Official Notice

FYI: I am practicing EXCLUSIVELY in flat keys until June 15. That may or may not mean anything in terms of the workshop agenda in July (yeah, right). Just thought I'd share that bit of information. 

12th Annual Baroque Flute Boot Camp 2010

The 12th Annual Baroque Flute Boot Camp in Seattle, Washington, July 25-31, 2010.

Faculty:

Baroque Flute

Kim Pineda and Janet See

Assisted by

Gus Denhard, theorbo, baroque guitar, and continuo ensemble

Don Simons, harpsichord, workshop accompanist

In 2010 the Baroque Flute Boot Camp (BFBC) takes place from July 25-31. The BFBC is open to baroque flute players of all levels. We are very supportive and encouraging to those new to the baroque flute. For the advanced players we offer a stimulating and challenging environment (we throw down the gauntlet and challenge you to pick it up).

The BFBC offers predominantly flute instruction and technique by day, with smaller group classes, large and small ensemble playing, and technical clinics by night. Participants also have time to meet in smaller groups on their own to work on various types of ensembles, with and without coaching. Enrollment is limited to 16 flute players, and 4 lute/guitar players. Players of other continuo instruments such as Baroque cello, viola da gamba, or Baroque bassoon are welcome to enroll. Please contact the workshop director for details on the curriculum for these instruments.

The BFBC gives you the chance to work hard under close supervision. What to expect at the Boot Camp:

• Your instructors will push you out of your comfort zone to improve your playing technique.
• Expand your knowledge of baroque style and interpretation.
• Integrate this by playing in small groups, large groups, and in the class recital.
• Learn how to lead, accompany, play together, and learn the difference.
• Gain confidence in a non-competitive environment.
• Group classes in Alexander Technique as it relates to playing your instrument
• Fundamentals of baroque improvisation (it comes in handy!)
• Have fun in the process.

N.B.--This is a PROCESS-oriented, not goal-oriented, workshop.

All you need is a positive attitude and a baroque flute or continuo instrument that plays at a=415 Hz.

For more information go to Baroque Northwest's workshop link.

BF&CPBC XI Photos

The 2009 Baroque Flute and Continuo Player Boot Camp

Seattle, Washington. Seattle Pacific University

Friday night after the ensemble concert

Front row (L-R):

Kim, Janet

Middle row:

Shelagh, Nina, Patty, Lisa

Back row:

Molly, Amanda, Terry, Michael, Ron, Ernie

The Traditional Lake Union Sunday Ice Cream Cruise

Lake Union from the cruise boat

The Space Needle from Lake Union

Ernie on the boat

Shelagh and Michael

Amanda and Ernie taking in the sights

Masterclass!

Janet coaching Amanda in masterclass, accompanied by Gus

Ernie plays in masterclass, accompanied by Gus

Janet works with Shelagh in masterclass

The Tuesday Night Flute Circle Jam!

Shelagh and Amanda

Ron plays in the jam. (Molly, Terry, Shelagh, and Amanda)

Patty, Michael, and Molly

Patty, Ernie, and Carlo wait their turn in the Jam

Why Michael and Ernie were late to the post-dinner playing session.

The Friday Night Ensemble Concert!

Nina and Amanda in the Friday ensemble concert

Nina, accompanied by Ronnee, in the ensemble concert

Patty and Ernie play Telemann in the ensemble concert

Michael and Shelagh play the same Telemann duet that Janet and Kim played on Thursday

Amanda and Lisa in front of Benaroya Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

The Faculty Recital!

Janet, Gus, and Ronnee in the Faculty Recital

Nancy and Nina assisting Gus and Ronnee at the Faculty Recital

Kim, Gus, and Ronnee in the Faculty Recital

Janet, Kim, Gus, Ronnee

Friday night final rehearsal!

The baroque flute and viola da gamba orchestra

Lisa and Molly play Boismortier on Friday

The Workshop Class Recital!

Flutes and players arranged by size

(Yes, that is a bass baroque flute)

What's wrong with this picture?

Kim, Amanda, and Janet after the Class Concert

(free and open to the public!)

Eleven Down (the week in review)

Originally posted here. Used with permission.

Comments from the week of the 11th annual Baroque Flute and Continuo Player Boot Camp. Photos forthcoming.

(Names withheld to protect the innocent . . .)

-- Had a GREAT WEEK !!! The BC gets better each year. See you next July.

-- Thanks, Kim, for a wonderful week. I learned so much, and I hope I'll be able to return again next year. I will send you some photos, once I upload them from my camera.

I have a funny story...it worked out that Kevin and I gave Lisa a ride to her home in southern Oregon (so she wouldn't have to do an overnight on a Greyhound bus) and we stayed the night at her place (instead of a hotel). Well, on the way, we ran out of gas--the heavy traffic out of Seattle/Tacoma area had distracted Kevin enough that he forgot that we needed to get gas. So, Lisa and I were in the back of the van, playing flute duets, when all of a sudden, Kevin hollers, "Oh no! We're running out of gas!" The car conked out on a ramp, and while Kevin took a jug to get gas, Lisa and I set up a music stand along the side of the road and kept on playing! It all resolved itself amazingly within about 20 minutes, because a woman saw Kevin with the jug, picked him up, took him to the gas station a couple of miles away, and brought him back to the car. So, Lisa and I packed up the music, hopped back in the van, and we were back underway once again!

-- Hi everyone - It was fun! Thanks SO much to everyone.

-- Thank you for a great week at the Baroque Boot camp and introduction to baroque flute! Special thanks to Kim for organizing it, and to Janet and Kim for their teaching, and Ronnee for his patience, and all of you for being welcoming to a greenhorn. It was a pleasure to meet all of you and a delight to hear the progress as the week went on. I learned much.

