Robert Langevin at CSULB

On Friday night, Patrick and I went to Cal State Long Beach for the Robert Langevin (principal flutist for the New York Philharmonic) concert. Another Culver City flute choir member, Michael, was there too, as well as Shozo Ogura, of Ogura Fluteworks. It was nice seeing our friends! The concert was part of two days of master classes and a competition for middle and high school students, but because of my schedule, I couldn't go to either of the master classes. Having now heard Mr. Langevin perform, I regret missing the classes. I'm sure they would have been fun and educational!

I was so impressed by Mr. Langevin's performance! You can visit the New York Philharmonic's website by clicking on the title of today's post. I'll be looking for more opportunities to hear him perform; I really hope he'll be at the flute convention in August, in Anaheim.

His playing was so gorgeous; I was totally blown away. I really loved how his playing was so emotional and lush and beautiful. He completely won me over with the opening piece, Sonate en Concert, by Damase. The second piece was the world premier of Flute Sonata #6 (The Toulouse-Latrec Sonata) based on Circus Illustrations by artist Toulouse-Latrec by Christopher Caliendo. I've seen Mr. Caliendo many times at the flute convention, but I don't think I've ever heard any of his solo compositions. This one was written specifically for Mr. Langevin. My favorite movement was the second - "Danseuse de corde." It was perfectly suited for Mr. Langevin, and totally evocative of the artwork. The program notes state, "All eyes are cast at the circus dancer at the tightrope." It was lovely, and really a special moment in the composition.

There was an intermission, where prizes were given out to the students who participated in the competition. I never did anything like that in middle or high school (and probably wasn't as good of a flutist as these kids are) and I got a huge kick out of seeing the little and not-so-little (one high school-age boy was probably over 6' tall!) kids. Most were still all dressed up in their concert outfits, and they were very cute.

The first piece after intermission was "Sonata in A, op 13" by Faure (I think traditionally this piece is for cello and piano?). I wasn't thrilled with this piece, though of course the execution was perfect.

After that, Mr. Langevin played "Hungarian Fantasy for Two Flutes" by Franz and Karl Doppler, with John Barcellona, the Director of Woodwind Studies and Professor of Flute at CSULB. Their performance was a lot of fun. During the first four bars, I thought, "this could be a fun duet for me and Patty to work on," but then pretty soon I realized that it will take a long, long time for me to be able to play that second flute part, which was killer. They did a great job, and added a bit of comedy (in the middle of the piece, there was a bit with a "waitress," a tray of water glasses, and the bill), which made the whole thing a lot of fun.

For an encore, Mr. Langevin performed Morceau de Concours, by Faure, which was perfectly executed and charming.

Wendy Caldwell, the pianist, was also wonderful. Her playing was as beautiful and captivating as Mr. Langevin's. Daniel Recital Hall at CSULB is a great place to see a concert like this, and I'm glad we got out for a night of flute music.

Concert Photos

Thank you to everyone who made it to last night's Culver City Flute Choir concert! I just wanted to share with you the photos that my friends Todd Young and Brian Frobisher took of us. They did an amazing job! Big, big thanks to Todd and Brian, and also to Lee Miller for his many dedicated years of videography! We appreciate our friends very much.

Our next session starts Thursday, April 22, 2010, so if you're interested in joining us, please check out the Culver City Adult School's website or send me an email for more information.

All the best to you, and I'm looking forward to seeing you in April!

Culver City Adult School Spring/Summer 2010 Catalog
Flute Choir concert photos by Todd Young and Brian Frobisher

"Young@Heart"

Flute Choir member Judy asked me to post about a film she watched this week called "Young@Heart." I haven't seen it myself but this 3 minute clip makes me want to!

Here's a quote from Judy:

Last night I watched the DVD called "Young at Heart." It blew me away, watching these people have fun rehearsing and performing - I thought it was timely. They actually performed a song successfully, after months of falling apart in rehearsal.

The reason she was thinking about rehearsals and performance is because we had our dress rehearsal on Monday for tonight's concert, and as usual, at first we were maybe a little too focused on the (minor) things that were going wrong. Hey, things go wrong! We almost always pull off a great concert! And we have fun, too. Good things to think about, Judy!

Anyway, I hope you'll join us for the concert.

