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FLUTE PLAYING - MAIN PAGE
Below are tips and videos related to becoming the best Flute player you can be!:
PARTS OF THE FLUTE:
FINGERING CHARTS:
Flute Tips!:
Flute History:
| History of the Flute (per Standard of Excellence, Book 1)
| | History of the Flute (per musicalinstrumentguide.com)
| | History of the Flute (per theinstrumentplace.com)
| | Flute (instrument) (per wikipedia.org)
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Flute Duets:
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Great duets for 2 Flutes! (or for Trumpet and Flute!) |
Flute Repertoire:
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| Certificate of Merit: Level 5 Pieces for Flute and Piano (audio) |
The Greatest Classical Flute Players! (and others):
| Sir James Galway |
Associated Acts: London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
James Galway is an Irish flutist known for his ability to bridge and blend classical, folk, and other musical traditions together. He is also known for his showmanship, stage presence, and a golden flute.
He began playing the flute at a young age and obtained most of his training through his father and grandfather performing with local bands. He won all three solos in Ireland's National Flute Championships at ten years old. He studied under Jean-Pierre Rampal and Gaston Crunelle at the Paris Conservatory, along with some private training from Marcel Moyse.
Galway is praised for his technique, remarkable range, and emotional depth as a solo artist. He also enjoyed playing traditional Irish music and collaborated with the Irish group the Chieftains and the Celtic Minstrel. James Galway is also the president of the charity Flutewise, which is a foundation that supports young flutists worldwide.
Trivia: Galway has gotten many awards for his contributions to music. He was given the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001. In 2014, he was granted the Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award.
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| Georges Barrere |
Associated Acts: Modern Society for Wind Instruments, New York Symphony Orchestra
Georges Barrere was born the son of a cabinetmaker and a farmer's daughter. He did not come from a musical family. He began taking music lessons after following the band from local school Ecole Drouet around the streets of town playing his penny-whistle. The band encouraged him and pushed Georges to take music lessons in Paris.
He was originally rejected by the Paris Conservatory, but after studying under Joseph-Henri Altes for some time, he was accepted at 14 years old.
When he was seventeen, Georges began playing in the orchestra at Folies Bergere. Once he was done with his studies, Barrere created the Modern Society for Wind Instruments and began teaching young up-and-coming musicians.
Trivia: He founded the Barrere Ensemble in 1910 and expanded it into the Barrere Little Symphony in 1914. This made the flute more well known as an important solo instrument.
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| Jean-Pierre Rampal |
Associated Acts: Paris Opera, Ensemble Baroque de Paris
Jean-Pierre Rampal was a French flute player known for returning the flute to its popularity as a solo classical instrument for the first time since the 18th century. He was the son of a flute teacher, but his parents initially wanted him to become a doctor and sent him to medical school.
He began studying the flute at the Paris Conservatory and won its competition. He started his career after the war in the Vichy Opera and became the first flute in the Paris Opera. Not only did Rampal found the French Wind Quintet, but he also edited Baroque music and taught.
He is most admired for his authentic approach to 18th-century music through his mastery of tonal nuance and articulated tone. As far as raw skill goes, Rampal is definitely one of the best flute players, period.
Trivia: He published an autobiography titled Music, My Love, in 1989. Top musicians Andre Jolivet and Francis Poulenc also composed musical works for him. Sheryl Cohen created the Rampal School to study his methods and influences.
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| Jeanne Baxtresser |
Associated Acts: New York Philharmonic
Jeanne Baxtresser is an American teacher and flutist. Her mother was a top concert pianist, so she grew up surrounded by music. At ten years old, she began to play the flute and immediately took a liking to it.
She studied under Emil Opava of the Minnesota Orchestra. She also studied under Gary Sigurdson at the Interlochen National Music Camp and Academy.
At 14, she made her first appearance in the Minnesota Orchestra. After that, she went to Julliard and studied under Julius Baker and many other prominent flutists. She went on to become the first female principal flute of the New York Philharmonic and was featured in more than fifty solos.
Trivia: Before the flute, Jeanne tried her hand at the piano but noted that it was a complete disaster and quickly moved on. She has won the Nation Flute Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the flute world. She also received the distinguished "University Professor" position at Carnegie Mellon.
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| Marcel Moyse |
Associated Acts: Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire
Marcel Moyse was a well-known French flutist in his time. In the early 1900s, he moved to Paris to live with his uncle, Joseph Moyse, where he learned what the life of a professional musician was like.
Joseph Moyse bought Marcel a flute and enrolled him in daily sessions of extensive practice sessions. Marcel Moyse met Adolphe Hennebains and became his pupil, who began his career.
After one year of training, Marcel was granted the achievement of performing a piece by Philippe Gaubert with the Paris Conservatoire. By 1936, Moyse had a very successful career. He traveled all over the world and performed in all major cities, including many appearances in London.
