During the School of Music’s busy summer program, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra flutist and faculty member Richard Sherman doesn’t get a lot of down time.
But when he noticed a gap in his Week Seven schedule, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to give a master class to the public and amateur musicians.
Sherman’s open flute master class will welcome musicians of all levels to learn from an expert at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Fletcher Music Hall.
Sherman asks that anyone who plans on participating in the class should bring a prepared repertoire.
“Standard works are always open for bringing to me,” he said. “But they should revisit them before bringing them to me, because I can’t teach them if I’m teaching notes.”
Sherman has been coming to Chautauqua as School of Music faculty for 27 years, and community members have approached him about private lessons, so he expects to see some familiar faces at his class. He said it will be an opportunity to teach musicians he ordinarily wouldn’t have time to instruct.
“Some people will have pieces they have been working on for years,” Sherman said. “And some students may bring orchestral excerpts.”
Because the class is open to amateur musicians, Sherman is prepared to focus on the fundamentals. He said some people may benefit from instruction when it comes to posture or how the instrument should be properly held.
“I think a lot of these flutists on the grounds have heard me play for quite a few years,” he said. “And I might have some tips that would make playing a little easier for them.”
He said although the class will focus on flutists, other wind instruments will be welcome, too. When it comes to teaching, Sherman thinks of himself as a kind of doctor.
“I always tell my students when I’m coaching them to teach, ‘Diagnose the problem, and try to make a difference before [the student] leaves,’ ” he said. “So that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
