Classical flute music is dominated by Mozart but there are other lovely pieces to be found amongst his contemporaries and those coming just after him.
Alternatives to Mozart: Classical Flute Concertos
There are plenty of alternatives to the Mozart flute concertos, and the Classical period has a wonderful variety of composers who wrote very well for
8 Top Tips on Testing a New Flute
Adam Clifford looks at the best way to test a new flute, what exercises to try and what to look for when choosing.
Composer Profile: Geoff Eales
It is fortunate for us flute players that jazz pianist-composer Geoff Eales and the talented Andy Findon are such good friends. As a direct result of their collaboration for the CD The Dancing Flute, we now have some of the best flute jazz music to play for ourselves. Eales studied composition with Alun Hoddinott and wrote award-winning large-scale orchestral works before he became more interested in jazz. His stellar career since then has enabled him to carve out a niche as an improviser, and it is these two aspects of his style that underpin all his works for the flute.
7 tips on choosing a beginner flute
Buying your first flute can be daunting: there are so many different makes, models and types of flutes available, and the price range can be huge. Below, we’ve compiled our top tips to help a complete newcomer decide on a new flute.
6 Christmas Books That Your Flute Choir Should Own
Looking for music for your flute choir’s Christmas concert? We’ve hand picked six great festive books that every flute choir should own.
Not So Shiny Silver
We are often asked in the shop: “why has my new flute turned black?” One moment your silver flute is nice and shiny. The next,
Publisher Profile: Tetractys Publishing
Tetractys Publishing is the brainchild of Carla Rees, home to her own compositions and arrangements as well as the many pieces that have been written
The Whole Musician: Becoming Happy, Healthy Musicians
Are you inclined to criticize yourself for the smallest things? Are you overly concerned about what others think of you and your playing? Are you fearful of getting it wrong? Are you stuck in a rut? It is very likely that we all have some emotionally charged reactions to these questions in some form or another. Their effect on our musical lives can shape our playing and alter the pure enjoyment we can attain from one simple note.
Publisher Profile: Trübcher Publishing
Roz Trübger, founder of Trübcher Publishing, is very enterprising and clearly loves the flute. She has an impressive catalogue of music to her credit with
Composer Profile: Wil Offermans
Wil Offermans is one of the most interesting composer/performers active in the flute world today. His music uses sounds and textures to explore different worlds and is flexible enough to be played in many different ways. Ethnic influences, particularly from Japan are very evident and his imaginative writing is very appealing for both performer and listener alike.
Building a Flute Library: Exploring Edition Svitzer
Edition Svitzer is a relative newcomer to the world of flute publishing. Set up in 2001, the flute catalogue is under the experienced eye of
Exploring The 2014 ABRSM Flute Syllabus: Grades 6 and 7
By the time we reach this more advanced level, playing skills should be at the point where the choice of repertoire is based on stylistic
Exploring The 2014 ABRSM Flute Syllabus: Grades 4 and 5
By the time a pupil reaches the level of the intermediate grades 4 and 5, repertoire needn’t be governed by an exam syllabus. Pieces outside of the ‘exam books’ therefore become increasingly important as a player begins to widen their musical horizons.
Hidden Histories: Being a Flute Detective
Whenever we get older second hand instruments for sale, we try and research a little about its history and background; sometimes the maker is obscure and there isn’t much information around, but occasionally a fascinating story is revealed. Often more than a little detective work is required to find an instrument’s story.
Exploring The 2014 ABRSM Flute Syllabus: Grades 1 to 3
The publication of a new ABRSM syllabus is about as big an event as it gets in the publishing world these days, and having a piece set for grades 1-3 will generate a great deal of interest. The two parts of the listing (the AB books themselves and the extra set repertoire) will represent a large part of the material used by many teachers over the next four years, so it is fascinating to see what we have in store and how we can make it work for us.