Calling all flute players!

I'm seriously thinking of buying the JustFlutes own brand alto/bass flute set when they get the bass flutes in, which will be July by the time I can get back to the shop. It occurred to me that a Forums flute choir day/afternoon might be an idea to give them a proper 'christening'.

It's all a bit tentative at the moment because I don't know when I'll be getting them, but my first thought is some time during August, either at a weekend or during the week if there are enough people around.

In general terms, can you post if you might be interested? The venue is likely to be near me in North East Hampshire. The nearest railway station is Fleet, with trains from London Waterloo (35-50 minutes) and Basingstoke (15 minutes).

I'll be acquiring music at the easier end of the flute choir difficulty scale: minimum standard required probably about Grade 3.

Interested so far:

sags_3
rachyroo
monkey flute
nicki_flute
Andy-piano-flute
sarah_flute
katyjay
Lazman
ChevvyChev
hazel (definitely hopeful maybe)
The Old Lady
barry-clari
CJB
Bagpuss
salrec + daughter
SueHM
AmandaL
hillyB
thomxxx
skylark
pianocelloflute

YES!

Well, that was definite! I'll keep you posted of developments.

Ooh that sounds exciting - I loooooooooove the bass flute

hi yes i would love to come along i am not too far away and would love to meet everybody even if i didnt play much ( i am playing grade three at the moment )

*ears prick up at mention of alto and bass flute*

Yes, definitely, if I am free

I would be interested if I played the flute...

Perhaps you could learn between now and then.

*Looks at instruments*

Clari, Oboe, Sax, Recorders, Keyboard... Somehow I don't think I'll be able to convince my parents to let another one into the house! Even if I could buy it myself

Yes -if I can get there ...

YES - if I can get there but yes, very very interested

Wow! A lot of interest already. All this is dependent on my getting the alto and bass, of course! Unless anyone else has one.

If we go for an August date would people prefer a weekend or a weekday? Travel may be cheaper but more problematical at weekends.

Transport could probably be arranged from Heathrow if necessary, A-p-f; it's about a 45-minute drive.

I'll stick a list up on the first post of those who have shown an interest so far.

*contemplates exhuming ancient Yamaha and seeing if I can still get a note on it*

I would love to say yes but I think it's a bit too far for me (and the funds are getting low, I haven't even started uni yet!)

But I hope lots of people make it a fun anf enjoyable event. What a brilliant idea andante!

Yes it sounds like a gd idea!! I wouldn't mind coming! Apparently Fleet isn't too bad a trip away from Richmond ...

I can easily get my hands on a Bass Flute from the joint Girls' school if need be ... ?

And a piece I've always wanted to play but so far haven't had the opportunity is Andrey Rubtsov's "Flute Quartet". Google him and you'll get to his website where he puts the parts up [3 flutes, 1 alto] and also a recording. It's an amazing piece ... maybe a possibility?

But yeah, count me in!

Lawrence

Thanks for that, Lawrence. If the JustFlutes basses get delayed again I might take you up on the offer. And it is an easy trip from Richmond - straight along the M3 if you're in a car.

I would love to come but don't know if I can afford to get there

If you did one in the North . . .

(now 4 days since buying my first flute!)

If one of our northern members wants to set one up for later in the year I'd do my best to get there.

I don't mind! I'm quite busy, but I'll try and come!

I'd definately be interested...as long as I'm not on holiday lol?!

unless you want to webcam me from bora bora hehehe

Could I bring my alto flute?

Yes please! Which dates could you not do?

Chev has a lovely alto flute...I might have to "borrow" it.

Cool! Sounds like fun. I'd love to come, but it will depend on our summer holiday as we've not booked one yet and are rapidly running out of free weeks to squeeze it into! Put me down as definitely hopefully maybe!!

Oooh, have just looked up Fleet on multimap, it's not as far as I was expecting (Hampshire is bigger than I thought) - I had Southampton in mind.

I definitely couldn't do Monday/Tuesday 6/7th August nor the end of that week (Fri-Sunday 10-12 Aug). Flights to Heathrow - there seem to be return ones in the evening even at the weekends. If someone could help with transport from Heathrow that would be wonderful, otherwise I guess public transport might be better on a weekday?

I think transport should be available, especially if we choose a date katyjay can do.

