Hi,

I was just wondering if you could give me your feedback on my performance of Barber's canzone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGFeAlsnP9s

Good job!

I liked the lightness in your vibrato, not exagerated and reminds me of the vibrato my french teacher at college used to have (and still plays at the age of the 80s!). Also the different tone colors from the first part into the intermediary and then back into the last part of the peace. You transmitted a warm atmosphere, then gave it some shine to get to the climax of the theme, and then came back to where you started. I really liked it!

A bit of work still necessary around intonation, but who doesn't need it anyway ;-)

I agree, well done

Thanks a lot. Intonation has always been a constant struggle for me. Do you have any suggestions other then the "just sit at a tuner" ordeal?

Yes I have.

Basically you must give some more time to working on intervals, mostly the 4ths, 5ths and octaves, using long tones to do it, say, 3 seconds each note.
Lets configure something in this direction.

You begin with a low G, for example. Go to the middle C (a 4th up), and then to the following G (a further 5th up - totals one octave). Go back to the C and then the low G.
Now repeat almost the same sequence, changing the C for a D (just inverted to a 5th first and then a 4th).
Now restart the whole cicle a semitone up, with G# in this case, etc...
Go through the extension until the higher note you play is in the third octave of the flute, and not too fatigating (at first...), maybe the high G.

With some practice, try to begin lower in the scale, and also end at higher notes, like the high B or C.

Do this sistematically at least 3 times to 4 times a week.

You also may practice this exercises using 3rds with 6ths and then inverting to 6ths and 3rds.

wow, nice advice.

All my teachers used to say:

"Use your ears!"
"Practice with a tuner!"
"Sing with solfege!"
"Listen carefully with your youth orchestra!"

"Use your ears!" "Practice with a tuner!" "Sing with solfege!" "Listen carefully with your youth orchestra!"

It's quite obvious that this extense exercise would not be effective if you don't use all of the above, therefore I agree with them, though partially. I would say not to use the tuner too frequently. Use it only for checking, not for practice. The most perfect tuner is already inside, it's our brain (no, it's not our ears...), we only have to learn how to use it well and sometimes how to train it better. :-)

Yeah, thanks. using the brain, or training the brain, great.

Yes, I now use the tuner to check intonation only.

I went to Shingenori Kudo's masterclass (one of Rampal's favourite students), he said to us, "If you students use Metronome and Tuner daily during your practice, then you have suceeded 50%!"

there are several aspects to playing in tune..

1. playing in tune with yourself, which a good tuner helps,

2. playing in tune with those around you, you can't achieve 2 till you achieve 1...and no group can be in tune until everyone is in tune with themselves...

and don't worry about intonation being a constant struggle , it is for everyone throughout their career