2002-11-20 - 11:56 p.m.
Just started this entry in time for it to be today. :)
I must admit that I am getting somewhat addicted to learning the flute. Today I went to the Public Library and checked out a book on flute, plus two flute music books. The book is The Flute by Raymond Meylan, with plenty of pictures and history about flute. It's translated from German. Should be fun to read.
For the two scores I got, one is Flute Method by Hittler, somewhat like the one I am using with Lori, but with some explanations of how to play the flute, plus more interesting pieces. I'd like to just sight-read it every day for a page or two to add variety to the other book.
The second score is Forty Little Pieces in Progressive Order for Beginner Flutists. This book actually contains real pieces composed by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Schumann, transcribed and adapted for flute (and piano!). I tried the first two pieces: (1) Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman by Mozart; (2) Little Piece by Schumann. I know all the notes, but it's still very hard for me to correctly play all the notes, because it's moving faster and with more jumps (especially those involving D2). But this pieces are so much more interesting to play than the exercises...
I really like the sound of B1 A1 G1, the first three notes I learned. Pure, transparent, subtle. B flat and D2 are also very nice. The higher notes are too loud and sometimes sounds too shameless. Maybe it's just my bad playing.
When browsing the music books for flute, I came to realize the limitation of flute: most of the time you will need an accompanist! It was never a concern when I was playing the piano (except for the time I wanted to play a concerto). Now I will have to make friends with the pianists.
Wish I could apply some of the enthusiasm to my researh some day.
