Flutist Mindy Kaufman: An inside look at the New York Philharmonic

February 9, 2001
11 a.m. EST

Mindy Kaufman

(CNN) -- Mindy Kaufman is both a flutist and piccoloist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, she joined the Rochester Philharmonic while still attending music school, then joined the New York Philharmonic after graduation.

CNN Moderator: What have you learned from music that has helped you in other areas of life?

Mindy Kaufman: I've learned how to be disciplined and that helps with everything I do, whether it's being on time or being organized with my life and not procrastinating.

CNN Moderator: Is there a difference between a philharmonic and a symphony orchestra?

Mindy Kaufman: There is no difference. They are just different words that some orchestras use to describe themselves. We have the Boston Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. It's just a different use of words.

CNN Moderator: How difficult is it for women to be married, have children and play with an orchestra that tours the country and world about once a year?

Mindy Kaufman: It places demands on you because we go on tour for about three and a half weeks at a time. Women who have had newborns sometimes take the baby on tour or else don't go on tour. Some mothers go without their baby, depending on the age, and that's stressful as well.

Question from chat room: Are you about to prepare a new work?

Mindy Kaufman: We play a new program every week so I'm working on this week's and next week's programs. This week we are playing a work by the conductor Andre Previn. He's conducting this week, so the first piece is a composition by him. The second piece is Korngold's violin concerto and the second half is "Beethoven's Fourth Symphony."

I want to add that a lot of the works we play, I have played many times before. So the preparation varies, depending on whether we are playing an old piece or a new piece that's difficult or easy.

Question from chat room: You must be working very hard. How many hours do you work every day?

Mindy Kaufman: I work about four and a half hours at the symphony and between one and three hours at home daily.

CNN Moderator: What is your favorite solo work for flute and why? For piccolo?

Mindy Kaufman: That's a hard question because I think when you're a musician, you like so many pieces that it's hard to name one.

CNN Moderator: Have you made any recordings of solo piccolo music?

Mindy Kaufman: No. It's a project I keep saying I'm going to do and haven't gotten around to it, but I want to make a recording.

CNN Moderator: Do you find any challenges to being a woman in the still largely male-dominated world of the symphony orchestra?

Mindy Kaufman: No, I don't. I think the environment is pretty good.

Instrument Profile Player's Primary Flute Made: 1940, Boston, by Verne Q. Powell Made of: Sterling silver, with gold head joint Purchased: At auction at Christie's, New York, 1986 Cost: $10,000 for flute; $6,000 for gold head joint Player's Primary Piccolo Made: 1995, Boston, by Burkart-Phelan Flutes Made of: Aged African grenadilla wood Purchased: From the manufacturer Cost: $4,000

CNN Moderator: How many flutes and piccolos do you currently own?

Mindy Kaufman: I have two flutes, two piccolos and an alto flute.

Question from chat room: What do you advise somebody who is a beginner in this area, like myself?

Mindy Kaufman: It depends on what age you are and what your goals might be. I think if you're under 18, you should just have fun and let things develop and see what happens. If you are doing it as an adult for a hobby, I suggest doing it on a steady basis, to practice consistently -- this really goes for everyone -- to practice consistently every day and spend an hour a day. And if you're more serious, you should spend more time and find a good teacher and try to find other musicians to play with.

Question from chat room: Do you like Drelinger headjoints?

Mindy Kaufman: I don't own one and so I haven't researched them because I have a headjoint that I am happy with.

Question from chat room: What is your opinion and/or suggestion about music taught in schools? Nowadays music class seems to rank much lower than, say, football programs in public schools. Anything a parent can do to change this?

Mindy Kaufman: I think becoming involved with the board of education is very important, and I completely agree with the chatter. I think it should be taught along with the basics. I think kids love music, especially when they're young, and it's a great art to experience.

Question from chat room: Do you wear ear protection when playing the piccolo?

