Master Class with Robert Langevin at Cal State University, Long Beach

I received a flyer in the mail about an upcoming master class in Long Beach with flutist Robert Langevin, and thought I'd share the information here.

Robert Langevin is the principal flutist for the New York Philharmonic.

When:
Master Classes
Friday, March 19
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 20
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Where:
California State University, Long Beach
University Music Center, A-301

Artist Performance
When:
Saturday, March 20
8:00 p.m.

Where:
California State University, Long Beach
Daniel Recital Hall, A-100

The Artist Performance will feature Robert Langevin with Wendy Caldwell (piano) and John Barcellona (flute).

The cost to attend both masterclasses (auditors) is $25, and checks can be mailed in advance or paid at the door. Make checks payable to CSULB Woodwind Chamber Music.

The cost to attend the concert is $10/$7. Contact the Arts Ticket Office at (562) 985-7000.

You can get more information by contacting John Barcellona at (562) 985-4739 (jbarcell@csulb.edu). Or try www.csulb.edu/coleconservatory.

The NY Times reviews a performance by Carol Wincenc

Oh, if I had been lucky enough to be in New York, and see/hear this performance! (Click on the title of this post and you'll be taken to the New York Times article I'm talking about.)

However... I have been lucky enough to hear Carol Wincenc perform... at the flute convention! She always looks beautiful, too. I love the red dresses in the photo in the NY Times piece. I don't know if she's going to be in LA for this year's convention, but great performers like her are one more reason to go. And all the concerts are included in the price you pay to go to the convention.

The convention is what? Less than six months away! I'm starting to get excited. Are you?

Meet the flute choir: Diane

When and why did you start playing the flute?
When I was in the fourth grade, music lessons were offered at my school for all the common orchestra instruments. I wanted to play them all, I picked the flute pretty arbitrarily. Now I'm glad I did.

When did you join the flute choir? Why?
I joined the flute choir two years ago. I had been looking for a local group to play with and just stumbled upon the description in the adult school catalog.

Have you played in any other flute choirs or ensembles? Where else do (have) you perform(ed)?
I played in the Jr. Phil. when I was in Jr. high school. No other flute choirs. I didn't even know what a flute choir was until I joined this one!

Do you play any other instruments?
I started playing the drums in Jr. High, but the boys in the percussion section made it difficult to be the only girl, so I went back to the flute section.

Is your family musical?
Not until this past year when both my parents picked up the ukelele!

Describe your family's musical interests and abilities.
Besides the ukelele serenades?

Who is your biggest fan?
My boyfriend, Josh.

Which famous musicians do you admire (doesn't have to just be flutists!)? Why?
The LA philharmonic. Their peformances are always so flawless and beautiful!

Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?
My most significant teacher's name is Ellen Burr. She really helped me improve as a player and the things she taught me come out every time I pick up the flute.

What are your fondest musical memories?
Playing with the Jr. Phil in the big grand concert halls and of course every concert with the flute choir in the cafetorium.

Do you get nervous during a performance?
Yes, but not as much as I used to.

How do you handle mistakes?
What mistakes? I pretend they didn't happen so I can continue on and focus on the rest of the piece.

What advice would you give new flutists?
Chop up the hard parts into small sections and play them over and over and over...

What advice would you give new flute choir members?
Come back, we miss you!

What do you practice? How often?
Pretty much only flute choir music at least an hour a day.

How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?
It's tough but I make time. No TV. No children.

Is there anything else you'd like to add about the flute, flute choir...?
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to play and be a part of this group!

Le Tombeau de Couperin (Menuet)

We're playing an arrangment of this for flute choir. It was originally composed for piano. I like this orchestral version:



In flute choir, the piccolo gets most of the oboe's line. It's really pretty - the whole thing is beautiful. The first night we played it, I was having trouble hearing it and understanding what I was hearing. I really thought I was in the wrong key. It could be that I was out of tune. I need to play my piccolo more! Last night we worked on pitch and being in tune; I think we're getting there. I hope people weren't getting bored, because it is so hard to play when we're out of tune, and it's really important to work on it.
I'm looking forward to working on this!