Totally Inspired!

Ana and Blaz Pucihar

Last week I saw this wonderful message on Facebook from Pat Daniels:

Feeling inspired.

Earlier this evening I joined the 30 mins zoom session with Flutewise. 

Liz Goodwin has asked a whole array of her famous fluting friends from around the world to record short videos. They have to answer 7 questions and finish by playing a piece of their choice. Tonight was Matej Zupan. His piece was Gossec’s  Tamborin. The most amazing performance of this piece that you will ever hear…..I say no more. This session will be repeated twice more.

This was the second such video. The first I sadly missed… well not quite, Liz played it again. Gareth McLearnon this time. What passion for his instrument and the most beautiful performance of a song from Toy Story.

Teachers can register with Liz using the contact form and pupils may join Flutewise and be truly inspired by these events. Coming up are Ian Clarke, Danielle Eden (picc) Gareth Davies and many more. Each video is be shown on 3 separate dates for easy access. Members tune in from around the world. 

So Tonbridge people, if you were wondering what happened to the Flutewise days, for the time being you don’t even need to leave home to enjoy a Flutewise event.

Marion Garver

Today I’m announcing a few more of these online sessions. It really would be lovely if more people can join us.

On Monday April 11 and Friday April 22 Marion Garver will be sharing with us her BIG flutes! Wow, they are big.

On Monday 25 April and Wednesday 4 may we will be joined by husband and wife team from Slovenia, the Pucihars. Ana is the flute player and Blaz is a pianist and amazing composer, many flute players have enjoyed playing his music including peices that have appeared on the ABRSM syllabus.

There are more of these online sessions to come.

But excitingly I can tell you about two live happenings! On Saturday 28 May flute players and families within travelling distance are invited to join us for Flutewise at the Funfair plus Teddy Bear’s Picnic. It will be on Victoria Park, Victoria Road, Portslade, Brighton. I’ll have more details soon.

Even more exciting than that, I have provisionally booked a Flutewise residential course at Abbotsholme School, Staffordshire from 1 April 2023 for 3 or 4 days. There is the possibility of families coming and booking the lovely log cabins they have in the grounds or flute players coming on their own and staying in the school accommodation. It is a beautiful place and as well as being able to enjoy flute playing activities we can have a day out at Alton Towers! I hope to be able to announce more information about this soon, but if you might be interested, do put the date in the diary.

Don’t forget we have a Flutewise Club online next Saturday at 10.00 am for anyone who would like to play a solo or just come and listen.

Book online sessions here

eFlute LIVE Festival

This is exciting! The International Hybrid Flute Festival 2022 is taking place throughout April and there is something for all flute players, no matter what their age or standard and it’s online or live.

eFlute LIVE Festival April 9-13th

Warm-ups

Masterclasses and Q&A’s with Guest Artists

Interactive Workshops and Lectures

Ensembles and Flute Choir

Shopping and Socials

Concerts

eFlute ONLINE Festival presents…

30 x world-renowned Guest Artists will present a video or interactive zoom class every single

day throughout April. As well as this, we have online warm-ups and live-feeds concerts, and the 2nd

Syrinx Solo Flute Competition.

Digital Festival Ticket only £50 INCLUSIVE if booked before March 14th

***

eFlute JUNIOR Festival

The Junior Festival is suitable for young players of all standards. There will be a dedicated in-person Junior

Day plus lots of online activities. 2 Flute Loops will be reuniting and releasing brand new music and videos.

for more information visit

www.eflutefest.com

Flutewise Inspire! Update

Our Flutewise Inspire! online events have got off to a great start with Gareth McLearnon. When I was arranging these events I realised some dates and times were difficult for some people and lots of people were away over half term. To enable as many people to attend as possible I’m offering a really flexible timetable. We are going to be repeating Gareth’s session again on Tuesday 1 March at 6.00 pm. You are welcome to attend this one even if you’ve taken part in it before. People who attended have really, really enjoyed it. Gareth is so enthusiastic and it’s contagious!

The next artist will be Matej Zupan from Slovenia. You really, really must try and attend this. As well as answering all the questions I gave to him, Matej performs a well-known piece for us. When I first heard it, I was totally blown away.

