Flutewise Rules!

As promised here is a quick review of our amazing course at the Purcell School. It was our first time at this prestigious venue and we all had an amazing time. I hope I get all of this right – do correct me if I’m wrong.

32 young flute players agd from 9 to 18 were booked into this course and we arrived on Tuesday 11 August. I was the first to arrive to organise the bed rooms and set up everything. Abbie and Gareth arrived next, closely followed by the rest or the resident staff, Stephen, Sandy, Chris and Louise. After everyone arrived and we said good bye to all the parents, Louise played some warm up games for everyone to get to know each other. After this we went over the very imporant course rules plus the extra rules the school imposed before everyone looked around the building and found their bedrooms. I was delighted that everyone was happy with their room mates. It was then time to discover what the food was like – it was excellent! After dinner we did some flute choir with Stephen then scale classes in small groups. Then it was time for bed.

We were up early for an excellent cooked breakfast next morning which was followed by a warm up session, flute choir, scale classes, small ensembles and workshops on pieces course memebrs had brought along.  Patrick from Top Wind came with a huge display of instruments, music and accessories which everyone enjoyed. He very kindly gave everyone a Top Wind/Flutewise Live! T shirt. After lunch we decided it would be a good idea to make Patrick work even harder and he rehearsed and conducted a set of variations on ‘Happy Birthday’ as it was Amy’s 18th birthday. Her mum had brought along a fabulous cake.

Happy Birthday Amy

The ‘Happy Birthday’ piece had been arranged for Flutewise by Duncan Ried to celebrate the 50th birthday of James Galway. That was 20 years ago and it had been hidden in a cupboard for all that time.

Top Wind's Patrick working hard

I had something very exciting planned for the evening but unfortunately there was a big hold up on the M25 so everything was delayed. I had booked Philippe Barnes and his band to come and do a Ceilidh. When I first started Flutewise we used to hold our courses at Corsica Hall in Seaford and we always had a Ceilidh. Philippe was one of my students and so he ‘grew up’ with Flutewise and it was a great joy for me – and I also think him – to have him back at Flutewise in the role of a professional musician. While the band set up we took everyone for a walk around the school grounds. Their faces when we finaly let them into the hall was a divine moment for me and made all of the hardwork of the course worthwhile. What followed was the most brilliant evening. It ended with everyone very, very hot, tired and extremely happy – and everyone probably learnt loads.

The Ceilidh

Thursday came and I had even more excitement in store. After our usual warm up, flute choir and scales class our next guest turned up. It was Andy Findon with the most amazing selection of instruments including the ‘Ford’ advert instruments. Andy’s talk was fascinating and really desrves a big right up – Stephen, are you up for this?

Andy Findon with a Ford instrument

We played rounders in the afternoon – was it Argentinian version? I think it involved dancing a tango!

Ashlin from just Flutes came along with a great selection of flutes and music. I think one course member was very happy that she came as she chose a beautiful new flute. After this it was back to work with more ensembles and work with Chris on the piano followed by an informal concert. We enjoyed a wide range of pieces played by our very talented course members.

After dinner I encouarged the older students to encourage the younger ones to wrtie something for me for Flutewise – all I can say is ‘well done girls’. Abbie had prepared a fabulous quiz for us in the evening which kept us all busy and very happy.

So Friday arrived much too quickly and we spent the morning preparing the concert alongside polishing up the small ensemble pieces so we could play them to everyone. For the concert for parents Louise had taught us a beautiful song; Stephen had worked us hard on Zig Zag Zoo and Sandy had asked Alison, Vicki and Amy to take charge of his Celtic piece and teach it to everyone. This was very special and the girls did really well. I’ll let you know about the small ensembles later.

The concert was wonderful but it was quite sad saying good bye to everyone.

The Castle - Kastel Vitturi

I do it every summer and every summer I can’t believe how lucky I am. I go and teach on my summer course in Croatia. It is the most special, magical place with the most special magical people. If I could have a fantasy trip, I’m sure this would fit the bill. I even get a bit jealous of myself thinking about it.

Ana with me eating black risotto

I’ve got some lovely friends in Croatia – Ana Domancic is a professional flute teacher out there. I met her many years ago at the Slovenian flute convention when Emanuel Pahud had been delayed on his flight. Matej Zupan, who was organising the convention, asked me to cover Pahud’s class, which I did. Ana had come to see Pahud in action and got me instead. She liked what she saw and immediately invited me to Croatia. That was way back in the 90s. Many happy summers have past and for the last few years I’ve been teaching for 2 weeks in this amazing medieval castle right on the sea. My other grown up friends are Najda and Inga who make the course possible. I now have masses of young friends out there.

Najda and Inga

My lovely young friends

This year was special because my son Mark and Samantha came to ‘carry my bags’ – Mark did literally! and 2 families came, the Barrett’s with Emma (flute player) and sister Alice (who learnt to play the fife) and the Coates with Sarah and Tom. It’s always uncomfortable recommending a holiday for people, but I had no real cause for concern, they all loved it!

We meet in the castle every morning for 3 hours and have fun playing musical games and learning new music. The players are always from beginners to professional level. At the end of the 2 weeks we have a concert – and the TV cameras are present. This year I took a ‘Birthday treat’ theme for the concert. I needed to get Zig Zag Zoo in somehow so thsi is what we did:

Happy Birthday (this is a great set of variations which was written by a good friend of mine, Duncan Ried for the 50th birthday of James Galway 20 years ago!)

Soldier’s Joy Hornpipe (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to dance – she said ‘no’)

Fairground Ride/Whirligig (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go on a fairground ride – she said ‘no’)

Merrily We Roll – begiiner fifes (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to hear a piece – she said ‘no’)

James Bond Theme (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go to see a movie- she said ‘no’)

*Queen of the Night (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go to an opera – she said ‘no’)

**Drunken Sailor – (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to have a drink – she said ‘no’)

Hey Joe – birthday present factory rap (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted a present – she said ‘no’)

Mamma Mia (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to see a show – she said ‘no’)

Ken and Barbie (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to have a barbecue – she said ‘no’)

Misty (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go out for a nice meal – she said ‘no’)

So we asked her what she wanted to do and she said go to the Zoo – so we sang ‘Going to the Zoo’

then played Zig Zag Zoo.

Clever, ey?

I’m hoping we’ll hear from Emma, Alice, Sarah and Tom and all of their parents about what they thought of the trip. We stayed in the lovely Villa Soulavy in Kastela Luksic which is relatively near Split. It’s so easy to get to and quite inexpensive. I’ll be there again next year, the dates will be confirmed soon. Fancy joining me? It’s a great place for a family holiday – and parents, just think, I take the kids off your hands for 3 hours every morning!

*This was very, very special for me because I did the arrangement and Klaudia played part 1 on the violin, it was wonderful, even awesome.

** Duje played this on trumpet, very cool.