#fluteproblems

[flutisty]

Meanwhile in the flute section... And no. I didn’t make this up. This music does actually exist. #YorkLu #長笛 #flute #플루트 #长笛 #フルート #fløyte #fluit #flöte #fuvola #flauta #flûte #поперечнаяфлейта #flöjt #fløjte #flüt #flutesection #fluteproblems #highnotes #killmealready https://www.instagram.com/p/B2I23hOAMin/?igshid=1x1imqq3i3z1l

[kathsmusic]

How to get back into practicing after a haitus

The three weeks leading up to my graduate recital in May, I practiced between four and five hours each day. Immediately after the recital, I had a couple of gigs and rehearsals, which kept me playing daily, but not nearly at the same volume. I went through a bit of flute/school-withdrawal, as well as “Oh Sh*t what do I do with life now?!” and “I need to find a summer job?” My practicing was sparse, but it still existed. My last gig was on June 13th, and I continued playing a bit here and there, but then June 18th was the last day I truly practiced something. I took a good week and a half completely off. Did I do it on purpose? Not at all. Each day I was not practicing, I was experiencing crazy musician guilt. You know the one! I did lots of other stuff with my time, like work, sewing, exercising, cleaning, socializing (Whaaat?! Yeah!), and actually going to a couple of concerts. Without a firm daily schedule (If you remember from some of my previous posts, I absolutely need a firm daily/weekly/monthly calendar to keep my shit together as a human) each day I would tell myself “tomorrow is the day I get back practicing” but then I wouldn’t. 

I devised some strategies to get myself back into the swing of things, and I want to share them with you now!

-Don’t be afraid of how you might sound. You’ll be wherever you’ll be, and that’s OK

-Watch performances of great works online! I watched a bunch of baroque ensemble performances, listened to Brahms symphonies, all of the Berio sequenzas, and a bunch of flute concerti. Sometimes if your body doesn’t feel ready to practice, listening and getting your brain back in the mode is just as good.

-Find an accountability buddy! Text your friend and have practice solidarity!

-Book a lesson with your teacher, if they’re around, or a different teacher. Or ask a friend to hear you run through something in a few day’s time, or get together with friends and play duets/trios/chamber music

-Take out your instrument. Even if you don’t feel like it. Just take it out. 

-Take a huge breath in, stretch your arms up to the sky, and then exhale and let everything go! You’re ready

-Do long tones. 

-Play very slowwwww scales

-Keep relaxed and remember you’re an amazing musician

-Take a selfie and post it on instagram/tumblr! You did it!

Other things you can do:

-Write out a plan for the next four months. I was eager and made a whole year plan. Write in upcoming performances if you have them, if not, performances that you want to do, or rep that you want to learn and when you want to learn it by. 

-Journal about what you want to practice today.

-Draw a picture of yourself jamming out

-Visualize how you see yourself playing in your practice session. You’re totally focused and doing everything with complete ease, right?

-Think about how much you will accomplish by putting in the practice time this summer! 

-Play outside. It’s summer. Go be outside. 

-Drink lots of water

Anyone have any other strategies?

[teenbeachmovie3]

what’s the coolest vegetable

[the-song-that-goes-like-this]

Violins always getting in my way

[asexualadvice]

thank you for posting the bit where our feelings are legit because we feels them, and our ace-ness is legit cus we say we are. I always feel like people will think i'm a fraud cus i have a boyfriend- but there's more than sex involved in a relationship. so thank you!

You are so welcome! We will never stop saying that. 

Sex is not everything. Sexual attraction is not necessary. Your feelings are always valid.

-Kiowa

[flutisty]

#YorkLu #fluteproblems #flute #piccolo #chiwawa #angry #happy #whowannaplaypiccolo https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu0YxF3gzxH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xzsau96zopzs

[rodeokid]

Flute Problems

Worrying your going to flip someone off when you play high F.

[kathsmusic]

I'm crying into my flute right now.

[flute110]

6. Musician Problems

Being able to sustain a long-tone for a remarkable amount of time, but unable to hold your breath under water for even half that.

[gladiolus---amicitia]

can i just say that i love the little opening box bit whenever one goes on your blog. like the think you click and it opens and i obviously don't know what to call it.

Ohh, thankyou! :') I love my theme, it's called "Fandom Universe" (I think) and it was made by themesbyeris. I wish I could make themes myself but I don't know how to HTML. ^^;

[asexualadvice]

hey I just wanted to tell you that at dinner with a close friend from church tonight I was able to explain asexuality and also the difference between sexual attraction, romantic attraction, and sexual behavior. And it went really well. like, really really well. Anywho it was only because of this blog that I could articulate all of it. So thank you, i know i don't have to hide that part of me from my friends because of you.

Aw, you are so welcome! That sounds like an incredibly positive experience! :)

[bml89]

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A post shared by Brandon LePage (@brandonlepageflute)

Performing in the COVID Pandemic is odd but still as fulfilling as ever! It was amazing to have our first Garage Band concert this past week. The audience was socially distanced safely outside and far enough away for us to play, and the group you see is all from the same family to keep things as appropriate as possible. Hopefully we will be able to do more! CASMmusic@gmail.com for details. #flute #flutemusic #fluteplayer #flutistsofinstagram #flutist #flutelife #flutelyfe #flutelove #fluteteacher #instaflute #fluteproblems #musiciansofinstagram #classicalmusic #thestudio #muramatsuflute #muramatsu #muramatsuflutefamily #CASM https://www.instagram.com/p/CDWw7s-ApJr/?igshid=8des9tqu3frl

[kathsmusic]

Practicing with a sinus infection.

[flute110]

Flute problems

Does anyone have that problem where their chin turns black after playing flute? I asked my teacher and she said it was because my foundation reacts with the silver. Any ideas for a different brand of foundation that doesn't do this? I've actually had like 5 people ask me if I got chin surgery because it looked like I was bruised.

[asexualadvice]

thanks to this blog i was able to come out to my grandmother earlier! I was able to explain better what and ace is and how they can still have relationships. (my kettle corn got burnt though!)

Oh no, the poor kettle corn!

I'm glad that you successfully came out, though. :) What a nice story~

-Becca/Southpaw