“Play Mozart in memory of me- and I will hear you ”
The March performance class will make four to five performance spots available to flutists of all ages and ability levels. Each participant should fill out the webform below. If the selected repertoire requires a pianist, one will be made available. All performers are asked to communicate with the class pianist well in advance, potentially setting up individual rehearsals to prepare optimally for their performances and sending the pianist a PDF of their selected repertoire via email. Each performer will have 25 to 30 minutes total to perform their piece and receive feedback from class attendees and instructors. The fee for each performance spot is $30.00 plus the accompanist fee which should be arranged directly with the class pianist. The fee to audit the class is $10.00. Class will conclude promptly at 7:30pm. The reception following this class will be from 7:30pm-8:00pm.
The culture of this class is of the utmost importance. Each performer should prepare to the best of his or her ability, but not be focused on the comparative performances of others and/or a shallow sense of perfection. We are all capable of improving. Nobody is ‘done’. Our art form needs to be approached with the desire for excellence and the patience and humility needed to improve. Performance is the optimal way to test out the effectiveness and holistic range of a musician’s preparation- the psychological work needed to perform optimally paired with the details and expressive range of the music itself. That is what this class intends to address and improve.
Each participant is expected to listen actively and offer feedback to the performers. This is a way of showing support for our fellow flutists, offering unique view points and giving them a general sense of their performance’s impact. Therefore, being distracted is not acceptable (phones are gross). Learning how to listen is the most important skill a musician can possibly cultivate. And for our future teachers, listening and offering constructive feedback is essential to cultivating this amazing tapestry of tradition that is being woven every day among us.
I am looking forward to hearing you and sharing an evening of inspiration and learning.
-Brook Ferguson