How to Solve a Technical or Musical Problem: Carnegie Hall Master Class with Emmanuel Pahud

Are you making a piece of music harder than it actually is? World-renowned flutist Emmanuel Pahud discusses how musicians can fixate on difficult passages and presents his secret to conquering problem spots.
One of today's most celebrated and wide-ranging artists, Emmanuel Pahud led a two-hour master class devoted to sonatas for flute and piano and answered audience members' questions, focusing on important issues that every performing musician faces.
Visit www.carnegiehall.org/workshops for more information about Carnegie Hall's workshops and master classes.

[@jamesrobacker8507]

we all have our limits,no matter how much we practice.....he is amazing,so handsome

[@lepus0rex]

Emmanuel Pahud is the cutest thing on earth... :P

[@FarburnFred1]

He's an outstanding musician of course, but it's also remarkable how clear his explanations in English are (presumably his third language after French and German)...

[@Cubasenet33]

He speaks Spanish too

[@kfcohea]

Kenny Werner says it a different way. Nothing in music is hard just unfamiliar. How long does it take you to learn a tune? As long as it takes.

[@mylesedwin4328]

instaBlaster...

[@jondishmonmusicandstuff2753]

I can relate sort of. I'm not worthy due to his talent but still, I'm a good flute player and when I decided to play the Concertino by Cecile Chaminade, I took it slow and a little bit at a time. I think it took me a week to finish one page correctly for my standards then I pressed on. I still get a bead of sweat on my forehead after playing this peice. It's probably the hardest piece I have played " CORRECTLY" to this point.

[@gregdahlen4375]

mind drifted a bit, but i think he said the problem isn't in the external conditions, it's in your own mind. for some reason that gave me some peace. like it reminded me I solved many problems before this, so i'll solve this one too.

[@m.st.6657]

Another question: What do you do when you have to play in a room with bad acoustics? Do you change anything with your embrosure or tone in order to kinda keep the nice tone? (Because I know that you shouldn't play too hard then because it breaks the tone, so what other techniques are there)

[@kropchik]

This is an approach of a perfect technician but surely not for students who have objective limitations. This is absolutely not a practical method. If you repeat 3 time the problematic point it will not disappear. There are specific and very simple neurological exercises to find and change the CAUSE of the problem. For exambole: playing a fast passage without tonguing so the fingers "durt" come out. Then to clean that, one could exaggerate the mistake (!) between the exchange of fingers in order to became aware to what finger moves too early or too late. In one minute problem is resolved (very refined but fast work). Then playing the articulation on one note to see if aie support is good and to hear the preciseness of the tongue. It is all about destabilizing different automatic and limited combinations into different neorologic categories and then put them together. Playing from the beginning being "afraid" of the mistake in order not repeat it is the most un didactic and abusive method of studying. Metronome slow playing gives the illusion of being able to play something problematic but we become passive. If we don't realize the cause we will improve without really choosing consciously what is there to improve. Sorry Maestro, you are my favorite flute player in all aspects by your advises are too simplistic.

[@Saxologic]

eyal lerner “We will improve without really consciously choosing what we will improve.” Is there something wrong with that? Doesn’t that imply that we will improve things we aren’t even aware that we are improving. That sounds awesome to me lol

[@paulschwartz3052]

To " eliminate a problem", you first have to know what the problem is, in the first place. Blindy practicing (repeating) something over and over without having any idea as to " fix" the issue makes no sense to me. IMO, it requires deconstruction--is it a physical issue, an emotional issue, a psychological issue--this requires discernment and understanding and sometimes yes, analysis. :)

[@Smood47]

1:59 3rd girl from the left, one of the most brutal evil eye I've never seen.

[@altair3feb]

+Smood47 Why would you say that?

[@snrnsjd]

More like boring not brutal