Not long ago I started wondering about both the content and the structure of my warmup, and whether I was able to explore the widest range of color and emotion I was seeking in my playing. I also wanted to have a warmup that would bring me joy in the process.
At a flute fair in Rochester, NY I came across a lovely 5-note scale-based exercise attributed to renowned flutist and teacher Sam Baron called “Each Motif One Fast Puff of Air.” This simple exercise – modal in nature – caught my attention. I began using it in my warmup routine and felt it provided me with important feedback about sound, embouchure, fingers, and breathing, along with space to notice what I was feeling and hearing as I practiced. I found myself improvising little modal melodies and ended up developing a warmup book based on modes titled Modal Flute Warmup: Sound Discovery and Color Palette Expansion (Conway Publications, Dec. 2023).
As I continued compiling this book I kept reflecting on the idea of discovery. If we are practicing with a sense of discovery, we take on an active role, creating space for reflection, asking questions as part of the learning process, and seeking out solutions to problems. When we engage in discovery as learners, we are open to what we might find, with awareness and perception heightened in the moment. We can glean further meaning about the idea of “discovery” by looking at some synonyms: encountering, exploring, sensing, feeling, hearing, finding, uncovering, unearthing, realizing, spotting, detecting, learning. Discovery can also lead to “aha” moments and revelations.
Most importantly, bringing an air of discovery to our practice can help lead us to an increased understanding about our flutist-selves and our playing.
This book aims to encourage flutists and their teachers to bring this air of discovery to their practice.
We can explore sound discovery in our playing by being aware of what we are doing as a whole – what we hear, what we feel, and what we notice as we are creating sound on our flute. The Start to Discover sections and Exploration and Discovery prompts throughout the book (see example below) are invitations to spark your awareness and curiosity as you practice.
Through the use of modes, this book also offers further opportunities for discovery. Modes invite us to experience new sounds, new fingering combinations, and new emotions, providing an expanded color palette that goes beyond tonal harmony. Using these exercises, you can investigate and decide for yourself where the tension/release of a phrase might be, and the unusual intervals and note combinations will fill your practice with new technical possibilities to explore and solve.
Additional opportunities for discovery are found at the end of each exercise in Part 5 (Modal Noodles). Here, you are invited to explore your creativity by improvising. Inventing your own music based on a particular mode without any other constraints can be a wonderful way to explore your creativity and become more familiar with modes, too. There is no right way to improvise. Instead, I encourage you to let go of any expectations you might have about creating your own music. You can let the prompts be a guide to help you get started.
As you practice, reflect on what you hear, feel, uncover, and learn about your playing. I hope you enjoy exploring this book. I’d love to hear about your self-discovery experiences!
Where to find the books
Books are available at Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company, Flute Specialists, and Groth Music, as well as on Amazon.
Laura’s new EP (9/6/24)
Prismatic/Plasmonic includes flute and electronics pieces by Chloe Upshaw and Sean William Calhoun, plus a reimagined Syrinx for alto flute and with new electronics by Sean William Calhoun.
“Exciting, driving, distinctive, and demanding to be heard” (Flutist Quarterly), “captivating, intriguing works” (Francesca Arnone), “beautiful, expressive, technically brilliant playing with lush and colorful soundscapes” (Jenny Cline).
Laura Lentz
Laura Lentz is a flutist, collaborator, and teacher-mentor, exploring and sharing music’s infinite palette of emotionally expressive colors. She is dedicated to sharing music by today’s most forward-thinking composers, collaborating with others to create exciting and gripping work, and teaching the next generation of young musicians and artists.