Culver City Flute Choir Concert
Tonight at 8:00 p.m. (Free!)
Farragut Elementary School / Cafeteria
10820 Farragut Drive.
Culver City, CA 90230

See you there!

Concert this week!

Our next concert is this Thursday, March 18, at 8 p.m.

I hope you can join us!

Farragut Elementary School / Cafeteria
10820 Farragut Drive.
Culver City, CA 90230

Refreshments follow concert.


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Meet the flute choir: Michael

When and why did you start playing the flute?
I started playing the flute in the 4th grade; it seemed "everyone" else was doing so when the opportunity to take up an orchestral instrument was offered in elementary school (Baldwin Hills).

When did you join the flute choir? Why?
I joined the Culver City Flute Choir for the Fall Quarter 1992. (51 consecutive concerts since then; my records show that you Irene are the runner up at 50 consecutive concerts.)

[Note from Irene: WOW, Michael! That's a lot of concerts!]

I joined the flute choir as other members have - I received the Culver City Adult School schedule/brochure from one of the community mailings, and thought this would be a good outlet to continue playing the flute.

Have you played in any other flute choirs or ensembles? Where else do (have) you perform(ed)?
As a youth, I participated in the Angels (youth) group of the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles (early 1970s, conductor was Akira Kikukawa). I currently provide accompaniment (solo or with piano) for the congregational singing at my church every Sunday.

Do you play any other instruments?
Besides the C flute and the Alto flute, I do not play any other instruments (I can tinker on the piano, harmonica, recorder/tin whistle). I would love to learn to play the guitar and/or ukulele, and maybe even bagpipes!

Is your family musical?
My family is not musical at this time. One of my brothers took up the trumpet in elementary school/junior high for a couple of years. Likewise, another brother took up the flute (my flute) while I was away at college.

Describe your family's musical interests and abilities.
Besides the anbove, there are no musical abilities in my family.

Who is your biggest fan?
I would have to say my biggest fan is one of my fellow church members who attends most of our concerts.

Which famous musicians do you admire (doesn't have to just be flutists!)? Why?
I admire Christopher Parkening, Harvey Pittel, and Branford Marsalis - they play their instruments (guitar, saxophones respectively) in the classical genre as well as their instruments "native" genre of folk or jazz.

Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?
My first (and only) private teacher was Francis Schaeffer (no, not the Christian theologian). I recall he also taught the flute and other woodwind instruments to my Japanese-American neighbors.

What are your fondest musical memories?
Hmm... when playing the flute in the high school orchestra (Salinas, CA) with the drama club (Peter and the Wolf), and another high school's drama/ballet club (The Nutcracker ballet), and for special occasions (a friend's wedding and Christmas caroling).

Do you get nervous during a performance?
Rarely do I get nervous during a performance. (I do recall one instance though, where "nervousness" was in the air/contagious and affected me also - a student recital at Ogura Flute Works.)

How do you handle mistakes?
I think I unconsciously smile or roll my eyes when I make a mistake. Hopefully, I do as Jean-Pierre Rampal did - recover/continue the music, and try to make it a part of the musical experience.

What advice would you give new flutists?
For new flutists, I would recommend lots of listening - whether of other flutists to hear how you might sound, or of your own (recorded) practicing and lessons to hear how you do sound. Then practicing how you should and want to sound.

What advice would you give new flute choir members?
For new flute choir members, I say relax! Hopefully you will come to enjoy producing good music for family and friends as we all do.

What do you practice? How often?
Practice? (Can I skip to the next question?)

How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?
I devote a certain amount of time for music, as music is one of those integral/fundamental parts of life.

Is there anything else you'd like to add about the flute, flute choir...?
I appreciate this opportunity and privilege of playing the flute.

Culver City Flute Choir in the Culver City Observer

The Culver City Observer printed a notice of our concert on the 18th, along with a photo. Congratulations to my friend Paul Rubenstein, who took the gorgeous photo of us! I'm sorry there's no credit for your photo, Paul: I did tell them your name!

(While admittedly it's pretty easy to be mentioned in the Culver City Observer [all I did was ask!], this is still pretty cool to see! Please click on the title of today's post, and you'll be taken to the issue of newspaper. The mention of the concert is on page 9.)

