EXPRESSION 

 

Flute playing, and music in general, is about expressing yourself.  This is the first and most important point to keep in mind while you look for your way into the music world.   You need the ability to form and express our own original music ideas. 

 

A good teacher is one who doesn't impose his own interpretation, but who helps you to find yours and to develop the skills you need to  express it at its best. 

 

To be free to express your self, as a matter of fact,  you now need to develop some fundamental tools. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOUND 

 

First you need to find yor voice in order to be free to express yourself with the flute.  The search for a sonority, tone colour, voice which is unique to you is the key to set your musical creativity free. 

  

It may sound strange, but the first step to a beautiful tone is the ability to listen first of all to your own sound; then to other instruments or voices to find inspiration.   Following the example of the great Masters of today or from the past, is essential, but even more important is to listen to your inner voice to understand how to express the music you love in your personal, original, creative way. 

 

The way to achieve the maximum freedom in your sound, is to develop your embouchure.   I will expand on this subject later.

 

 

 

TECHNIQUE 

 

To set you creativity free, you need a solid technique: major and minor scales and arpeggios are, and will remain for the rest of your life, the base of your daily routine.   They are the building blocks of most of the music and you need to memorize all of them, like your alphabet. 

 

Techinical studies play also a vital role in developing your ability, especially those by Andersen, Köler and Taffanel. 

 

But the most important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as technique as separated from sound: and ultimately they are the same thing.   But more later on this subject.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN EFFECTIVE WORKING METHOD 

 

To make fast progress in flute playing, like in  music in general, and in most disciplines, you need a method.   Time is limited and flute playing is a tiring job, one that cannot be carried out productively for more than three-four hour per day. So you need a way to maximise your results and focus on the areas you need to improve effectively. 

 

Together we will start analyzing what your strenghts are and which the sides of your flute playing can be improved.   We will find together the best study books and device the best daily schedule that works for you.  We will set targets and time tables, so that every hour you spend on the flute is well spent and brings results. 

 

Beethoven called his every day’s work as a composer his Kunstdienst, his service to the art.  So there is no contrast between a regular methodic work and artistic creative results, but rather the other way round

 

 

 

YOUR TARGET 

 

What are you trying to achieve with your music studies?   You may want to audition to get into in Orchestra.   Or work as a free-lance for recording sessions.   Or teach flute.   Or just play the flute for your own enjoyment making chamber music with friend.    Maybe you haven't made up your mind yet. 

 

Whatever your plans, there is a specific way forward in order to develop at the best  the skill you need for your career.