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Music at Home: CCM Flute student works her way through Berbiguier's Études

Katie Riley's goal is to memorize all 18 Études while completing her final year at CCM from home

headshot of Rebecca Butts By Rebecca Butts 513-556-2675
5 minute read September 17, 2020

UC College-Conservatory of Music undergraduate flute student Katie Riley is completing her fourth year of studies by taking remote, online classes from her home in the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. Although physically separated from classmates and professors, Riley has enjoyed being surrounded by nature, which makes a great backdrop for her at home performances.

A student of CCM Professor Demarre McGill, Riley's goal during the pandemic is to memorize all 18 of Antoine Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier's Études for flute. She records her performances and shares them online for music lovers to enjoy. Watch her performances of Berbiguier's Études No. 1-6. Originally published in the early 1800s, the flute exercises each focus on a different technical challenge and are still commonly used today. Riley chose to work on Berbiguier's Études because each piece has nice musical phrases that allow her to focus on a variety of aspects of music making.

"I have really enjoyed playing outside for nature! When I noticed how beautiful this evening looked, I knew I had to make a video," Riley says of creating the performance of Berbiguier's Étude No. 6. "I always loved to look out the window when practicing in Memorial Hall at CCM, but since I can’t do that anymore I’ve started practicing outside. Nature is very inspiring to me and I can find something that influences my music making every time I look outside."

Riley struggled at the beginning of the pandemic with the switch to remote classes. She was accustomed to working in the CCM practice rooms and "feeling motivated from being surrounded by the amazing musicians I have the privilege of going to school with." She reflected on why she decided to play the flute and why she wanted to pursue music as a career.

"I concluded that music is one of the richest forms of emotional expression possible and that was something I needed to be part of," she says. "I desire to communicate these complex emotions to an audience through my flute. The instrument is only a tool used to embody the feelings we have in our heads. As soon as I found my 'why,' I had to look at my 'how.' And the only answer I found to my 'how' was to work hard and intentionally every day. Ever since then, I haven’t looked back."

A headshot of Katie Riley with her flute

Katie Riley. Photo/Provided.

Riley says that the most impactful experience she's had at CCM was performing Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun with the CCM Philharmonia led by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Louis Langrée. The sold-out concert was the culmination of Langrée's week-long residency at CCM in February 2020.

"This experience changed my life! I didn't know it at the time, but this was my last performance at CCM, which makes it even more special," Riley says. "I treasure every single performance I've been involved in at CCM. I am grateful for all the playing opportunities I've had."

Riley shares many at-home performance videos on her Facebook page and website. Her advice to students who want to create their own performance videos: "Don't be shy and have fun!"

"Recording something isn’t always an easy thing to do, as I am sure we all have learned over the past few months," she adds. "Learn to enjoy performing for the camera just as much as you enjoy performing to an audience, because the camera is our new audience."

"I also think it is important to let yourself rest and take breaks from the physical aspect of practicing," Riley says. "Inspiration can be found anywhere. It doesn't only happen when you have your instrument in your hand. Other ways of practicing include watching online performances, score studying and even looking at art. Some of my greatest surges of inspiration have come from just looking at the way the world works and attempting to relate that to my music."

Do you want to be featured in our Music at Home student video series? Tag CCM's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts when you share on social media. You can also email ccmpr@uc.edu to tell us about yourself and share your work.

Featured image at the top: Katie Riley as a fellow at the Round Top Festival Institute in Texas in summer 2019. Photo/Provided.

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