On the same page as the story about us, you might be interested to read a story about Reid Smythe, a former private flute student of Patty's who just earned his "dolphins" and is now a qualified Naval Submariner! I haven't seen Reid in years (not since he was in high school; I'm probably about 10 years older than him?), so it was a surprise to see him all grown up and so accomplished. It's totally cool and a huge coincidence he was on the same page as we are! Too bad they didn't make any mention of his flute playing... I'm sure Patty's tutelage (toot-elage? Oh, that was a horrible pun!) had something to do with his success!

In other news, I received a very kind email the other day from a flutist from Scotland who had heard our performance of "Ashokan Farewell." His group, Dykehead Amateur Flute Band, can be seen here. It's very cool to receive emails from other flutists and flute choirs, and to receive a message all the way from Scotland - super cool. If any other flutists from other countries or cities around the world or the United States are reading this, I'd be very interested in finding out who you are and where you're from!

For a mention in this space, send an email to CCFC.Info@gmail.com!

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!

Overture to the Marriage of Figaro

I've been thinking a lot about the marriage of Figaro lately... and so this seemed appropriate. Also, I'm not sure if I've ever heard a more perfect flute choir than this one.

Winter 2010 Session

Happy new year, everybody! Flute choir starts again on Thursday, January 21st. Have you registered yet?

Here's our rehearsal schedule (subject to change):

Week 1: January 21
Week 2: January 28
Week 3: February 4
Week 4: February 11
Week 5: February 18
Week 6: February 25
Week 7: March 11
Week 8: March 18
(Week 9: March 22)
Week 10: March 25

The adult school catalog lists us as having one Monday rehearsal in there somewhere; as usual, we'll have to wait and see when that one will be until we get a little closer. My best guess is that the Monday rehearsal will fall during our ninth week (Monday, March 22), and then we'll have the concert March 25 - but if I were you, I'd wait until we finalize these dates before I made any plans.

Looking forward to seeing you!

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.

Meet the Flute Choir: Shannon

I've asked flute choir members to answer a few questions about themselves, so that our fans and readers could get to know us a little better. The first profile will be on our long-time member, Shannon.

When and why did you start playing the flute?

6 months before starting Junior High (7th grade)

When did you join the flute choir? Why?
In 1993 Patty asked me if I want to play with the group.
[Note from Irene: Shannon and I, as well as a few other members of the flute choir, study/studied with Patty Sikorkski, the leader of our flute choir, as our private teacher.]

Have you played in any other flute choirs or ensembles? Where else do (have) you perform(ed)?
Flute choir - no. But I have played with LA Jr. Phil for 6 months and Meremblum Pathfinder (1-1/2 years) and Pioneer (1 year) Orchestras.

Do you play any other instruments?
Played piano on and off since 6 years old, played violin for 6 weeks during summer school, and play hand bells and hand chimes at church (on and off since 6th grade). Also play the piccolo.

Is your family musical?
My mom sings, my dad is very tone deaf, my brother played the piano for about a year, and my brother played the clarinet growing up.

Describe your family's musical interests and abilities.
I am the only person who really has any musical abilities. But my family loves classical music.

Who is your biggest fan?
Hmmmm...

Which famous musicians do you admire (doesn't have to just be flutists!)? Why?
Hmmmm too many to name.

Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?
Mi Jhung Choi, Gus Ehrman and Patty Skorski.

What are your fondest musical memories?
I loved when I played with the Meremblum Orchestras. We had concerts all over Los Angeles! We also camped every year at Griffith's Park!

Do you get nervous during a performance?
Sometimes...

How do you handle mistakes?
Practice more so that I can be better next time.

What advice would you give new flutists?
Keep practicing! Practice makes it perfect!

What do you practice? How often?
I was practicing almost everyday at work until I started school few weeks ago! I usually practice lesson stuff and flute choir.

How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?
I am very lucky to have a job where I can practice my flute!

Is there anything else you'd like to add about the flute, flute choir...?
I love playing the flute!

Concert!

Our holiday concert will take place Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 8:00 p.m.

We hope you can join us!

When:
December 3, 2009, 8:00 p.m.
Refreshments served after the concert

Where:
Farragut Elementary School
10820 Farragut Drive
Culver City, CA 90230

Map:

View Larger Map

In case you needed a reminder...

