216: Pathways - Sharilynn Horhota

Today we're excited to share another Pathways story with you! We are joined by Musical U member Sharilynn Horhota. Before her engineering career and three children, Sharilynn was headed towards becoming a professional flute player. Now she has returned to the flute in a surprising way.

Sharilynn has been sharing her journey on her Musical U Progress Journal. The Progress Journal, or PJ, is a system we use inside the Musical U site for members to share their progress, ask questions, and get feedback and support from the Musical U team and Musical U community. Sharilynn has made fantastic use of her PJ so we had some sense of her interesting backstory and all the cool activities she's been up to - but as you'll be hearing, Musical U is just one part of all the resources she's been drawing on and all the ways she's been stretching herself since returning to flute.

In this conversation we talk about:

• How studying Alexander Technique in Finland let her feel much freer in her playing and opened up her sound

• The specific resources and exercises that have helped Sharilynn start to improvise, and in a way that feels like she is truly expressing herself, rather than just improv-by-numbers following chord tones.

• And the two clever variants on traditional exercises, scales and long notes, which she now gives her flute students to help them improve faster and enjoy practicing more.

Part of the intention with this Pathways series is to share stories of music learners who are perhaps more relatable than the world-leading experts we're so fortunate to have the chance to interview here on the show. But we're not sure Sharilynn quite fits that bill, because as you'll discover, she is one seriously impressive music learner! You will surely find a lot to relate to in her story - and pick up some handy ideas and pointers that you can apply in your own musical journey.

Have you picked up useful ideas or techniques in your own musical journey so far that you think could inspire or help others on their path of exploring their musicality? Get in touch by dropping an email to hello@musicalitynow.com! We are always looking for new guests for Pathways and would love to share your story next.

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Full Show Notes and Transcript: Episode 216

Links and Resources

• The Complete Guide to The Alexander Technique

• Michael Lake - Alto Bone

• Aimee Nolte Music

• Musicality Now - Explaining the Musical Ear, with Aimee Nolte

• Jeffrey Agrell books

• Musicality Now - Making Improv a Game, with Jeffrey Agrell

• David Reed - Improvise For Real

• David Reed - Sing the Numbers

• Musicality Now - How to Improvise For Real, with David Reed

• Brent Vaartstra - Learn Jazz Standards

• Musicality Now - How to Stop Doubting and Start Performing, with Brent Vaartstra

• Learn Jazz Faster - How To: 25 Great Ways To Maximize Your Jazz Improvisation Practice

• Musicality Now - Boosting Musical Brainpower, with Josh Turknett

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