Alyse Hokamp

Blog archives

  • [videos] Music and community

    Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about how music creates a community. A music event gives people a reason to come together. Tastes for particular musical styles and artists create communities. Individual communities share specific music as part of their collective experience. The musicians themselves are a community, but I feel like they often limit themselves with that title. Within the music community, everyone is a musician- it’s not unique. I’ve started to notice that my musical skills are often more appreciated within other communities. This feels almost counterintuitive, because people outside of music are less trained, less critical. Often… Read more

  • Recital Diaries: Live album, videos, thoughts

    Robert and I have talked a lot about getting the most out of everything we do this year. This often means capturing or creating some form of media from each performance. Yes, it’s more work to set up the recording equipment, edit it, and share it. But if we don’t, it’s a lot of time and energy invested in a single live performance, whose audience is limited to a geographic location (and many other factors). I had wanted to capture some kind of recording of my recital program, but the idea of releasing the entire thing as a live album… Read more

  • Recital Diaries: Recital day

    This is my fourth consecutive year presenting a flute recital, and each year the scope of work expands. Although I create more work for myself each year, I also gain a lot from it personally and artistically. My recital is definitely the most challenging flute playing I do all year, which is why I love doing it. It pushes me beyond my abilities and keeps the blade sharp, so to speak. By the way… the Recital Diaries posts were inspired by the Diary of A Wimpy Kid book series by Jeff Kinney, which both kids were really into as I… Read more

  • Recital Diaries: Theory homework (flute duet, chord chart)

    I think the focus of my performance preparation is a little different than most flutists. I like to learn the part, definitely. I even try to have it all or mostly memorized. Beyond that, I do some maintenance practice for flutey things like scales, vibrato, and attacks/note endings, but I don’t obsess over it. I guess I feel like those skills get better over time, and don’t really benefit from cramming. However, I do have a bit of an obsessive mind (for better or worse), so with something big like my recital, I’m always itching to work on something.  Beyond… Read more

  • Recital Diaries: Dialogues with Steven and Robert

    I set up a photo shoot with Steven and Robert for my upcoming recital. I wanted a photo of us having a conversation, to go along with the title of my program. Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 1PM in Denton, TX A: So… I don’t know how to naturally look like we’re having a conversation. S and R: You just have a conversation! On performance [Robert’s been taking an improv acting class in Dallas.] R: It’s been fun. I’ve gotten a lot out of it. A lot of times I feel like I’m acting. I’m on stage a lot, talking,… Read more

  • [Pan-Tones] Dancing to classical music

    Recently, I don’t think there’s anything more satisfying than having my music inspire movement. What a joy to have friends that are such beautiful dancers! I love that dance night is an event for dancers, musicians, and creative people of all ages. After the first successful dance night, I had ideas for more open-ended, freeform movement. One of them was using a prompt, like a scenario- or in this case, an animal… Saint-Saens, Carnival of the Animals I made simple arrangements of the Elephant and the Swan from Carnival of the Animals. This was so fun! L’Elephant Le Cygne Vivaldi,… Read more

  • Recital Diaries: Through the “funk”

    5/30/25 Moving from a creative idea, concept, or fantasy to reality invites an amount of disappointment. Inevitably, something is lost in that transition. I often go through a stage of mourning my initial inspiration- I feel incompetent, question the validity of my idea, and otherwise doubt myself. It’s usually after the first iteration of the idea in the “real world.” As I write this, I’m in that mourning stage. It’s about a month until my recital, and I had my first rehearsal yesterday. During the rehearsal, it became clear to me that I had to scrap my idea of playing… Read more

  • 6 complaints about classical music

    I love classical music, but sometimes the culture surrounding it makes me cringe. 1. Stiff performance manner and conventions -We don’t have to be so black and fancy all the time.-We can interact with the audience before, during, and after the show.-We don’t have to play in a nice, quiet space.-We don’t have to use a music stand.-We don’t always have to get paid.-We can play more than one instrument… 2. Stuck as single instrumentalists Musicians are very intelligent, and excel at learning new skills. Yet, many classical players are caged within the traditional possibilities of their primary instrument (and… Read more

  • How to get better at performing

    We practice our instruments, a lot. We know we can play, but once we get on stage, something changes. It’s no longer practicing, it’s performing. Performing is a distinct skill. The goal is not to simply recreate what happened in the practice room (“I swear it was better when I was practicing!”). We should think of it as a separate skill to be developed and practiced. By definition, this can only happen in the presence of an audience. 1. Attend performances frequently. Watch and learn- we don’t always need to be the one on stage. In fact, sometimes we can… Read more

  • In defense of taking a break

    I am always pooped after a gig. Like, I need to go home now and sleep. I know some people are hyped up and buzzing afterwards, but not me! I am physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I feel happy and creatively satisfied, but also exhausted. As an early bird, I’m up by 5AM every morning, so my fatigue usually carries over to the next day. I take it easy the day or two following a big performance- I don’t try to “power through” my low energy. If I’m tired, I usually still want to practice, but I let myself do… Read more