Connection to Sound and Music?

Involved -  Intimate -  Intune - Connection to Sound and Music?

Talking with my students about really connecting to their sounds, their unique voice on the the flute. How to  be involved, intimate and in tune with their tones, sounds and the music?  And, via this connection to creating their sound, how to bring the expression of the MUSIC to life.....  There are an infinite number of ways to make the connection. The question is : What kind of a connection are you making? How are you making that connection? Why are you making this connection?

One of my favorite ways to explore how you Make, Create, Express, bring Sound,Tone and the Music to Life is to use your Imagination and Ask yourself....

What kind of :

Emotion

Character

Person

Art

Color

Texture

Fabric

Element

Jewel

Stone

Pattern

Shape

Plant

Food

Feast

Animal

Body of Water

Planet

Light

Space

Mystery

is the Music?

This list is just a short list to spark your interest...  Bring this list, your tone, the sound the expression of the MUSIC to life with your imagination, interpretation, artistry, your passion and love for Music....

Heartfully,

Jennifer

Tone & Wine

Tone & Wine you say??? 


I was talking with my flute colleague Peggy Russell yesterday at Flute Juries about Tone and really developing and teaching a great sound. She said she had read an article about Itzhak Perlman and wine. In this article he was talking about the complexity of a fine wine and how a great sound is like a great wine, Complex.... 


A great wine and a  fine sound are complex, multi dimensional, rich in timbre and texture, have a fragrant bouquet, a unique character, are balanced, have brilliance, body, are bold, clean, clear, have depth, earthy, elegant, fruity, full, light, lively, luscious, mature, mellow, noble, powerful, soft, spicy, sweet, vigorous, woody,   smooth to the finish....


How we learn about complexity in a great sound is by listening... developing our ear to hear and discern what makes up a great sound. How we teach it is in playing for our students, having them attend concerts and classes, listing to recordings ( I love this link to NPR's 50 Great Voices NPR's 50 Great Voices) and in how they practice tone and how involved and engaged are they in listening with new ears and in opening and refining how they listen...


If we what to change, develop improve ourself as a musician?   We need to change, transform, develop, enrich, educate, attune, refine how we listen...




Some Ideas I have written about:

The Art of Listening http://www.jenniferkeeney.com/documents/ArtofListening2010_002.pdf

How you listen is what transforms you into a musician and The Art of Listening is the Path to becoming a great Artist, Musician, Flutist. What are you listening to?

How sensitive, aware, refined, integrated, fresh, are your listening skills? Make sure to cleanse, open and nourish your ears during each practice session.

There are many kinds of Ears you can use to enter the Path, to the Art of Listening. It is essential to learn about and Master all of these Ears and Levels of Listening.

Ears:

Physical

Mental

Emotional

Spiritual

Happy Listening, 

Jennifer

Thoughts and Ideas on Creating Your Tone...

Thoughts on Tone

Every note resonates inside our body and somewhere in the flute... ~ The Rampal School

• Some thoughts and ideas on creating your sound, your tone...

• The creation of your tone, your sound is the artist in you. Your heart, mind, body self are unique and whole. So is your tone. It takes a lot of energy to create your unique tone and it is worth it!

• You have a treasure chest of jewels inside of you waiting to be opened and expressed. Your tone is like this treasure chest, full of multi faceted beautiful jewels waiting to be discovered and uncovered. 

• Get curious about Tone! Educate yourself. What makes a beautiful, whole, exquisite sound? Begin by listening to great flutists, string players and vocalists. You will begin to refine your ear and to define what is is you are hearing and like in great tone. Keep listening to what you hear and how can you play what you hear.

• Your tone is a one of a kind, piece of art created by you! So what kind of art are you making?

• Know, grow and love your sound!

What do you like about your sound?

What would you like to enhance in your tone?

What would you like to change about your sound?

What are some specific ways you can do this?

Heartfully, 

                      Jennifer