*Day 1
Organize and Commit ~ to your Daily Practice 🙂
Creative Flutist Practice Levels and Practice Organization.
Mind
Prepare your mind, body and spirit for now and for what you intend to accomplish. How are you going to teach yourself? Use this time to organize yourself and your playing. Look at lesson notes and write in your journal. It is also a time to check in and practice your performance confidence plan too. Clear your mind and remove distractions.
Movement
Include a variety of movement throughout your playing, that includes your whole body. Move different parts of your body to stretch and open. The key is to find the balance, poise and the power of your body and then have your flute become one with your body. “Choreograph” the music you are playing. Try dancing while you listen to the music without your flute too. I recommend that you do core work-outs of some kind each day that strengthen, lengthen and activate your connection to your muscles.
Breathing
Most importantly be aware of your breath and how you are using it. Play with your breath so you feel the movement and power of your breathing. Use your breathing knowledge and ideas to open and connect to your Breath! “Ahhh” Ho =Oh, “How” and “Hawaii” breathing, straws, bags, gathering and lengthening breath, yogi breath, Ha Ha’s, jump up to engage and active core, winding, blowing on your hand…
Tone
Part 1
1/2 step Long Tones starting on middle g, leading to a fermata and diminuendo. Play to low b then go back to middle g and up to highest note, C4-D4. Use your ear and your tuner to create the most beautiful and consistent sound. Get to know every note and how it sounds and feel to play them on all levels.Beautiful Notes & Creating Your Sound Tone & Tuner #1 or #2Harmonics #1 or a series of Harmonics 4 Styles of Vibrato (one set in 3 octaves a day) or J. Baxtresser Vibrato ExercisesInterval Intimacy (2 keys a day in both octaves) & Sound & Wind BernoldLimber Lips or Moyse De La Sonorite, Triplets & C. Jennings Roller Coaster
Part 2
Beautiful Melodies : 24 Petite Studies by Moyse or Tone Development that is assigned to you in my Book, my Bach Sonata/ Mozart slow movement packet, Tone Development Through Interpretation by Moyse and The Sound & the Wind by Philippe Bernold.
See Creative Practice Ideas and Exercises for the Whole Musician ~Flute for more ideas and Tone & Technique exercises on my website. www.jenniferkeeney.com
Technique
Level 1:
Major Scales & Harmonic minor Scales, 2 Octaves Chromatic full rangeArpeggios Major, minorFinger Patterns, #2 (whole steps) in my Book, Creative Practice Ideas & Exercises.
Level 2:
Major, melodic & harmonic minor Scales, full rangeChromatic in 6’s a la Taffanel and Gaubert #5Arpeggios Major, minor, augmented diminishedFinger Patterns, #1 (1/2 steps) and #2 (whole steps)Reichert - Daily Studies
Level 3:
Major, minor Scales, full range & every other day Taffanel and Gaubert # 4Chromatic in 6’s a la Taffanel and Gaubert Pentatonic ScalesArpeggios a la Taffanel and Gaubert #10-14Finger Patterns, #3 (major & minor 3rds) and #1 and #2Major and minor Thirds Trevor Wye - Advanced Practice
Level 4:
Major, minor Scales, full range every other day Taffanel and Gaubert # 4Pentatonic Scales, Whole Tone & Octatonic ScalesArpeggios a la Taffanel and Gaubert #10-14Chromatic in 6’s a la Taffanel every other day Gilbert ChromaticsFinger Patterns, #3, #2, #1Major and minor ThirdsMoyse - Advanced Studies/Scales
Etudes & Excerpts
Remember Etude means study. What are you studying in these musical pieces, Etudes and Excerpts? (Excerpts, start with Jeanne Baxtresser Book 1 & 2)?Learn a new assigned Etude in a Major and Minor Key each week. There is a list of Etudes to study on my website. Please select an Etude Book with your teacher and enjoy! See my PDF on Top 10 Things to consider.
Repertoire
Solos, Sonatas and Concertos as assigned, are in 3 Stages:
Learning: The getting to know you stage of practice. Learning the style, notes, rhythms, phrasing. music… studying the whole score and listen to it and other pieces like it.
Playing: You are knowing the style, notes, rhythms, phrasing. music, studying the whole score and listen to it and other pieces like it, able to play the whole piece (with pianist) and are finding your own voice, authenticity, artistry, for your music making.
Performing: All the above plus you are able to perform the piece and are including your performance confidence plans into your practice. You may also be learning the piece by heart, memorizing it to be able to have an even more engaging performance.
7 Plans & Levels To Organize Your Tone & Technique Practice:
Begin with #1’s or have your teacher find the best level for you. Practice it for at least a week before moving on to the next #’s. If you are advanced practice a # every day.
Happy Practicing!
TONE
#1: Creative Flutist Long Tones - Lovely Long Tones - Flute Flow Studies - Flute Flexibility
#2: CF Chrom. Long Tones - Beautiful Notes - Magic Carpet Harmonics - Roller Coaster on F
#3: Tone & Tuner I - Creating Your Sound - Interval Intimacy
#4: Tone & Tuner II - 4 Styles of Vibrato - Harmonics I, Melodies
#5: CF Chrom. Long Tones - CJ Power Warm Ups- Harmonics II, Melodies
#6: CF Chrom. Long Tones - Creating Your Sound - Roller Coaster, Melodies
#7: CF Chrom. Long Tones - 4 Styles of Vibrato - CJ Power Warm Ups, Melodies
TECHNIQUE
#1: 5 Note Major Scales - 2 Octave Major Scales - Major Arpeggios - Chromatic 3 Octaves
#2: 5 Note Minor Scales - 2 Octave Harmonic Minor Scales - Minor Arpeggios - Full Chromatic