Grocery Shopping, Greeting, Gratitude & Connection: Part 3 Lesson

Grocery Shopping, Greeting, Gratitude & Connection: 

How we greet each other and establish a connection right from the start is important at every lesson. Teacher and student create the time and space for this to happen. This is the part of the lesson that is like selecting the exact ingredients that you need for a complete recipe. You have selected the recipe and are now at the grocery store. You remember what you need, what the student needs. You are looking for it in the moment to see what they have today. What is fresh, what do you notice? What may have to be substituted or improvised? We look, listen, feel and are grateful for what we have. 

This is all a form of LISTENING - The Art of Listening...

Greet each other acknowledging this important time you have together. Look in their eyes for a genuine moment and show your caring for them and your respect for the lesson and the music.


Notice their breathing with interest and kindness as they enter. What do you observe? 
Is it flowing or held?
Is it weak or strong?
Is their audible sound when they breath in or out?
Do their ribs move freely as they breath?
Is their a natural rhythm to it?...


Begin to connect and hear the sound of their voice. 
What is the tone of their voice? What qualities does it contain today? Is it higher than usual? Is is lower? 
What is the rhythm of their words? Are they animated, carefully chosen or lacking in energy..? 
What is the dynamic of their greeting? 
What kind of expression are they showing you in their greeting?


Observe the students body language. 
How are they walking into the room? 
Is it light and flowing, heavy and plodding? Jumpy, fast, slow...?

Are they aware of their whole self? 
Is their head balanced on top of their spine with ease? 
Is their a sense of balance and freedom of movement?
Would you describe it as connected or separate? Unknowing or knowing their body. Aware or not aware?...  

How would you describe their body language today? 
Is it one of:
confidence, doubt, openness, fear, hope, caring, happiness, sadness, freedom, respect, gratitude, excitement, balance...?

So, you have a plan and now you have observed what is in store for you. 
How would you like to proceed? What will you select today?

How about a few words of gratitude? Something authentic for you to express. 
Perhaps something like: 
So happy you are hear today.
It is lovely to see you again.
How wonderful that we have this time together with music and our flutes.
We are so fortunate to be able to make some music together.
I am excited to be here and for us to learn something new today...

Or you may say them silently too...

This kind of greeting, connection and gratitude sets the tone for a  lesson. One that creates an air of awareness and a promising beginning for a wonderful lesson.

Next, part 4, is to look at the Recipe that was given from last week     ( I have my students keep a notebook and 3 ring binder) and to see what the student has made.

Thank you,
Jennifer 

Creative Circles #3, Body As The Principal Instrument

I consider my body, my Principal Instrument, to which I add the flute and make music. 


So, the Body Circle it is a very important part of my Practice Circles. Let's take just one Element of our Practice Circle at a time and make that into a set of Circles too. We will start with the BODY.  Please remember your Body includes your mind, brain and imagination too! Here are a few ideas to explore in this Circle. 
You could also take each of these Elements of Practice and Create another Circle of more detail and de-light. 


The possibilities are infinite :-).


What is in your Body Circle and how do you activate these during your Practice?


Here are some that are in mine:

NEW BOOK!

I am so excited to introduce you to my new ebook/PDF Book, 


Creative Practice Ideas & Exercises for the Whole Musician ~ Flute .

You can find examples and order the book on my website.

 http://www.jenniferkeeney.com/proddetail.asp?prod=231%5FeBook

About this Book: 

Creative Practice Ideas for the Whole Musician~Flute, is a collection of Ideas that I have written down for myself and my students over the years. These are a combination of my ideas and ones I  have learned from my teachers, their teachers, teaching students and from talking with colleagues, and friends. All are expressed here in this book, in my original way. It is my hope that you will enjoy using, creating and playing with the ideas in this book. May we continue to inspire each other, be playful, generous and lively in this adventure of learning and loving music and life.

Creative Practice Ideas for the Whole Musician~flute  is divided into 5 parts.  

Ideas and Exercises on:

1. Preparation & Performance 

2. Creative Practice Ideas  

3.  Body & Breathing  

4. Tone & Exercises

1. Technique & Exercises

Each page has an inspirational quote, listening suggestions and links. 

  Listen: to a flutist, string  player or vocalist.   CD’s: to a specific recording.                             

Look: at links to a video, or a website.

Thank you! 

Please let me know your thoughts and how you are enjoying the Book!

Heartfully,

Jennifer

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.