Welcome

This blog is written and created for the Whole Musician: in mind, body and spirit. The possibilities for practice, playing and performing are infinite...In this blog I share Practice Ideas for the Whole Musician as inspiration, information and as a portal into your musical imagination.

Happy Practicing!

Heartfully,
Jennifer

Friday, September 30, 2011

Meaningful Movement- To move or not to move that is the question?


Meaningful Movement

To move or not to move, that is the question? 

Not really...everything alive has movement... 
The question is what kind of music are you making and what kind of movement are you creating?

It really is not about "not moving".  
It is about discovering the use of our whole self and our wholeself as the instrument to make music in and through. 

Are you using your whole self (mind, body, spirit)  or just a part of it? Perhaps you are only aware of part of yourself? 

Possibility:
I am inviting you to open yourself up to the possibility of being your whole self to play, perform, practice, live... 

Flutistically, Artistically, Wholistically. 

It is about being inclusive in your awareness and balanced in your dynamic movement.

This is all about making music come to life in a meaningful, authentic, dynamic,  natural, expressive and artistic way. 
It is not about a right or wrong way, but educating yourself, being open and curious.

Discovering and Observing life, your practice and performing and being fascinated by infinite possibilities. It is also about the choices you can make and how they effect you, the music, the audience and life.

What kind of Movement are you creating? Is it meaningful? Is it Musical? 



I feel it is essential to consider your movement and how it effects:
The Music.
The Audience.
Your self: 
as a growing as a musician.
having more artistic choices of movement
not creating habits that take away from the music
not creating habits that cause tension and harm to your body
finding ways to move that are natural and do not harm the body



Is it Habitual or Expressive of the Music?


I observe most people falling into a habitual movement that has very little to do with the music. An example would be that they are beating, keeping time with the end of their flute in a vertical manner. Another common movement is to stir or constantly circle with their flute. Both of these movements are habitual as when asked to stop the movement it is very difficult for them, they are unaware that they are doing it and it and it has become a habit not a movement that expresses the music. 


So, what are some ideas to become mindful of your  movement and the music?


Video record your practice in 5 minute intervals.
Examine your movement, practice and music making. What do you observe about the quality of your movements, what do you hear happens when you move? Is it effecting the music line, your tone, your technique in a positive way or taking away from the music? Record your self again not moving, but rather replacing the habitual movement with moving your air and the musical line. How did you do now? What did you observe. Can you feel the natural movement that is already happening in your body? Some of those movements are the movement of the spine- gathers as you inhale, lengthens as you exhale. The movement of the ribs as they rock back and forth and their elastic nature that shape around the lungs as they expand. The balance of the head on top of the spine, the freedom of the neck, the width of the shoulders...  There is so much natural movement in the body and in the music... 


Replace your habitual vertical movement with a horizontal movement, like the bow of a string instrument, that imitates, reflects the musical line. 
What do you notice by listening to yourself and recording yourself when you use this kind of movement? Generally it sounds more flowing, lyrical and natural. It tends to have less lumps and bumps in the line. It also can help you to connect with your air stream and notice where you are tending to stop the air the musical line. 


Just stop moving and LISTEN.
I feel that a lot of our habitual movement is tied up in covering up, not intentionally, really listening to what we are creating as musicians. If you stop and really LISTEN you will hear more.  If you stop moving and listen what do you hear? Can you hear more of what you are doing and perhaps not doing? If you stop and listen can you use more energy towards the music? If you stop and listen can you create with more conviction and clarity the composers music and your creative ideas of expressing the music in a meaningful, mindful way? 


 I hope that you enjoy adding this element of mindful, meaningful, movement to your practice.


~ Jennifer


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Creating and Cultivating Presence in Practice and Performance.


Here are a few ideas on creating and cultivating Presence in your life, practice and performances. 
Also, last night I was reading a wonderful book, Life is a Verb by Patti Digh, her blog is, http://www.37days.typepad.com/. On pages 46- 48 she talks about presence and how we hold presence for each other and receive presence from another. It is so beautiful, the book and these pages on Presence... 

Enjoy,
Jennifer

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Marianne Williamson

What is Presence ? And how are you accepting and holding Presence for another?

Light- There is light in someone who has presence and in a sound that has presence. It is visible and expressive, alive, alight, luminous. Kinds of Light: candlelight, moonlight, twilight, sunlight, spotlight..

Expansive - It defies the limits of body and space. It is multi dimensional, whole, unified, it is eternal...

Intensity - Passion, purpose, power, desire, direction, drama, strength, commitment, expression, focus, determination and interest...

Enchanting - Inviting, magical, imaginative, wishing, hoping, fearing, visionary, dreamy, singing...

