flute

In Loving Memory of
Stasia B. Gorczyca
February 6, 1930 - December 18, 2001

MY MOTHER INSTILLED IN ME the love of music. When I was 3 1/2 years old, she started teaching me the piano. When I was 8, I began flute lessons and together, my mother and I took an incredible musical journey.

At 12, I joined my mother, a violinist in the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, in playing Smetana Moldau Suite. My flute teacher, Faust Fiore, was first flute, and I was second. In High School we also played together in the Fall River Symphony, where I was first flute and Mom played second violin not far from my seat.

My mother was in the audience of my every musical adventure: All Eastern Orchestra, under the baton of Benjamin Zander, Young Artist Showcase, WQXR New York, Carnegie Hall with the MIT Symphony Orchestra, Longwood Symphony Orchestra — every competition and recital. We had a great time.

In Boston, when I was a dental student at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, I had some great flute teachers. These included Louis Moyse, Claude Monteaux, John Heiss, and Lois Schaefer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I used to practice 2 hours a day during dental school and am still occasionally referred to as “the flute girl of Vanderbilt Hall.”

My mother was principal violinist of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra when she was in high school. At the very end of her life, she was the very last 2nd violinist. I used to kid her and say “Mom, you’re almost behind the curtain!” She would say “I don’t care, I’m still playing!”

I’m happy to report that my son Richard, age 12, has now been playing the violin for 8 years. On Saturdays, he is a student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the Pre-College Division studying music theory, violin, chamber music, and playing in the orchestra.

Please honor Stasia by supporting the Stasia Gorczyca Endowment Fund:

Stasia Gorczyca Endowment Fund
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
P.O. Box 2053
New Bedford, Massachusetts 02741

IT MAY HAVE BEEN your first time away from home. It may have been the first time you did your own laundry. For those who do it, summer music camp is something you will never forget.

Playing A Wind Instrument With Braces Can Be Uncomfortable

Playing a wind or brass instrument like flute or trumpet with braces for several hours per day at camp gave us all "hamburger lip." This was quite uncomfortable! Even though we would put wax on our braces 5 millimeters thick, we would still ended up with raw, wounded, and uncomfortable lips after playing a wind or brass instrument for several hours per day.

Today, the problem of "hamburger lip" is solved by orthodontic treatment with Invisalign Teen. A clear, smooth alternative to braces, Invisalign Teen aligners can be either worn or not worn while playing your wind or brass musical instrument at summer music camp making the experience comfortable and even more fun.

Additional benefits of Invisalign Teen include being able to eat what you want, having nothing break while you are away, and having nothing get lose and poke while you are playing your musical instrument. This makes life at summer music camp easy, letting you focus on your music, friends, activities, and fun.

We Can Help You With Your Invisalign

If you are a wind or brass player and planning to play a lot of music this summer, consider Invisalign Teen. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California.

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Consider Invisalign Teen today. Your lips and your embouchure will thank you.

Top image by Flickr user H. Michael Miley used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.