Megan O'Connell

Flutist and flute teacher from southern Wisconsin.

[megan-flute]

Performance directions for normal people

You see a trill, we see 'flap fingers now'.

During a recent lesson, I asked a student, "what does 'allegro maestoso' mean to you?" She replied, "Italian is not my forte" and we both immediately realized the irony in her statement.

Here is a helpful link if you, too feel Italian is not your forte. It won't replace your music dictionary, but it's good for a quick laugh :)

[megan-flute]

This is a GREAT tip, and it really works!

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Spirit Flight is one of Katherine Hoover's more recent flute compositions. I hadn't heard it until recently, and it's quickly becoming one of my favorites!

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Today is Franz Schubert's birthday, and I have just the thing to commemorate it.

[megan-flute]

14 guaranteed-success music audition tips

Follow these tips and we're convinced you'll impress the most formidable of panels.

Nothing eases my nerves like a little humor. With my month of graduate auditions kicking off this weekend, I have found just the thing to set my mind at ease.

[megan-flute]

The Complete 21st Century Flutist

Refine every aspect of your flute playing, from traditional classical repertoire to jazz to 21st century techniques. Work closely with some of the top flutists, master teachers, and composers of our time.

This class looks SO good!

[megan-flute]

Happy 260th Birthday, Mozart!

[megan-flute]

meganoconnell.flavors.me

I just finished creating a page with flavors.me and it is really cool! I was able to connect it to all my social media accounts and while it doesn't replace my website, it is a stylish way to promote everything all in one place.

[megan-flute]

Mark Sparks has been one of my flute heroes for about as long as I can remember - his cd was one of the first flute cd's I ever had, purchased with babysitting money when I was in high school. Yesterday, he gave a recital and masterclass sponsored by Chicago Flute Club. The recital was stunning, and performing in the masterclass is a memory I will not soon forget! Though he did not play the Martinu, it is one of my favorite pieces, and I found this one youtube.

(via)

[whatshouldwecallflautists]

“Show me what you worked on over the break!”

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Despite its accuracy, I can't stop giggling.

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Megan’s Top 5 Apps for Musicians

I know this has been done before by others, but every time I see someone else's list, I am editing it in my head, noting the things I would add/delete. It's the reason I gave this the title "Megan's Top 5 Apps" and not "THE Top 5 Apps ever, hands down, no matter what anyone else has to say about it" because this is MY take on the standard trope.

1. Tonal Energy Tuner

This is the tuner app that gives you the smiley face when you're in tune. When tuning my instrument, I usually prefer a dedicated tuner, but this is great for those times my tuner is not on my person. The thing I use most on this app is the tone generator - I can set a drone on any note in (almost) any octave, and even through the tiny speaker on my phone, it is loud enough to be useful in a practice room setting.

2. Tunable

I realize it seems like all I care about are tuning apps, but I am listing this for its excellent metronome function. Like with tuners, I do normally prefer a dedicated device, but I switch bags often enough that having a reliable backup on my phone is a must. This one blinks as it clicks, and flashes a different color on the downbeat.

3. Unroll.me

Not long ago, e-mail addresses were a luxury, and it was not uncommon to e-mail someone only to find they rarely check the account. In 2016, if you miss an e-mail, you miss a job opportunity or a potential new student. Anyone who knows me well knows e-mail management is something I can stand to work harder at, and it doesn't help that I get coupons daily from my favorite stores. Every time I read an article or listicle pertaining to music business (Musician's Way, Bulletproof Musician, Flute Talk, etc.), the author emphasizes the importance of staying on top of the inbox. This app let's you "roll up" all the advertisments into one daily message allowing the important stuff to stand out.

4. Soundcloud

This one is here for two reasons. First, it's a great way to share recordings - you can share a link or embed a file on any website. I hand-picked the files embedded on my own website which, along with other social media avenues, help tremendously with self-promotion. The other side to Soundcloud is that your uploads need not be public. For example, if you're practicing a specific piece with a specific goal in mind - since it's almost February in Wisconsin, let's say it's your state honors Kohler etude. You can privately upload daily progress recordings of the etude for yourself to go back and track your progress. Using the app organizes everything neatly and frees up a lot of space on your phone or digital recording device.

5. Notebook + Pencil

Is this one cheating? Maybe, but let's go back to paragraph number one, and reiterate that this is MY list. The point in including this, is that sometimes the things designed to make life easier only add a layer of complication. Too many times, I have pulled out my phone to set a drone or find a tempo only to wind up on snapchat and texting (and I'm not even all that popular). Incorporating a cell phone into a practice routine isn't always entirely helpful. A dedicated practice/lesson notebook is the most user-friendly way to keep track of everything, all in one place.

[justflutes-deactivated20220608]

A timely little painting! Who can come up with a good title in homage to the original? #yearoftheflute

[megan-flute]

Are you a flutist or flautist?

The flute-related question I hear the most has nothing to do with making music, but instead, the nomenclature. I remember the first time I saw flautist in print. I had already been playing two or three years, and despite the unfamiliar word, the definition was clear. And was I ever worried - all this time, I had been a flautist and nobody told me!

I didn’t answer my question until freshman year of high school. The preface of The Flute Book (by Nancy Toff) acknowledges the terminology debate and addresses the etymology. Toff says, “I play the flute, not the flaut; therefore I am a flutist, not a flautist.

If it is as simple as that, then why do so many people insist it’s flautist? According to Grammarist, flautist is the preferred term outside of North America, derived from the Italian word for flute, flauto. However, flutist has European origins as well, derived from the French word, flûte, so that’s not really a factor here. Toff takes it a step further, suggesting flautist gets thrown around in North America by people trying to sound smarter.

Even legendary flute player James Galway has weighed in on the issue: “I am a flute player, not a flautist. I don’t have a flaut, and I’ve never flauted” (source). Notice what word begins both the Galway and Toff quotes. I. I am a flutist. Neither says we all are flutists - both identify a personal preference stated by the individual. Though flutist appears to be preferred by most, it is not the universal term. If you’re still not sure which word you want to use for a specific person, just ask them.

This is the first post, so I pretty much just asked and answered my own question, but it is much more fun to answer real questions posed by other people - ask me anything!