Video Masterclass: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream with Joshua Smith

Click here to watch the full video masterclass.

In another excellent video from MUSAIC, Powell artist and Principal Flute of The Cleveland Orchestra, Joshua Smith, coaches flutist Matthew Roitstein on the Scherzo from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream. One of the greatest challenges of the excerpt is breathing -- as we know, it's quite difficult to find a good place to breathe that does not disrupt the musical line.  Joshua addresses this, giving tips not only on where to breath, but also how to approach the breath and how to use air efficiently.  He discusses the importance of keeping a smooth rhythmic flow, suggesting a two-measure pulse to achieve this.  Another point he emphasizes is the need for clarity of articulation, which he illustrates by focusing on airspeed and the shape of the mouth.

The video clip features an introduction by Michael Tilson Thomas, Founder and Artistic Director of the New World Symphony, commenting on the excerpt as well.  Click here to view the full video masterclass on the MUSAIC website.

For more on Joshua Smith, follow this link to view his artist profile page on the Powell website, and visit his personal website at www.soloflute.com.

5 Quick Tips on the Chaminade Concertino

By Cynthia Ellis

Cynthia Ellis

The Chaminade Concertino is a staple in the world of flute repetoire, and it certainly presents many technical challenges.  How does one work through these?  Powell Artist Cynthia Ellis shares her tips with us in this video, working through difficult rhythmic patterns and addressing rubato passages.  She also emphasizes the importance of practicing chromatic scales and offers an alternate fingering for the final note of the Concertino.  To view the full video of her "5 Quick Tips," visit https://www.powellflutes.com/academy/masters/cynthia-ellis/videos/5-quick-tips-chaminade-concertino.

Cynthia performs on a 19.5K Handmade Custom Powell.  She received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees with Honors from California State University, Fullerton, and was chosen as Music Associates Outstanding Student of the Year upon completion of her work in 1983.  Ms. Ellis is a member of the Pacific Symphony, playing solo piccolo since 1979.  Her performance credits also include Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Pasadena Chamber Orchestra and the Cabrillo Music Festival in Santa Cruz, California. She has also served as the principal flutist for touring ballet companies on their Orange County stops including the Royal Ballet of London, American Ballet Theater, Stuttgart Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. In January of 1995, she was appointed Principal Flutist with the Opera Pacific Orchestra, a position she held until the company’s closing in 2009. She has recorded with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra as well as on several major motion picture and cartoon soundtracks.

To read her complete bio, visit http://cindyellisflute.com/Biography.html.