Recital Reflections

It's been nearly a week since my recital, and I've been waiting for some down time to write this post. Be prepared for photos and videos!

(my mom, Kathy Kaiser, took the photo and I made the poster)

We'll start the weekend with my dress rehearsal. Because of scheduling difficulties, we had to hold our dress rehearsal the Thursday before the concert--October 20th. We rehearsed for over two hours. It was a good, slightly frustrating rehearsal. It gave Liz and I the chance to run all of our pieces in the recital hall while receiving coaching from Alison. It also gave us two hours to hang out and chat. It was fun!

Friday flew by. I practiced quite a bit, since I don't practice the day before or of the recital. I play my Telemann Fantasia in excerpts class, and it could have gone a lot better. It just didn't flow. After that class I was nervous about the Telemann, and spent another hour (at least) practicing it Friday evening. It made me feel better but I knew that would be my toughest piece on the recital. I ran all of my recital pieces that night and left the school of music. That night I went out with my friends and had a good time.

The next day, I woke up around 11am (I got at least 9 hours of sleep!) and got ready to go meet my parents and grandparents. They had driven in from Toledo that morning. They got there around 1:30, and we wandered around Athens for a while. We got dinner at Kiser's (the BEST BBQ in Athens!) and then drove around the city a little and got ice cream at Ashby's. After our ice cream we took my dad and grandparents back to the hotel. Then I took my mom through the back roads of Athens (hills in the dark are always interesting!) She took me back to my dorm and I went to bed.

The next morning I woke up at 9:30 and took a shower. I met my family (plus my cousins Sharon and George, who drove in that morning from Pittsburgh) at Bob Evans. I ate a HUGE breakfast. Normally I don't eat much (if anything) before a performance, but I just couldn't help myself. I was SOOO hungry. It turned out to be a good decision! I left at noon to get ready, and met my family at the School of Music at 1pm. I got warmed up, set the stage, made sure the video cameras worked (yes, we had two just in case!), and made sure Liz's and my parents were alright setting up the reception room (they were, I didn't do anything to help). Before I knew it it was 2 and time to start the recital!

Liz played first. She played the Reinecke Sonata, and it was great! The piece is quite long (about 20 minutes) so I had time to relax and get my head in the game. I listened to my piece on my iPod, took some deep breaths, and relaxed. It was a very calm 20 minutes.

My first piece on the recital was Rhonda Larson's The Boatman. 10 days before my recital (at my hearing) I decided to play this piece on the baroque flute instead on the crystal flute. The crystal flute is very hard to play, and just not predictable. Some days it sounded great--and sometimes it sounded like I had never played it before. The decision to play the piece on the baroque flute turned out to be a good one. I really love the sound it gave me, and was glad that the performance went so well. I really have no regrets on this one. After it finished I was elated. The recital was underway.

Next Liz played her Telemann Fantasia in G Minor, and I played my Telemann Fantasia in G Major. We played them back to back, with Liz going first. For me, this was my most nervewracking piece. I was so nervous that it was going to crash and burn. It didn't. It actually sounded great, definitely the best I've played it. Once that was over I was RELIEVED. Following the Telemann we had a short intermission.

Following the intermission, Liz played a movement from Mike Mower's Opus di Jazz. It sounded great! 

I finished off our solo section of the recital with Mucynski's Sonata for Flute and Piano. Walking on stage I felt great. I knew that this piece was well prepared and felt confidant. I just let myself have fun! 

(There is an audio/video sync error caused by a YouTube uploading error...)

We finished off the piece with Maya by Ian Clarke. What a great ending! It was flexible but felt good. I couldn't believe we were finished already!

After the recital we made our way down to the reception room and were welcomed by our guests. We ate some delicious cupcakes and cookies and drank apple cider. Here are some of my favorite photos from the reception:

Liz and I!