Trivia: He was one of the only flutists in history to qualify for a first prize after one year of training at the Conservatoire. He was also a founder of the Marlboro Music School and festival, where he taught students how to make music, not how to play the flute.
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| Bobbi Humphrey |
Associated Acts: Blue Note Records
Born Barbara Ann Humphrey, Bobbi Humphrey is a well-known American flutist who excels at jazz fusion, soul-jazz, and funk. After studying at Texas Southern University and Southern Methodist University, she moved to New York and jumped straight into her career. She signed under George Butler at Blue Note Records and would record with many prominent artists throughout her musical career. These associations would only help develop her own reputation and introduce her to more and more listeners. One of her most notable recordings was Blacks and Blues with the Mizell Brothers.
However, Bobbi's efforts with Blue Note did not bring the sort of financial rewards she desired, and so, in 1977, she shifted her focus to the business side of the music industry. Through this, she created the Bobbi Humphrey Music Company and even signed an agreement with Warner Bros.
Trivia: She was the first female flutist to be signed by Blue Note. While at Southern Methodist, she was approached by Dizzy Gillespie, who advised her to move to New York to become a musician. Throughout her career, Humphrey has played with Duke Ellington and George Benson.
Blacks and Blues (1973), The Sidewinder (1971)
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| Robert Dick |
Associated Acts: Creative Associates, New York Philharmonic Orchestra
A prominent flutist, teacher, author, and composer, Robert Dick is also known as the inventor of the "glissando headjoint." As seen in the above shot, it is a custom-style flute head that acts in a similar way to a guitar's whammy bar.
Robert began playing the flute in the fourth grade and studied under many prominent musicians, including Julius Baker, mentioned above. After finishing school, Dick moved to Buffalo, New York, to join the Creative Associates. During that time, he wrote a second book and developed himself as a top-tier composer. Dick's genres include classical, jazz, contemporary jazz, and also "free improvisation," which probably served as motivation to create the glissando headjoint.
Dick continues to work as a soloist, developer, and composer. He splits his time between New York and Kassel, Germany, performing his own music and spending time with his family.
Trivia: He won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association in 2014. His work has been recognized by a Guggenheim Fellowship, NEA Composers Fellowships, and a Koussevitzky Foundation Commission. He has produced more than 20 albums and appeared in many other guest recordings.
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| Julius Baker |
Associated Acts: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Under the tutelage of his Russian immigrant father, Julius Baker has been playing the flute since he was nine years old. He also benefited from the teachings of August Caputo and Robert Morris before attending the Eastman School of Music under the wing of Leonardo De Lorenzo.
Upon completing his studies, Baker scored the position of second flute in the Cleveland Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the world, then leveraged his experience there to earn a principal flute tenure in the New York Philharmonic.
Baker was a huge fan of chamber music and helped found the Bach Aria Group. He had a prominent career as a professor at Juilliard, Curtis Institute of Music, and Carnegie Mellon. When he wasn't in the classroom, Baker produced a handful of flute albums. Many consider his music the most beautiful they have ever heard.
Trivia: Julius Baker took part in scoring major films such as "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Lovesick." He also loved electronics and considered himself to be an amateur ham radio operator. He enjoyed building audio equipment and taping his solo recordings early in his career.
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| Emmanuel Pahud |
Associated Acts: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Emmanuel Pahud is a Franco-Swiss flute player. He is known most for his classical and baroque style of playing. His family were not musical, and he found his love for flute music living in Italy. Pahud studied the flute from age four until 22 under prominent musicians such as Carlos Bruneel and Aurele Nicolet.
In 1992, he joined the Berlin Philharmonic as the youngest flute player ever; today, he shares the principal flute position with Mathieu Dufour. He is a self-proclaimed musical chameleon and boasts that he does not represent a particular style; rather, he chooses to adapt to any style he is given.
His creativity and flexibility, not to mention his talent and dedication, has made him one of the few and rare young modern players on this list of best flute players in the world.
Trivia: The first flute Pahud ever played was a silver-plated Yamaha. He spent a lot of his childhood traveling around the world, which helped him discover the many sounds of the flute and opened up a world of musical greatness.
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| Matt Molloy |
Associated Acts: The Chieftains, Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Bothy Band
Matt Molloy has had a long and illustrious career, which started when he was very young. Molloy was born Irish into a community that produces some of the best flutists in the world. At just 19 years old, he won the All-Ireland Flute Championship, which led him to be thought of as one of the most talented Irish flute players ever.
In the 1970s, he joined the Bothy Band and stayed on to be a part of their successor, the re-founded Planxty, the Irish folk band known for making Irish folk music popular. Throughout his career, Molloy has worked with quite a few top musicians, including the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
Trivia: Not only is Molloy a talented flutist, but he also dabbled in a bit of acting throughout his career. You can view him in a few Irish films such as "An Eviction Notice," "Celtic Tides," and "An Irish Evening: Live and the Grand Opera House." He is also the owner of a Pub in Westport on Bridge Street that features live Irish music.
