FluteFling Aberdeen Weekend 2018

FluteFling Aberdeen Weekend 2018

FluteFling returns to Aberdeen 16-18 November

Traditional flute workshop with Sharon Creasey at FluteFling Edinburgh Weekend 2018 (c) Gordon Turnbull

FluteFling returns to Aberdeen in November following last year’s successful event.

Dougie Pincock is the guest tutor this year. The Director of the Plockton School of Excellence in Traditional Music and former member of The Battlefield Band joins FluteFling core tutors Sharon Creasey and Gordon Turnbull for workshops on Saturday 17 November.

By popular demand, this year the format has expanded to include whistles and low whistles.

Focusing on Scottish traditional flute and whistle playing, the expanded weekend of workshops, sessions and guest performances promises to be as inspiring as last year’s event.

Dougie Pincock

We are delighted that Dougie Pincock is able to join us. With a background of excellence in performance, recording and teaching on the Highland pipes, flute and whistle, this is a rare opportunity to learn from a master musician.

Core tutor Sharon Creasey returns to Aberdeen with her wealth of experience on Boehm system flute and whistles and on the back of a new series of workshops in Glasgow.

Wooden flute player Gordon Turnbull is no stranger to Aberdeen musicians as NE flute players often attend his Edinburgh workshops. This is his first trip to the city to teach.

Workshops Saturday 17 November

Workshop travel information

John Crawford has passed on this useful information:
First Buses’ No. 1 or No 2 services will get people from the town centre to the Inchgarth Community Centre, Aboyne Place, Aberdeen AB10 7DR. Journey time is circa 23 minutes; service frequency is around every seven minutes.
The nearest stop for the No1 is on Garthdee Road Opp Craigievar Road near Robert Gordon’s University, Garthdee; the venue is a 0.3 mile (6 minute) walk from here
The nearest stop of the No 2 is on Auchinyell Road Adj Auchinyell Gardens, Garthdee; the venue is a 0.3mile (8 minute, must be uphill!) walk from here.
The FirstBus app works pretty well in most places in the city.

Weekend details

So far the weekend looks like this:

  • Friday 16th November: Welcome Session with the tutors, approx 20:00 – late | The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen AB25 1BU
  • Saturday 17th November:
    • Daytime Workshops 10.00 – 16.15 | Inchgarth Community Centre, Aboyne Place, Aberdeen AB10 7DR | Please note: There is a cafe at the venue and supermarkets with sandwiches etc. less than 1km from the venue.
    • Evening Session with guest performances, approx 20:00 – late | The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen AB25 1BU
  • Sunday 18th November: Farewell Session 12.00 – 15.00 | Ma Cameron’s, 6-8 Little Belmont St, Aberdeen AB10 1JG

Farewell session in Ma Cameron’s with Davy Maguire November 2017 (c) Gordon Turnbull

The Aberdeen weekend is organised by the same team behind 5 years of Edinburgh events and related local events in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

We hope you can make it and be part of the growing band of Scottish whistlers and in the ongoing revival in traditional flute playing in Scotland.

 

 

 

FAQs

Session at FluteFling Edinburgh Weekend 2017

Session at FluteFling Edinburgh Weekend 2017

Who is the workshop for? Do I need to play a wooden flute to attend?

The workshop is for people interested in playing traditional Scottish music on the flute, whistle or low whistle.

It is open to Boehm system (metal, classical) musicians and those playing simple system wooden flutes (keyed or unkeyed) alike. This is a great opportunity to explore and develop your flute playing in the context of Scottish traditional music, whichever instrument type you play.

Topics for all musicians include:

  • different playing styles and approaches
  • repertoire
  • technique
  • breathing, phrasing and tone improvement
  • history

What about whistles? What sort should I have and is it a “come and try” type event?

Whistles and low whistles alike should be in the key of D. (Sometimes these are called soprano and tenor whistles.) It would be best if your whistle is tuneable too, but not essential. Ideally you should already have been playing the whistle for 2 years and will have mastered scales and breathing while playing tunes and beginning to build up your repertoire. If in doubt, get in touch.

Unfortunately, the event is not suitable for complete beginners. If in doubt, contact us first or sign up to the FluteFling newsletter to hear about beginner whistle events in the Edinburgh area.

I play the flute already, how do I know if I have the right amount of playing experience for the workshops?

There will also be space for flute players with up to 4 years experience as well as those with more than 4 years experience.

However, this is just a rough guide and there will be some flexibility in forming the classes. The tutors will support you in your music and make sure you have what you need in terms of developing your playing. If in doubt, please get in touch.

Scottish music on the flute? What’s that about anyway?

Not many people realise that the flute was once as popular an instrument in Scotland as the fiddle. Many of the older collections of Scottish music were published with the flute in mind. The popularity waned for reasons that are not clear but in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest. Flutes blend well with other traditional instruments in the Scottish music scene and have a natural affinity with whistles and the increasingly popular low whistles. FluteFling weekends are an opportunity for people to become part of the revival.

I learned flute at school but haven’t played traditional music on the flute before. Is this for me?

Absolutely! We welcome people returning to the flute after a break and will help with repertoire and technique so that you can play more comfortably with other traditional musicians.

I already play traditional flute/ whistle. Is there something for me?

The experienced tutors will share their knowledge and help you think further about your music, tone, phrasing and technique. People are often inspired at these events and take something away that they want to work on.

What about sheet music?

Traditional music relies on developing a good ear. Our tutors will help you to develop those skills through teaching by ear. But not everyone will be used to this, so don’t panic if this seems daunting as we also have the music written out for you and will email it in advance.

So who usually attends?

The weekend brings musicians of different backgrounds and locations together and has led to friendships and people from around Scotland and beyond connecting up. Some are picking up their instrument after a break, others much more involved in their local scenes. We’ve had flute players from the Isle of Arran, Argyll, the Scottish Borders, Aberdeenshire, Stirlingshire, Perthshire, Lancashire, Sweden and the USA. We hope you can come and join us.

Are the sessions open to other instruments? Do I have to have a ticket?

The sessions are open to the public and any instruments are welcome to join, although it helps if you enjoy flute and whistle music!

How can I get tickets?