The dates for Matej are:

Monday 7 March 6.00 - 6.30 pm

Wednesday 9 March 6.00 - 6.30 pm

Sunday 13 March 10.00 - 10.30 am

More to come …

Matej Zupan

Flutewise Inspire!

New online Flutewise Club events!

I’m so excited about this!

New for 2022 a series of 30 minute online events that will inspire, educate and entertain you and help you be a more successful and happier flute player.

These short online are open to everyone who loves playing the flute and are free to attend but you must be a Flutewise member (£10 per year to join). Whether you are just starting out playing the flute or you are a really accomplished player, you will gain a great deal from being involved.

During each session we will see and hear inspirational stories from famous flute players from all over the world. There will be a worksheet available after each session which will include examples of the music we’ve heard and links so you can listen and explore the ideas raised in your own time. We will also play an ensemble piece (everyone on mute) to a backing track.

These events will be via Zoom and they will happen every other Monday at 6.00 pm and then each one will be repeated on a different day/time. This will give you more opportunity to join in and you can always join both it you wish.

Look at this amazing people line up of people who have offered to inspire us (in no particular order):
Gareth McLearnon, Ian Clarke, Gareth Davies, Danielle Eden (piccolo), Abbie Burrows, Robert Goodman (baroque flute), Matej Zupan, Paul Edmond Davies, Richard Douglas, Ana Pucihar and more … There is so much to look forward to.

You can book your place on the first ones now, featuring Gareth McLearnon and hosted by Liz Goodwin

Gareth McLearnon - ready to inspire!

Your Flute Dream … a Flutewise Challenge

This idea has been inspired by an adult Flutewise member, Carla Woods. Do you have another passion in life as well as flute? The challenge is, can you combine them? See here for details of how you can be involved.

Carla, who has been involved with Flutewise since the 1990s, lives with Cerebral Palsy and is now a full time electric wheelchair user. Carla combined her love of the flute with her other love of horse riding. Do read this article:

My Dream Fulfilled

Once again the regional Championships were upon us, this time nearer home as well, at the Arrow Riding School in Dartford. Just a case of having nerves of steel to cross the Dartford Bridge to get there!

Carla and Beau

Six of us went from Chigwell this year and all of us were placed which was lovely, well done Liz, Katheryn and Wendy (there first time), Chris and Adrian. For me this Regional Championship was rather special, as at long last I fulfilled a life-long dream combining my two main interests, music and riding.

The weather was glorious, the breeze keeping the temperature down. I was the first to kick off in our group and I mounted Beau, after having worked him in I proceeded to the arena for my Test 5A. Beau was not as forward going as I would have liked, but then I suppose one could say he had an excuse, what with the weather and different scenery. A few hiccups but I completed the course with a deep sigh of relief.

Lunch time approached and very nervous about my Kur, I did not really feel like eating, but I knew I had to as I would not have been fit for anything!

After the presentations for the morning tests, the Kur tests soon got underway and again I mounted Beau. The Kur tests took place in their menage, which was brilliant but rather dusty. Debbie, armed with my tape (recording)* did the honours of starting it for me. Once settled at X and as square as I could get Beau, I saluted, this was the signal for Debbie to start my recording. I was horrified to hear it was the end of the music that was playing but carried on wondering how I was going to complete the whole four and a half minute test in under a minute. Especially in the lethargic mood Beau was in! By the time I reached where Debbie was standing the mistake was realised. Everything grounded to a halt, Debbie desperately rectified the matter and I left the arena and started again.

On hearing the opening of the 2nd movement of Mozart’s Concerto in D, I was oblivious to anything from then on and I cajoled Beau to try and walk out with the music, singing it to him as I went along. As we approached B, and ready for the 20 metre circle, I urged Beau to flow with the rhythm of Telemann’s Sonata in F. He was reluctant but with me desperate to complete this test I succeeded and round he went. I did not quite reach K as ‘Ye Banks and Braes’ filled the air, but despite that I was thankfully walking down the centre line as the cadenza in Mozart’s 1st movement of Concerto in D rang out, the trill, last note halted, saluted. We had done it, Beau and I had completed our first Kur.

