November 2021
I have been able to recognize that there is an increase in the difficulty to change position: when grip connections from "D" are involved.
These connections are tricky and difficult. I try to find my way on the level of note heights in the musicschool and at the same time to organize the level with my fingers. I don't take care to the third level about the rhythm. Oh yes, fourth point: the lip opening must not be forgotten either.
I practice this for a while and then play a few of the pieces in the lower register that I can already play better. Some of them I can already play by heart. This is a reward for the effort with the "D" and the high register. It also helps a bit if you close your eyes while practicing.
Actually I didn't want to do this anymore, but I have to admit that I found some used flute literature in an antiquarian bookstore and bought it. I had three music schools and all the notebooks from my daughter to work with. That is enough material to practice the flute for years to come.
But I got weak and bought three new "used" music books.
From Trevor Wye: Practice Book for the flute (unfortunately part Two, which I only noticed when I got home). But I liked the layout so much that I bought part one as well.
A wonderful JazzFlute booklet orginal from the 70s. A few well known pieces like The Lady is a Tramp, I love Paris, Moon River, Tenderly are set on one side with few and simple notes, on the other in a jazz version. I will probably never be able to play this side, but it was not expensive and looks quite pretty with the flower power aesthetic.
Then there is a school for the Boehm flute by Emil Prill. It's from 1927 and is already falling apart a bit. It is printed in two languages: German - English. On page 24 I read: "The student, in order to make positive progress at the beginning, must devote at least 2 to 3 hours daily to study. It is therefore advisable to practice scales and etudes for one hour each in the early morning and before the midday meal. After lunch there should be a longer break and then the third hour should be spent on the recital pieces selected by the teacher.
It would be quite wrong to let the entire practice time of a day follow one after the other, since both physical and mental overexertion not only damage the health of the player, but also diminish his interest.
If, after some time of progress, three or four hours of daily exercise are then sufficient, these should also not be exceeded."
It continues in outmoded and old-fashioned words . It is very amusing to read and the complete opposite of Trevor Wye's Flute School, which gives instructions and suggestions to the student in a very friendly and approachable manner. Which can be implemented even in today's world with its many distractions.
My flute teacher found something for me from my daughter's notebooks. "Folk for Flutes." I can remember that my daughter loved to play from that booklet. She learned all but one, you can see that by the notes in the pieces. She was 12 years old at the time.
We start with "Greensleeves". I learned to play it in my piano lessons. But in a different time measure and key. Once played prima vista on the flute and it was easy to recognize. Hooray! But with such a well-known song, it's obvious where it's going melodically anyway.
I still have a lesson every two/three weeks. That's enough for me, I'm quite busy with piano lessons and my irregular working hours.
I also want to find practice time for both instruments. At the moment I can't practice so much outside. The weather often doesn't cooperate. In the meantime, I've gotten used to practicing indoors without feeling that I'm bothering the neighbours around me while my practicing.
When playing scales, I try to aim for the low C every time. I find it sometimes, mostly often not. But I persistent try again and again. Even if it doesn't make it into my music schools for a long time.
I am significantly more tough and resistant while playing the flute than learning to play the piano. I am not so quick to doubt myself. If I anglicize it: my mindset is quite different when playing the flute.
For that, my beautiful flute now has its first, a nasty scratch in the foot part. I was standing too close to the music stand, made a hectic, totally unnecessary movement and banged into it with caracho. I could have cried!