STUDIO INFORMATION
FLUTE STUDENTS AT UNO
For flutists, the University of Nebraska at Omaha has much to offer, regardless of whether or not you decide to pursue music as your major field of study. UNO offers a variety of instrumental ensemble opportunities for our students, including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra, University Band, Marching Mavericks, Jazz Ensembles, Flute Choir, and a variety of Chamber Ensembles. Unlike many larger universities, undergraduate students at UNO are able to enjoy the valuable experience of playing in the school's top ensembles while still offering challenging musical experiences for our graduate students.
Flutists at UNO find themselves in a challenging, vibrant, rewarding and friendly environment. Ensemble scholarships for both majors and non-majors are available.
In the flute studio at UNO, the primary focus is mastery of flute tone and technique, as well as developing skills of musicianship and professionalism. Other areas of emphasis include piccolo studies, contemporary techniques, and orchestral excerpts. Flute lessons focus not only on technical issues, but also on expanding knowledge of the standard repertoire, improving sight-reading and performance skills, musical interpretation, and the ability to apply these skills towards teaching others. At UNO, you will not only receive an exceptional education with individual attention, but you will also have the added benefit of the exciting musical and cultural advantages of metropolitan Omaha. Since 2003, guest artists/clinicians to UNO and Omaha have included Emmanuel Pahud, Tadeu Coelho, Hubert Laws, Eugenia Zuckerman, Thomas Robertello, Karl F. Kraber, Dora Seres, Brooks de Wetter-Smith, Kyle D'Zapo, John Bailey, Marcia Kamper, Nicole Esposito, and Hannah Lang.
(L) Anna Hall receives
instructions on Baroque style during a master class with Tadeu Coelho
(Sept. 05); (Center) Flutist Marcia Kamper
works with Erika Jeck on tone (Sept. 06); (R) Guest artist Karl Kraber
works with Jared Smith on technique (spring 05)
UNO MUSIC DEPARTMENT ADMISSION & SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION DATES
Officially, audition dates are the first Monday of each month of November, December, February, and March. Alternate audition dates can be made by special arrangement. Contact Dr. Beard at (402) 554-2685 or email her at cbeard@mail.unomaha.edu
Auditions for ensemble placement are held the week before classes begin in August of each academic year. The required excerpts for the 2008-2009 ensemble auditions are available for download HERE.
AUDITION
REQUIREMENTS
for entry as
a flute performance major (BM, MM degrees). NOTE: In most cases,
MME students will also be expected to meet these requirements
- All Major scales at least 2 octaves (from memory). NOTE: Graduate students must be prepared to demonstrate all Major and Minor scales over the entire range of the instrument.
- Chromatic scale over entire range of the instrument (from memory).
- Two (2) contrasting
solos, etudes, or orchestral excerpts following one of the two options
given below:
- Contrasting
in terms of tempo - play a slow piece and a fast piece (the All-State
audition etudes would work fine for this option); OR - Contrasting styles - play one solo/etude from the Baroque/Classical era (ex: Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Quantz,Telemann, etc.), and a second one from either the Romantic or Contemporary period (ex: Chaminade, Faure, Gaubert, Honneger, Debussy, Poulenc, Hindemith).
- Contrasting
in terms of tempo - play a slow piece and a fast piece (the All-State
- Note: Accompaniment is not required at the audition, and an accompanist will not be provided. However, you are certainly welcome to bring your own.
- All auditions will also consist of a short sight-reading element.
- Please compile a list of all repertoire you have studied and/or performed (including solos, method books and/or etudes, and chamber works) and bring to your audition.
(L) Taurice Alexander
receives instruction on vibrato production during a master class with
Nicole Esposito (Dec. 06); (Center) Hungarian flutist
Dora Seres works with Anna Hall on breathing (March 06); (R) The BF3 trio
performs at the Chancellor's Holiday party at UNO (Dec. 06).
AUDITION
REQUIREMENTS
for entry as a flute education major (BME degree), or
to be accepted into the flute studio for study as a music minor
or as a non-major
- Major scales through 4 #'s and 4 b's at least 2 octaves (from memory).
- Chromatic scale starting on low F1 ascending up to high Ab3 and back down (from memory).
- Two (2) contrasting
solos, etudes, or orchestral excerpts following one of the two options
given below:
- Contrasting
in terms of tempo - play a slow piece and a fast piece (the All-State
audition etudes would work fine for this option); OR - Contrasting
styles - play one solo/etude from the Baroque/Classical era (ex:
Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Quantz,Telemann, etc.), and a second
one from either the Romantic or Contemporary period (ex: Chaminade,
Faure,
Gaubert, Honneger, Debussy, Poulenc, Hindemith).
