will launch himself at me, sit in front of me for the barest of moments, and then race to sit at heel position. 

The thing to remember is that the canine does not make mistakes.  It is the handler.  With any luck I will get photos tonight.

Wish me luck.  And steady feet.

Preventable Flute Injuries

This is the time of year when we see all sorts of flutes coming in to the shop with completely preventable injuries.  Let's take some time and consider.

Case Injuries.  That's right, your case can injure your flute.  If the G# spatula rides too close to the crown of the headjoint, you may see small dents and scratches.  Some manufacturers attach a piece of velvet to the headjoint block in the case which helps tremendously.  Lacking that, you can use your own small piece of velvet.  Another sign of case abuse is a foot joint key riding much higher than it should.  When the flute is in the case, and the case is shut, there should be no sound of the flute moving in the case when it is gently shaken.  If you do hear the flute moving around in there, foam, velvet or other very soft material can make the case safe again.  If the case is broken down, the blocks are loose, the catches not working, then a new case is in order.  There are many varieties available.  My personal favorite is the Wiseman case, pictured below.

There are beautiful French cases by Northwind which can be custom fit to your flute. The more affordable ProTec cases are case and case-cover all in one.
Here is  a link to some of these cases that are available at Flute Pro Shop : Cases

In addition to cases, experience has taught us that flutes carried in gig bags tend to be dropped less often, and when they are, the damage rate is very low.  Altieri instrument bags are insulated, with inside and outside pockets.  They can accommodate flute, piccolo, lap top and more.

Many flute cases and covers are equipped with shoulder straps.  We discourage the use of the longer shoulder straps.  When you walk fast the flute case bounces on your hips, the flute rattles in the case, and you end up with preventable injuries!

Well intentioned relatives, band directors or friends may want to "help" adjust the regulation of your flute with jewelers' screw drivers, or worse. Trust us, Uncle Ernie is not equipped to make these adjustments!

So who is qualified?  Check with your teacher and use their repair specialist.  Be in touch with the manufacturer to find out who in your area is a certified technician for their flutes.  Call a local pro and quiz them about who takes care of their instrument.  A good rule of thumb is to take into account the relative expense of your flute.  If it has cost an amount that is dear to you, then take it to a flute specialist.  Will it mean shipping your flute?  Yes, it might.  Shipping has become so sophisticated that your flute is better off with Fed Ex than a well-meaning general all-around repair tech.

And here's my favorite repair tech, David Kee of Flute Pro Shop.

The Labrador Zone, or, Canines without Borders

Our family has been blessed with two generations of Yellow and Black Labrador Retrievers.  Our first set was Chester (yellow) and Turbo (black) and now we have Blitz and Maverick, pictured above.

Living with Labradors is the source of much love, companionship, training and of course, humor.

Our family has come to learn that the yellow labs are mellow, love to cuddle, and follow their person's every movement.  The black labs will retrieve until they collapse, can tell time (as in when it is time for a meal), are very smart, and very funny.

In our house, we have an area of the kitchen counter tops known as the Labrador Zone.  That is to say, if you place any food item, or potential food item, within the LZ, it will be gone, perhaps even before you leave the room.  As time has gone on, the LZ has increased in size, making us think that Maverick stands on Blitz's back to reach all the way to the back of the counter.  Last week when Maverick consumed an entire bag (restaurant size) of Toastitos, three bags of cookies, a bag of wrapped chocolates, a bowl of creamed onions, and 1/4 cup of butter  (the last two were consumed out of the sink) he set a new record.

The clean up was a heroic task performed by yours truly.

To get to the food in the sink, Maverick stands to the left side of the sink, hooks an elbow in the corner of the counter top, and reaches back with his head.  Very reminiscent of the "Fosbury Flop" style of high jumping.

There are other Labrador Zones that don't have anything to do with food.  Really.

The sofas, for instance.  Both Blitz and Maverick rarely get up into them when we are in the room.  But there is ample evidence that they break that rule when we are not around.

The bed.  A new Labrador sized bed must be in the works somewhere, because our California King will not accommodate two humans and two Labradors.  Someone has to go.  The other reason to relocate?  Snoring.  From the canines....

Some of the other Labrador Zones: The fish pond.  Any muddy spot in the yard, which right now is the yard.  Anyone who is brave enough to come into the house.

And, yes, flute practice.  Blitz, my sweet, award-winning obedience and therapy dog, accompanies me each time I practice.  Long tones are his favorite.  Listen to the following clip, and you will hear that he does sometimes match pitches, and has a sense of rhythm.  Sort of.

This recording was made by my son, who had to sneak up on the performance, as Blitz will not perform if anyone else is in the room.  I was so grateful for Christopher's efforts on my behalf and the inspiration for this blog

https://soundcloud.com/joanflute/flutelongtoneswlabrador




From the kitchen, to the living room, to the bedroom, to the practice room,  the Labrador Zone is sometimes shared with the humans.  But in our house, Canines without Borders is the rule. 


Happy New Year to all!