"I have a very hard time thinking that expression or emotion can be taught. "

I believe it depends on the level of the player. Once a player has mastered the playing technique and achieved a decent tone, he/she must conquer the final summit: be able to transmit emotions to its public with the expressiveness of his own music.

But, should we wait until the player has mastered the two previous stages to begin working on expressiveness?

I am sure we all agree that this would make no sense.

We should try to play the music with expressiveness as soon as we understand what it is all about, even before we develop a good enough tone.

At those levels I believe the help of the teacher is very important, even mandatory.

Highly gifted students could probably achieve it without a teacher, just listening to others' playing or records, but I do not consider myself to be part of that lucky group. I have to learn everything with much, much effort and spending hours daily and during many years.

In a way, if a teacher is teaching you, then you are (normally) learning from your teacher. IMO, this must include expression, in the same level we are taught style, rhythm and so many other musical details. Why not?

I might be able to re-create a piece on my own if I ever attain the right level. In the meantime I must learn from those more knowledgeable than me.

Pyrioni,

I have just seen and listened to both videos by Maria Mazarakis. She did a wonderful job with this Sonata, I think she has played it thinking in your own capabilities and for this reason I believe you can play very close to what she did. I do not know if you have enough time to accomplish this before the competition, but probably you do.

If you play the Allegro a little slower, but still with good tone and cleanly, this should not make much difference for the Jury.

In your case I would adopt all I could from her playing and I would not be ashamed of being close to copying it. No much time left for big changes and experimmeenting...

Use her breathing also, as far as you can. And as you said in your own comment to the first video, make a good song of the first movement an leave the Jury singing it enthusiastically...

Yes, you are very right, Jose_luis, she probably lowered her speed on 2nd movement to match my abilities, becoz 2nd movement should be much faster to bring out the duo vocal of the baroque style, I tried once 4 months ago with single tonguing, it sounded with a lot of flaws:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD0r3KRULn4

Rampal used this tempo or much faster. But my double tonguing is not strong enough for baroque articulation, and my single tonguing has reached my up-most limit at tempo 126 (4notes)

I am in a dilemma situation, and I got only 2 days left before competition, I need to work hard on my articulations.

<Added>

So you see, technical is very important, my lacking of good techniques made me unable to interpret many musics. Expression can be added, and I will do it on my next video with my pianist this weekend, I'll back. ;)

Working on double tonguing to improve it would be important, I believe the jury could note you are not using it in a fast enough movement and they may take points out. But time is probably too short and this could be too risky.

So play it at the speed you can, very clean with single tonguing if you feel double is not as good as it should and improve on the other aspects as much as you can.

OK, many thanks Jose_luis, I will try tempo 116 with single tonguing, still a good effect on this tempo. In such a short time, I don't think I can make it with strong and clean double-baroque-tonguing.

thank you for your concern for me, really!!

It is better to play something slow and clean than fast and messy.

Good luck with your competition.

"It is better to play something slow and clean than fast and messy."

Thanks! and you're right!! I have decided to go by 108 tempo for 2nd movement.

47 hours before competition, here's my video with my pianist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5aXUDVMMKY

Better with the expression and vibrato! But, I do think that second movement would sound cleaner and better with the use of double tonguing. Good luck!!!

I liked that first movement a lot. If I might comment something, I would have liked that final note to be a little, little bit longer (+1/8 of second?) so it is allowed to vanish still more. But it is very good anyway and it is just my liking, others here may have different opinions.

Leave a longer time between first and second movement because they are very contrasting and the spirit needs some time to digest and enjoy what it has been listening to.

The second movement needs more adjustment, for example at 1.22, but sure you have been working on those details, your video is a first try and it is already quite good.

A few suggestions:

- Smile a little before beginning and more important, smile at the end. You look too serious and concerned. You maybe, but do not show it and should look radiant.
- Rehearse what you will be doing with your body and the instrument after the final note.
- Do not raise the flute so much, I find it not to be elegant, although I understand you may feel like doing this after so much effort. If you smile at that moment (or a split second later), it will help to keep a friendly, non defiant body posture.

I do not know if playing from memory is mandatory in your competition, but if it was not, it will win you points. I congratulate you for being able to accomplish this.


<Added>

show it and should look radiant --> show it, you should look radiant.

Thanks Kate ^_^ but my double-tonguing is less clearer than my single tonguing. I will work on clearer double tonguing this year.

Jose_luis, yes all your points are correct, I will work on them within 24 hours. thank you for your advice!!

Here's my 2nd take tonight with my pianist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qCNn8f4Y08

I thought that your double tonguing on the Poulenc piece was great. You don't give yourself enough credit! I will have to have a listen to your latest post.

Thanks Kate, and thanks everyone helping me!!! I just won Senior Flute Solo champion 2 hours ago with 91 marks!! Judge is American music doctor Dr.Brook:
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs490.snc3/26786_1385943575185_1429912787_31060304_2824005_n.jpg

I am very happy that you did and I congratulate you. You really deserved it!

Yay!!!!!!! Congrats!!! We are super proud of you! I will go check out the link right now.