Well..
I was nice and let my mom try my new flute this morning. I caught her after she got out of the shower - before she'd put on any makeup or lotion or anything else.. I told if you want to try, this is your chance. Hehe.
She... Finally remembered a full scale progression after about 10 minutes. Then she started talking about the 2SP and how it's really "her's" and this that and the other. Well, okay. She played for a couple years.. Took lessons. She went through most of the Rubank book series like I did.. But she never touches it otherwise, and hates playing in front of people. I think the last time she really played was around '99 or so. I, at least, have kept picking it back up over and over again, just not seriously until now.
She's adamant, though, that the 2SP belongs to her. I just told her.. It's mine.. You sort of owned it for awhile when you wanted to use it for lessons and you guys bought the stupid Belmonte trying to entice me away from my Gemeinhardt after you returned that used flute that didn't work. Why they bought a used flute from the store they did in the first place I'll never understand.. And why they decided to buy another student flute instead of upping mine and then letting her take the 2SP I will really never understand.
At any rate.. She played for 2-3 years.
And then I told her okay, if you're not going to play anymore I'm taking my Gemeinhardt back. She said sure, but if we ever play together I want to use it since I can't get a note out on the Belmonte like you can. Right, because the Belmonte springs an air leak if you so much as *think* about playing it. Actually, come to think of it.. It's probably a very good marching instrument.. Because who cares if it gets thrashed by the elements, right? :P It actually got rained on once when my band director in high school had a lapse in judgement on our DC/NYC trip one year. We were scheduled to perform outside. It was pouring down rain in DC. She made us play, in the rain with no cover, letting us and our instruments get soaked.
We were *not* happy.
So the 2SP has been mine again for the last 7 years.
I talked to my dad.. He wishes she really will pick the flute up again when she retires in two years.. So, with his help and blessing I'm going to have it overhauled next month. I don't *think* there are any more problems beyond the leak I took it in for on Thursday.. But I know it could stand to be totally serviced by a professional, as it really hasn't been serviced in a few years. Then.. I'm buying her a new basic duet book.. And giving her both the 2SP and the book for Christmas. Yes, I do need a spare flute. However, in this case, I think my mom needs the flute in a more symbolic sense than I need it as a spare.
Except.. She's not touching it until Christmas, because I have to hand my new one over to her in a few days. We negotiated. :/ I lost, mostly. Well, no.. Because then I did negotiate getting it back for a few days in December before Christmas. The week I owe the next $250 she agreed okay, you can use it then. Heh.
Too bad it looks so different from the 2SP.. And the foot joint is longer.. Otherwise I'd try switching them so my new one was in the case for the old one. hahaha
Yeah, that wouldn't work. :P
Okay, I'm way late to be up in my lab now. I goofed off for, uh, way too long this morning playing.
I will say this before I run - it feels incredibly good to be getting back in touch with not only my instrument itself, but the flute community at large. I honestly can't beleive I've forgotten how much I enjoyed actively playing and being involved in all this.
Now to get back up to speed. :D
You guys have been awesome, thank you for your comments/suggestions/replies. I really appreciate it!
