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Dear Guests, Welcome to my blog which I treat like a creative garden where I regularly plant and change this and that be it poetry, philosophy, an Oboe Brilliance lesson, an essay of some kind, or a journal about composing. Visit every Monday for oboe coaching which is also helpful for many melodic instrumentalists. Musically yours, Kathryn
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"How do you compose?" That is the most commonly asked question I hear.
This blog is a window into my creative process and philosophies as a composer and instrumentalist. At times it may contain music, photos, and poetry as well. May you enjoy, return, and benefit!   My Archives  September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009
Poem: Save the Moon
Oboe Brilliance update unaccompanied solo commission special Monday Black Cat Waltz/commission special Sounds and Emotional Health Oboe Brilliance: Technical Elegance lesson #1 "Leap Frog" Monday Trick or Treat Waltz Oboe Brilliance intonation lesson # 5 C Major Monday encouragement and patience Tears of Contrition Oboe Brilliance intonation lesson # 4 Monday Thinking and happiness September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 |
Save the Moon
Amidst distant stars invisible waters indifferent air passing traffic and weightless feet she descends no echoing in her breast no flicker in her eyes no witness to torn clothing, caked blood, or purpling of bruises save the moon with her deafening flag now the mermaids hear the tides screaming © Kathryn Potter 2009
Dear Guests,
I continue to work on Oboe Brilliance, and it continues to evolve. I'm composing many pentatonic melodies and duets, modal and odd scale melodies, fantasias, suites, chromatic melodies that are long and short, a tonal melodies, plus more duets. All for oboists beginning up to and including virtuosic players. Also, lessons in technical elegance, artistic liberation, and mentoring techniques/philosophies. When I am well again (down with the flu today), I will post a chromatic low Bb to high F scale for intonation work as a continuation of technical elegance which will be up with the other mp3s for Oboe Brilliance on the music page. Musically yours, Kathryn PS (Realistically, I plan on having Oboe Brilliance completed in a year from now.)
Unaccompanied Solo Manuscript Special limited offer until 12/30/09
Dear Musicians and Musician Lovers, Right now I’m offering a commission special from now until the last day of the year. You, or a musician you adore, can receive a custom unaccompanied solo manuscript for only $225 per “real time” performance minute to be received by or before the June 1st 2010. This could be the ideal gift for any instrumental playing lover for either: 1) private playing pleasure 2) performing and/or recording 3) competing 4) honoring/celebrating/recognizing/thanking the individual musician I would LOVE to compose a solo piece specifically for an individual musician for either just one minute, or up to and including 30 minutes. In order to make a custom composition very special and ideal, the following questions would need to be answered: 1) What instrument? 2) What playing level? (It’s most helpful to have the composer and title of a piece within the player’s current ability.) 3) What is the intended purpose? 4) How would you describe the musician? (likes and dislikes of food, places, animals, books, movies, art, musical styles, hobbies, subjects of interest, colors worn, former Halloween costumes, etc) I hope to hear from you or someone you know who'd welcome this opportunity. Musically Yours, Kathryn
Dear Guests,
I write and post a poem for my enjoyment/edification, and I share it with the hope it will be of value to you as well. Musically yours, Kathryn Today's poem is dedicated to Hashim since it's his birthday and I'm glad he was born. Blue Road deep sky into silence hide cloud bright out of echo shine moonlight into sound find creatures green toad die turtle island out of balance blue road © Kathryn Potter 2009
Dear Guests, By buying the Black Cat Waltz on the music page, and by filling out the form on the home page by or before November 23rd, I can (most eagerly) create a custom mp3 of about 6, give or take a minute, minutes of an electronic sounds sculpture specifically for a special animal. This is a special limited time holiday music offer.