Liz and one of our accompanists, Yoonsook

Me with my grandparents

My parents and I

Yoonsook and I

Liz, Alison, and I

Alison and I

Liz and Alison

All and all, it was a great time! I seriously had a blast. I'm already thinking about next year for my junior recital. I've got so many ideas and I can't wait to throw them at you! Thanks for reading this REALLY LONG post, and hopefully my posts can become a little more frequent now that I've finished off my recital. Next up: Hallopalooza! 

Less then a week!!!

Hey everyone!

In less then a week (5 days from today) Elizabeth and I will be giving our recital.

On the program (or at least my part of the program) is the Mucyznski Flute Sonata, Telemann's Fantasia in G major, and The Boatman by Rhonda Larson (played on the baroque flute). It's been a crazy quarter of rehearsals, practices, and lessons. I'm so excited for this recital! 

I've recorded a few of my rehearsals, and I'll put this one up now. Any others will go up tomorrow.

enjoy! I'll be putting videos up from the recital next week!!!

It's been 10 days...

Since I wrote a post. I kept thinking I would write one after something else happened...clearly I've been a busy kid these past weeks!

This week I've been SUPER busy! My sorority, Tau Beta Sigma, is canvassing for Passion Works Studio this week. They lost over a million dollars in funding and they are hosting a cake auction and fight as a fundraiser. We've been all of the city of Athens this week, and it's been a lot of fun! (SN: If you are the owner of a business around Athens, OH and would like to donate a cake, please email me! Leave me a comment with your email and I'll send you one!!!) To learn more about Passion Works Studio and their AMAZING program, please visit Passion Work's Website!

I also had a theory midterm this week, my private teacher returned from Argentina, and a sight singing lab. I've been spending way too much time in the library. But it's Friday, and I've made it through the bulk of my week. As long as I can get through the next few hours I'll be okay. Tomorrow my mom is coming to visit and taking photos of my friend Elizabeth Klein and I for our recital posters! I'll put some online when I have them (and if it's alright with Liz).

I've also had some pretty "adult" moments this week. Last week I noticed my power steering fluid was leaking fast, and had to call a mechanic. I took it in on Monday, and was shocked to hear that I needed a whole new steering rack and a pressure hose. Other people with a '99 minivan might not be so shocked, but I had just had the power steering rack replaced. Within the past 6 months. Not a happy camper.

After a little digging around (though my parents did most of the digging around...) we found out that my part was under warranty, and I could get a new one for free. That brought my almost $700 bill down to about $340. Much better.

I think the reason I was so stressed about the cost of the part was that I wasn't going to be able to buy my new headjoint if I had to put $700 into my car. I was planning on ordering it that Monday, but ended up waiting until Tuesday when we found out the part was covered under warranty and my parents offered to pay for the remaining cost. Because of that, my new headjoint came yesterday and I love it! I ended up with a Powell 9k Aurumite venti cut. And it is fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__m4LNPhuts

I also got a chance to rehearse in the Recital Hall yesterday, which was great for trying out the headjoint, as well as checking in on my recital pieces. I was specifically concerned about Rhonda Larson's The Boatman. I'm playing it on a hall crystal flute and I was afraid it wouldn't have the same projection as my regular flute and that I would have problems with it in the hall. I was wrong. It sounded good. I still have some refining to do, but it's sounded good so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36m2SfUEQLg

Last night I attended a workshop on the Power Lung, held by Joan Sparks of Flute Pro Shop. It was really interesting. I've grown up with teachers who believed very strongly in the "Finger Breath", a technique used by Keith Underwood. The Power Lung is kind of a more advanced version of the finger breath. I really liked it. It's a machine that you breathe through, but it adds resistance to your inhale and exhale. It's used by athletes, musicians, and even in hospitals as a respiratory therapy tool. It's a really interesting device! Something that will probably be on my Christmas list!

Today is a new day...

Hi everyone!
Today is a new day and it's going surprising well. First, I got 11 hours of sleep last night. I don't normally do this--normally I try to get at least 8. But yesterday i just didn't feel good all day. Trying to practice seemed like a chore and I just couldn't seem to concentrate of anything for an extended period of time. It was raining and gross and I was tired. So, I slept. What a concept.