Please: never leave your flute in the car!

(Click on the title of today's post and you should be taken to a current news story about a $30,000 Muramatsu flute that was stolen recently.)

Flute Fest 2009

Patty received an email the other day about Flute Fest 2009, and asked me to share with the flute choir members. I thought I'd go one better (I'm such a smartypants) and post the information here, too.

Here you go:

Flute Fest 2009 - November 14, 2009
Hosted by Dr. John Barcellona and the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
California State University, Long Beach - Music Department

Admission is $25

"A day of classes and clinics, including:

• Master Teacher Jill Felber: Extreme Makeover - Flute Edition
• Dr. John Barcellona - All Los Angeles Flute Choir Reading Session
• Suzanne Buerkle - Wake Up with Floga! Yoga for the flutist
• Rebecca Kleinmann - Jazz Flute and Improv Master Class
• Kate Prestia-Schaub - Piccolo Master Class
• Flute instrument and accessory vendors, including master flute maker, David Straubiner"

You can email flutecat@gmail .com for more information. Please don't email CCFC - this is all I've got on this event.

Meet the Flute Choir: Irene

When and why did you start playing the flute?
I started playing the flute in the 2nd or 3rd grade.

When did you join the flute choir? Why?
I joined the flute choir when I was a senior in high school.

Have you played in any other flute choirs or ensembles? Where else do (have) you perform(ed)?
No other flute choirs, unfortunately! I played in the high school marching band; the high school orchestra; the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic; and I have performed at City Garage Theatre in "The Gertrude Stein Project," and "The Bacchae." I also play with a classical guitarist, Christopher Hundley. Most recently I performed "The Emperor and the Bird of Paradise" (for flute and narrator) at a special performance at City Garage with my friend, David Frank.

Do you play any other instruments?
I play the piccolo, and bass or alto flute when someone is kind enough to loan me one!

Describe your family's musical interests and abilities.
Both my parents love music; my sister dabbles with the acoustic guitar once in awhile. One of my brothers played the trumpet for a short time. My husband is a drummer, and has played in punk bands (Magnolia Thunderpussy, Pipsqueak), free jazz groups (Halfway to Cleveland), and most recently, in Melic Sub Rosa (avant-rock improvisation) and Suffering Luna (I have no idea what classification this music falls into!).

Which famous musicians do you admire (doesn't have to just be flutists!)? Why?
Flutists: Ian Clarke, Paul Edmund Davies, Gary Schocker, Mimi Stillman... Also, the Marine Corp Band - my husband and I saw them play this year in Washington, D.C., and I think they're wonderful.

Other musicians, bands: The Police, Stewart Copeland, Melvins, Radiohead, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, lots of 70s and 80s stuff... I love rock and roll, punk, pop, you name it.

Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?
In elementary school, my teacher was Kent Gregory. In middle school and high school band, Joe Nazzaretta. My private teacher was Patty Sikorski. I have had the good luck to sometimes get to play with Patty and Joe a few times for gigs. They're both excellent flutists, and I learn so much from them when we play together.

What are your fondest musical memories?
Marching band was a lot of fun, but I was thrilled to be onstage at City Garage. Also, I very much enjoyed playing (twice in performance) the William Tell Overture on piccolo with the Culver City Flute Choir. The first time, because it's so much fun (the piccolo gets to fly!), and the second time, because my dad had commented on it the first time around (he said he really liked it) and actually requested it a couple of years later.

Do you get nervous during a performance?
Absolutely.

How do you handle mistakes?
At the moment they occur, I try to forget it and move on, but sometimes just thinking that - "Don't worry about it!" - is enough of a distraction. I take it hard when I think I messed up.

What advice would you give new flutists?
Listen! My favorite part of taking lessons will always be sight-reading duets with Patty. Trying to match her and just keep up was inspirational and a huge part of my development as a flutist. Just listening to her play is educational.

What advice would you give new flute choir members?
Relax!

What do you practice? How often?
I am definitely a "have gig will practice" flutist. I love to play, but I'm pretty lazy. During flute choir seasons, I practice a lot more than usual but not as much as I guess I should.

How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?
My husband has always been very supportive of my playing. He has an excellent ear, and has taught me a lot about music.

