Flute Orchestra

Conductor: Dr. Sandra Saathoff

Dr. Sandra Saathoff is a freelance flutist, clinician, and principal flute of the Seattle Philharmonic. She helped launch a nonprofit organization, Silver Flight Ensembles and Foundation, dedicated to helping student flutists, and currently conducts the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra's flute ensemble. A published author and music arranger, she has also performed and taught throughout the United States and Europe. Dr. Saathoff has served as Assistant Program Chair, Secretary, Convention Manager, and on the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee for the National Flute Association; as well as President, VP, and Newsletter Editor for the Seattle Flute Society. Learn more.

Contact Dr. Sandra Saathoff at flutes@byso.org

Messages from the Conductor

Thanks to EVERYONE for a fantastic year!  <3 🙂

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May 27:  Voliere & The Bird Song (noon – 2 pm @ Bellevue Botanical Gardens); it’s a free event for everyone!  So please invite family / friends / teachers – everyone!  Performances happen between noon and 2 pm, and our performance will be at/near the end. There are seats available for audience members.

PART 3 of my Bird Stories:

I don’t know why I have that irrational fear of birds – and I probably will always ‘duck’ when they fly near me, and walk away from pigeons and sea gulls …  but I can ‘make friends’ with my discomfort.   Which is one of the reasons I used the pandemic shut down to make our backyard a certified sanctuary for wildlife.  Not only is it helpful to our environment, it allowed me to make peace with our feathered friends.

Nervousness / Performance Anxiety is another instance where it’s probably not possible to overcome it entirely – NOR DO YOU WANT TO!  A bit of nervousness and heightened awareness actually can help us perform better!  But you can ‘make friends’ with this feeling.  You have to do the work (just like I consulted experts, planted native species that provided shelter and food year round for the birds, created a pollinator garden, and made sure there was a constant water supply, etc.).

But the work we do as musicians means we don’t learn a piece until we don’t make any mistakes, but we learn it so well, we can’t make any mistakes.  We memorize it.  We understand the theory, form, and intent of the composer; we’ve practiced it forward/backward/inside and out and have the music in our muscle memory.  We can hum or sing the part and have it firmly in our aural memory. We can share the meaning of the notes and tell a musical story.

“An amateur practices until they get it right; a professional practices until they can’t get it wrong.” 

So practice diligently – then Welcome the nerves on performance day – don’t be scared of them! Accept that they are a natural part of performing, and if you have done your work well, they are there to help you! 🙂

Ultimately, most of us will never have a “perfect” performance – and we don’t really need to – as long as we give a compelling performance – one that is meaningful to ourselves as musicians as well as the audience listening.

I am looking forward to an outstanding performance on Monday!  Congratulations to all of you on your hard work and dedication!  THANK YOU!

Hello flutists and families!

What a fantastic concert – thank you!  It was the perfect ending to a wonderful year of music-making and learning with all of you!  Congratulations on all that you have achieved!  It’s been very fun and rewarding working with all of you and I’ll miss our time together.

I hope you have a wonderful summer – and don’t let too much dust settle on your flutes. 😉   There is plenty of music on FluteTunes and IMSLP to keep you busy if you get bored – even duets and trios!  I encourage you to meet up with flute friends and make music together!

Someone asked for the picture I took on concert day … so I’ve emailed that – and included a snapshot of the FB post to Gareth (the composer).  BYSO’s social media has a few more pictures, too.

If you’re playing on Saturday at the Garden Party – let’s make a rainbow for our concert attire.  … so black pants/shoes … but a solid, brightly colored top  (Red – Orange – Yellow – Green – Blue – Purple).  No white or black shirts.  Bring your BYSO sweatshirts, just in case it’s not very warm.   If you are performing and haven’t been getting the BYSO emails about this event – please let me know.  (oh – and Voliere will be faster!  MM = 120/eighth note 😊)

OK – Thanks for your dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm.  THANKS FOR A FANTASTIC SEASON!   I am so very proud of all that you have accomplished!

Wishing you all the best!
~Sandy

OH – AND don’t forget that students 16 years and younger can always attend Seattle Philharmonic concerts for free – and here’s the discount code for anyone that needs to buy a ticket.  It would be wonderful to see you in the audience!  Our next concert is June 3^rd at 2 pm at Benaroya Hall.

SPOFRIENDS is the discount promo code – just apply it in the box on the top right corner of the ticket sales page and you will see the special $15 ticket price.

Dr. Sandra Saathoff, DMA

Performing Artist-Pedagogue

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