How To Make Difficult Music EASY - Stravinsky Firebird Variation - Flute Tube 41

Your problems are SOLVED! All music will now be easy to play!
Well... we will make some things easier today 😊
Here are three strategies we discuss to make difficult music easier:
1. Use your practice tools (metronome, tuner, abacus, organizing time and practicing with discipline)
2. Become an expert in all available fingerings, and employ them as needed and appropriate
3. UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR MIND!
We will demonstrate these techniques looking at the Firebird Variation flute excerpt today. THEN GO PRACTICE!
If this information is useful, entertaining, or helps you kill some time at the dentist's office, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, leave a comment, share, etc.
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[@AprilClaytonflute]

Another "power of the mind" trick I mentioned to my students in flute class last night: this is so much easier the SECOND time you play it. Often in masterclasses I'll have students play it, then say: play it again, right now. It's so much easier for everyone the second time around! We always do better. So while it's a hard mind trick to manage.... tell yourself "I've already played this. I'm going to play it now for a SECOND time." See if you can take some pressure off of yourself that way.

[@ashleybest3638]

I'm kicking myself for not watching this earlier! I've been so frustrated with Firebird and your tips and tricks--especially using the power of my mind--definitely eases the practicing burden. Thank you!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

It can definitely be frustrating to learn a trick or two and then realize everything could have been easier in practice sessions.... glad this is helpful!

[@danielwoodfield8772]

I know this is a small thing, but it was really nice to hear you play the excerpt at the end at full tempo. You demonstrated beyond a doubt that playing music fast but polished never sounds "rushed."

[@AprilClaytonflute]

How nice, thanks for the comment!

[@hadleyholman8210]

Loving the grace note trick! Those mental shifts work MAGIC.

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Yes! Amazing how much easier things can be just changing how we see them.

[@CM-go5nh]

That low E to middle E trick you shared is LIFE CHANGING. Thank you so much 😭

[@AprilClaytonflute]

You're so welcome, glad it was helpful!

[@kayaviola]

I love this piece and you sound amazing!!! Bravo!!!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thanks! Yes, Firebird has received many hours of both listening and playing time from me, especially in high school 😊

[@kylenchristensen8311]

Thank you!! These are all such great tricks

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Glad you think so!

[@camrynporter2903]

I haven't played the Firebird excerpt yet, but I'll come back to this video when I do! In the meantime, I'm going to invest more time into finding tricks before I start so I don't get frustrated with difficult passages.

[@CarolruizNlpiano]

This piece is amazing! You sound really amazing too

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thanks so much! It's a great and crazy piece... who would think to write for a wind section like this?? 😃

[@CarolruizNlpiano]

@@AprilClaytonflute great and crazy! Perfect 👌

[@ViolinHobby]

Wow April, what a tough piece to play on the flute I love the firebird. It's so cool that you made it sound easy and fun to play.👍👍👍🤩

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thank you so much!

[@katehunt8029]

I doubt I'll ever be called on to play this but it's so useful to hear about the finger tricks. I'll certainly try them out with my other pieces. Thanks again for the lively and lovely videos.

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thanks for the comment! It's always good to learn more tricks, but who knows... maybe there's some Firebird Variation in your future! 🔥 🦅

[@rhiannabrunson1415]

Yes! Terraced metronome practice has saves me so much time and wrist agony this semester!

[@Violinna]

Goodness I haven't seen Dr. Beat in so long! That is a monstrous excerpt. One thing that translates for string players as well is to not be obsessed over the same difficult fingerings year after year. It's so great to discover little "hacks"

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Haha yes, I like to keep old friends like Dr. Beat around! 😆

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Cool to hear the similarities in approach between different instruments - thanks for commenting!

[@paigelayton4134]

awesome tricks. Even though I am not currently practicing this, I can use these tricks on other pieces as well!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Yep! And you'll be working on this one day!

[@oliviatobler4234]

This is so helpful! I cannot wait to use this to help me learn it. Thanks!! :)

[@AprilClaytonflute]

It's always good to find a few tricks... 😊

[@ashleytingey27]

These tricks really have made this feel attainable. Especially RH4 and the 2nd trill key. Thank you for reminding me about paradigm shifts!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

YES! Totally attainable!!

[@sarahjohnson6783]

Thanks for putting all these helpful hacks in one place! The 2nd trill key on E octaves is very helpful as well as the intonation trick for the last trill. And the terraced metronome reminder is always great!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Sometimes I do alternate fingerings for pitch in other places, as well. Depends on the context where I'm playing it too, of course. Have fun!

[@MichaelWHull]

Great great great content!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thanks so much!

[@_luisestevam]

April, thanks a lot for all the information and great content that you're sharing with us! Greetings from Brazil!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thanks for watching!

[@NadiaViolin]

great! watching!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thank you! Cheers! 🥂

[@NadiaViolin]

Amazing 🤩 enjoying your channel today 💞

[@jillianrawlins8334]

Thank you for a great video! I love all the tips and tricks and I'm definitely using them in this excerpt!! Our brains are so powerful!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

It's true - so much of what we do is using our brains for problem solving, not just training muscles. Glad it's helpful!

[@ViolinLessons]

Amazing performance!!!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Glad you think so!

[@ramon1vicent]

Great job 👏🏻

[@NadiaViolin]

very nice!

[@NadiaViolin]

amazing!

[@dianadesaiflutestudio7958]

Love your videos!

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Thanks so much!

[@poink9]

👏👏👏🙏

[@OrnyLeoASMR]

Helloooo