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It's About My New Photo - And It's "Flutist", not "Flautist"!

By
Real Estate Agent with RLAH@Properties AB95346

Yesterday, I put up a new photo, and there have been so many questions and comments, that I decided that it needed a post all its own. 

The picture was taken in New York at a friend's daughter's wedding, where I was part of the chamber music group.  It was totally fun, and a complete high.  The other players were really, really good.  The acousitcs were wonderful, and I sounded like a professional.

I started to play the flute when I was twelve years old. It took me that long to grow arms long enough to hold the thing. And when I got into high school, I played piccolo in my high school band and the Topeka Youth Symphony.  And then when it came time to go to college, the piccolo got me into the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore with a great scholarship, where I began a long and checkered academic career.  I wound up finally graduating from Hunter College in New York, with a double major in flute and political science.

When  I moved to Washington, I got some wonderful opportunities to play with local chamber groups, and flute playing played an important part in supplementing my public interest salary as a Nader's Raider.  A lot of the work we did was playing background music for fancy Washington dinner parties, and we also played lots of weddings, bar mitzvahs.  A favorite fellow flutist got me into the Washington Bach Consort, which was a wonderful education in the Baroque style.

Today I still play, mostly for client's and friends festive occassions, adding housewarmings to the list.  I work with a goofy cellist who plays just beautifully (worked his way through law school playing back up to Elvis in Vegas during the summer months), and one of several violinists. 

Music is one of my life's great joys.

So that's the story of the photo!

Oh, and it's "Flutist", not "Flautist".  At least that's how I say it.  I play the flute, not the flaut.

Comments (29)

Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Thanks for the clarification and spelling lesson!  But, I'm impressed Pat.  Having absolutely no talent, people like you with some music have always impressed me.

Oct 17, 2010 11:40 PM
Barb Szabo, CRS
RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH
E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

I have a degree in music as well and I have always felt that music is therapeutic. My daughter plays the flute and piccolo and talks about a minor in music. We'll see.

Oct 18, 2010 12:28 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Pat, I love music as well, started taking lessons when I was 8 on the accordion, and continued through to my mid20's, when life took over. I still have them but the affects of life took most of the flexibility outof the fingers. Now do you subsidize you flute career with real estate?

Oct 18, 2010 12:43 AM
Caroline Gosselin
Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty - Short Hills, NJ

It's nice to have another passion aside from real estate ;)

Oct 18, 2010 12:49 AM
Susan Brown
Keller Williams NE, Kingwood Texas (Humble & Atascocita too) - Kingwood, TX

Pat - How cool is that!  I've always admired people with musical talent. 

Oct 18, 2010 03:07 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

You're a lady with many talents, Pat. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Oct 18, 2010 03:19 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

from Wikipedia:

The choice of "flautist" (from the Italian flautista, from flauto, and adopted due to eighteenth century Italian influence) versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument. "Flutist" is the earlier term in the English language, dating from at least 1603 (the earliest quote cited by the Oxford English Dictionary), while "flautist" is not recorded before 1860, when it was used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Marble Faun. While the print version of the OED does not indicate any regional preference for either form, the online Compact OED characterizes "flutist" as an American usage.

either way (pronounced eye-ther, no eee-ther), it's a pretty impressive photo... and more impressive skill.  And playin' a little Papa Hayden, no less.

Oct 18, 2010 06:46 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

And hopefully not flatuence!  Sorry - had to go there!

Oct 18, 2010 07:44 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Thank you for sharing you new photo. Wonderful knowing a bit more about you. My daughter went to Oberlin and Manhattan School of Music was the accompanist for the Baltimore Opera, and now is starting PA school in New Hampshire. Once a musician...always..

Not only do you look professional.. you also look beautiful!

Margaret

Oct 18, 2010 07:46 AM
Vickie Slade
Colorado Landmark, Realtors - Boulder, CO
Service You Can Trust ~ Someone You Can Depend On

Pat, BRAVO!  I always enjoy listening to others play musicial instruments and wish I could have such a talent.  i play piano, but mostly just for myself.  I'm not accomplished enough to play for anyone else (except my puppies and sometimes, even they run outside!  LOL).

Oct 18, 2010 08:19 AM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

I say:  If you've got it (the ability to play a flute)...

flaunt it!

 

Or if your prefer:

Flaut it.

Oct 18, 2010 08:35 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Pat - what a great story!!! If I lived up there I would want to have you play at my house one time! That is really neat!

Oct 18, 2010 09:44 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Pat thank you for sharing.  I too am extremely impressed!  How wonderful to get to do something you love!

Oct 18, 2010 10:00 AM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Pat - My only experience with a flute player was when my own daughter played one up until high school. I wish she had stcuk with it.  I really enjoyed those concerts. 

Oct 18, 2010 03:00 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

I was planning to comment on your new photo, and here's a whole post om it.  It's a great shot.

Oct 18, 2010 03:28 PM
Eric Kodner
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Pat, if you've got it, flaut it!  Nice to read about a fellow musician's career experiences..

Oct 18, 2010 04:49 PM
Rita Fong
RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY, Executive Broker 901-488-9590 - Marion, AR
Realtor - Marion Arkansas Homes for Sale

Pat, my 2 girls both play instrument, one plays flute, the other plays oboe.  I love the sound of flute, it is so pretty.  I am glad you are still playing it.

Oct 19, 2010 01:15 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Rita, I brought home an oboe once, and it sounded so bad that my dad asked me to practice in the garage.  When the weather got cold, it still sounded really awful so I went back to the flute.  Just remember that if your child plays either the piccolo or English horn, they can get scholarships to pretty much anyplace they want to go!

And Alan, when I first met Jean-Pierre Rampal in New York, he complimented my English and asked me whether I thought it was flutist or flautist.  I told him that I played the flute, not the flaut, so that at least while in an English speaking country, I was a flutist.  The next day, the New York Times interviewed him for a long piece in the next Sunday's Arts Section.  They asked him that question, and he repeated the exact answer that I had given him the night before.  It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Oct 19, 2010 01:22 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Pat - how multi talented.  I'm impressed (I can barely carry a tune).  BTW I'm a Hunter COllege graduate as well.

Oct 19, 2010 01:47 PM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hi, Pat!  Cool pic--you're flaunting your flute playing ability.  lol

Seriously, I admire people who can play any instrument, especially the flute.  I bet you play it beautifully.

Oct 20, 2010 06:51 PM