Please note that this particular weekend in Edinburgh appears to be turning into a traditional flute convention thanks to the inclusion of a stellar line-up of guest flute players appearing at the house concert with Nuala Kennedy and Michael Balatti from Italy - details of this are also included in the website link above.
If anyone has any queries about this event, please feel free to contact me through a pm via this website.
Hope to see you there.
Oh wow! I would like to come along. I’ve been playing the flute by myself for a few years now and really want to start playing with other people. But any techniques I can get to improve my playing would be great.
Hi Skinty - thanks for signing up, and I look forward to meeting you on the day. Just one thing re. your last post. I think the "box office " you have to go to for your tickets would be the “Tradfest” Box Office at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, and not the church venue where the event is taking place.
See you on the 9th, - or 8th, if you’re going to Nuala and Michel’s gig.
All the best, Kenny
I’m trying to decide whether to do the lessons for the keyless flute or the silver Boehm. I normally play the wooden keyless flute but I haven’t really got to grips with the Boehm. Even holding it feels really strange so it’s just been stored away for a few years. I’ll bring both and see what happens on the day.
I am informed by the Scottish Storytelling Centre who run the box office for TradFest, that we can pick up our pre paid tickets at the church venue on the morning of the Flute Fling day.
“The FluteFling” went very well, “lesl”. Haven’t ever seen such a collection of flute players in Scotland at any one time.
Got off to a great start on the Friday, with a house concert with Nuala Kennedy and Michel Balatti from Italy. Guest appearances also from Cathal McConnell [ who in typical fashion, started off the flute evening by singing a song ! ], Niall Kenny and Tom Oakes. Special mention should be made of Mike Bryan for some very sensitive guitar accompaniment throughout the evening.
This was followed by a great flute session - just flutes, nothing else - with all of the above, myself and the other 2 tutors, and quite a few of the next days students. It was a great session - very relaxed, good craic, no-one immediately jumping in after a set had finished, and of course, a few songs from Cathal !
The classes went well the next day, with 26 students turning up, same as we had last year. The day rounded off with a short talk from Elizabeth Ford, a PH.D. student from Glasgow University, who told us about her research into the flute, and flute music, in 18th century Scotland.
Saturday ended with another great flute session.
To round things off, a few of us assembled in “Sandy Bells’” on Sunday lunchtime for - guess what - another flute session, albeit on a smaller scale from the others, but very enjoyable again.
Some of us also went to have a look at [ allegedly ] “Bonny” Prince Charlie’s flute, which has just sold for £6,000 - see separate discussion.
This is just the second year we’ve done this, but it’s proving popular, and we’re looking to improve it every time. It would be great to see you there next year !
Regards, Kenny