Beau and I thank everyone at Arrow, Gill, Kate and Chris for getting everything ready, but we would especially like to say thank you to Debbie who choreographed the Kur for us and made the riders dream turn into a reality, Although I did not qualify for the National Championship in either of my tests, it was a truly magical day.

Carla Woods, June 1996

You can read a bit more from Carla here.

*ask your parents or grandparents about the joys of cassette tapes in the old days!

Flutewise Winterval Online Event

It’s our new tradition! We are holding a Flutewise Winterval event with Abbie Burrows on Wednesday 29 December 2021 between 3.00 and 5.00 pm.

We held a similar event last year and everyone who attended really enjoyed it. As life looks like it will be very restricted again I am sure you will welcome this one. We will be having a workshop with seasonal warm ups, a Christmas story, playalongs and more. It’s suitable for everyone who loves the flute. Book early to reserve your place.

There will also be the opportunity to take part in a Winterval Flutewise Challenge with prizes to win! Details soon.

Looking forward to seeing you.

A few more online events

Life seems to be getting back to normal for most people. I hope it continues that way and maybe in 2022 we might be able to have some live Flutewise events. Fingers crossed.

In the meantime I’ve planned a few more short online events to keep us connected. I hope lots of you will support them. This is what is coming up:

Christmas Concert Time - on Saturday 4 December you are welcome to perform a solo or just come along and be part of the audience. As usual, we will also play a couple of ensemble pieces. This event starts at 6.00 pm

Christmas Crackers! As I know people are busy leading up to Christmas I’ve planned 3 dates for these events. We will play some Christmas Carols, which have been expertly arranged for us by Jerry Randalls and in between we will share some Christmas cracker type jokes! You are welcome to come to one, two or all of these. I think they will be fun! The dates are - Wednesday 15 December at 6.00 pm, Monday 20 December at 6.00 pm and Thursday 23 December at 10.00 am.

And I’ve got a very exciting event to announce soon!

You can book places here

Flutewise with Atarah!

Atarah Ben Tovim MBE

New date! Saturday 13 November 2021

I am so excited, and rightly so! Atarah has agreed to come and join us for another Flutewise Club online event! It will be on Monday 18 October between 6.00 and 6.30 pm. The last one she did for us was inspiring beyond belief so I hope lots of people will make the effort to join us for this one.

The event is open to everyone - providing they are Flutewise members. So if you are not yet a member please join today. Once you’ve joined book your place.

About a week before the event I’ll send everyone who has booked two ensemble pieces, we will play these together to a backing track. I’ll send you the zoom link the day before the event.

Flutewise Live! at the Seaside

Sadly this was cancelled due to the rise in cover cases in the area.

Would any Flutewise families like to join us for a very exciting Flutewise Live! Event? It’s the first live event since 2019 and I am sure we will all enjoy it.

It is a socially distanced event which will only happen if the weather is suitable.

When - Sunday 18 July from 11.00 a.m until late

Where - 11.00 am we will start at Cotts & Linz Ice Cream Cafe, Ferry Road, Shoreham by Sea for an ‘ice cream breakfast’

12.00 Then we will go onto Shoreham Beach and play some music (the ensemble pieces we have been playing at our Flutewise Club online events. The beach is a very short walk from the Ice Cream Cafe.

1.00 pmAfter we’ve played families are free to explore Shoreham by Sea (it’s interesting with some lovely house boats and plenty of places for lunch)

3.00 pm We will meet at Cole’s FunFair on Victoria Park, Victoria Road, Portslade, Brighton. This is a 10-15 minute drive from Shoreham. We will play again at the Fun Fair, then explore the rides if people want to.

After this families might like to go onto Brighton as there is so much to see in the city. It is a 10-15 minute drive from Portslade.

If the weather is bad there is the possibility of changing the date to Thursday 22 July or Friday 23 July.

If you would like to come please complete the form below. It is open to any flute player and their families and friends. There is no charge for the event but everyone needs to pay for their own ice-cream/lunch/fair ground rides etc. Flutewise will not be taking responsibility for individuals during the day, all youngsters are expected to be escorted by parents or a suitable adult.

Any questions please phone Liz on 01273 702367

Maybe if you can’t travel to this event you can create your own near where you live!