Greetings!
At our studio retreat this year, one of our coaches showed the students a video of flutist Amy Porter performing. I was completely awed by her stage presence, musicality, tone, and the way she connected to the audience. But at the same time, I wondered: Why the heck can't we do that? What's the difference between her performance and ours?
So I watched the video again to observe every detail of her performance to figure out her secrets. I looked at her body language, posture, facial expression, tone colors, phrasing, etc... Even the way she walked onto the stage. Everything! Then I decided to have my students do the same.
 | | Learning from You-Tube |
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Value of YouTube Recordings
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Amy Porter playing Griffes Poem!
Amy Porter Playing Georges Hue!
- Ask your students to watch recordings of virtuoso performers on their instrument and see what they discover.
- Share their written comments with the studio. This assignment will not only increase their knowledge of the repertoire, but also encourage them to articulate what they've observed. By expressing what they viewed as "amazing," they'll create their own performance goals.
- Now I say to them, "What would Amy Porter do?" and we all laugh and try harder.
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| Sample Student Comments | |
- Even on the fast runs I can hear every note.
- All of the moods work wonderfully and I can hear the thought put into them.
- The slow parts sound like flowing water.
- Even before she plays a note I can tell she is confident.
- Every time she plays the main theme I feel I'm hearing it for the first time.
- When you hear her tone, it is as if you're flying above the clouds.
- Her body language mimics the music
- Listening to her makes me want to be a better musician."
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What is the best kind of music?
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Flute Flash
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Check out this fun site!  Free printable sheet music for flute, with play-along accompaniment tracks. Also features a metronome, flute fingering charts, and scales and flute-related articles.
This is a great site for students to learn new pieces and to practice sight-reading. Along with your weekly assignments, let students choose a piece and prepare it for a surprise.
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Bonnie's Speech Calendar
Stop by and say hello!
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 2012-2013 Speech Calendar
Thanks to my friends in Olympia and at the District conference. You laughed at all the right times!
October 20, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Wenatchee Music Teachers Association
All-Day Workshop
February 22
Mt. Rainier/Puyallup MTNA
You Already Taught Me That?
March 2013
MTNA National Convention
Pedagogy Saturday Disneyland! Creating Artistic Performers convention during the week: Get Paid What You're Worth
April 2013
Gig Harbor Music Teachers
Topic TBA
October 12th. 2013 MTAC Santa Cruz Topic TBA
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