I would also love to perform this piece! Just need to find 3 more diploma standard flautists!
I performed the British premiere of the Divertimento for Flute and Strings - even more amazing piece!!!!!

Weekday, personally - train tends to be a pig on weekends!

Though I will pencil it in as a priority "wanna do" date wherever it falls


Me too!

Hmm, another reason to keep saving up for an alto and bass, I could arrange one near here... (like I need an excuse....!)

We are a bit too far away but I know a girl who would enjoy this. We'll keep an eye on it and see how things go. If anyone arranges one further north then we'd definately be interested.

Yes, if we are not away when you do it.
Bev.

Yes in principle - though there is a large chunk of August where I won't be available Andante.

No definite date yet, as I need to do some checking of the availability of the hall I'm thinking of using, but it will definitely be during the second half of August (from Thursday 16th onwards). At the moment I'm veering towards a Thursday or Friday for various reasons. I'll keep you all posted of developments.

Or earlier You have me round!


Arghhh not the 16th August. (results day ) (Sorry, that date is Very Scary!)

Thanks for reminding me, Nicki. No, it won't be 16th. This is the first year for three years I haven't had someone waiting for AS or A2 results. I might have to steer clear of the 23rd as well as No 3 son will get his results that day, but that's just a quick trip in and out of school so it's not impossible to do.

I'd be interested, especially as Fleet is just round the corner.

I would prefer weekend as taking time off work can be difficult but not impossible.

Good. Nice to see someone else from this area! I'll add you to the 'interested' list.

hi i think this is going to be great a weekend is better for me as i have booked up all my holiday and had to plead and beg for an extra day already

monkey flute

Hi Andante - if I'm around I'll come along. Now I've got the alto I may as well use it! I will be going away at some point but would love to join you for a tad of blowing if possible....keep me posted.

Bag x

Will do. Do you teach during August?

Well, I am hoping NOT to teach at all during August but there are usually a few keen ones and most of the adult pupes keep going, but I tend to work it so I fit them all in together on one day in the week for example. Let's keep liaising on this - sounds like FUN!

Bag x

Definately interested for one daughter and myself, but we'll be away for almost the first two weeks of August, then probably again soon after this.
I'll see what the final date is, then I'll know. Not too far from Oxfordshire, which is good for us.

I'll let you know as soon as I've finalised it.

I'd like to come too

Well I'd like to thank this thread for actually encouraging me to take my flute out and do some practice!

My flute has been neglected for a while - I hope some sort of concept of tone returns soon, it was horribly airy and I kept splitting notes. I suspect breath control....every time the tone started to come back so did the vibrato! Pitch was all over the place as well. In my defence I'm off work recovering from flu so any breath control is a bonus.

Will try to keep up the practice so I don't embarrass myself too badly in August!

Sorry to hear about the flu, but pleased to hear about the flute.

Well, after various consultations and checking the availability of the hall, the date I'm intending to go with is Thursday 30th August. A weekend date just wasn't possible for various reasons, so apologies to those of you who are working during the week. Because of the level of interest for this type of event, I hope that we might be able to sort out a weekend event at some other time.

The date is not absolutely set in stone, so if it proves to be really difficult for a majority of players we can look again, but I need to confirm the hall sooner rather than later.

I think I can do that

It would be nice to do something similar at a weekend in 2008 (and not necessarily just with flutes, how about a strings day, or a clarinet day?). August is one of those months that has a tendency to be 'awkward' with people going away etc. (which is why I'm really pleased we've got a date for Northern Ireland next year sorted out really early). If your August fluting festival is a success (and I'm sure it will be ), a weekend date with bags of notice beforehand would I think be great, yes.

At the moment for August 30th, my situation is 'might well be able to do something with it, but will confirm with you a bit nearer the time'. My problem is that my August is absolutely jammed solid with things to do.......

Oooo, and I'll change the calendar....

Have a horrible feeling that schools here go back that day - might make it more difficult because of having to get children to school & back- & probably the primary school will only have a short day. Will try & find out for definite when term starts...

Barry, this thread has set me thinking along similar lines, especially after conversations with a couple of forum clarinettists about having some kind of love-in at Woodford.

Andante, sorry to hijack your thread with single-reed talk. I hope the day goes well


Hmm, I wonder if my sister still has her old TJJ flute and if I can still play more than four notes without fainting.