FluteFling returned to Aberdeen 1-3 November 2019

The 3rd FluteFling Aberdeen Weekend took place 1-3 November, with Workshops taking place on Saturday 2nd November once more at Inchgarth Community Centre, Aboyne Pl, Aberdeen AB10 7DR. See Travel for location map and public transport details.

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The weekend programme includes:

sessions each day, including informal performance spots
a full day of workshops featuring five tutors
special guest discussion
group pre-session meal
See this PDF for more details of what is on this weekend.

Tickets

This year’s event is the biggest we have held for seven years. While we have tried to keep prices down, the expanded lineup means that we have had to increase prices for this year’s event.

Standard: £75/ Concessions: £60 | Buy tickets for FluteFling Aberdeen Flute Weekend All-day Workshop 2019

Please note that tickets are for the workshops and tuition only. When purchasing your ticket, please include your playing level and instrument so that we can allocate the right group for you.
As you purchase your ticket, you will be sent a link to add your name to those coming to the meal, which is is both optional and separate.
The sessions are free and open to all.

Saturday Workshops

The weekend once again centres on a day of workshops on the Saturday. For the first time we will have five tutors and anticipate having a slight departure from our regular format that will include some 1-1 tuition time in addition to classes with different tutors. Expect to be taught by at least four of the tutors.

Suitability: The workshops are intended for simple system wooden flutes in D, Boehm system flutes and whistles and low whistles in D. While not suitable for complete beginners and best for those with at least 1-2 years experience (this can vary), we do welcome those returning to the instruments after a break. More information can be found here.

Tutors

We are delighted to welcome John Gahagan, as a tutor this year for the first time. John is a flute and whistle player and former member of The Battlefield Band, making him one of the longest-serving flute and whistle players in Scotland. As he devotes his time to his art, this is a rare chance to hear and learn from him beyond Glasgow, where he normally plays and teaches.

John will be teaching group classes this year.

Dougie Pincock at the Sunday session (c) John Crawford

Dougie Pincock was keen to be involved again after enjoying last year’s weekend and also performing in an Edinburgh FluteFling concert a few years back. A piper, whistler, flute and piccolo player, Dougie is another former member of The Battlefield Band and also of Kentigern. Dougie is known as a broadcaster and piper, which somehow he manages to fit in alongside his day job as Director of the National Centre of Traditional Music Excellence in Plockton.

Dougie will be offering 1-1 tuition this year.

Sharon Creasey (c) John Crawford

Core tutor and co-founder Sharon Creasey returns to Aberdeen with her experience of playing traditional music on Boehm system flute, piccolo and whistle. Sharon’s teaching is essential for anyone, but particularly for this crossing over into traditional music on the Boehm system flute.

Her extensive knowledge of the music of Fermanagh and interest in digging into old music collections and manuscripts always produces rare and unusual material to the workshops.

Look out for the traditional piccolo duets with Sharon and Dougie in the sessions — can these be the only ones in Scotland?

Sharon will be teaching group classes this year.

Kenny Hadden (c) Hands Up for Trad

The inspirational Kenny Hadden returns again to teach this year. He is a core FluteFling tutor and co-founder and is also tutor with SCAT in Aberdeen.

Inducted to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2018 for his services to community education and music, Kenny brings his vast experience and knowledge of the Scottish and Irish repertoire and his interest in the older collections.

Kenny will be will be offering 1-1 tuition this year.

Edinburgh FluteFling co-founder and core tutor Gordon Turnbull completes the tutor lineup. Gordon will be returning to Aberdeen with his interest in different styles, techniques and expression, in particular with puirt à beul (Gaelic mouth music) on the flute and whistle, older melodies and tune types.

Expect some exploration of internalisation, breath control and developing playing by ear.

Gordon will be teaching group classes this year.

Resources

The music for Gordon’s workshops can be heard and downloaded from Soundcloud here.
Other teaching materials are now available can be downloaded on sign-up.

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Sessions

Sharon Creasey and Kenny Hadden in full flow in Aberdeen (c) Gordon Turnbull

Expect sessions, food, good company, good music and kindred spirits in flute and whistle.

After piloting a session tune list in Edinburgh 2019, there are two for Aberdeen that are available on Dropbox. One is of some standard tunes so that everyone can feel welcome — including non flute and whistle players! The other collection is of tunes from NE Scotland.

There is no obligation to learn or play these tunes, but you may well hear them over the weekend and want to join in.

Numbers have been very strong in previous years and it is likely to be the same this year, so book early for the workshops and hope to see you at the sessions too!

Travel

John Crawford has helpfully provided some local information on public transport for the weekend:

All of the teaching, on the Saturday, is based at Inchgarth Community Centre. This is very close to Robert Gordon’s University (RGU). There’s an excellent, frequent bus service (Route numbers; 1, 1B & 2) between the city centre and Garthdee, where Inchgarth Community Centre is located. Journey time by bus is circa 15 minutes. It’s a 5 minute walk from the stop on Garthdee Road adjacent to RGU to the Community Centre in Aboyne Place.

First Bus have a decent phone app for the city if you prefer to have the information in your pocket electronically.

The following links will let you see the First Bus Network map for Aberdeen and the time tables.

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FluteFling Aberdeen 2019 has been made possible with the assistance of Tasgadh funding.