An opportunity to work together on key repertoire ahead of the academic term. Refocus and re-inspire after the summer vacation in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Daily warm ups, performances and ensembles.
STANDARD: SKILFUL
Resident: £699 Non-Resident: £550 (25% off for under 27s) Code: 25/403
Booking for Members opens at 9am on Wednesday 27 November 2024
Non-Member and online booking opens at 9am on Monday 16 December 2024
For details on how to become a Member to take advantage of early booking, see here
What is this course about?
Elizabeth Walker (director of Flutes in Tuscany, regular guest on Talking Flutes podcast, Pearl Flute Artist and principal baroque flautist for English Baroque Soloists) will start each day introducing her daily warm ups to develop and reinforce tonal colours, flexibility and finger dexterity. This will be followed by a class focusing on a specific aspect or technique found in our core repertoire: such as dynamic contrasts, projection, ornamentation, improvisation, memorisation. The morning finishes with a sightreading session from Elizabeth's large library of flute ensemble music, using piccolo, alto and bass flutes. In the afternoon there will be optional one-to-one or group baroque or classical 8 keyed flute lessons, (taster sessions also available for those without instruments or prior knowledge) whilst expert piano accompanist Richard Shaw (staff accompanist at The Royal Academy of Music, London) will offer invaluable guidance, accompanying recital pieces that will be later performed in a relaxed and inclusive concert each evening.
What will the course cover?
All course participants should suggest one piece of repertoire for inclusion in an evening recital and afternoon sessions with Richard. This should be decided on by August 1st, 2025. Additionally, all participants should also bring all the J.S. Bach Flute Sonatas (Barenreiter Edition), Telemann 12 solo Fantasias and a French repertoire piece (Faure, Chaminade, Taffanel, Gaubert, Bonis).
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course you will be able to...
All flautists will accomplish a renewed love of the flute and piano repertoire! In addition, there will be a greater awareness of style and knowledge of the music from the piano part upwards. During the course, everyone will gain confidence whilst performing to each other.
How will the course be taught? Will preparation be required?
The course is taught in an open masterclass style. We will learn from each other, and preparation before the course, to present pieces ready to be perfected, is essential.
Will music be provided in advance of this course?
Participants are requested to bring their own solo repertoire music. Helpful resources: IMSLP has a wide range of parts and scores. Benslow Music members may be able to hire the music from our library. All copies of flute ensemble music will be provided on the course.
Is there anything that participants need to bring?
If you own them, please bring your own piccolo, alto/bass flutes and any historical flutes you own. However, the tutor will have additional instruments to loan on the course.
Tutor biographies
Elizabeth Walker: "As perfect a demonstration of the modern wood flute's capabilities as one could wish to hear" A review from PAN magazine. Elizabeth Walker performs with the English Baroque Soloists, on baroque flute and recorder and has recorded a solo CD of Telemann's Fantasias and the Flute Sonatas by J.S.Bach on a wooden modern flute with her group 'Continuum'. In 2012, Elizabeth formed a partnership with the pianist Richard Shaw, exploring repertoire from the mid nineteenth century composed specifically for her original Louis Lot Boehm-system flute, dated 1859. Together they have recorded a CD of Schubert's works for flute and piano for 'Devine Music' and given recitals in England, Holland, Switzerland, Toronto (Canadian Flute Convention) and Chicago for the National Flute Association in America. Their YouTube clip has attracted over 75,000 hits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbzu_zlf_Z4. Elizabeth is in demand as a baroque flute teacher, following the success of her Baroque Flute Studies books (Winner – Best Flute Method NFA 2015 & 2017 for the sister publication Baroque Studies for Modern Flute) published by WonderfulWinds.
Richard Shaw: RICHARD SHAW specializes in chamber music and accompaniment and has performed extensively in Britain and abroad. In the last few years his many broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 include duo performances with violinists such as James Ehnes, Viviane Hagner, Leonidas Kavakos, So-Ock Kim, Pekka Kuusisto, Vadim Repin, Ittai Shapira and Nikolaj Znaider, cellists Richard Harwood and Li Wei, Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Martin Fröst (clarinet) and singers Nicole Cabelle, Jennifer Smith, Ailish Tynan, Alice Coote, Ruby Philogene, Jean Rigby, Anna Larsson, Robin Blaze, Michael Chance, Paul Agnew, Hal Cazalet, Kurt Streit, Matthew Rose, Jonathan Veira and Robert Pomakov. He is Staff Accompanist at the Royal Academy of Music and is currently writing a biography of the distinguished Russian mezzo-soprano, Maria Karinskaya (1882-1942), following his discovery of an unknown 400-page Russian manuscript based on Karinskaya's lost memoirs. His music album, Malcolm Arnold: Songs and Arias, is published by Novello & Co/Music Sales. His recent CDs for the Deux-Elles label include music by the great French flautist Phillipe Gaubert, with Kathryn Thomas (flute), the chamber works and piano solos of Sir Harrison Birtwistle, 'Piper's Dream' (with Ensemble Lumière) featuring the piano solos, flute and chamber works of Cecilia McDowall, and 'Fauré and his circle'.
Further links
Elizabeth Walker and Richard Shaw performing Strauss's Lieder - Morgen! (Tomorrow)