Is there anything else you'd like to add about the flute, flute choir...?
We have so much fun! Check us out!

Holiday Concert

Save the date! Our holiday concert is coming up soon! If you'd like to join our email list, please send your name (first and last) and email address to CCFC.Info@gmail.com.

Culver City Flute Choir Holiday Concert
Thursday, December 3, 2009
8:00 p.m.

Farragut Elementary School
10820 Farragut Drive, Cafeteria
Culver City, CA 90230

Flute choir starts tonight!

Tonight's the first night, so if you haven't registered yet, be sure to get yourself on in to the Adult School office, call or go online and do it!

See you all tonight,
Irene

Fall quarter

Hello, everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed your summer! Fall quarter for flute choir begins in two weeks, on Thursday, September 17th. You can view the fall brochure, here.

We meet for 10 Thursdays. No class September 24th, October 1st, or November 26th. The cost of the class is $115.

Registration at the Adult School began on August 31st. Please contact the Adult School to register. You can register in person, on the telephone, or on the Internet. Here's all the info you'll need:

Culver City Adult School
4909 Overland Avenue
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 842-4300

If you have questions about the Flute Choir, you can contact me at CCFC.Info@gmail.com. If you're wondering about the level of our group or have specific questions related to playing, I'll forward your question to our conductor, Patty Sikorski.

I hope to see you soon,
Irene

A tribute to Willie Odis Carter

Culver City Flute Choir lost one of its dearest supporters this month with the passing of Willie Odis Carter.

Mrs. Carter was the mother of our long-time member, Sandy Nixon. The flute choir played many years each December at Mrs. Carter's retirement home as part of our annual "southland tour," and we will miss her encouragement and fondness for us and our playing. These concerts usually included a solo piano performance by her daughter Sandy, and Mrs. Carter's enjoyment of both the flute choir and Sandy's playing made these concerts fun events for all of us.

Some of us attended her memorial service on Saturday, August 15, and I was particularly touched by Sandy's memories about her mother's dedication to her musical studies. All of us should be so lucky to have someone so devoted to our music.

We'll miss you.

Sandy, we're thinking of you.

Willie Odis Carter
January 19, 1910 - August 8, 2009

Donations in Mrs. Carter's name to City of Children, and Ethiopia, can be sent care of:

Crenshaw Church of Christ
2719 W. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90008

Click on the title to read Mrs. Carter's obituary as it appears in the Los Angeles Times.

Post Convention Interview with Flute Choir Member: Shannon

Here are Shannon's answers to the questions about the flute convention.

Thanks, Shannon! Can't wait to see (and hear) your new purchases in the fall!

Q: Was this your first time attending the flute convention? If no, what keeps you interested in returning? If yes, will you go again?

A: I've attended every single convention since 2000. I love to go every year. I consider it my vacation every year. I will definitely go again.

Q: Were there any performances that stood out for you in particular? Who was the performer and what did they play?

A: My favorite parts of the convention were:

1. Friday morning's Record Breaking Event. We broke China's record for having the Largest Flutist Ensemble (see previous posts for the video and the article).
2. Gala Concert with James Galway was unbelievable. I loved every single piece that was played by James and Jeanne Galway.
3. Closing Ceremony was one of the best Closing Ceremonies I've been too. I loved the fifers and Quintessenz.

Q: What special thing, if anything, did you buy in the exhibit hall?

A: I came home with a new cleaning cloth, polish cloth, stand light, flute stand, flute flag, pad paper, and Claire de Lune (sheet music). I also put an alto flute on layaway.

Q: What fun, non-convention thing did you do while in New York?

A: After the convention was over, Judy and I took a ferry over to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Afterwards, we met up with Patty for some Thai food, a massage, dessert and little bit of shopping. I loved New York (except for 6 hours hours of flight delay getting there)!!! I wish I would've stayed couple of more days to catch a show or something....

Post Convention Interview with Flute Choir Member: Judy

I sent some email questions to the ladies from the flute choir who attended the flute convention in New York last year. Here are Judy's answers.

Thanks, Judy! It sounds like you had a good time. See you in flute choir next month!

(Note: I will link to the video and if I can, audio items that Judy refers to, later today.)

Q: Was this your first time attending the flute convention? If no, what keeps you interested in returning? If yes, will you go again?