 In other news, my Miguel Arista head joint (once my prized possession), is officially in Belgium. For those of you who aren't in on this conversation, let me explain. When I was in 10th grade, my flute teacher suggested a new head joint to extend the amount of time I had before having to buy a new flute. He convinced my parents and I, and we purchased a Miguel Arista head joint straight from Miguel, made especially for me. I was ecstatic. I loved that head joint.

Fast forward a few years. Before college audition season, we had finally saved enough money for my Altus flute. I purchased this flute, and continued to use the Miguel Arista headjoint. I used it through my college auditions and into the first few weeks of college. But I wasn't getting the sound I wanted anymore. It started to lack a full upper octave. My embouchure was changing and it was noticeable. Since I still owned the Altus headjoint, I decided to try it out for a week. The change in sound was astounding. The upper register was full, the lower register was big, and everything in between was great. I started to use the Altus headjoint full time.

Fast forward a few months. While I love the sound I'm getting on the Altus headjoint, I know that there are more colors and timbres available to me through another headjoint. I decide I'd like to hear myself on gold. Since I live about an hour away from Flute World I decide to drag my best friend along (another flutist) and head up there to try out some headjoints. The process was surprisingly painless. I gave Karen my flute, told her my price range and that I wanted to hear myself on gold, and she brought in a half-a-dozen headjoints. They were all different makers, different cuts, different materials. I thought "What did I get myself into?" and started trying them out. The first one I tried I hated. Absolutely hated. Maybe this would be easier then I thought.

I tried the rest of them, and instantly fell in love with one. This headjoint, a Powell Aurumite 9K Venti cut, was perfect. It had the fullest low octave I've ever heard, the quickest response I've even felt, and was right in my price range. I decided I had driven an hour up there, and I shouldn't stop yet. I tried another half-a-dozen, and still wasn't wowed by any of them like I had been with the Powell. None came anywhere close.

While waiting for another round of headjoints, Flute World's owner, Shaul Ben-Meir came into my trial room. We chatted for a few minutes, discussing the headjoints I was trying. I told him I had fallen in love with the Powell. He handed me a used Drelinger and asked me to try it. I did, and knew I didn't like it. Then I played the Powell. Shaul agreed that the Powell really stood out from the bunch. My mind was basically set. I would sell my Arista and purchase the Powell.

The lucky thing about Miguel Arista headjoints is that they are hard to find. They are literally made by one man, in his garage/shop, and he only is able to produce a few dozen a year. It took me over a year to get some headjoints in to try. The waiting list in Europe is even longer. When I decided to sell my headjoint, I immediately posted an ad on a group "Flutes for Sale" on FaceBook. Within hours I had a buyer interested. He lived in Belgium, and wanted the headjoint. The fact that a man thousands of miles away was willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a headjoint he had never played really speaks to the reputation of Miguel Arista. After a few days of negotiation (and a few days getting price quotes for shipping) my headjoint was sold. After his money cleared in my bank, I shipped the headjoint out to Belgium.

The ability to ship items amazes me. I dropped my headjoint off around noon last Friday (September 16th). Today, the headjoint is being delivered. I feel so relieved that the headjoint is being delivered today. That means I can stop worrying about it's safety--I was nervous it would get lost! It also means I can start thinking about buying my Powell (which is on reserve for me at Flute World).

That was a longer story then I planned! If you've actually gotten this far, congrats. It was quite a read. And to reward you, here's a list of the trip my headjoint has taken...

Began:

• Athens, Ohio
• Columbus, Ohio
• Memphis, Tennesee
• Paris, France
• Machelen, Belgium
• Wilrijk, Belgium
• and finally, Berchem, Belgium

I tried to give you guys a map, but google maps and mapquest don't cover Belgium :( Sorry guys!!!