Music for an animal will be different then that for the pet's human mind you. Imagine, what does a bird benefit/enjoy hearing? How does the sound influence the mood and behaviour of a cat? I live with 2 cats, grew up with many many dogs, have cared for wounded birds, and healthy fish. I would be honored to create something special for a magnificent friend, housemate, fellow pilgrim/adventurer, companion that is an animal. I commit to do so with the utmost respect and sensitivity to the animal. I LOVE animals. We are most fortunate to co- exist with them! Musically yours, Kathryn
Dear Guests,
I believe that the sounds we hear influence our emotional health. I believe that our physical health and mental health is greatly influenced - if not the determined - by our emotional health. When composing a large work, or an involved work which takes considerable time, I know my health is influenced by the emotional quality of the work itself. Historically, in my 20's, when ever I dwelled on emotionally painful expressions, my health suffered. My composition teacher brought this to my attention and said that the same was true for her. Take that a step further, the music I practice, prepare, perform certainly influence my overall well being. I don't think that I am alone or unique in this regard! Most people would agree, I think, that the music played at a party influences the party. Store owners, restaurant owners, etc, tend to be mindful about the atmosphere music creates and it's effect on customers. Movie music - .... and etc. Animals are not immune to the effects of music either. Think of all the studies done on lab mice and music. Astounding consequences within mice. Hmmm, I'd love to compose music for animals. Do you have a pet? Does someone you love have a pet? You know, you could commission me to create an electronic sounds sculpture for people pets. (That's it, I'll post something about that on my home page in just a few.) Okay, lullabies. (Right now there is a lullaby on the music page, and tonight in honor of the global dream project, I've put up "Dead Sea Nocturne" which can be used as a lullaby. Also, "Flying with Ravens into the Night" is actually a lullaby. So, it's no secret that people deliberately use music to influence states of being. It is a joy to receive a commission to compose music for a specific purpose. I love to design music and to craft it like a potion, tonic, (oh - no pun intended @_@) elixer, meal, or medicine, for someone.I've certainly done that for myself which I find very helpful. I'm happy to do that for others. Thank you for visiting and all the best! Musically yours, Kathryn
Dear Guests, Today's blog is valuable read for all instrumentalists. Enjoy! Musically yours, Kathryn
Oboe Brilliance: Technical Elegance – practice technique lesson # 1 “Leap Frog” There are so many wonderful practice techniques. For lesson # 1, I am simply writing out the technique I used today. Today after a lot of endurance playing, I wanted to keep playing without using incorrect muscles or compromising my embouchure in order to not stop playing so I used the “Leap Frog” technique. The “Leap Frog” technique is to play every other measure, or every other phrase, or every other specified measurement which is predetermined somehow. When I leap frog when playing alone, I imagine the written sounds in rhythm when I am not playing. This is an excellent way to develop stronger ears and reading skills. By playing every other X length of time, I am able to stretch out my playing time. I find this valuable when I am returning to playing after being sick, when I am breaking in a hard reed, or when my lips are ready to fall off after a lot of playing! I also find is extremely helpful when I am working on very demanding passages filled with notes requiring great dexterity as a way to increase my playing speed and to master the finger techniques. A word of caution however, is to watch out for side and necessary alternate fingerings while employing this technique. One way to guarantee that you are using the correct fingerings with this technique is to finger the last note of the silent leap frog passage, and to finger the first note of the next. (I had to do that today as d# and g# were everywhere!) “Leap Frog” btw, is also an invaluable mentoring tool. I use it all the time in my lessons with students. We will leap frog phrases, or measures, or segments as we take turns playing through a piece. Students and I find this to be serious fun, and I find it to be an extremely efficient way to teach a variety of levels to a piece. After playing through a piece leap frog, we will almost always repeat, alternating what we did and didn’t play. It’s actually become a joke to decide who’s “odd” and who’s even, in my studio. Leap frog helps in keeping the correct tempo when working on a demanding piece. I’ve found that when I play every other measure, I can play the measures I do play faster, than if I’m playing the measures consecutively. This technique helps me play the measures faster consecutively in less practice time. This technique also helps me stay out of “automatic pilot” and be more tenacious with my concentration to each measure. Leap frog with a student is fantastic to use with students who get “squirrely” and tend to rush or get sloppy, or raise the pitch biting down more and more as the piece continues. An advanced form of “Leap Frog” can be used to specify style of playing for every other X length of time. For example, #15 of Vade Mecum, odd measures staccato and even measures portato, or odd measures pp, and even measures ff, etc. Have fun playing! Kathryn Potter © 2009
Cattywhompus Flickering dripping coppery leaves Purring kitten knitting Scotch Canonic pop sparks dazzling darkness Sunny compost kitchen thieves © Kathryn Potter 2009
Dear Guests,
The "Trick or Treat Waltz" is a short piece which I composed today for a gifted 6 year old piano student named Thomas Carter. With the exception of the last beat, and a few pinky stretches, the hands stay in one position with the understanding that there is chromatic work - which this student loves. He also enjoys attention to articulation detail and dynamic detail which is also an integral part of the piece making it more fun. This is composed in celebration of his first 100 practice hour accomplishment. Congratulations Thomas! Musically yours, Kathryn P.S. (This piece is up on the music page. Look for the black cat image which I use to depict waltzes.)
