Are you stuck in a rut with your playing?

Breaking out of the Rut when you are playing.
              By Terry Mack, Intuitive player of the Native American Style Flute and Musical Explorer

Hello fellow musical explorers. Whether you are new to playing the flute or creating your own music and sound or a seasoned player there will be times when you simply get stuck and/or bored with your playing. Here are a few fun things to explore to change up your approach to playing. I always find it more fun to start with the concept of beginner mind when I explore my flute. It helps silence the critic that gets in the way.

For just one little minute or two, forget about making songs or learning to play other peoples songs and focus on getting to know your flute.

Let’s start with playing contrasting sounds and elements. Imagine the emotions that come you feel around some of these things and see if you can capture them with your flute. Remember, there is no right and wrong with this, just the simple joy and learning that comes from the exploration.

• Play light summer rain dripping off the trees
• Then play pounding rain drops bouncing off the pavement or a steel roof
• Capture the rustling of the leaves as breeze flows through the trees
• Connect to the sound of a fog horn
• Sense the flow of the brook flowing over rocks
• Imagine the dancing northern lights

While you are exploring these sounds you can begin to create sound stories. You can play short staccato notes, different rhythms, long flowing notes, notes that start with the softest of sounds and grow into full volume. Take a note up to its full volume and then just let in hang in the air for a split second.
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As you explore these fun little techniques they become part of your musical tools that begin to wind themselves into your playing. This type of musical exploration helps you to add texture, richness and depth to your playing.
Go ahead, give it a whirl and have fun with some joyful, musical exploration