I'm busted! (Thanks for busting me, Clay)

A member of my vast readership has pointed out to me that life, and music, do not begin in college, and right he is! He perhaps wants me to confess that my first instrument was the ukulele?… having gotten that out of the way, i'll jump to high school and confess the greatest good luck with both teachers and fellow students. Ours was a magnet school for performing arts before such a thing existed. We put on musicals twice-yearly, with the entire production, on and offstage, turned over to the students: scenery, lighting, tech, orchestra, and even the singers! Once a sub filled in for Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz on a day's notice and was an instant star. A friend wrote an oratorio, another friend conducted us singing it. We sang a twelve-tone Anthem by Stravinsky. We learned about aging singing in local convalescent homes. The cute boy who could do stand-up and mime took on a serious role perfectly in the play "The Diary of Anne Frank". One singer later started an opera company; another was nominated for a Grammy. Our teachers had unlimited faith in our nascent abilities. Another day I'll write more about it all, but Clay, don't worry it's not forgotten— none of you are remotely forgotten. Ramona High School: an extraordinary ordinary public school in the California 'burbs. As I start a week of working with young musicians, I'll keep these thoughts close at hand. 

Ten Thousand Hours

Researchers who study talent and expertise have come to an interesting conclusion: in short, talent doesn't exist. The old adage about it being 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration perhaps needs to crank perspiration up to 100%, and more specifically, the sweat of 10,000 hours of hard, focussed work. We flutists know a bit about doing that, I'd say! But let's do those hours with a happy heart, and with a flute that is the work of an expert artisan, who has put in his or her own 10,000 hours to gain true mastery of flute-building. That flute, for me, has always been a Powell. There are many to choose from, and all will give you that amazing sensation of never reaching the end of what you can imagine. 

Galina at Powell, padding a flute with protective blue film

Head's up! Powell Flutes at the Summer Flute Academy

Here's some of the gear I'm packing up to take to the Summer Flute Academy (AFV)! There's lots more swag to show, but these gorgeous Powell head joints were just asking to have their photo taken! (Really, I mean it: begging!). I'll have flutes and piccolos from all four Powell line to try out. On the 31st of August, I'll be wending my way south from Porto by car and can stop to show instruments along the way, just contact me to set up an appointment. I'll also have detailed information flyers about all Powell lines, materials, options and so forth—just ask or pick one up at the Academy. See you there!

Handmade Custom Powell head joints, in Silver, Aurumite 9k, 14k, 9k Gold, and Grenadilla

Going out with (verismo) style!

To finish a brilliant season, the Lisbon Opera House—soloists, orchestra and choir—will present Mascagni's famous one-act opera "Cavalleria Rusticana", the first verismo opera, dating from 1890, tonight and tomorrow at 9:30pm. Verismo basically means that there are no ten-minute arias sung while someone dies; if you die, you die FAST! The performances will surely be extra true-to-life as they are part of the July Festival outdoors on the square in front of the Opera House—very picturesque, as well as occasionally windy and noisy—near the Chiado area (see photo below), tuk-tuks and all.

Along with well-known, wonderful Portuguese singers, the production features a fellow American-Expat, Mary Elizabeth Williams, singing the role of Santuzza with both astounding power and subtlety—such an inspiration!

For those preferring creature comforts, Saturday's performance will be broadcast live on Portuguese TV—either way, enjoy!

Tuk-tuks at the top of Chiado, near the Lisbon Opera House