I just lost a competition today, see? told ya, American scholars music doctors they like projection and open sound more than everything!

They said my

tone - good
musicality - good and creative
technique - dexterity in fingering and tonguing

BUT not projective and I need to open the sound more, loosen up more the sound, forget everything else (I guess they mean forget the intonation and tone?)

And they said my Bach needs more dynamics? but my teacher (European scholar)said no way!



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And they don't like some part where I "used French Vibrato"! What is French Vibrato????

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even if I vibrato-ed in their so called "French Vibrato", so what? They are French flute pieces for crying outloud! Don't they know Gaubert and Widor are french? I will never study music in USA - I swear with my life.

Please can you analyze my videos before the competition? (competition didn't allow video taking, sorry, I actually played better than these videos during competition, and the hall was changed to good accoustic hall)

Bach Partita:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMF5PGfexzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyplDhnBLIY

Gaubert's Nocturne et Scherzando:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csN9izZayaI

Widor 4th final:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tv2l3IDRn4

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feel free to critique, I can take it, and to make sure the scholars are wrong, I have lots of problem, but not just the openness of the sound. :(

I don't think music "scholars" and "doctors" necessarily have opinions that you should follow -- especially long distance. Listen instead to people who can actually hear you LIVE (not on YouTube, with its poor sound reproduction). This means that you should follow advice from your local flute teacher(s) and other local flutists whom you respect. They can listen to you and give you advice on how to increase your "projection."

I think you are depending TOO MUCH on advice and input from people around the world who can't know what your tone quality really sounds like. If you've met a teacher or flutist who heard your sound live in person, that's fine. If people are giving you advice only via the Internet or email, that's not fine.

Just my opinion...

I see, you're right, thank you so much travel2165. I relied too much on international help over internet in the past 4 years.

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you are also right! I shouldn't trust what the music doctors said!! They seem to don't know many things about flute.

the problem with music competitions is this, it's not who is best, it's who the judges SAY are the best, and they argue behind the scenes, I know I did with other judges at a competition I was a judge for in Taiwan...so you are always dealing with opinions, not objectivity...if you had 3 different judges, maybe the result is different..some competition winners have no careers now, some who came in 3rd or 4th have great careers...don't forget who the real judge is...the audience

That's so comforting, thank Patrick.

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oh Patrick, my online teacher, you are not answering me on facebook, can you advice me on K314, 4 days left now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axrDOIhmsTs

OK, will do...you will do fine, you are very gifted

Thanks Patrick!

To please the American music doctors, I've changed my tonal colour to brighter tones.

Also, about the Mozart K314 tempo. My pianist used 120 (in the video), she said it's safer for me. Normally orchestras use 140-144, Pahud used 138-144 when he was here. I think 128-132 is good, because 144 is too fast & risky, and 120 is a bit slow and boring, what do you think?

What tempo would a American scholar and a trumpet player & music doctor like? American people like slow or fast? thanks.

try to remember that the USA has a population of 300 million, that means there are many different flute teachers and we are a nation of immigrants, so there are teachers here from europe, asia, south america, etc...

the general rule I try to follow is this...if you play cleanly and expressively, the piece will sound faster..when I practice Mozart, I practice the fast movements twice as slow to capture the character so that, when played rapidly, I can keep that nice friendly character

Please tell us exactly what you mean by the term "music doctor." Just wondering!

I have a Ph.D. in music, but I don't consider myself to be a "doctor."

Well I think you are also fine and gifted thats why I gave up the Classical venue , to stuffy to limited . I needed to do my own music my own expression and I am happier from this experience . I wanted to be the best and the ego that follows is the competition with your peers. I was sick of this and I found out that people liked my music so that was good enough for me . I played one time and did circular breathing at a competition and was told that it was wrong to do that ? So anyway don't let it get to you you are very talented just believe in yourself !

Doug

I see, thank you Patrick!

sorry, Music Doctor means Doctor of Music, they have Dr. in front of their names.

yes, competitions wear us players out. But without winning competitions, most players don't get many chances, and nothing to write in our CV. LangLang, Pahud, and Galway got their first chances by winning the local competitions.

what you said about competitions is somewhat true, but, since competitions only have one winner (not too many remember second place)most musicians have to build a career through hard work and determination

Pahud got an orchestral job very early as did Galway, so if they had not won those competitions, they would still have great careers...