A: This was my second flute convention (technically, it's the third, but the first was very long ago and I only stayed for one day). I really enjoyed the Kansas City convention last year, and have mixed feelings about the NYC convention. I definitely plan to attend the Anaheim convention next year.

Q: Were there any performances that stood out for you in particular? Who was the performer and what did they play?

A: JAMES GALWAY!!!! His performance and master class are among the most memorable moments in my flute history. He’s a very entertaining personality and very endearing to me. He played:

(1) Gaubert, Third Sonata. Never heard this before. It is beautiful (want to learn this one).
(2) Gaubert, Nocturne & Allegro Scherzando. Wonderful.
(3) Debussy, En Bateau. A gem!
(4) Chaminade, Concertina
(4) Doppler, Rigoletto Fantasy
(5) Briccialdi, Carnival of Venice
(6) Morlacchi, Il Pastore Svizzero. I recognized the tune but not the name
(7) Bazzini, Le Ronde des Lutins. Ditto
(8) Taffanel, Grande Fantasie Sur Mignon. Breathtaking.

and 2 or 3 encore numbers.

QUINTESSENZ – a wonderful quintet from Germany. In addition to a ½ hour afternoon performance, they were the final act of a long closing ceremony (4:30 to 8:00pm). They were one of the highest points of the Convention for me and many others – long standing ovations. Their arrangements and playing were so unusually beautiful. Their arrangements are not published yet. They did Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream; Debussy’s Passepied from Suite Bergamasque; Ganne’s Andente et Scherzo (another most unusual arrangement played to perfection); Ravel, from Miroirs, Alborada del Gracioso. They have a few CD’s out and can be seen on YouTube.

ADRIANNE GREENBAUM with fiddler, bass, and cimbelon – klezmerflute.com. A great joyous sound! Loved the performance at Closing Ceremony. Can also be seen on YouTube.

PAUL EDMUND-DAVIES (principle flutist w/London Symphony Orchestra for 20 years) was also a highlight for me. His playing, of course, is astounding and he also has a very entertaining personality.

I saw/heard only half of Ian Clarke’s Thursday morning concert. I enjoyed it, but was a bit distracted due to jet lag from the horrible traveling schedule. Also fell asleep during the Thursday evening Gala (didn’t feel very Gala). There were many many performances and workshops I regret that I missed. Too much to choose from. Missed all the late evening cabaret jazz sessions this time. Temps were in the 90’s. Too too hot to enjoy mid-town Manhattan. The noise, traffic and hordes of people in Times Square, where the convention took place, were almost overwhelming to me.

Q: What fun, non-convention thing did you do while in New York?

A: Shannon and I took a ferry to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Museum – very interesting (and air-conditioned). The last evening and on Monday, Shannon and I met Patty and had a fun time – we found a small deli/restaurant then walked for a bit. Shannon and I also dinner with Ronna the first evening, then other evenings (when the temps cooled a bit) after the gala concerts, we took longer walks to explore the area.

Record Breaking Event - NPR Story

Click on the title.

World Record Breaking Flute Event

Click on the title to view the "World Record Breaking Flute Event" video. Oh... and if you look close enough, you can see me in the video.

Photos from the flute convention

Photos from flute convention

I received some awesome photos from Ronna, one of our flute choir members, taken from the convention. Hopefully she'll send along some more information for those of us who had to stay home soon!








































I want to play that contrabass, too!

Photos by Ronna

Fall dates!

Mark your calendars, everyone, the fall quarter for flute choir will begin on Thursday, September 17, 2009.

Registration through Culver City Adult School starts on Monday, August 31st.

Concert photos

I finally uploaded the (blurry) photos Patrick took at the last concert (June 25) before the camera battery died.

(Pauly, see what happens when you don't come to a concert? Disaster.)
















This has to be the most awkward photo of a flutist, ever. What am I doing? Why did he take this picture in the first place? Gosh.