Mindy Kaufman: Yes, I do. Sometimes the piccolo is very high or very loud and it can damage your hearing. This can also be true for the volume of sound coming from the orchestra. If things get loud, I'll put earplugs in for that particular passage.

Question from chat room: What brand is your alto?

Mindy Kaufman: It's a Haynes, made in the 1950s.

Question from chat room: How do you get used to guest conductors each week?

Mindy Kaufman: We just follow them. We try to give them what they ask for. And contrary to what the New York Times says, I don't think we're a "famously difficult" orchestra!

PHILHARMONIC ON STAGE
	The flute and other woodwinds sit near the center of the orchestra when in performance. Have a look at flutist Mindy Kaufman's position on stage.

Question from chat room: On another subject: How would you characterize morale, generally, in the New York Philharmonic?

Mindy Kaufman: I think it's good right now. I've seen it go up and down but, right now, I think we're playing really well and there's a sense of pride in that and it gives us a good morale.

Question from chat room: What do you like playing best: flute, piccolo or alto?

Mindy Kaufman: I like playing all three, really. There are fun things to do on all three. I've played the alto flute solo in Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" and Ravel’s "Daphnes." And I've played some piccolo solos. In fact, this week I have a piccolo solo that's really fun to play. And last week, we played Ravel’s "Mother Goose," which has a second flute solo. I think that in being a musician, you almost have to like doing everything.

Question from chat room: How hard is it to earn a living this way? It seems like there are very few openings and freelancing is such an unknown.

Mindy Kaufman: If you don't get an orchestra job or become successful as a soloist or teach, it's very hard to earn a living.

Question from chat room: How often do you give solo recitals?

Mindy Kaufman: About once a year. I love solo recitals.

CNN Moderator: What makes a great piccolo/flute player?

Mindy Kaufman: It's not only being able to play the instrument with virtuosity, but it also has to do with how good your ear is and your instincts and sense of musicality. It also has to do with your ability to play in tune.

Question from chat room: I have a number of friends -- from grad school at the conservatory next door to you all -- who are in orchestras; some in yours. How has the professional reality of it differed from your expectations?

Mindy Kaufman: I think it's what I expected. I think the realities of the music business are different than I expected and I realized this as I got older. But I started so young that I was very happy to be in the orchestra, so it exceeded my expectations.

CNN Moderator: If you could identify the moment in your life when you knew that you wanted to be a professional musician, what would that moment be?

Mindy Kaufman: It was when I was around fifteen years old and I just realized that I loved playing symphonic music. I loved playing music with colleagues.

Question from chat room: What about non-professionals? How can we keep playing? Are there organizations you know of that I could get involved in?

Mindy Kaufman: Yes. If the writer is a flutist, the New York Flute Club has activities for amateurs and the 92nd Street Y has chamber music and other programs. I believe the Abraham Goodman House also has activities. And there are several amateur orchestra's I've played concertos with: the Riverside Orchestra and the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra.

CNN Moderator: If flute is your "first passion" in life, what would you say is your second?

	MESSAGE BOARD
Symphonic careers

Mindy Kaufman: Skiing! Last week I went skiing and I met two ski instructors who said I should become a ski instructor. It actually sounds very tempting!

CNN Moderator: Do you ever worry about injuring yourself?

Mindy Kaufman: I'm careful and don't ski fast, but I will ski hard, steep runs.

Question from chat room: What was the largest crowd you've ever played in front of?

Mindy Kaufman: I think it was in Central Park. It might have been around a quarter of a million or more. It was on July 4th. It was part of a celebration in Central Park.

Question from chat room: Can you suggest some finger exercises that would be good to develop flexibility and fluidity in movement?

Mindy Kaufman: I practice Taffanel every day. And Moyse.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us?

Mindy Kaufman: I thank you for asking such wonderful questions, insightful questions. And I'm happy to know there's so much interest.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today.

Mindy Kaufman: Thank you very much for having me.

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