Time Out for Flute Players

Okay Ladies. I have a few extremely nerdy things that I've been needing to express in a forum where I feel like other flute players can hear my excitement and have settled on this blog as the best place. So here we go.



1. How many of us have an Altieri bag? How many of us have an Altieri bag that has backpack straps that aren't very comfortable, all sorts of fraying seams and threads hanging all over the place? Worry no longer! I have found the best new flute bag and I so covet it. SO covet it. It is by CaseLogic (go figure), one of the other flutists at BU has it, and it is amazing! It's bigger than the flute size Altieri bag (not the alto flute size), has two separate big compartments, great organizational space for pencils and all that jazz, comfortable convertible straps, and is MUCH MUCH sturdier (spelling?)! Altieri bag: $90. CaseLogic: $60. Seriously, consider this bag if you need a new one. Eat your hearts out:

http://www.flute4u.com/store/cart.php?target=product&product_id=27273&category_id=263



Thank me later.

Let's be honest, though, the "Professional Tote" by Case Logic is way cuter. Just double the price. But it would be nice because you could leave school and not feel like a dork carrying your flute with you into every restaurant, store, house, or church you go into. I'm just saying. Here it is:

http://www.flute4u.com/store/cart.php?target=product&product_id=18468&category_id=263



2. Have you been freaking out about the arpeggios in Peter and the Wolf lately? Of course you have. I have no exciting tricks, but I just want you all to know, if you didn't already, that the Russians were playing on a different FLUTE when Prokofiev wrote Peter. He wasn't intentionally writing all of this technical ridiculousness. For them it was something easier like a what a C Maj. triad would be for us. Doesn't that at least make you hate Prokofiev less? I know. Me too.



3. In my lessons lately we do lots of talking about lifting the upper lip "up" instead of pushing it out for octave leaps or any interval really. Think of the upper lip as a trap door that you lift up ever so slightly and that higher note will just fly right out-- it's amazing. I feel like we always talk about both lips moving forward together or the top lip guiding the airstream, but thinking about the vertical position of the upper lip has helped my legato playing SO much! Love it.



4. I have met one of the best second flutists ever at BU. Same girl I played opera with. We sit down at our first rehearsal for the latest rotation and she turns to me and says, "Annie, have you listened to this piece yet?" I said no. She says, "Well I listened to it this morning and it is just the PERFECT piece for your sound. You are going to sound amazing! I can't wait for you to play this." Seriously. What do you say to that? I just wanted to kiss the ground that she walked on for the rest of the day. She is so great.



5. I get to play at Symphony Hall (where the BSO plays) on April 6th! Excitement! I wasn't sure if I would get put in Symphony Orchestra this rotation but I did and I'm playing 1st on 2 of the pieces and I LOVE both of my 2nd flutists. Happy day.