Loved hearing @Sheri Hudgins's "It Is Well" with this Rumba backing track... and feeling inspired to make my own improvisation on this traditional hymn with this Rumba Flemenca groove. I have been practicing improvising more on piano and voice than flute lately, so I gave it a try. I was proud of myself for keeping a rhythm going in my left hand while also singing or playing in my right hand. I made several other recording attempts but didn't make it all the way through without messing up the rhythm or order of the chords. I wasn't super satisfied with my voice at the end; I thought it sounded a bit pinched in the high notes. I tried to make some other recordings after this but haven't gotten another one yet as good as this one. My first priority was to figure out how to sing or play the notes of the melody but in this rhythmic style. Then, I wanted to explore other possibilities for harmony. I was very pleased with how my improvisation on the melody in my right hand went the second time, where I turned up the improv-o-meter and instead of simply improvising with the rhythm of the melody, I started on the 3rd note of the scale instead of the 5th where this melody usually starts... and I used the "right rhythm, wrong notes" technique, where I played the rhythm of the melody but different notes. I also followed the same "topographical map" of the melody. I invite you to try any tune that you know with this backing track. Which one will you try first?

Here’s a group improvisation performed as a dialogue between Jérémie Mignotte and each of the trainees. (Including me at one point – I was very shy and really not at all confident!) https://youtu.be/MkAZw4r44Js?is=8dx7LmmmU6pWYGNw Since then, I’ve gained a bit more confidence, but I still can’t bring myself to play on my own at home

If you could design the flute of your dreams, what would its characteristics be and what COLOR would it be if it could ANY color... besides the obvious precious metals?? My purple flute doesn't resonate quite as beautifully in the upper register as my Pearl flute! But it seems appropriate for this song: Colors Flying! I'm grateful to have it for making music while my fav flute is in the shop. If you could have any color what would you choose?!

Have you ever felt that music - or even flute specifically - was a guiding light in your life? Last week when @Krisanny Marte shared "Music as a lighthouse" (or Music IS a Lighthouse!) I loved it so much that I knew other Flutarians would appreciate it too! So with her permission I've added it to the Flutarians Tshirt shop. Would you rather appreciate this design on a T-shirt or mug? (or one of the other styles? Check them out here!)

I love Bluegrass and had a lot of fun with this. I liked playing along with the fiddle at the end and I would improve support on some of the notes and of course dynamics could be better:)