Meet Alexandra Langley

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexandra Langley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexandra below.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Alexandra Langley and I am a professional flutist based in North Texas. I’ve played flute for the last 15 years and piccolo for the last 13 years. I perform as a soloist, in top wind ensembles and symphony orchestras, in church ensembles, and teach private lessons to my students. On top of this, I run my own social media accounts on Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok where I share my experiences in classical music and in arranging pop/rock/worship/soundtrack song covers for the flute (solo and auxiliary flutes). I provide services on my website, www.alexandralangleyflutist.com, from performing events to private lessons to remote recording sessions to writing arrangements for you. I also keep you up to date on my next performance dates from my recitals to my flute movie releases. My mission is to share the versatility of the flute through different genres of music and bring it into new directions never thought of before. The biggest lesson I give to everyone I work with is this: Be musical, be creative, and most of all, be you.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three most impactful qualities I’ve gained on my musical journey are: 1) Remember why you love what you do and what made you fall in love with it in the first place. This is important to remember on those days when it’s rough or you feel like quitting. Coming back to the root of what made you fall in love with your passion can help reground you and get back up on your feet to not only work hard again but also enjoy it again. That could be a certain piece or a movie soundtrack or watching someone get inspired by you for example. It’s important that you are happy doing what you do and you know why.
2) Patience is key. When practicing, it’s essential to take it slow at first to remain relaxed and get the passage/technique under your fingers before you increase the tempo. It is not the easiest thing to remain patient because one would like to nail that fast passage instantly. However, that strategy only leads to stress and bad habits that are hard to break later. Practice your patience by setting little goals for yourself and getting the steps down before you increase the difficulty. For example, play that fast passage slowly and start with it all slurred articulation to make sure your airstream is consistent. When you practice with patience and efficiency, you are more likely to get that hard passage nailed with less stress.
3) Remember to take care of yourself in the midst of all your musical projects and practice. After 15 years in my case, I’ve learned it’s more effective to practice for 2 hours with a plan and a stopping point instead of 6 hours without no stopping point. No stopping point means you can open yourself up to potential injuries or burn your mental capacity out which would not be healthy. It is okay to take breaks to refresh yourself and breathe. Stay hydrated, eat, stretch, and unplug for a moment before you return to continue practicing. It helps clear your head and re-energize you. If you do feel pain while you play, it’s important to stop before the pain gets worse and address it as soon as possible to treat it. For mental energy, write an outline of your practice plan so your brain knows what to do without guessing. When you’re finished practicing, check in with yourself and see where your head is. Understanding your emotions helps you what to address in your next session in a healthy manner. My biggest takeaway on this matter is nothing can happen without you, so take care of yourself.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
In the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been opening up to people. I’ve challenged myself to speak to at least 1 to 3 people when I perform at a gig or a class as a way for them to get to know me as a fellow musician and colleague. People want to hear incredible music from you; however, they also want to know who the performer/artist behind the music is. Showing how you work with others, your compatibility, and your passion gives your colleagues a sense of joy and gratitude toward you. This could potentially lead them to ask you to come back and play another gig and/or recommend you for another gig. That’s what happened to me recently this summer and it helped me earn several gigs at different churches. My advice to the reader is to perform your heart out, be yourself, and don’t be afraid to get to know your colleagues.

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