From a NY Times article about Mozart

“At first we laughed at what seemed such pure gibberish, but his father then began to observe the most important matter, the notes and music,” Schachtner recounted. “He stared long at the sheet, and then tears, tears of joy and wonder, fell from his eyes. ‘It is so very difficult that no one could play it,’ Leopold said. And Wolfgang replied: ‘That’s why it’s a concerto. You must practice it till you can get it right.’ ”

Wow, the kid was 7 or 8. What were you doing at that age (Mozart had already started composing at age 5; it's not his youth that is so surprising in this article, it's that these two pieces were only just discovered)? I'm pretty sure I was playing a game called "Dog and Cat" with my best friend, Jeremy. It involved one of us pretending to be "Dog" and the other pretending to be "Cat," and barking and meowing at each other as indicated by our respective roles. Oh, yes: we were thespians.

Click on the title of today's post to read the entire article. Or you might consider taking out your flute and practicing. Maybe some Mozart!

From a Los Angeles Times magazine article about Gustavo Dudamel, the new conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic

"For me, it’s very important that musicians can feel. That’s why I say to them some image, or I want the blood, or I want the sound of the meat. It’s feelings, and this is music." - Gustavo Dudamel

I love this quote.

Please click on the title of today's post to be taken directly to the article.

Flute convention 2009: New York!

I'm not going to the flute convention this year. I've been to many of them in the past! This year it's in New York, and as exciting as New York is (I love it there!), it just didn't work out. Also, as much as I love both the flute convention and New York, it didn't seem fair to leave Patrick at home while I make yet another solo trip there. I want us to go together. Next year's convention is scheduled for Anaheim, which is much closer to home (no hotel room required!), and I intend to drag him to at least one evening's concert.

The convention begins next Thursday, August 13. Are you going? If so, what are you interested in seeing/hearing/playing? I've been checking out the schedule of events (the NFA posts the schedule on their website, which you can access via the right side -->), and these are the things I would be looking forward to:

• United States Military Academy Band at West Point - lecture and recital. I love military bands!
• Gary Schocker - Showcase. Gary and his socks are always entertaining; he's a great performer. I've played a few of his flute duets: challenging and fun.
• Workshop (and the next day, a concert) with (hunky) Ian Clarke. Ian Clarke was the heartthrob for me in San Diego. We saw him play at the Friday night concert and I fell in love (with his music, of course). I talked with him the next day in the exhibit hall, where he attempted to teach me something, and I promptly forgot how to play an "A." I am such a dork. Later, with my own flute, I went to a workshop he gave on advanced techniques where I hopefully demonstrated my ability to actually play notes.
• Performance by Carol Wincenc - she's beautiful and thrilling to see. I love her playing.
• Trevor Wye's performance of "50 Variations on the Carnival of Venice" for 60 flutes, which I've seen 2 or 3 times already. He's amazing.
• New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will host a special presentation August 14 at 2:30 p.m. for convention attendees. The museum’s musical instrument collection is closed during August due to roof repairs, but flutes will be taken out of storage for this private showing by Associate Curator Herbert Heyde. - This sounds fun and interesting.
• Make history! Join Sir James Galway and the NFA in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record™ for World’s Largest Flute Ensemble! Let’s shatter the world record of 1,701 participants, set in Tuebingen, Germany, on December 22, 2007. In commemoration of his 70th birthday this year, Sir James commissioned a medley of his favorite works, including “Danny Boy,” to be performed at the event. - This sounds like a lot of fun! I downloaded the music (if I were going, I'd be on flute IV). Maybe those of us not going to the convention can get together and have a little quartet on this one.
• Friday Gala concert: I always look forward to these concerts; Paul Edmund-Davies is one of the performers. I just did "The Emperor and the Bird of Paradise," which was composed for him by Alan Ridout, at City Garage a couple of weeks ago, and I've heard him play before. He's great. They usually post the actual programs for the concerts in the schedule you receive at the convention; the online listing (so far) doesn't show what pieces will be played. I'm pretty sure he won't do "The Emperor and the Bird of Paradise," but it would be nice to hear him play anything. He'll also be in recital the next day.
• James Galway will be featured at the Saturday Gala concert, which should be exciting.
• On Saturday, there will be a concert called "New York, Electrified," which features flute duos with electronics. Sounds intriguing!

Anyway, this is just what caught my eye for Thursday, Friday and some of Saturday! There are lots of flute choir showcases, workshops, recitals that are too numerous to list here. And of course the exhibit hall is always fun and a great way to pass the time in between events. I'd head straight for the Powell booth and play as many expensive and beautiful flutes and piccolos I could get my hands on.

