Beatboxing Flute "Peter and the Wolf"

I saw this on youtube and thought it was pretty cool. It always amazes me the sounds that can come out of a flute and a flute player. Enjoy!

Los Angeles Holiday Concert Calendar

Hi, everyone,

Next year I will do this listing earlier to catch some concerts that occured in November and early December, as well as Hanukkah concerts and festivals. If you'd like me to add your concert or information to this list please email me (see sidebar for contact information).

December 15: The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica, The Messiah 8:00 p.m.
Selections from Handel’s Messiah will be performed by Michelle McWilliams, Danielle Marcelle Bond, Steve Grabe and Eric Carampatan, accompanied by a chamber ensemble. Suggested donation is $15, or $10 with a non perishable food donation for the Westside Food Bank. Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

December 15 & 16: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Handel's Messiah 8 p.m.
It’s hard to imagine Christmas without the most famous oratorio of all time. Experience a complete period-instrument performance, with a stellar lineup of Baroque vocal specialists. Walt Disney Concert Hall

December 18: Viva Christmas! With El Vez & Los Straitjackets 8 p.m.
El Vez, "The Mexican Elvis" puts on an incredible, fun, wild and crazy Christmas concert. The Troubador

December 19: Burbank Chorale, Celebrate! 7:30 p.m.
The Burbank Chorale presents Antonio Vivaldi's "Gloria" and songs of the season. First United Methodist Church

December 19: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels: Cathedral Christmas Concert 7:30 p.m.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels will hold a Christmas Concert with the Cathedral Choir, the Harmonies Girls Choir and the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. The program includes selections from Handel's "Messiah" and the "Messe Solennelle" by Charles Gounod. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles

December 19: Pasadena POPS: Holiday Pops 8 p.m.
During this season of gifts and giving, enjoy a reprieve from the hectic pace by joining the Pasadena POPS as we begin a new family tradition with music that conjures up all the delights and joys of the holidays. Vocalist Valarie Pettiford, the Donald Brinegar Singers and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus will warm your heart and stir your soul with enchanted holiday favorites. Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone and The Polar Express alongside cherished Christmas melodies Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Nutcracker, O Holy Night and Hallelujah Chorus will culminate in a grand finale of timeless Sing-Alongs to bring you the sparkling musical gems known and loved in this most wonderful time of the year! Pasadena Civic Auditorium
 
December 19 & 20: Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker Various times
Celebrate the city's newest, most endearing tradition - Los Angeles Ballet's acclaimed original production of "The Nutcracker". Join Clara as she journeys to magical realms where mischievous mice battle toy soldiers, snowflakes dance, and Clara's beloved dolls come to life. Royce Hall

December 20: LA Master Chorale Messiah Sing-Along 7 p.m.
The annual Messiah Sing-Along packs the house every year. Whether you join in the joyful singing of just listen from your seat, this is a wonderfully popular community experience. With soloists and an orchestra onstage, you are the chorus! Walt Disney Concert Hall

December 20: Pacific Chorale, Tis the Season 5:30 p.m.
Orange County's favorite holiday tradition! Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony and the Southern California Children's Concert Chorus bring the spirit of the season to life through carols, classics, and cheer. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (Costa Mesa)

December 20, 24 & 27: Organ Prelude 10:30 a.m.
The organ and organists of First Congregational Church of Los Angeles are spectactular. When I worked just a few blocks away, I spent every Thursday at lunch enjoying a free organ concert. I don't think they do that anymore but here is an opportunity to hear Christmas music in this gorgeous space. First Congregational Church of Los Angeles

December 23: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Creole Christmas 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy the festive spirit with the rousing New Orleans jazz sounds of Preservation Hall. Stomp, clap, hoot, and holler, as they take on Christmas favorites and Creole classics in their inimitable style. Walt Disney Concert Hall


December 24: LA County Holiday Celebration 3 p.m.
The six-hour, Emmy-nominated cultural extravaganza is L.A.'s biggest holiday show - and it's free, so bring the whole family! Broadcast live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on KCET, Holiday Celebration features music and dance of the season from the many neighborhoods and cultures of Los Angeles. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (KCET)

Concert Photos: December 3, 2009

My friend Paul and his camera couldn't make it to this concert, so the only photos I have so far are the ones I was able to take while the altos were playing. Obviously I was rather busy the rest of the time!