Dear Guests,
Wednesday's blog is devoted to Oboe Brilliance. Right now, the focus is on intonation which is a portion of the "Technical Elegance" book of Oboe Brilliance. Today I have put up a kind of drone mp3 on the music page for intonation use. You can click and play so you can hear the mp3 off the computer for working, and/or you can buy it for just a dollar to keep, have hold, cherish, in good intonation and reed days and in bad... from this day forth... This drone provides you consistently with C, then G is added. Later a descending C Major scale, then ascending C Major scale are added for specific pitch intonation work. Remember: good posture double "O" embouchure fast focused supported air stream stay "open behind the mask" move pitch sharp and flat to discover your range of flexibility and to listen carefully to where exactly you are in the center of the pitch Feel free to improvise with this and other drones. Today, in this lesson, I encourage you to rediscover your dynamic range with C in different octaves, as well as G, also in different octaves. Have fun! Musically Yours, Kathryn
Rhapsodic Journey
Take my hand I know the way Across cracking thinning ice Beyond abundant aggravation Silence Freeze dried Quickly now Closer still Almost there! The far off shore We arrive Finally together Years later A bon fire crackling Celebrating our arrival Melting last ice Finishing tenacious thaw We drink water Zippy flavors We smack our lips Fire light reflected dancing in eyes Smiling muse Rhapsodic journey Spinning music Take my hand © Kathryn Potter 2009
Dear Guests,
I'm reflecting upon others who have exhibited patience and steadfastness now as I need a boost of encouragement myself. Many years ago, I lived with a cellist who fell apart one day. She had minored in music and was in her 20's at the time. I came home and she was in a puddle of tears because try as she might, she never played well enough to get gigs or accepted into an ensemble. Frankly, I wasn't surprised because her playing was very sloppy. Although she practiced all the time, her habits were poor and she reinforced poor playing techniques. She was down to her last bit on savings and fortunately she was able to recognize how she needed to shape up and pull herself and her playing together. She kept her determination and her perseverance. She left behind her sloppy playing by rebuilding her relationship with playing the cello. Slowly, methodically, pain stakingly, day after day, she re created her playing and transformed herself into a pathetically sloppy, out of tune, reckless player, into a sensitive, in tune, accurate and expressive performer with gigs and money in the bank. It didn't happen overnight and there was so much competition with superb cellists in the Bay Area, but she kept her chin up, befriended, encouraged and supported other cellists while she daily worked thoughtfully and well at fixing her playing. After a few months of amazing determination, her playing started to sound lovely and she had opportunities to substitute for her cello buddies, which opened up more doors and opportunities for her. Snow ball effect.... I was fortunate to witness this process of sheer determination with purpose and method behind her seemingly impossible task. Next, I remember a student I had several years ago who was a retired minister in his late 60's. He decided at the age of 68 (or so) to pick up and learn to play the flute. He had always wanted to be a musician but was discouraged to pursue that wish. (side note) He and I had a very good raport because I would joke around with him saying things like, "Wonderful, now, let's put that minister's hot air to some good use!" He loved it and told me that since he was a minister, people wouldn't act natural around him. They be on their best behaviour and not treat him like a normal person. He struggled to remember anything. So many times I'd teach him how to finger the same note in one lesson, then the same note in another lesson and I wondered if he was beyond hope and I started to feel guilty about taking his tuition. After a couple of months, he began remembering how to play the notes. His wife told me that he practiced about 5 minutes EVERY hour of the day (and it was driving her crazy) but he was SO determined to play. Within about 4 months, he was playing hymns and other music he liked. Then, he was royally frustrated about not being more expressive with his playing. He FELT the music, but