Even though I'm not going, I'm starting to get excited for my friends who are! I hope some of you send some reports or photos to share with the rest of us. Meanwhile, I'll start saving up for next year...

Ashokan Farewell, by Jay Ungar

As part of our last concert, Culver City Flute Choir performed "Ashokan Farewell," by Jay Ungar. It's pretty.

Enjoy!

2 Guys 1 Flute | J.S. Bach Badineri

For those of you on Facebook, the NFA has a group page on FB that you should all join. Today, they asked for your favorite flute videos on youtube. Here's what I posted and thought you'd all enjoy it too.

Julie

NPR story about a classical flutist

We heard this story on the radio the other day and thought it was really interesting. It's about flutist Tod Brody and how he's turned hard work into a career. There are some sound clips so be sure to listen and not just read the transcript. The guy is really talented.

Good luck to him, maybe he'll get some work out of this story.

I can think of another freelance flutist right here in Culver City (no, of course I'm not talking about myself) who might need some work, too, so if you need one, contact me!

A message from Irene Palma

Hi, everyone (is there an echo in here or is it just me?),

If it is just me, I take full responsibility - after creating this blog a few years ago, I promptly forgot all about it. However, I'd like to get this thing back up and current again, and I hope you'll come back soon.

So who am I, and where have I been? I was a private student of Patty Sikorski's, and in or around 1990 or 1991, with her encouragement and awesome training, I started playing with Culver City Flute Choir. I've been a member ever since. I've done some semi-professional playing around the Los Angeles area, mostly with Patty or as a guest/member of City Garage theater in Santa Monica. And I'm the one who sends out all the email notices about concerts and other information to CCFC flutists and friends, so if you want to contact Patty or find out more about the flute choir or our concerts, start with me and I'll get you pointed in the right direction.

I intend to update the information contained in this blog with more regularity. You can also find us on Facebook (Friends of Culver City Flute Choir; check back for link), or email the flute choir directly.

What's a flute choir? A flute choir is like any choir: we're a group of flutists (the size of our group ranges anywhere from about seven to up to thirteen flutists) who perform music either written specifically for flute choir or other music that has been edited to fit our instrumentation. Our very talented members play piccolo, C flute, alto flute, bass flute, and contra-bass flute. All these voices make for a layered and interesting mix.

What's Culver City Flute Choir? As you can see from the text at the top of the page, Culver City Flute Choir is a community-based group that operates thanks to Culver City Adult School. There are no auditions to join; all that is required is to register and the ability to play the flute, read music, show up to rehearsals, and a desire to play. We meet for about 10 weeks, and during all school quarters except the summer, put on an informal concert for our families and friends. During the winter holiday season, we often have two additional performances, for Lamp Community, located in Downtown Los Angeles; and at a local retirement home. If you haven't played your flute since high school or college, you're not alone! Many of our members start out this way, and while that first night might feel a little uncomfortable, rest assured and know that it definitely gets easier, and a lot more fun.

Currently we're taking a bit of a break from concertizing and are meeting for informal reading sessions. There is so much to gain from sight-reading and playing with friends! The fall quarter is just around the corner, and I will be posting more information about that as it becomes available from the Adult School.

Thanks for your interest and for stopping by, and, if you haven't done so in awhile, get out your flute and play a little!

Hope to see you soon,
Irene

From an LA Times article about Nathaniel Ayers

Steve Lopez from the Los Angeles Times accompanied Nathaniel Ayers to San Francisco, where he was honored by a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by mental illness.

A few years ago, at one our Christmas concerts at LAMP Community, the flute choir was lucky to meet Mr. Ayers, and play with him. I'm glad to read these updates from Steve Lopez, and that things seem to be going well for Mr. Ayers.

Click on the title of the post to read the entire article.

From a story in the LA Times about really old flutes

It so happens that the Hohle Fels flute was uncovered in sediments a few feet away from the carved figurine of a busty, nude woman, also around 35,000 years old, noted Dr. Conard and his co-authors, Susanne C. Münzel of Tübingen and Maria Malina of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. That discovery was announced in May by Dr. Conard.

Stone age flutists were hot! Not much has changed since...

Click on the title of today's post to read the entire (much less salacious) article.