Michael Blutman gave a clinic at Lynn University's Conservatory of Music on May 3rd. He was invited by Lynn's trumpet professor Marc Reese of the Empire Brass. The clinic focused on the benefits of transcribed vocal literature and efficient practice habits.

The class started with a performance of Blutman's transcription of I felt a funeral in my brain, an Aaron Copland setting of an Emily Dickinson poem. After the performance, Blutman prompted a discussion about the character of the music without reading the poem nor revealing the composer or title. After, Blutman read the poem in the rhythm of the song and demonstrated how an instrumentalist can try to imitate the text by literally imitating the sounds of the consonants and vowels as well as through the using the poem's text to drive the effect of the line.

Blutman next focused on how to approach difficult passages in practice sessions. He took out a copy of Bitsch's twenty etudes and asked the class to call out a number between one and twenty. After a number was called out, Blutman grumbled as he looked at the corresponding etude, commenting that he "regrets asking for their suggestion!" He worked through phrases of the etude verbalizing efficient practice suggestions as he went along.

Michael Blutman is an active performer and educator. Recent orchestral engagements include the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Orchestra of St. Luke's. As an educator, he has taught as guest instructor at middle and high schools, was a member of the outreach brass quintet in the University of Maryland's Chamber Music Connections program, and has presented clinics for high school and college students. His teachers include: Chris Gekker, Mark Gould, Steve Hendrickson, Leon Petruzzi, and William Vacchiano.

For more information on the Lynn University Conservatory of Music please visit their website listed below.

Websites:
Lynn University Conservatory of Music
Marc Reese