there seemed to be a disconnect between his heart and what he played and felt so upset because he believed himself to "not have it". I was ferocious in my conviction that if you can feel it or imagine it, you CAN play it and that a good teacher can bring that out in a player. Since he was a retired priest, I figured that he was well versed in the various bible characters, so I had him select a piece of music he liked and told him to secretly select one of the following three characters and play the piece like that character would sing it. He did, and I could tell which one he chose and told him. We kept doing this, and he learned to be expressive pretending to express a different character. So, now, when I need more patience to achieve some of my musical and personal goals, I am reminded of these stubborn people. "Where there is a will there is a way". "If you can dream it you can achieve it." Now I patiently, methodically, and stubbornly move forward. Musically yours, Kathryn
Dear Guests,
"Tears of Contrition" is a title for one of the electronic sounds sculptures I have created this year. I think it is the most sincere of all my works as it conveys various levels I feel. It depicts my internal landscape which contains wonder, beauty, intensity and despair. It's an internal landscape, or sonic snap shot of emotional self portrait at a certain time in my life. It certainly isn't how I feel ALL the time! Like a garden, my emotional landscape is different every minute, but it is a picture of my emotional garden on a given day. That's all I care to say now. Thank you for visiting. Musically yours, Kathryn
Oboe Brilliance: intonation lesson # 4
© Kathryn Potter 2009 Like most Oboe Brilliance lessons, this one is a continuation of the preceding lessons. Using the techniques of the previous lessons, now practice with the A Flat Major Scale drone. This drone, like the others is available on the music page of my website and has the image of the white flower. This drone is designed to be more useful in practicing intonation with all the notes in the major scale. I’ve found that getting the A flat and the G in tune require extra attention and practice. Remember to use a double O embouchure, a fast supported air stream, and to practice very slowly while listening carefully. Playing in tune is like aiming a bull’s eye and in order to hit the target of playing in the center of the pitch, careful and consistent aim is imperative. As an oboist, the considerations of the constantly changing reed and the endurance of the individual embouchure keeps influencing the pitch, so even if great intonation is achieved in the first 5 minutes of warm ups, no oboist can safely assume that stellar intonation is a given for the rest of the playing period. If playing in an ensemble, it is best to tune oneself to the lowest pitched instrument of the ensemble which is hopefully in tune! Enjoy your practice. Musically Yours, Kathryn Potter
Dear Guests,
Here is a poem from late October last year for your enjoyment. Musically yours, Kathryn Love prosaic # 3 Tonight – glowing jack o lanterns Painted faces like animals, spirits, and monsters oh my! Neighborhood lawns in orange light, eclipsed by silhouetted angels and fairies Shuffling fleet, rattling candy bars, giggling children, rustling leaves, waving flashlights Temporary tombstones, plastic fingernails, whistle rings, wax harmonicas Nylon spider webs and battery driven thunder and lightning, maybe a cackle or two Long coarse white and black wigs with unintended red and golden leaf bits Candy corn, cracker jacks, bazooka bubblegum, skeletons, and witches – oh and pirates with parrots Once a year tipsy soothsayers dunking for apples at the late night party Tomorrow – All souls day Renegade witches hat neglected somewhere Palmistry book on tile floor Barren trees – oh look a raven Gray skies Some apple cider Cinnamon Leaf pile under the oak tree of leathery oak leaves and golden with blood dipped crimson maples And Romeo, the immortal matted stray black cat with yellow eyes belting out his love aria to the full moon time and again Year round, our reminder of behind the veil (C)Kathryn Potter 2008
Friday Philosophy Blog Oct. 2nd 2009
