Author Archives: Flutewise Admin

Flutewise no more

1
Posted by Flutewise Admin on July 17, 2008 – 9:17 pm
Filed under Liz's Blog

I always feel sad when someone doesn’t renew their Flutewise membership, but sometimes it makes me very happy, especially when I know Flutewise has done its job and has supported a young player. Today I received this email and it really ticks all the right boxes for me.

Dear Liz,

I received a letter through this morning, telling me that I need to renew my flutewise membership. It also mentioned at the bottom to let you know if I decided I didn’t want to continue my membership, well I no longer wish to be a member, but as I have been one for the past eight or so years and attended Project Flutewise 1,2 and 3, and an residential course, I thought I owed an explanation to why I’m starting.

I decided, easter, of two years ago that I wanted to learn a second instrument (I don’t play piano so all I was playing at that time was flute and piccolo) so I began learning bassoon, I got on really well with help from my brilliant flute/bassoon teacher (Janet Whitteridge) and my already ok(ish) flute skills-Grade 8 distinction, helped loads along the way and within 11 months of starting I had passed my grade 8 bassoon with distinction as well :) but sadly because of my progress, the demand for the instrument and how much I enjoy playing bassoon this meant it became my first instrument and the flute was put down. (Well not literally.) Playing bassoon has opened so many doors for me though. I have played more extensively with my county groups (Somerset County Youth Concert Band and Somerset County Youth Orchestra.) And last year I became a member of the National Youth Orchestra, for my final course of the year I have been invited to play with the NYO Sinfonietta and I’m hoping to return for a final year. Also I’ve gained a full scholarship to the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, as well as being really lucky to be receiving lessons from Martin Gatt (Ex prin. bassoon of LSO!) So sadly, I am a now a bassoonist through and through. But I would like to thank you for all the work you put in running flutewise, the magazines are brilliant and have helped me no end. It’s just a shame theres nothing similar in the bassoon world. Sorry it’s such a long update of my progress, but I thought that because of the help flutewise has given me you deserve an explanation!

Thanks

Luke

Learning scales- cycle of 5ths

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Posted by Flutewise Admin on July 16, 2008 – 9:39 am
Filed under Liz's Blog

I had an interesting email from Hannah yesterday. One thing she told me is how she has started work on her Grade 7 scales and she is stunned at how many there are. Many people find their scales really hard and a chore. Once you’ve learnt all of your scales you realise just how easy they are. Honest. I just can’t understand why people just learn scales randomly for exams. Just learn them all – from being a beginner onwards. You’ll then understand how they work.

Here is what I suggest. Start with major scales and only one octave. You need to know 3 things – the order of sharps, the order of flats and that an arpeggio is made up of the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the scale.
To remember the order of sharps – Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
For flats it is the same sentence backwards – Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father.
With this information you are ready to play (and understand) all of your major scales.
Of you go – play C major (no sharps or flats in the key signature). Now play the arpeggio – CEG, play the G again and this takes you to the next scale G major, 1 sharp, F sharp. Play the scale and the arpeggio GBD – the D takes you to the next scale D major, 2 sharps F sharp and C sharp. Get the idea?
SCALE ARPEGGIO KEY SIGNATURE
C C E G nothing
G  G B D 1 sharp F
D D F sharp A 2 sharps  F C
A A C sharp E 3 sharps F C G
E E G B 4 sharps F C G D
B B D sharp F sharp 5 sharps F C G D A
F sharp F sharp A sharp C sharp 6 sharps F C G D A E
C sharp – or D flat this is when you need to change from sharps to flats and then life gets easier as you start to get rid of flats
D flat D flat F A flat 5 flats B E A D G
A flat  A flat C E flat 4 flats B E A D
E flat E flat G B flat 3 flats B E A
B flat B flat D F 2 flats B E
F  F A C 1 flat B
C  we are back to the beginning! Easy.
(I’ve tried 3 times to set the above nicely as a table – sorry it is a mess. I’ll ask Andy how I can do it later).
Give it a try. It’s called a cycle of fifths. I really recommend you only play one octave (with a beautiful tone) until you feel really secure. As well as using your brain to work them out, let your ears help you, you should know when it sounds wrong, ie you play a wrong note. Once you are secure in the low octave, work on the higher octave then practise 2 octaves or 3 where appropriate. But don’t rush, take your time – mastering a little something new each day but reviewing what you did the day before is the way to make good progress.
Let me know your thoughts on this.
Happy scale playing!

Boring

Comments Off
Posted by Flutewise Admin on July 15, 2008 – 11:02 am
Filed under Liz's Blog

I’ve spent six hours sitting in a tax seminar. Will this really improve the quality of mine, or anyone else’s, life? All I want to do is play my flute.

Carla goes for a record!

Comments Off
Posted by Flutewise Admin on July 14, 2008 – 8:47 am
Filed under Liz's Blog

Some of you might remember Carla Woods. She has been a member for many years and has attended lots of events including performing in the Galway Christmas concerts.

Carla is disabled and she never ceases to amaze me with her incredible attitude to life. She has done many fantastic things and the next one she is planning really impresses me. Read below what she has to say and please consider donating something to this worthwhile cause.

Carla writes:
I am planning to carry out a Flute playathon to raise funds to rebuild a campsite for people with disabilities in Farnham, Surrey. I have attended this campsite since 1964 and now help with organising of the annual weeks stay for the group I go with called Pathfinders.

The Website is as follows:- .www.woodlarks.org.uk. The rebuild fund is called Project Woodpecker and a link to Charity Choice is on the site for those who wish to donate towards the rebuild.

The duration of my Flute playathon will be a total of 11 hours and will take place at the venue in August. Every donation received will help with the rebuild which will in turn provide many people with special needs the experience of camping which provides self esteem, experience and pleasure, not mentioning friendship.

I have been told that my endeavours could possibly set a new world record according to the Guinness Book of Records but I am not advertising that fact in case it doesn’t work out. If I achieve the record for playing the Flute for 11 hours I will of course let you know.

I hope you are able to help as the campsite do hold an annual music camp by a group called Woodland Music which I have also attended.

Thanking you in advance.

Regards

Carla

My flute …….

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Posted by Flutewise Admin on July 13, 2008 – 7:47 am
Filed under Liz's Blog


….. is incredible! I really love my flute. Yesterday I was trying out another flute, it was great, lovely key work and very responsive. I thought, wow. Then I picked up my own – there was just no comparison. How lucky am I? But we should all feel that – your flute is the best in the world.

I feel really lucky to have such a wonderful instrument. If you are interested it’s one of the earliest handmade Altus flutes, all silver with a seamed tube. I’ve had it for ovr 20 years and it has virtually had no problems apart from the one Ian McLauchlan fixed last week.