How do you add interpretation when playing a piece of music?

Question:I'm going to be doing solo competition on my flute, and I'm playing "Adagio and Gigue" from Sonata in G Major by Jean-Baptiste Loeillet.

What can I do to add interpretation to the music I play and make it the best that I absolutely can. freshman year (last year) I only made it to regionals..and I want to go to state this year!
The woman that judges regionals every year for flute is one of the toughest judges around (srsly!) and so I want to make this as good as possible. What can I do to make this piece it's best?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm going to be doing solo competition on my flute, and I'm playing "Adagio and Gigue" from Sonata in G Major by Jean-Baptiste Loeillet.

What can I do to add interpretation to the music I play and make it the best that I absolutely can. freshman year (last year) I only made it to regionals..and I want to go to state this year!
The woman that judges regionals every year for flute is one of the toughest judges around (srsly!) and so I want to make this as good as possible. What can I do to make this piece it's best?

Take each section of the music and think about what it's trying to say. While you're playing it, think about something that has happened in your life that applies to that feeling. Sometimes I make up a story for a whole song. It really helps me to emote the feelings through my flute.

Another thing that helps me to show the emotion in the piece is to find a certain physical position that works better. For me that position is to push my arms forward a little. I know it sounds funny, but it works for me.

the best way is to shape the phrases. you do this by getting louder, and then getting softer. this really adds an effect to the piece. Also, you should over do your dynamics. The most importing thing it to let emotion be felt in you piece. hope this helps you

of course practice endlessly and take care of your instrument... but you have to feal the piece... only a true artist will ever fully understand a work of art and that applies especially to music.. does the piece remind you of someone... or maybe try expressing how much you want to win through the piece, or how youd feal if something happend.. try to portray hope, tears,blood,fears pain and suffering, joy and redemption, pride... withdrawl,or contempt happieness through a few notes and tehn work your way up... it takes someone who can read music to play a piece... it takes a musician to understand it

Well, first of all. I would learn a bit about the history of the composer and the piece. What were the performance practices when he wrote it? Then you want to maybe sit with your music without the flute and map out phrasing, make sure you circle important dynamic and articulation markings. Because you play a wind instrument, make sure your breath marks are placed carefully because a breath at the wrong moment could ruin everything. Also, sing your music first how you want it to sound on the flute. You don't need to have a great voice to do that.

Good luck.