Thinking and happiness © Kathryn Potter 2009 I’ve just been reading a lot about happiness, and thinking about it. What is it? Is it the ability to feel joy, and enjoy life? Well, I think that’s at least part of it. Happiness is a sensitive subject for me. I have experienced depression, trauma, fear, grief, despair, and unhappiness on the ONE hand. Fortunately, I have also experienced happiness, joy, ecstasy, bliss, one with it all, optimism, and open hearted in the universe sublime love. I think that emotions are like colors and the emotions of our life comprise the color of the shapes and forms of our own “Life’s portrait”. I think that our habitual attitude can make a huge difference in how much frustration or appreciation we experience in our day to day life. I think one’s attitude makes most but not all the difference in how we color the shapes in our life so to speak. But life comes with it's own colors too, not just the ones we pick! There are "unhappy colors" and sometimes we can only handle seeing so much of a certain color. We can train our eye to see other colors existing at the same time however, and discover our ability to paint as well. (Phew, and thereby influence.) I do not blindly subscribe to this pervasive belief that our thoughts determine our happiness. Yes they do to a huge degree, but up to a point. Grief, trauma, depression are not well understood by anyone who hasn’t experienced it. Also, I think we live in a culture that is afraid of sadness etc. We avoid unhappy feelings and that can create problems. I don’t think it is right to feel shame for ones feelings or to try to change ones true feelings. I think it’s important to embrace our true feelings while letting our mental outlook steer a genuine attitude of gratitude. Also, it is most helpful to expand ones awareness of beauty, pleasure, gratitude and self respect as keystones in living a fuller, happier life. Meditation has for me, made all the difference in having a better, saner, happier life. Through the practice of meditation with no strings attached, I’ve learned to allow myself greater awareness of my truth while having a foundation of deep inner peace and well being to carry me through the rough waters of great trauma and despair even if it was the echo of the emotional memory in the distance of knowing it was deep within myself and deep within the universe temporarily beyond my current mode. I will blog more about meditation in the future. Thinking in a more positive way, I notice is very effective for having a better outlook, but it falls short when it comes to trauma and despair, at least for me. When I have been grief stricken, I find great music very helpful in validating my feelings and transporting me into a higher vibration of emotional truth and life experience which is not to be confused with avoidance, or trying to think oneself out of how one truly is. A dear friend can also make the longest and darkest of nights passable until the dawn returns. Also, I have found certain phrases to be repeated effective in interrupting negative thinking which supports a more negative life experience while helping me turn my mental boat around towards a happier shore. In this way too, positive thinking is effective in co creating a more positive emotional experience. So, deciding to be happy, works to a point, but for me at least, it isn’t as easy as that! Giving myself permission to be happy, having effective strategies to allow myself my real feelings, including happiness itself, was a milestone for me. Repeating positive phrases that I whole heartedly felt were true then – not wishful thinking – helped (See Phrases to be repeated from Hazrat Inayat Khan’s “The Mysticism of Sound and Music”), a close friend, a strong foundation of meditation, and patience, have made achieving happiness possible. Last but not least, accepting myself to be how I am right now, warts and all, feelings and all, disappointments and all, goals and all, sorrow and all, has allowed me to open up to a habitual experience of a deeper well of in the now self respect while I continue to reach towards a brighter future. Not taking things for granted as much, lowering my expectations of others, realizing that the world doesn’t owe me anything, realizing what I do have – internally, historically, and externally – that I appreciate also help me feel deeper levels of gratitude within moments of the day. I hope this helps. Life is short, we are all going to die, and we will never have this day back, so I am wishing you real joy or at least gratitude for today and tomorrow. With love in your heart, and air in your lungs, it is possible. Musically yours, Kathryn |
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