Here is a video response to my Karg-Elert video on youtube posted by Italian flutist Alesandro Palazzani. It makes my day to see that someone has learned a new piece after watching one of my video performances. That is exactly the essence of the REAL FLUTE project!

VIEWER COMMENTS

“I started studying [the Karg-Elert 30 Caprices] with Willoughby at Peabody.  After I played the first one at my first lesson (at 7 A.M.), he asked if I had prepared the second, as well.  So the next week, I prepared two, and when I finished those he asked if I had prepared the next one.  This went on for two more weeks, at which point I was killing myself trying to prepare 5 etudes a week in addition to the rest of my repertoire.  When he asked for another one, I finally broke down in frustration and asked, "how many of these do you expect me to learn in a week?"  He just smiled and said, "just one, but I wanted to see how many you would do if I kept asking."  I loved that guy.  I basically learned how to phrase on those etudes.  They are so intellectual and abstract (if not the most pleasant listening, generally).  You really have to WORK to make them sound like music.”

                                                                                                                                Alison Potter