Talking Flutes!

What it's like to be told you'll never play the flute again!   In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Jean-Paul and Clare talk about the devastation that Coronavirus has impacted on the arts and music in particular.  Clare also opens up about the loss and grief that she has felt since being told by the Doctors that she will never be able to play the flute again!  They also talk about taking time out to 'reboot' our inner selves to find the drive and direction so that when the world is ready for 'live' music and 'live' teaching that we are all ready!   'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are taking a short summer break...BUT don't worry, we'll be back with some fantastic new podcasts (which we are already recording) beginning on Monday 8th September.

Recharging our inner batteries with the same effort as we do our mobile phones! How guided mediations can lead you on a journey to new focus and relaxation. This week Jean-Paul takes a different route with 'Talking Flutes' Extra as he looks at meditation with music and guided meditation with voice.  With tracks from www.thehappyflutist.com website, he shows us that just by taking 10 minutes a day to re-charge your batteries can have very beneficial benefits to your mental health and musical wellbeing. 'The Happy Flutist' website is a completely free resource to use  with no sign-up or login so check it out.  You've nothing to lose...only gain! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes' Extra are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

To the frustrated few, it's an "evil twig and to non flute players it is affectionately referred to as firewood.   The piccolo however in the right hands can be one of the most beautiful instruments to listen to. "Playing the high register on the piccolo is totally down to our familiarity with playing up there.  You must think of the timbre of the note and not just squeeze and hope". This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks via WhatsApp to Sally Minter, subprincipal flute and piccolo of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra who on the 2nd August is hosting a Piccolo Makeover via Zoom.  Sally has come to love the piccolo and really wants flute players to begin the process of wanting to incorporate this lovely instrument in to their performance and practice. To sign-up to the piccolo 'Makeover' then visit www.sallyminterflute.com  'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' and podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com     

Flute teachers and students are both learners which is why teachers also need to be constantly learning how to teach, and when to pass their students on.  This week in 'Talking Flutes', Clare muses about music teaching after a long hot walk along the beach near her Sussex home. If you'd like to send us any flute or music related questions for use on future podcasts, then we'd be happy to hear from you at flutepodcasts@gmail.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes' Extra are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com  

"Be happy to break boundaries for the love of your instrument...' "I didn't choose the flute, it chose me" Recorded before the Covid lockdown in the UK and social distancing introduced, this week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul catches up in a noisy London coffee house with musician, flutist, soloist, teacher, Chair of the British Flute Society, Lisa Nelsen. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' is a podcast production by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

Listening is not just listening?  How deep are you listening and how are you listening?   How to be in tune with the rhythmic pulse when you are layering and creating music with another player.  in 'Talking Flutes Extra' podcast this week, Emmy and Grammy award winning musicians José Valentino and Gualo give listeners an interactive lesson on how to layer during an improvisation. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com        

"The best in the world at what he does...- NY Times" "if Mozart was around today, he would definitely be a 'cat', and most definitely playing Ibiza" and "...all musicians should have a seat ate the improv table and learn to improvise in a loving way." In 'Talking Flutes Extra' this week. Jean-Paul gets some 'Beatboxing' tips from the one only Greg Pattillo.  With over 100m YouTube views, Greg has really taken the flute world by storm since he burst on to the scene with his 'Super Mario' video in 2008.  Greg has written a fabulous new tutor book entitled 'Beatbox Flute Vol. 1' which introduces the art and sounds of beatboxing to flute players of all standards and abilities. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by Trevor James flutes.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"The self destructive nature of my inner judgement" This longer than usual podcast splits naturally in to two parts.  The opening dialogue between Jean-Paul and flute player / author Elsa Nilsson speaks about her profound despair at lockdown.  The second part is hard hitting, honest and open where Elsa speaks about  "...deserving to like myself..." and how for many years, she was using her music as her therapy.  "There's so much beauty in musical imperfection" 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by Trevor James flutes.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

'Jethro Tull', 'Moody Blues', 'Focus' and many other rock and pop influences. "Sometimes formal music training can dent or inhibit creativity." This week in 'Talking Flutes' Clare speaks about her early pop and rock influences and how it has shaped her music career. We love to hear from you and if you have any comments or thoughts on a future podcast that we should do, then you can get in touch with us on flutepodcasts@gmail.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James flute company. For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"Metronomes and tuning machines should be banished to outer space.." This week I have a really special treat for you as this time Paul Edmund-Davies can’t escape this WhatsApp call with Jean-Paul.  A very special musician, soloist, author, teacher, educator, wine and champagne connoisseur and seriously nice guy. He established his international reputation as flautist and soloist in the 20 years that he was Principal Flute of the London Symphony Orchestra and then the five years in the same position at the Philharmonia Orchestra.  Always in demand for masterclasses, recitals and concerts worldwide, he has also found the time in his hectic schedule to have edited and published more than 25 books of flute music.  His ‘The 28 Day Warm up Book for all Flautists…eventually!’ is a best seller and has been translated into Japanese, Spanish and Russian.  It is a MUST HAVE book on my music stand and highly recommended. In 2015 he launched his online flute education resource, Simply Flute. The website simplyflute.com p

"Its the energy of love that propels you in your musical journey" and "How to perform confidently with joy and not suffering..." This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul talks via WhatsApp to flute player, teacher and acclaimed performance anxiety coach Helen Spielman about her wonderfully insightful book 'A flute in my refrigerator'.  During the podcast Helen also answers and gives helpful example exercises in response to performance anxiety questions sent in from our listeners. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com    

"When we play music, to be truly effective in communication, we have to take on the character of the pieces we are performing" This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks with Dr Cate Hummel from her lockdown home in the USA about her popular 'Flute Tips' online blog, and discuss areas such as practice nerves, vibrato and the 3rd octave. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"It's impossible to lie through the nose", "Its so important that you treat every day as a gift", playing the flute on a camel in front of the pyramids and the power of communicating through your whole body. Just a few of the wonderful subjects that are covered in this joyful 'Talking Flutes Extra' podcast with Viviana Guzmán.  Described by the New York Times as “an imaginative artist,” Chilean-born flutist, Viviana Guzmán performs over 80 concerts a year throughout the world and has performed in 131 countries.  Her latest album “Traveling Sonata” received a GRAMMY Nomination for Best Producer.  Viviana has presented three TEDxTalks and at TEDxBerkeley, she spoke immediate before Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, Inc.  She has been featured on programs for PBS, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Good Morning America and NPR, and seen on the cover of Latina Style Magazine, and in COSMOPOLITAN en Español.  Having started musical training at the age of 5, by age 15, she had played as a soloist with orchestra, studied with J

"The flute gives me the bravery to become somebody else on stage"   In 'Talking Flutes Extra' coronavirus lockdown podcast this week, Jean-Paul talks to one of the finest flute players in the world, the fabulous Jasmine Choi from her home in Austria. They speak about what it's like to be 'Jasmine Choi' and the attention it brings as she spends her life flying around the world, her early years study and also her love for food and Yoga. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James flute company. For more information www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

Three simple things for you to do with your flute during 'lockdown' In this bonus 'lockdown' episode, Clare gives three very simple exercises to add some spice in to your music making whilst you are in an enforced stay home period. Please send in your questions or subject matter for future podcasts to flutepodcasts@gmail.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James flute company.  For more information www.trevorjamesflutes.com    

Creating routine during the Coronavirus lockdown is the key to coming out the other side stronger.  In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare speaks remotely with Jean-Paul about the importance of keeping yourself mentally and physically in shape, creating a daily routine, binge watching Box Sets on Netflix and growing vegetables. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James flute company.  For more information www.trevorjamesflutes.com  

"Let's embrace the sound of the flute...we're not trumpet players!" In the 'Talking Flutes Extra' Coronovirus Survival podcast this week, Jean-Paul talks to one of the world's busiest flute players Stephen Clark about his fabulous new interactive tutor book 'The Flute Gym' and why you should all have a copy.  We also discuss the fact that nobody should think they can sell you a flute...the flute for you will become very apparent when you play it.  And also Stephen spills the beans on the naughty (but funny) artist error on the original front cover of his book and thankfully how it was spotted before it went to print :-) 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company.  For more information www.trevorjamesflutes.com  

Use the lockdown as an opportunity to look at music and other areas of our life that we didn't have time to before. In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare speaks about the joy of being able to listen to more music during these strange times and how we really can use this to help us to navigate our way during these testing times. During the podcast she lists the many flute players wish should take the time to explore whilst we are unable to have our usual busy lives.  How we should listen with open ears to their playing, sound and interpretation.  Listen not to copy, but to feel motivated and to be inspired in out heads. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

Life as a flute player inside the Paris lockdown In 'Talking Flutes Extra' this week, Jean-Paul speaks via Messenger app from his own London Covid-19 'Lockdown' to Paris based musician and flute professor Mihi Kim about how she has survived and worked through the first two weeks of hers in Paris. During the podcast Mihi gives some really interesting tips about how to practice silently if you’re lockdown in a small apartment and also what she is doing to keep herself motivated. As a flute professor in Paris, Mihi is very firm in her belief of what makes a good flute teacher.  They only goals should be to unleash the potential of the flute student.  The student should not be playing to please the teacher. The key is understanding how a student thinks and what is blocking them from doing certain things. Do not try to be like teacher or another player you admire as you will never achieve your goal.  Try to be only like yourself! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor

You can only achieve your goals with if you have a plan and truly believe you can achieve them! in 'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare spills the beans on being "an expert in self doubt and self worth" and how in her successful career as a flute player, Flute Professor and author, she has managed to overcome the inner negativity which affects so many musicians.  An enlightening podcast intertwined with some of clare's flute recordings and some really interesting information on the subject from her son... Psychiatrist Dr Roelof Joe Stammeijer   'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the Trevor James Flutes Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com