 Attracting - Compelling, has character, wit, dynamic, intelligence, sweet, loving, kind, beautiful, funny, connecting, magnetic, seductive, energized, vibrant...

 Alert - Presence is present, aware, awake, attentive, alive, alight, encompassing, inclusive, cultivating...

 Authentic - Being yourself, knowing yourself, real, natural, unique, original, one of a kind, special...

Permeable - Open, vulnerable, porous, empathetic, feeling, compassionate, connected...

Permeable
Listen: to NPR Series 50 Great Voices

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Giving Concerts

I had a student write to me about where to give a recital. There are so many wonderful places to share our music. I hope that we all continue to encourage our students and ourselves to go out and share live classical music with a variety of people in a variety of venues. 
Many years ago I wrote an article entitled Dreams Goals Book and in it is a section about finding places to give concerts/recitals. Here is a part of that article. 
Enjoy and let me know where you will be playing.
~Jennifer



CONCERTS TO GIVE

Find out when your Band and Orchestra Concerts are for the year.
Find out when your Recitals 
will be for school, 
private lessons, etc.
Mark these in your Calendar.

Figure out the time lines for 
Your Concerts/ Recitals.

How long will it take to learn 
the music?
Where is the Concert?

Keep your programs of 
concerts you have gone  to and given.
How many rehearsals do 
you need to Schedule?

With:
Your Private Teacher Pianist Chamber Music Coach Ensemble Members
Where are you rehearsing? In the Concert/ Recital Hall/
School etc.
Are you recording it?

What do you need to do to 
have it recorded?

Figure out these schedules, 
mark it in your calendar.

SHARING YOUR MUSIC


IDEAS AND PLACES:

Schools
Day Care Centers
Libraries
Assisted Care/ Nursing Homes
Hospitals
Coffee Houses
Churches
Private Homes
Concert Halls
Other Organizations
Get the names, emails, websites 
and numbers

Make up a template to keep 
track of these things.
Place, name and street address, directions. 
Contact Information 
person, phone and email
Date of performance
Who is performing? Group name, emails and phone numbers

Program
For yourself, the ensemble. Are you speaking the program or do you need to
make copies of the program or give it to the contact person to make copies?
Program and program notes By what date?
 Keep these in your Book.

Saturday, September 17, 2011


Keeney Studio Notes - Weeks 3 & 4
IDEAS: to think about... "What can I let go of?....." Not giving the body another thing to do, but to let go of and free your self back into the natural way the body moves freely and dynamically. Also, perhaps a better word than straighten for the spine is to allow for lengthening and sequencing. Again, this is the natural movement of the spine. It lengthens and gathers, like the  gathering and lengthening breath I taught you :-)... Yes, how we shape our breath, body, mind and heart, is how we shape the music too. 
Mystery to Clarity...How Clear is your thinking, feeling, knowing about the music you are making? Whole Self, Tone  (breathing, voice, presence), Technique (all parts and patterns), Rhythm, Interpretation (knowledge and personal musical instincts), Ensemble, Listening...  
What do you need to do in your practice and musical life to give clarity and meaning to the music, to your playing and performing? Find ways of making the music come alive through thought, feeling, knowledge, dedication, discipline, discovery, delight, determination, desire, daring and play. This will give you the clarity you are looking for in expressing the music in an artistic and joyful way.
C’s - Care,  Consistent, Conviction, Clarity, Challenge, Choice, Connection, Comfort, Confidence, Concept, Creative, Charisma, Courage, Color, Commitment, Character, Change, Communicate...
Letters - Thank you for your beautiful letters about giving yourself an A...
Book - The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. Please continue to read be curious about and do the practices. 
Studio Class - See schedule for performers. 
*Add to schedule:  Change in Studio Telemann Recital is in Chapel on Oct. 11th.
Halloween Concert, Oct. 31 in 175. Ms. Gedigian’s Class on Nov. 21 5-7pm
Preparation & Performance - Lesson Notes sheets and focus points, p. 14-16. Use these for lessons each week in your 3 ring binder. Record parts of your practice!
Creative Practice Idea -  Please focus on these, p. 33 one inch and fermata technique...  and creating long lines,p.34
*Read Long Lines quote in Zander book, p. 116
Body - Read Alexander Pages in book, p.40 and practice directions and active rest.
Breathing - Finger Breath and Flow Master, p.41. Use directions for observation during your practice with these breathing toys :-).
Embouchure - Know your aperture!!! It is the “hands” that shape your air and mold the music. Be a sculptor of your air, an artist...
Tone Practice from: Creative Practice Ideas and Exercises - continue practice as in weeks 1&2 & Slow Movements of Bach Sonatas, Partita and Mozart Concerti - 1 a week
Technique Practice from: Creative Practice Ideas and Exercises - Continue practice as in Weeks 1&2
Etudes - as Assigned
Solos - As Assigned. 
Orchestral Excerpts & Band Music - as Assigned. Orchestral Excerpt Book by Jeanne Baxtresser is the required. 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Art of Possibility- Zander