After reading almost everything possible on the internet, I screwed up my courage, disassembled the flute and oiled it for the first time. Fortunately it isn't very old and seems not to have suffered from the delay nor my "work" on it.

Now to practice.

--Thanks for the week. It was a nice group of people. I'm practicing every day again now, and what's better is I feel I have a strategy that means I might not have time to practice a lot, but I'm practicing better ( I hope).

Well sombody's got to be second!

OK. I'll go second. Ernie O'Byrne was born in Greeley, Colorado in 1947 and
moved to Palo Alto, CA when he was 5 and to San Diego a couple of years
later. Just about that time they sent around a list in school of instruments
and I picked trombone, but my arm wasn't long enough. My second choice was
English Horn, thinking that it was actually a horn, but there were none for
rent and they were $500 to buy (like $5000 now) so that was out. Third
choice--flute--and am I glad. I had great teachers and a very wise mother
who knew how to keep me playing without pressure.

I went over to the dark side about 10 years ago and have never looked back.
I currently live in Eugene, OR and run a specialty nursery with my wife
(www.nwgnursery.com) growing hellebores. We have large gardens, both veggie
and ornamental, 2 greyhounds, 2 cats, 2 peacocks and a flock of chickens. We
love hiking and traveling.

I play with a small ensemble of alto recorder, cello, and harpsichord. We
play for Eugene Symphony fundraisers and at a local venue across from the
library about 6 or 8 times a year. What has been very good for me about that
experience is that it has forced me to play in flat key signatures because
of the recorder.

At the risk of being accused of being teacher's pet, I will out myself and
identify myself as Student Alpha in the 5/17 blog. What is true is that I do
practice a fair amount, i.e. try to put in some playing time every day and
try to examine body mechanics while doing so. I don't do as many long tones
and scales as I should, but the slow practice on difficult passages has been
an invaluable suggestion and it really works. Also, with the benefit of
private lessons since Kim is in Eugene, we have figured out that I am
"mashing" the flute onto my face, which is affecting the tone, needless to
say. Quite a difference when I don't do that!

Well, this is long-winded enough. NEXT!

Ernie O'Byrne
Northwest Garden Nursery
86813 Central Road
Eugene, ORegon 97402
USA
USDA Z. 8
Phone: 541 935-3915
FAX: 541 935-0863

Let the blogging begin! (or, let's get cracking on this, eh?)

OK everyone,

The boot camp is a mere 19 days away. The newcomers must have some questions. The veterans probably do as well.

Don't be shy. Perhaps everyone could post a brief bio about themselves, just to get started.

I'll go first:

Kim Pineda was born in Pasadena, California. His childhood was filled with all the usual things a child has in a loving home, and recordings of classical music and jazz were a regular part of the day. After a few episodes with local, county, and federal law enforcement officers, Kim discovered a better way to be a rebellious, reclusive teenager: playing and studying early music. This choice, however, was not without consequences. In addition to the ribbing about playing recorder, Kim's non-musical friends were a little concerned about his priorities. "You want to play a broke flute? Why not get a good one?"

Described as looking more like a piano mover than a professional musician, some say a sight gag ensues when the biggest person in the ensemble walks on stage with the smallest instrument. Studying music and historical performance practices led, somehow, to the study of zymurgy, which during his early years of graduate school made him very popular.

When not involved in music, Kim and his wife Marika enjoy cooking, hiking, and birding. In their spare time they read non-fiction, try new recipes, tend to their garden, chase after their Cairn terrier, Paisley.

Spring Flute Cleaning

Hello Everyone, 

As the seasons change, so do the humidity levels that our flutes live in. Unless you have the virtually indestructable Aulos Stanesby model, you'll need to insure that your flute (transverse flute, baroque flute, traverso) stays in good playing condition. 

That means a few things: 

1. Oil your flute, especially if you have not done so in a few months. I mean it. Seriously. Really. Oil. The flute. It needs it. Each flute maker has specific instructions on the type of oil you use. I recommend following those instructions. 
2. Take ten minutes and re-wrap your tenons (if they have thread and not cork, that is). Silk thread is preferred. As with outdoor equipment, long underwear, etc., the silk thread absorbs moisture and keeps it off of your nicely oiled flute. This in turn prevents swelling of the tenon which could lead to cracking, especially when folks get around to logging extra practice time before attending a week-long workshop where they could be playing for an extended period of time for several days in a row, or a concert. You only need to do this once or twice a year. 
3. Lubricate the tenons (and thread) before assembling the flute. Each time. Cork grease or something similar may be used (avoid animal-based products). I use a homemade concoction of raw linseed oil and beeswax. It works well but unless you are really good at home chemistry, I don't recommend this option. When my current batch runs out I'm just going to go out and buy some cork grease from the local music shop. 
   

That's all for now. I'm looking forward to some blog dialogue (blog-alogue?) between the workshop participants and also to any questions anyone may have along the way. 

If this is your first time at the workshop, I recommend the following earlier posts: 

• http://baroqueclinic.blogspot.com/2008/03/20-minute-workout.html
  
• http://baroqueclinic.blogspot.com/2008/04/long-tone-exercises.html
  
• http://baroqueclinic.blogspot.com/2008/04/smoke-mirrors.html
  
• http://baroqueclinic.blogspot.com/2008/06/process-vs-goal-choice-is-clear.html
  
• http://baroqueclinic.blogspot.com/2008/07/flute-players-rx-or-spoonful-of-long.html
  

And for a few laughs (not funny at the time): 

http://baroqueclinic.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-not-to-do-names-changed-to-protect.html

There are also photos of previous baroque flute and continuo player boot camps here too. 

kp