Shimmering Silver Audition/Masterclass reflections

Hey guys!
It's been a little while since I've written a post--this week was crazy! I had my first sight singing test of the quarter on Wednesday, and was so relieved that I aced it! I also had a lot of rehearsals, and two auditions for OU's flute quartet, Shimmering Silver,

My first audition was on Wednesday. That was the day I had my sight singing test (at 8am that morning), and also the day of my jazz combo rehearsal (7-9pm). Needless to say, I was kind of tired by the time my audition rolled around (12:30). Also, my best friend in the studio had just gone before me, and I was nervous to see how I would compare. I may have been nervous before we began, but once we started I felt at ease. Playing in chamber groups instantly puts me in my element. I felt calm and excited for the music we were playing (I was sight reading). But it was fun. I walked out of the room feeling alright--I had done my best.

After flute choir, Alison announced the results of the first round of auditions. Liz (my friend) had made it in, and I was one of two girls asked to re-audition for the final spot. I wasn't really planning on doing two auditions, but I was ok with it. I was glad to be asked back. The auditions were on Friday, and 2:30, and would take about 20 minutes.

Going into the audition on Friday, I felt good. The audition went smoothly, as planned, and nothing crazy happened. I felt in my element. I remained calm and was able to play with elegance and poise. The results would be sent via text message before large ensemble rehearsals (3pm). I got the text around 3:05, which announced that I had made it in! I was sooo excited to be performing in a group like Shimmering Silver, and felt like this was my year. Everything is going my way. Hopefully that continues for the rest of the year...

Today we had a masterclass with OU alum Ana Laura Gonzalez. It is always an honor to be asked to play for visiting artists, and I felt prepared. I played movement 4 of the Rouse Flute Concerto (Scherzo). It went alright--technically it could have been a lot better, but everything was ok. One of her first comments to me was that I needed to lighten up, be less serious, have more fun. This is something I've always had a problem with portraying in my playing. I'm known for being a "calm" musician. I don't show a lot of emotion, things are just nice and relaxed. Even outside of my playing, people describe me as "serious", "focused"...rarely does someone say that I'm giggly or light-hearted. With this movement, I can't be relaxed. I need to have FUN, show emotions, SELL IT. She worked on a lot of other things with me, but that was what really stuck. How do I make myself be less serious? That's something I'm going to have to work on this week. Prepare yourselves for a less serious Katelyn when I write my next post.

Large Ensemble Audition Results!!!

Large Ensemble results were posted Friday morning. Here are my standings:

I'm very pleased with my standings! I've been placed in two ensembles, which means I now have rehearsal every day. I can deal with that :) The only expectation I had for myself was to make Wind Symphony, so making Wind Symphony and Orchestra means I surpassed my expectation. That's all I can ask from myself. 

I'm still trying to figure out what happened in my audition. Like I said in "Audition Reflections", I had trouble focusing. I'm finding this problem to happen more regularly in classes and even when I'm talking with friends. A friend of mine suggested meditation each day. I think I'll start trying that out, especially before performances. 

Combo placements will be up this Monday, and I'm auditioning for Shimmering Silver (the flute quartet) on Wednesday. That will be my last audition for the quarter (for school, at least...). 

Heading out to the football game! Expect another post tonight to continue with my "College Search" series.

Gearing up for my recital...

So this quarter I'm sharing a recital with my friend, Elizabeth Klein (a fellow flutist) so this week I've been finalizing repertoire, determining a date, and running through our duet a few times. Here's what I'm playing:

Christopher Rouse, Flute Concerto:

Movement 4: Scherzo and Movement 5: Anhran

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CqvZ3Vs7Qg
(from 16:53 on)

Robert Muczynski, Flute Sonata

Movement 1, Allegro Deciso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4wUtc45Ya0&feature=related

Movement 2, Scherzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_IE2WwKiaE&feature=related

Movement 3, Andante
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x7WK1jIrUs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Movement 4, Allegro Con Moto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukumnn3hBoA&feature=BFa&list=UL3x7WK1jIrUs&lf=mfu_in_order

And lastly....

Rhonda Larson, The Boatman (on crystal flute)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ybaYNLoTWY

Together, Liz and I are playing Maya by Ian Clarke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa2MKCA9Kfk


I'm still a little overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done, and the length of time I have to do it. But I'll make it work, like always. I'm super excited to play the recital!!!