In June last year, while attending a concert in Madrid, I decided to learn to play flute. It took me a few months to order a flute, then to squeeking out a few notes and finding a teacher. I decided to try online classes. It was when I returned from Burning Man that I really picked up the instrument to start learning in earnest. After a week or two learning only the most basic notes (B, A G, C) I attempted to learn one of my favorite pieces - Ode to Joy.
September 1: Learning flute in earnest
September 14: Attempt Ode to Joy
September 18: Attempt Get Lucky by Daft Punk
It was also in September that I composed my first little phrase. A little G sharp, F sharp, A thing.
In October, I got distracted with some new activities and didn't practice non-stop like in September. But I continued, learning more notes and fingerings. During all of this, I kept practicing Ode to Joy. I love Ode to Joy because of Clockwork Orange. I would practice this piece under my screenprint of Alex and think of the movie and Europe. This was a difficult piece because of the C to D fingerings. I hadn't officially learned these so I figured it out on my own. I also had to teach myself low D - which was very hard - I'm only now able to play well.
In November, I started to learn some Christmas Music and one of my second favorite tunes: the Theme to Brazil. It's used in the movie Brazil. This was a difficult piece because of the low D. But in one night the piece went from squeeking to recognizable. Then I started working on Minuet in G.
November 3: Theme to Brazil & Minuet in G
From here I went back to the main online lessons and practice. This included a lot of G and C scales. High note practice. At the end of 2014 I moved, and my practice decline although I continued working on Minuet in G.
Once settled into my new place in January, my ELO obsession expanded. I found sheet music to Eldorado and began on that. I did quite well with the first part of Minuet in G, and practiced low note scales, so Brazil and Ode to Joy sounded much better. Since the very beginning, I wanted to play the guitar intro to Laredo Tornado. It's one of my favorite ELO songs and I could really imagine it on flute. But I couldn't find any sheet music - only guitar chords - and nothing for the intro. I had no idea how to make sheet music for the flute from the guitar and I didn't yet have the ear to identify the notes.
But one day, in two hour impromptu practice session, I transcribed the notes for that guitar intro by ear. And that was a magical day. It was the day I transcribed my first notes by ear, and it was a phrase I wanted to play for years: Laredo Tornado's guitar intro.
Feb 4: Guitar Intro to Laredo Tornado on Flute
Five months after I started playing, I'm able to play two of my favorite pieces (Ode to Joy and Brazil) and I've transcribed by ear the Laredo Tornado guitar intro for flute. In doing that, I learned so much about music. I can't wait to transcribe for flute my other favorite pieces.
I'd also like to note that I'm currently attempting Canon in D. My sight reading is not too bad. My fingers can't keep up right now, but for easier pieces (like not Canon in D) I look at the music and then start playing.
I'm getting quite well with the low notes, and with Minuet in G, I am getting better with the high notes. Canon in D though, well, I know it's going to be challenging. But I like challenging. It makes practice fun.
I'm really amazed by myself. I have always loved music, but never thought I could compose or create it myself. I still have a clear picture of myself in that Madrid concert hall - watching the orchestra and picking out the flutist. And thinking, when I get back to the states, I think I'll start learning flute. Eldorado indeed!