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The Greatest Jazz Flute Players!:
Best Jazz Flute Players Ever
Famous Jazz Flute Players:
Early Pioneers of jazz flute:
Frank Wess
Innovators and game changers:
Eric Dolphy
Herbie Mann
Hubert Laws
Nestor Torres
Nicole Mitchell
Jazz Flute | The Most Famous Musicians & Albums
Yusef Lateef (1920 - 2013)
Eric Dolphy (1928 - 1964)
Herbie Mann (1930 - 2003)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935 - 1977)
Hermeto Pascoal (1936 - )
Hubert Laws (1939 - )
Lew Tabackin (1940 - )
Jane Bunnett (1956 - )
Jazz music has been graced by some remarkable flute virtuosos. Here are a few of the most influential jazz flute players:
Eric Dolphy: Known for his avant-garde approach, Dolphy was a trailblazer in jazz flute. His album "Out to Lunch!" is a must-listen.
Herbie Mann: A prolific flutist, Mann blended jazz with world music influences. Check out "The Best of Herbie Mann" for a taste of his artistry.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: A true multi-instrumentalist, Kirk's flute playing was soulful and innovative. His album "Midnight Oil" is a gem.
Hubert Laws: Renowned for his technical prowess, Laws seamlessly fused classical and jazz elements. His album "The Laws of Jazz" is a classic.
Jerome Richardson: A versatile musician, Richardson's flute work graced many jazz recordings. His album "Eastern Sounds" is a delightful exploration.
Yusef Lateef: Lateef's compositions and improvisations on the flute are captivating. His album "Flute n' Oboe" is a testament to his brilliance.
Bud Shank: A lyrical flutist, Shank's melodic lines resonate beautifully. Explore "Young at Heart" for a taste of his artistry.
These artists have left an indelible mark on jazz, pushing boundaries and enchanting audiences with their expressive flute playing.
Twenty five Great Jazz Flute Performances
| Greatest Jazz Flute Players - Quick list |
1. Eric Dolphy
2. Herbie Mann
3. Rahsaan Roland Kirk
4. Jerome Richardson
5. Hubert Laws
6. James Moody
7. David "Fathead" Newman
8. Frank Wess
9. Jim Newsom
10. Yusef Lateef
11. Ali Ryerson
12. Sam Most
13. Charles Lloyd
14. Bud Shank
15. Jim Walker
16. Nestor Torres
17. Alexander Zonjic
18. Tim Weisberg
19. Robert Dick
20. Gigi Gryce
21. Gilberto Valdez
22. Sam Marowitz
23. Jerry Dodgion
24. Severino Gazzellioni
25. Jeremy Steig
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26. Kent Jordan
27. Dave Valentin
28. Joe Farrell
29. Jeremy Clay
30. Roger Glenn
31. Dan Trimboli
32. Albert Socarras
33. Nathan Davis
34. Paul Horn
35. Wayman Carver
36. Bobby Jaspar
37. Buddy Collette
38. Harry Klee
39. Holly Hoffman
40. Steve Kujala
41. Sam Rivers
42. Ira Sullivan
43. Prince Lasha
44. Lloyd McNeil
45. Byard Lancaster
46. James Newton
47. Joe Henderson
48. Bob Downes
49. Lew Tabackin
50. Moe Koffman
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51. Bobbi Humphrey
52. Ronald Snijders
53. Phillip Bent
54. Doug Harris
55. Jane Bunnett
56. Bennie Maupin
57. Magic Malik
58. Hermeto Pascoal
59. Micheal Edelin
60. Jorge Pardo
61. Thijs Van Leer
62. Julien Monti
63. Deepak Ram
64. Jamie Baum
65. Thomas Chapin
66. Mathias Ziegler
67. Mathieu Schneider
68. Andrea Brachfeld
69. Bill McBirnie
70. Stefan Keller
71. Urban Hansson
72. Paul Cheneour
73. Sherry Winston
74. Kenny Stahl
75. Derrick Davis
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76. Bettine Clemen
77. Jan Leder
78. Zig Noda
79. Eddie Perales
80. Robert Goldman
81. George Colovus
82. Simeon Shtrev
83. Sahib Shihab
84. Nora Nausbuam
85. Peter Guidi
86. Mark Weinstein
87. Mark Alban Lotz
88. Danilo Lozano
89. Leo Wright
90. Nicola Stilo
91. Harold McNair
92. George Adams
93. Sonny Fortune
94. Viviana Guzman
95. Howard Rumsey
96. Trey Eley
97. Carlos Jimenez
98. Bradley Leighton
99. Matt Marvuglio
100. Mindy Canter
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"Friends" Joe Farrell (with solo transcription) (YouTube)
Chick Corea - Fender Rhodes Piano, Joe Farrell - Flute, Eddie Gomez - Acoustic Bass, Steve Gadd - Drums
ParadigmShift with Bobby Militello - Part Two
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