Congratulations to Week Nine Student of the Week – Alyssa Collins.  11 year old Alyssa has worked hard over the last few weeks to improve her scales in preparation for her Grade Two exam at the end of the year.  Alyssa has also been working this term on a quite difficult piece – one that she thought she would never have a chance of being able to play.  This is Vivaldi’s Spring from The Four Seasons which Alyssa really loves.  With consistent work and attention to all the details, it is well on the way to sounding like the real thing.  There are some fast high note runs that turned out to be just the top octave of F Major scale, although they looked much scarier on the page!  Suddenly practising scales seemed to have a purpose!  Alyssa has even practised these runs using harmonics, an advanced technique.  Alyssa seems to like Baroque music as she has now chosen some more Vivaldi pieces to learn for her exam.  I’m impressed by Alyssa’s perseverance and the way she is able to articulate to me what she likes about the music she chooses to learn.  I’m looking forward to an interesting musical journey with you over the next few years, Alyssa!  Well done!            

Student of the Week for Week Six is Caitlin Power – a fine example of someone who works quietly and consistently, playing the flute for her own enjoyment and sense of achievement.  Caitlin began lessons with me when she was 8 years old and in Year 2 at school, and has completed exams as far as Grade 7 Flute and Grade 3 Theory.  Now 23 and a full-time member of the workforce, Caitlin attends lessons fortnightly and continues to work on refining her tone, technique and rhythm.  Caitlin takes on challenging repertoire, including a project to work through the entire book of Boehm studies, as well as advanced level pieces and duets.  We are looking forward to her performing the Gaubert Romance and a Mercadante duet at the next Top Notes Music Studio Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Concert.

Student of the Week for Week Five is Anish Joseph.  I have selected Anish this week because he has shown a commitment to incrementally improving and refining his flute playing technique over the last year.  Over the last few weeks Anish has mastered the technique of detache (a French word which simply means ‘detached’)  This will enable him to play with a lighter, bouncier sound that comes from using more diaphragm support, and in turn helps to reduce tension in the arms and fingers.  Working on technique requires discipline and intelligent, focused use of practice time.  This is essential to Anish, because in addition to his flute lessons he is also preparing for his Grade 7 Piano exam in May, and his Grade 5 Theory exam.  Anish is a Year 8 student who has a significant commute to and from school each day, and also plays a lot of sport, so he has  a very busy schedule.  Anish is also hoping to compete in an Eisteddfod or two later on in the year with his flute.  Keep up the good work Anish!

Student of the Week for Week Four is awarded to Year 8 student, Caitlin Handel.  Caitlin attends a performing arts high school and is one of three flute players in a flute ensemble at school.  At her second lesson this year she brought along an arrangement of the famous Hallelujah Chorus, by her namesake Georg Frederic Handel.  Caitlin had been given the First Flute part which is quite challenging, requiring a lot of reading of notes up to four leger lines above the stave – and remembering all the fingerings!  No mean feat for a student who has only just completed Grade Two.  Caitlin has impressed me with the amount of effort she has put into learning her part over the last two weeks.  She is now able to play it quite fluently, and also to identify where there are uncertainties in the ensemble at school.  Last lesson we worked on a difficult spot, with myself and another student playing the second and third parts, and Caitlin’s Mum recorded it on her iPad for Caitlin to practise with at home.  What a great team effort by all concerned!

Student of the Week for Week Two is awarded to Emma Wilkinson.  Emma is in Year 8 and has been learning flute since she was in Year 3.  Emma started private lessons at Top Notes Music Studio 18 months ago.  In 2015 Emma did both Grade 1 and Grade 2 Flute exams, and passed both with Honours.  She is now preparing for Grade 3 in May 2016.

 Emma is a very organised and conscientious student and comes to every lesson with her assigned work completed.  She has markers in all her books so she knows exactly what she is supposed to be working on.  But what is most impressive about Emma is that she remembers to work on those difficult technique issues that require constant awareness when practising.  Emma has made great strides improving her hand positions, and working on a more relaxed embouchure with the result that she is now discovering a fantastic big sound she never knew she had!  I am very excited by the possibilities that will now open up for Emma in her playing.  Congratulations Emma!