On Thursday we are off to Ovingdean Hall again for another course. Unlike the Abbotsholme course, which was bulging at the seams with people, this one is relatively quiet.
The usual Flutewise team are coming to teach, they are sharing it out over the 4 days, which is excellent. On Saturday we are having a group of teachers in who we are hoping to encourage them to encourage people to come to the Barbican event. Lindy Thwaites is going to lead that for me. We’ve also got a nice surprise for our course members on Saturday. If you are coming, you’ll find out on the day, if you are not coming you’ll find out when it’s over!
So what have I done to get ready? Well, I’ve sorted out lots and lots of music; prepared the scale and skill check sheets; planned a timetable; talked to the various staff at Ovingdean lots and lots; checked the First Aid boxes; checked the DVDs and bought a new one; talked to the Flutewise team; got together lots of tuners and metronomes and sorted out my costume. Why a costume I hear you ask. Well, it’s Halloween, but due to sensitivities, we can’t really celebrate it, so instead we are celebrating FluteOwe’en! What does that mean? Anything you like.
Why don’t you join us in this celebration wherever you are. Oh yes, if you do, you also need to decorate your flute (in a way that causes no harm to the flute) and take a photo and send it in.
Happy FluteOwe’ening!
There are lots of reasons to celebrate at the moment.
Lucy Smith has just had her grade 8 flute exam result – and she passed with distinction! Very well done Lucy.
Also Cathy Hare and Jack Welch were invited to perform with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales last Monday as part of the BBC NOW/National Youth Orchestra collaboration.
The performance, which took place in St Davids Hall Cardiff, will be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales, Sunday 9th November around 6pm. (By visiting the BBC Radio Wales website readers in the UK can listen to the broadcast for upto a week after the 9th using the BBC’s iPlayer.)
Both Jack and Cathy had an amazing but exhausting time!
Go Flutewise members!
Andy is away on holiday this week so life is a little bit different. He has been working really hard on the new website recently and I promised him I’d do some stuff for it while he was away.
Ages ago I started a Flutewise ‘time line’ document. I’ve got it out again and I’m trying to finish it. It’s hard work ploughing through over 20 years worth of magazines and records. I think it might be worth it. If nothing else it’s giving me a great deal of satisfaction to remember how much has gone into Flutewise over the years, so many happy memories.
Do you think people will want to read about the history of Flutewise?
Progress on the new website stuff is progressing really quickly now. It’s all being kept secret – even Liz hasn’t seen all of it (which is mainly because she is so busy with so many other exciting Flutewise things!) – but it is well worth the wait.
One thing that is requested (quite a lot!) is merchandise. T-shirts, mugs, pens and pencils are ideas that have been kicking around for a while. We’ve looked around various sources and there are – literally – thousands of different products that we can make Flutewise-y. It’d really help us if you could let us know what you would like to see.
There’s a poll after the break (if you click on the “more” link after this post) which has ten options that seem the most likely – but if you have any other ideas please send us your comments. What would you like to see?
“I would like to see some of those strange, little, furry bugs with the ribbons attached to the bottom.”
That kind of thing. Let your imagination fly – we could even have Flutewise roller blinds!
Thanks, Andy.
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Sat 18 and Sun 19 October at the Undercroft, Winchester Cathedral
Join Ian Clarke, a leading performer and composer in the flute world, as he leads two days of workshops, flute choir sessions and individual masterclasses talking about extended techniques, expressive playing and other aspects of flute performance.
Browse an extensive range of flutes, accessories and sheet music nfrom the Just Flutes Travelling Trade Stand, Saturday 11am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm
Hear Ian’s brand new piece, Hatching Aliens, a three movement work for flute and piano, which he will be performing in his recital on the Saturday evening (St. Lawrence’s Church)
- Saturday 18th October – Grades 3-5, tickets £20
- Sunday 19th October – Grades 6 upwards, tickets £20
- Saturday 18th October, evening recital: Tickets £10, £5 if purchased in conjunction with a masterclass ticket.
Book at Winchester Cathedral Box Office: 01962 857275
www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk