Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

Here's a link with a bio: http://www.sai-national.org/phil/composers/wfmcbeth.html McBeth has written dozens of band compositions, many of which have become standards for intermediate (mostly high school) bands. My state's graded music list includes 6 grades, with 6 as the most difficult, and these ...

WWBW filed for bankruptcy a few months ago. There was talk of a takeover by Conn-Selmer, who received considerable flack from their dealers, including my store. Kind of a conflict of interest, having their own means of distribution that way. P.S. Most instrument makers won't sell parts, as they're u...

Hey, nerds wind up running the world and signing everyone's paychecks! My husband and I are two content nerds. He's a pathologist, which is even considered a nerd by other doctors! Life does get better after high school. Except for those way-cool, popular people, sometimes. My friend and I work toge...

Also, since the band I was in was about the best in four states--college-level literature, excellent jazz and chamber music, kids going off to conservatories and major universities, fully one-fifth of the all-state band from our school one of those years--we wore the name "Bando" with considerable p...

Yeah, do what you love and don't be too concerned with the opinions of others. At no point in life is any one person ever universally liked or considered cool. It's naive to imagine nobody ever thinks or says anything negative about us. After we get out of high school, and college, we can look back ...

From whom did you buy the flute? They should be able to point you in the right direction. Does the instrument have a warranty? You can find out through your dealer or through Pearl. A repair tech unaffiliated with your dealer or Pearl can't service your flute without voiding your warranty, and parts...

My music ed degree had a piano proficiency, as do all, I assume. Some programs require a minimum level before graduation, while my program required specific types of pieces from each stylistic period as well as scales, arpeggios, etc. The kind of required pieces pretty much assured that each student...

If you're in the market for a SUPER-CHEAP picc, give the Prelude a shot. It's made by Selmer, in China, but you CAN get repair parts for them, and techs aren't afraid to service them. The scale is reasonable, and the response is ok. For the price. Schiller; never heard of it. Probably, run away.

Two of my students played this (Flower Duet) for Solo & Ensemble this year. It's beautiful, but really benefits from the piano part; just fuller and richer. It is in B major, if that's an issue.

You could try some Kuhlau or Mozart duets (opus numbers escape me), or some of Gary Schocker's. He's written some with and without piano. Two of my students also just played a pretty, unusual duet by Hovhaness. First movement very pastoral and simple, second quite rhythmic.

Since the price is so close, I think I'd pass and hold out for the Sonare. The tone and scale are, IMHO, much better. Gemeinhardt's scale is a little squirrely. Also, piccolo design has changed immeasurably in the past few years. Many newer ones by reputable makers are much more responsive easier to...

I'm not sure I'd recommmend buying a new flute so close to an audition. It would be worthwhile to have your current flute checked for any problems which could be greatly improved by repair or simple adjustments. Even a fantastic new flute will require an adjustment period, to learn about the flute's...

The best low-priced picc I've found lately is the Powell Sonare. One of my students got one for Christmas, and it's great for the price (I think right around $600). It's a plastic picc.

Flute playing in America, and elsewhere, is at a very high level all around right now! Dozens of wonderful players out there whose names very few people know. Here's a short list: Carol Wincenc Jeanne Baxstresser Paula Robison Peter-Lukas Graf Goran Marcusson Amy Porter Marianne Gedigian Marina Picc...

I second the Trevor Wye recommendation. I'm not sure at what level you're currently playing, but I usually work my (mostly school-aged) students through some technical work, sometimes Trevor, before T & G. Otherwise, they'd get stupendously frustrated, though it's generally easier for an adult to ma...