- Contrasting
in terms of tempo - play a slow piece and a fast piece (the All-State
- Note: Accompaniment is not required at the audition, and an accompanist will not be provided. However, you are certainly welcome to bring your own.
- All auditions will also consist of a short sight-reading element.
- Please compile a list of all repertoire you have studied and/or performed (including solos, method books and/or etudes, and chamber works) and bring to your audition.
SCHOLARSHIPS
for FLUTE STUDY at UNO
There is no need to apply for a specific scholarship; all music scholarship
money is awarded on a competitive basis (subject to availability).
- Carol Schmitt-Zolars Flute Scholarship
- Department Music Scholarship or Dean's Award
- Ensemble Scholarships
- Marching Band Scholarships
(L) Anna and Erika
during a rehearsal in Lithuania (May 2006); (R) The UNO Symphonic Wind
Ensemble flute section performing
"Stars
& Stripes" during a concert in Estonia (May 2006)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are the requirements for graduation as a flute major or minor?
A: In addition to university requirements for graduation with a degree in flute performance or education, there will be a certain level of proficiency at which you are expected to obtain prior to graduation. This Flute Course Outline (pdf) outlines the typical course of study and requirements expected for flutists upon entry through their senior year of study.
Q: Should I upgrade my flute prior to starting at UNO?
A: Although I don't wish to discourage anyone from getting a new instrument, unless you are working closely with a private teacher who can help you make an informed decision, it would be preferable for you to wait to upgrade until I can determine your needs and assist you in the process. Generally speaking, I don't prefer Brand X over Brand Y - my decisions are always based on whatever instrument the student sounds BEST and can afford.
Q: What is your teaching philosophy?
A: My approach to teaching flute has much to do with my own experience with my previous flute teachers. My early teachers were very thorough with the technical aspects of flute playing and thus assigned many scale exercises (which all had to be memorized) and etudes. Although all of my teachers focused on tone, it wasn't until my graduate studies that I had intensive instruction in regard to tone and articulation. My own teaching style tends to be a fusion of both of these ideas: a heavy dose of scales and etudes with major focus on tone, articulation, and musicianship. In addition, I try to approach lessons from a pedagogical standpoint and often ask the student to explain concepts to me. I do this for 2 reasons: first, to make sure the student's ideas are valid; and second, to teach the student to verbalize these concepts to others. This is important as the majority of students will teach in some capacity at some point in the lives and need to develop the vocabulary to instruct others.
I expect students to walk into every lesson completely prepared in terms of technique so we can focus on musical aspects during the lesson time. I am a very regimental teacher, so lessons always follow a basic outline. Each lesson begins with sight-reading a flute duo, as I am a firm believer that if you never practice sight-reading, you will never develop this skill. Using duos for this task accomplishes two things: first, it forces the student to keep playing through mistakes and to learn to recover; and second, it strengthens ensemble skills and allows the student to listen to the instructor for style, pitch, articulation, etc. After sight-reading comes the assigned scale exercise for that week (usually traditional major/minor scales, or various exercises from Taffanel/Gaubert). These must be memorized and must be played cleanly at a respectable tempo. Depending on the student, double tonguing and/or vibrato exercises may be inserted here. Following scales are Moyse exercises to help develop tone and musical phrasing. Next is the assigned etude of the week (usually Andersen). Once all of these materials have been "passed off," the remainder of the lesson is devoted to solo literature and orchestral excerpts. Ensemble music is not considered lesson material unless there is a specific issue that the student needs help with, or if the student has a major solo. Ensemble music should be practiced outside of and in addition to lesson material.
I insist that students be able to count and read music rather than simply learning how it goes and playing it by rote or by ear. Therefore, you should never expect to have me play something for you simply to teach you the rhythm. However, I often play in lessons for my students to demonstrate style, phrasing, vibrato, and musicality. I think it's important for students to hear excellent models and in addition to listening to me and other live performances, I also encourage listening to high-quality recordings.
Lastly, I feel it is very important for all flutists to feel comfortable playing piccolo and thus I require some study on piccolo prior to graduation. This requirement includes performing at least one piccolo piece on a public recital. All students will play at least one work from every major era (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Paris Conservatory, and Contemporary) during their course of study, and will learn at least one unaccompanied piece during that time in addition to Debussy's Syrinx.
(L) Members of the UNO Flute Studio at the Halloween "Barn Party" (October 2005); (L) Symphonic Wind Ensemble flute section 2005-2006.
(Above) Members of UNO's Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra were told by its conductor, Dr. Christopher Stanichar, to provide more support to the principal flutist, Anna Hall, during a recent rehearsal. They took that charge seriously! Here, members of the flute and oboe sections are supporting Anna and sporting T-shirts that read, "I support Anna Hall." (Fall 2006)
