LFP 044 | Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Heart

Hey everyone it’s me Rebecca here for another episode of a learn flute podcast. This is episode 44 and today we are going to discuss how to get out of your head and into your heart.

Well hello again I am excited and thrilled that you are here again ready to listen and learn and join in on this new discussion which is designed to help you in your endeavor of learning how to play the flute. Not just learning how to play the flute, but learning how to play it well.

I know that it takes patience and effort as well as sequential instruction to really get good at this instrument. That’s why I am here to help you all along the way. I know exactly what it feels like to be someone journeying towards something we might think of as perfection and success in the musical world. The flute is one of those instruments that is just so beautiful not only in sound but even how it looks, that I’m sure it just sparks your desire to play it just as well.

The subject for today’s podcast has to do with learning how to get out of your head and into your heart when playing music.  I know that beginning flute players who are of a  more mature age tend to feel really impatient when it comes to not sounding musical. Young children seem not to care. They have grown up enough to recognize and feel different emotions and really want to learn how to exude that while playing their instrument.

But, as most brand new musicians are it doesn’t always come out so. In fact, it usually sounds kind of square and clunky at first not to mention the airy tone or bad pitch.  So, in order to find patience in learning there are a few things we have to understand.

First of all Rome was not built in a day. Haha I just had to use that one.  No but really. The cool thing about musicians is that each one learns how to play with emotion. It’s an important step for sure.

 When we practice- most of the time our heart is closed as our head is wrapped around trying to figure out what our body is supposed to be doing.  And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay because there are many steps that have to be taken in preparation to putting any emotion at all into music. Let’s go through the steps:

Number one step is to worry about the rhythm that is supposed to being played.

Step 2 is to worry about the notes and the exact fingerings that should be used.

Step 3 is where it’s time to look and focus on articulation and phrasing.  Without the previous steps here we can never get to number 4 which is to go ahead and add dynamics, vibrato, and all of the other elements it takes to sound emotional.

So, at what point can we start sounding like we are playing from the heart? Well assuming that we have fingering and tone in somewhat of a state of habit -that’s when we can turn our attention on to ‘how exactly are notes are being played. How are they being played, not just the fact that they are being played, but how?

In the lesson modules that I teach on learn flute online.com, inside the membership area I teach tools, tricks, systems, and skills necessary to this exact concept.  Let’s think about it today as a painter who holds a pallet full of many different colors. With this palette he is able to stand in nature and paint the most beautiful sunset or even a mountain scenery for example. 

If this painter only had one color on his palate it would be really difficult for him to put anything at all on his page on his canvas except one dimensional shapes or maybe a series of lines. The the same is true for a musician. The more colors, textures, and  styles the musician has on their pallet, different brushes and definitely different colors the more beautiful they can make their performance.

I have taught a lot of lot students. And I mean a lot. One thing I have noticed is that some people seem to wear their heart on their sleeves a lot more than others. What I mean by this is that some students are able to step over the line of education and suddenly play with certain skills that expand way beyond their learning level.  

If they’re feeling particularly joyous that day at their lesson they use skills like a more vibrant tempo and an excited sounding vibrato without me even having to tell them to. In the same way that they might come after their favorite pet dies and play Everything a little slower and a little mournfully.  Other students who struggle finding their emotions in everyday life tend to be the same ones that sound a little more monotonous in their music as well.

So, depending on which type of person you are- how can listening to this today help you?

Well, first of all- don’t fret at all if you are the more mellow, non-emotional type of person. The reason I say don’t worry about it is because you can be taught to tap into what you feel and desire. In the same way you can be taught to follow the markings of the music that are already there- placed carefully on the page for someone like you to follow directions so you can end up sounding expressive like the composer intended.

And, if you are the more emotional type of person- you should just be glad that you can tap into that even more quickly.

Let me put out a little caution here for you practicers out there, and it doesn’t matter what level we are all on- this goes for all of us. If we feel rushed, stressed, and in an impatient manner to get our practicing done, guess what we’ll sound like the whole time we are in our practice session? Yup, rushed, impatient, and kind of stressed. Now, think about your favorite radio stations – do you tune into them because you like the way the music sounds rushed, impatient and kind of stressed? 

Nope- I’m guessing not. You tune into those stations because they help you feel an emotion you are looking for. Haha, I am sure I’m not the only one who changes the station immediately if a song isn’t just doing it for me emotionally right then. If I want to relax, I want a slow pretty tune, and if I’m out for a jog, I need something positive and upbeat. I think you get the picture here. It’s a start anyway. More on this later!

Well, we will be diving deeper into this discussion in the lesson modules alongside the appropriate level you are learning. It’ll be fun! I hope you have time to come to Learn Flute Online and get a lesson today. I’ve made them just for you.

See you soon!