Meet the flute choir: Julie

When and why did you start playing the flute?
I started playing the flute when I was 10 years old. I already had been taking piano lessons for three years and thought the flute was a cool instrument.

When did you join the flute choir? Why?
I joined the Culver City Flute Choir in the summer of 1995. I randomly got the class catalogue in the mail and it said "have you not played your flute since high school or college?" That sounded exactly like me. I hadn't played for about nine years after college and I wanted to start playing again.

Have you played in any other flute choirs or ensembles? Where else do (have) you perform(ed)?
My flute teacher growing up would have us play ensemble pieces at our annual recital. In college, I played in the UCSB Symphonic Band.

Do you play any other instruments?
I play C flute, piccolo, alto and bass. Growing up, I played piano for nine years.

Is your family musical?
My maternal grandmother was a classical piano teacher. My paternal grandfather was a big band leader for a time. My mom is a singer. My dad played saxophone growing up.

Describe your family's musical interests and abilities.
The abilities are listed above. My parents have always been interested in music. I listened to a lot of classical music growing up thanks to my mom's training. They were, still are, big theater fans so I went to the theater and was a big fan of musical theater and movie musicals from a very early age.

Who is your biggest fan?
Today, probably my six year old daughter. Although my parents have always supported my flute performances and still come to every concert.

Which famous musicians do you admire (doesn't have to be just flutists!)? Why?
There are so many. Billy Joel is a God to me. I think he's such a prolific songwriter and I love hearing him play the piano.

I find I'm really impressed by drummers. They're such great multi-taskers doing so many different things at once. I love listening to drum corps.

I really want to learn to play the cello. I love the sound of it and it's just so beautiful.

Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?
My teacher growing up was Barbara Turner Rivin. Not sure where she is now.

What are your fondest musical memories?
My 11th grade flute recital. That was the year when the Claude Bolling Suite for Jazz Flute and Piano came out and was very popular. I performed the Sentimentale movement with my friend Liz, who played piano. And then she performed the Irlandaise movement and I accompanied her on the piano.

Playing in the orchestra for my high school musicals was a lot of fun too.

Do you get nervous during a performance?
Rarely during a performance unless I'm anticipating a really hard passage that has given me trouble. Sometimes a little bit before but not too often anymore.

How do you handle mistakes?
I try not to roll my eyes.

What advice would you give new flutists?
Is this the place for the famous "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" line? Practice, practice, practice. Okay, seriously, yes practice but enjoy it. The flute is such a beautiful instrument and with a little bit of work, you can sound really good. It doesn't take much time to get a clear tone and that's the key. Speed and technique will come over time but if you sound airy, then it's not pretty to me.

What advice would you give new flute choir members?
We were all the newby once. Most of us hadn't picked up our flute in X number of years before we joined the group either. You get your chops back quicker than you think. We don't bite.

What do you practice? How often?
Oh, I'm so not the person to answer this question. I have always been a horrible practice-r and sadly, the same holds true today. I practice when I really need to, otherwise I learn it every Thursday at flute choir (sorry Patty, don't hate me).

How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?
That's the $64,000 question. I a very busy (read: overextended) person. I'm a mom to three girls, I work in freelance TV production, which can be very long hours, and I have lots of other interests so I don't sleep much. But I do my best to clear out my Thursday nights for flute choir. It's my "me" time and generally it's my de-stress time. That was a big bonus for me in college that the four hours a week I played in Symphonic Band was a relaxing time for me and my brain. I just do my best to make flute choir a priority. It works most of the time.

Is there anything else you'd like to add about the flute, flute choir...?
I think I've covered it all but from the moment I found the Culver City Flute Choir, I found a group of people who were nice, fun, creative and inspiring. I've learned so much about the flute and all the things that are associated with flutes and flute playing. I never would have known about the National Flute Association and their annual conventions (I've been to three of them, and looking forward to Anaheim in 2010). I never would have been motivated to buy and learn to play the alto and bass flutes. I never would have known about upgrading to my current model of flute and I dream one day of getting a gold flute. Flute choir has brought all that to me and I love every minute of it.


