FluteFling Scottish Flute Day 2014

Saturday 10th May 2014: FluteFling Edinburgh Scottish Flute Day

Update:

Thanks to everyone who made it along on Saturday to the workshop and to the Friday, Saturday and even Sunday sessions. We had a bigger turnout than hoped and the feedback has been very positive. The tutors have been encouraged not to drop the momentum and we are minded to run something similar once the dust has settled.

In the meantime, we will be posting up the music as soon as possible. Check back for further updates. If you have any photos you are happy to share and we can link to, please drop me a line or leave a comment.

Update 2:

Gordon’s tunes are now on Soundcloud and can be downloaded or streamed here.

An all-day workshop with three experienced tutors, exploring ways of playing Scottish traditional music on the flute. Topics covered will include:

  • different playing styles
  • tune types
  • technique
  • breathing, phrasing and tone improvement
  • history

Whether you play wooden or Boehm system flute, this is a great opportunity to develop your playing and understanding of an instrument that, although common in Irish traditional music, is still in the process of being revived in Scotland. The event is part of Tradfest Edinburgh.

Meet the tutors:

  • Kenny HaddenKenny Hadden (wooden flute, Aberdeen)
    Kenny is flute tutor with Scottish Culture and Traditions in Aberdeen and has been playing traditional music on flute and whistle since the 1970s. An early member of Ceolbeg, he performs with singer Barbara Dymock and is flute and whistle tutor at the School of Excellence, Plockton. His interests include researching original Scottish flute music in archives and collections.
  • Sharon Creasey (Böhm system flute, Glasgow)
    Sharon has been a tutor for RSAMD/ Royal Conservertoire of Scotland (RCS) Musicworks programme and is a deputy tutor for the BA Traditional Music course for RCS. She researched and transcribed material for the acclaimed Hidden Fermanagh project, performing at the Derry All Ireland Fleadh August 2013 and again with Cathal McConnell as part of Celtic Connections 2014.  First picking up the flute in the 1970s, Sharon’s interests include reviving music from manuscripts, old books and from 78rpm and archive recordings from Ulster and Scotland.
  • Gordon Turnbull (wooden flute, Edinburgh)
    Gordon has taught whistle with the Scots Music Group in Edinburgh, runs his own classes for flute and whistle, has taught with RSAMD/ RCS Musicworks and been a deputy tutor for Fèisean nan Gàidheal. Since beginning the flute in the early 1980s, he has performed at festivals in the UK and abroad with Absolutely Legless, supporting acts such as Dervish, Altan, Sharon Shannon and Andy Irvine. Gordon’s interests include exploring different styles of playing and has shared some of his ideas on The Flow, his website on traditional flute styles.
  • Martin Marroni (wooden flute & Böhm system flute, Kelso)
    We are delighted to announce that Martin will be joining us as a special guest to share some of his thoughts and music from a Scottish Borders perspective. With a wealth of experience playing music in Scotland and Ireland, he has worked on the Border Tunesmiths project with Lori Watson and others. For many years a fine wooden flute player, he has also recently branched out into metal Boehm system flute.

FluteFling Day Workshop Details

Open to: wooden “simple-system” flutes (with or without keys), Boehm-system flutes.

Experience levels: this will be subject to numbers of students, but it would be best suited to those who are already able to manage to play the instrument comfortably enough to hold a tune. The ability to sight-read from sheet music is not required for this event.

  • Date: Saturday 10 May | 09.30-16.30 (arrival from 09.00)
  • Tickets: £25 (£20 concessions)
  • Venue: St James Church Hall, Rosefield Place, Portobello EH15 1AZ.

Numbers are limited to 45, so book early to be sure of a place. You can book through the Tradfest website.

Update:

The plan for the day looks like this:

Friday night 21:00- midnight: Arrival session at The Dalriada Bar, Joppa. A chance to have a tune and meet the tutors and some of the other people who will be at the workshops. We have booked the Back Room; there is a singing session in the main bar that evening. Open to all.

  • 09.00: Arrival
  • 09.30: Session 1
  • 11.00: break
  • 11:15: Session 2
  • 12.45: break
  • 13.30: Session 3
  • 15:00: break
  • 15:15: Session 4 (all tutors, Q&A)
  • 16:30: end

The numbers will be divided into three and each group will have time with each tutor over the course of the day. Boehm system players will begin with Sharon so that they will have the opportunity to try out ideas in the other sessions.

The final session will involve everyone and is a chance to share, reflect and ask further questions.

Cauldstane_Slap_Dalriada_SessionSaturday evening 19:30-midnight: Farewell session at The Dalriada Bar, Joppa. Another chance to have a tune and meet the tutors and some of the other people from the day. We have booked the Middle Room; there is a singing session in the main bar that evening. Open to all.

NB: If you’re really keen, there is a session with Sean Paul Newman (guitar, song) in the afternoon there in the Main Bar that ends at 6 and musicians are welcome to carry on playing in that room if they wish to do so until 21:00.

Check back for updates as more details are added.

FluteFling acknowledges the support of Enterprise Music Scotland Traditional Arts Fund with funds from Creative Scotland.