AUGUST! HOLIDAYS! / Sidewalks of Lisbon series

Dear readers, we have arrived at the blessed month of August—the almost sacrosanct holiday month here in Europe! To celebrate, and before I get back to musical and flute-y subjects, here's a photo in a series I have inadvertently produced, of sidewalks in Portugal. The photos often include the famous "Calçada Portuguesa" Portuguese paving—here in the polished, indoor version—and the shoes of pedestrians, another southern European mania. It gets under your skin! 

Pure style in Lisbon's Santa Apolónia train station— welcome to Lisbon!

A Day to remember!

What is a FULL DAY? One like yesterday that started with the final presentation of the Summer Flute Academy, in which 3/4 of the program was music by living composers, with 2 out of 3 present in the hall! FANTASTIC new works—prize-winners of our 3rd Composition Competition—by Jorge Ramos and Ricardo Matosinhos (have I mentioned that Portuguese composers rock?)—the first for full flute ensemble, from piccolo down to contrabass, conducted by yours truly, the second a duo expertly performed by André Cameira (flute) and Patrícia Pires (alto flute). Soon the videos will be online at the Academia de Flauta de Verão's website for all to enjoy! Check them out! 

In the afternoon, I was honored to be a jury member again in the Prémios Jovens Músicos (Young Musician's Prizes) at the Casa da Música in Porto. The final round of the the Senior category was held, with beautiful and poised performances by all three finalists, with Mafalda Carvalho taking home 1st prize—CONGRATULATIONS! She performed Casella's Sicilienne et Burlesque and the Nielsen Flute Concerto. Put September 23rd on your calendar to hear her perform the first movement of the Nielsen with the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon at the Winner's Concert—looking forward to that! 

Kids these days…

Are AMAZING!

Yesterday and today are the final presentations of the work we've done together at the 4th Summer Flute Academy- chamber music and ensrbles, respectively. What I love to see is the students' rising to the occasion as soon as they get up to perform- in front of a room of flutist-peers! Smiles and determination, gusto and charm, and "talent", oodles of talent. Which is to say hours and hours of hard work paying off. A delight to observe! With music from Gabrieli to Bozza, yesterday was a real show. Today the program leans more toward the modern, with ensemble works by Grieg and Wil Offermans, plus Jorge Ramos' "Recompor", based on a folk melody in a complex setting, and the stunning first-prize-winning (AFV's 3rd Composition Competition) duo "Traveling", for flute and alto flute, by Ricardo Matosinhos. These last two in world premiere and performed by AFV students. It's going to be quite a show again, I promise! Teatro Helena Sá e Costa at ESMAE at 11:30 am. Come see what "kids these today" can do! INSPIRING!

"Zapping" warm-up for flutists

Photos coming soon; this bug or lack Wifi or whatever is a DRAG!

Today: some flutey advice on how to warm up in a short(ish) time! I gave the warm up session this morning at the Academy, and it was not only fun (company!) but functional! 

We went through 5 exercises, as samples of a "healthy flute diet" that can be done in 20-30 minutes; I used or adapted exercises that have more than one goal. Yay for multitasking! In order, briefly, and with a reference of the original material:

1) 2-octave arpeggios, starting on F major, and ascending by half-steps. This is for checking posture, breathing without stress or hurry, and to cover the whole range. Go to top and return to low C through F. Simplified from the Vocalises in Philippe Bernold's book: L'Art de l'embouchure.

2) Two-octave scales in sixteenths, first slurred, then repeated double-tongued. Aim for same air support in both versions. Then go down two steps to the relative minor and repeat the process. Etc. through all 24 M/m keys. Can change color/dynamic to make more challenging as it goes along.. Simplified version of Taffanel and Gaubert's exercise journalier (17 Grandes E  J ) N° 4.

3) Articulation, slurs and release exercise from Moyse "De la sonorité", with pivot note (work the hardest ones most frequently!) in four versions as per M  Moyse's excellent instructions  

4) Five-note/articulation exercise from Robert Stallman's "Flute Workout". Work for sound, clarity and, of course, speed! So musical, love this book!!

5) Wide-interval study as from Bernold's book again; we did minor 7ths, but you could choose any interval (2 8ves), and vary the dynamics for a greater challenge . Always aim to work somewhere between the "easy" zone and the "frantically hard" zone - there lies PROGRESS! Enjoy and write in with feedback!