Check out the music mentioned in this profile:
Claude Bolling, Suite for Jazz Flute and Piano: Sentimentale

sentimentale -

Irlandaise:

Irlandaise - Claude Bolling

Meet the flute choir: Sandy

When and why did you start playing the flute?

On my 50th birthday, I decided to "bite the bullet," so to speak. My first flute was $125.00.

My first teacher was Shelley Thomas (who played with the Joe Liggins group). In some schools where I lived, not all children were treated fairly when it came to playing certain instruments. Wind instruments, in particular. I was [determined] to have my own instrument. Sadly, this sort of stuff still exists. Anyway, I promised myself that before I died, I would own the best flute that my money could afford.

Have you played in any other flute choirs or ensembles? Where else do (have) you perform(ed)?

In 1989, I joined the Culver City Flute Choir, because I wanted a chance to prove myself that I could improve my ensemble skills.

Presently I am playing with Culver City Flute Choir, Sr. Orchestra at the Westside Jewish Community Center, Get Your Chops Back Flute Choir, and High Flutin'. In these groups, I have the opportunity to play my C flute, bass flute, alto flute, and sometimes my piccolo.

Do you play any other instruments?

My primary instrument is piano. My first piano, which barely worked, was given to my parents for me. It didn't take my parents a long time to hunt down a piano teacher. I remember that at age five, I played on this very old, upright piano. Because I was so talented, my parents thought that I deserved a better instrument, so my mother and I rode the public transportation to Grinnell Bros. downtown Detroit piano store. I was allowed to play on as many pianos as I wanted until I found one that I liked. One day when I got home from school, a brand new baby grand piano had been delivered. 61 years later, that same piano is still in our family. Today, my piano is a Baldwin 6000 Concert Vertical which I have maintained twice yearly. My new piano teacher is Nora Chiang.

From fourth grade through high school, I played double bass. Taking that instrument to music events was an adventure, to say the least. WHEW! I never stopped taking piano lessons.

Is your family musical? Describe your family's musical interests and abilities.

It's fair to say that although the total of eight of my brother and sisters took music lessons (violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, trumpet, French horn), only two of us had a real passion to pursue our dreams: my brother, Ron Carter (Jazz Bassist), and I. When we were "little," he and I would perform on piano/cello duets.

Who is your biggest fan?

My family members are my great fans. My parents always sat proudly either in a concert hall setting, or in someone's living room, or wherever there was a piano, with their chests stuck out. They loved listening and watching me.

Which famous musicians do you admire (doesn't have to just be flutists!)? Why?

Obviously I admire my brother, Ron Carter. Anyone who can transition from being a classically trained cellist to jazz pro is amazing (at least in my book).

Do you get nervous during a performance?

Group performances don't make me nervous. Piano recitals make me nervous because I get so involved in what I am doing that I end up relying on my muscle memory to save me. I always want my performances to be perfect so I stress myself out. I learn my music so well that I manage to keep going, no matter what. Eventually, only the composer, my piano teacher and I know where the "hiccups" were.

How do you handle mistakes?

There's no magic in doing well: practice, practice, practice is the only key. Of course, finding a more than competent teacher is important.

What advice would you give new flute choir members?

Every flute member was NEW to the group, one at a time.

What do you practice? How often?

I practice my flute every day: scales, long tones, sight reading, orchestral excerpts for my warm ups. I spend no less than 2 hours a day. Since I am involved with four flute groups, I have lots of music to learn. On the piano, I practice hands and fingers strengthening, lots of technique, scales, sight reading, repertoire: no less than 3 hours daily.

I'm really strict about my piano practicing. From 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. daily, sometimes longer, depending upon what my recital demands are.

How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?

It must be said that, I'm retired, thus fitting practice time into my days is easier now than it was when our children were little. I do however, need to do some balancing of my time, that's why I "hit the floor running" to the piano! I need to get that much out of the way (as it were). MY HUSBAND IS SUCH A GOOD SPORT... He understands my obsession, and enjoys the learning processes.