I have been reading along with my students this semester, The Art of Possibility, by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. What a wonderful book full of inspiring stories, ideas, and real life practices to engage in life... in making music of life...  Thank you for writing this book! I highly recommend it! The Art of Possibility


The 12 practices are:
1. It's all Invented
2. Stepping into a Universe of Possibility
3. Giving an A
4. Being a Contribution
5. Leading from Any Chair
6. Rule Number 6
7. The Way Things Are
8. Giving Way to Passion
9. Lighting A Spark 
10. Being the Board
11. Creating Frameworks for Possibility
12. Telling the WE Story




Try them and see how your life changes and the lives around you... Let me know what it creates in your world. 



Here is a wonderful TED Talk by Ben Zander on Classical Music and Passion... Also full of inspirational ideas of how alive and well classical music can be... and how we listen and what "impulse" is in phrasing... Thank you Ben!


Heartfully,
Jennifer

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Focus Points week 1&2



Focus Points for Lessons - Creative Flutist Studio - Fall 2011

Weeks 1 & 2

Here are the ideas and conpets for the first 2 weeks of lessons this fall. Enjoy!
Rhythm in heart and fingers. Breath is moving and shaping the whole of the musical line. 
Breathe with the music in a meaningful way that is in time and connected to the music you are making. “Pour your whole self into your flute...”
C’s - Care,  Consistent, Conviction, Clarity, Challenge, Choice, Connection, Comfort, Confidence, Concept, Creative, Charisma, Courage, Color, Commitment, Character...
Syllabus - given out and needs to be read, followed and signed. 
Letters - Why I received an extraordinary grade of an A... “ ...  Due Sept 1&2 at your lessons.
Book - The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander 
Please be prepared to discuss a chapter a week in Studio Class and to write a 5 page (12 pt. font) paper discussing the Practices presented in this book and how you are using them and what kind of changes you have made practicing them this semester. Due: Dec. 1st, 2011
Studio Class - Schedule for performing has been given. Also, Flight of the Bumble Bee Part and Flute Choir parts for Sept. 8th Collage Concert.
Preparation & Performance - Lesson Notes sheets and focus points, p. 14-16. Use these and make copies for lesson each week in your 3 ring binder. 7 Levels of Learning, p.17 
Creative Practice Idea - Metronome Motivation & Precision and Flow, p. 30 . Circle of Observation and Add a Note, p.31.
Body - Meade’s Arms, p.41
Little Monkey p.40                                      Head “Floating” on top of spine.
Your Circle Sphere, Bubble - moving inside of it and being connected. Circle it p. 42
There is nothing like good use of your whole body for sounding authentically like you and having a great practice and performance. 
Breathing - Gathering and Lengthening Breath,                                                             Breath as a Bow (string player) and Breathing Bag, p.45
Embouchure - Not just outside facial muscles. What do you notice and can activate on the inside your cheeks for example? forward mvt.
“No teeth” - shape with lips... (no jaw, release jaw)
Tone Practice from: Creative Practice Ideas and Exercises - read p. 48-49 
1. Beautiful Notes or Tone & Tuner #1 or Tone & Tuner #2 - 1 a day
2. Interval Intimacy - 1 key a day all registers
3. 4 Styles of Vibrato - 1 set a day all registers
4. Limber Lips & Angle Air - 1 key a day all registers
5. Slow Movements of Bach Sonatas, Partita and Mozart Concerti - 1 a week
Technique Practice from: Creative Practice Ideas and Exercises - read p. 83-85
1. Finger Patterns  - 1/2. Whole, Maj. & Min. 3rds - 1 a day
2. Whole Range Scales - Major and Harmonic Minor 
3. T& G - use the 2 week Schedule, p. 85. Also for T&G #4 use p. 114  in my book. 
  1. Gilbert Chromatics - p. 85
Etudes -  2 as Assigned
Solos - As Assigned. Whole class is giving a recital of Telemann, Fantasies. Read article by Rachel Brown I sent in a email regarding the Telemann Fantasies. Also, see Amy Porter’s DVD on the Telemann, Fantasies on reserve in the Library. 
Orchestral Excerpts & Band Music - as Assigned. Orchestral Excerpt Book by Jeanne Baxtresser is the required.