I have just had my first experience of playing flute in a flute choir - isn't it good fun! I loved every minute of it.

Each November my teacher puts on a little concert for her pupils and their families, and last year having had just five lessons I was only an on-looker. But this year I was invited to take part. Normally her students (mostly young children) play solos, duets with piano, or flute duets, but a few months ago she put a note out asking if anybody was interested in playing in an ensemble. Interested? I was first in line! There were seven of us, three young ones and four adults (plus teacher Anna played as well).

We played three pieces each arranged for 3 flute parts, "See the Conquering Hero", "A Musical Joke" and "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy". We were assigned different parts for each one, and for the Tschaikovsky I was given Flute 1, complete with a couple of top register As to get!

The fourth piece was an arrangement made by me of my Grade 4 exam piece "Sicilienne", the one attributed to Paradis. I have liked this piece from the moment I tried it out for my exam, and during the summer months, with some help from Sibelius software and guidance from Anna, I created an arrangement for piccolo, three flute parts, and alto flute.

What was interesting for most of us who have only ever played alone or with Anna was how much more there is to learn when playing in an ensemble: getting the tempo right when it was our turn to count in the group, keeping the tempo going without speeding up or slowing down, counting bars with rests so as not to miss an entry or come in early, tuning up a whole group and then trying to keep an accurate pitch on all the notes, observing dynamics properly so as to ensure the melody is not drowned! And so on.

As you can observe, I was so excited by the complete event I just wanted to share it with someone! We were all complete beginners at ensemble playing, and no doubt we sounded what we are - a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs - but there is no denying that we all had fun doing it. The feedback is that not only do we all want to carry on with the group, but there are some others who watched and listened on the night who also want to join!

So watch out for the Anna Gallan Flute Ensemble!

(why are these flautists trying to play left-handed?)

Sounds like you had fun! Good luck with all your future projects.

Am going to the Benslow ensemble weekend in May which is for newish players. Am excited already!

For anyone near Leicester: Richard Attenborough Centre (Leics. University) has a flute choir day in March!

nick

That sounds very interesting! Can you tell us more (dates, standard required etc.)?

Benslow Music Trust
http://www.benslow.org/
The course is called New Winds (!) I think it just flutes.

Not sure I'd be around in May (though thanks for the info ), I'm mainly looking at the Leicester event/details. The venue is somewhere I'm not aware of.

Flute choirs sound lovely Glad you've found a good group to play with, you sound as if you're all going to get a huge amount of enjoyment out of it

Sorry Mr Clari - ony just seen your post. RAC is here: http://www.le.ac.uk/racentre/

The flute event isn't up yet, but it will be on 28 March, with Jenny Brooks, costs £25. I went last year - about 20 people, all ages, standard typically arOund G3/G4. Undemanding but fun!

Might not be worth a long journey, but if you're thinking of coming up let me know.

nick

Thanks - it does sound fun. Are there more challenging parts than gr.3/4 available, do you know?

Will put this on the events calendar in the forum events area.

Doubt that it will go much above that grade - but you could mail the centre and get them to ask Jenny - I doubt also that it will sell out, so you could make a late decision.

nick

Thanks for that!

Ha, do they!!?

Oooh, Jenny Brooks is good, though I've not done anything with her for years...

I went to the Benslow New Winds last year - enjoyed it so much I am back for the Introduction to Wind Chamber music in March also taught by Janet Myatt - a brilliant and very encouraging teacher. Tis not just for flutes though, the group at last year's session, if I rember rightly, consisted of four flutes including myself, two clarinets, an oboe and a couple of saxaphones.

I found it particularly encouraging that the more advanced musicians on other courses were so nice to us beginners. Lovely relaxing surroundings too.