Talking Flutes!

Let’s talk about our mental health!    Burnout, stress and performance anxiety!   During August, instead of having a summer break, Clare Southworth-Stammeijer and Jean-Paul Wright decided to look back at some of their favourite podcasts which might be a little too far back for those who have only started to join us recently.   Here's an excerpt of the full podcast recorded in 2019 and 2020 where Clare was joined by her son Dr Joe Stammeijer where they speak about burnout, stress management and the importance of looking after your mental health.   'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

A dot over a note doesn't mean 'short', it means 'detached'!! This week on 'Talking Flutes', Clare and Jean-Paul answer more questions that have been sent in by listeners.  During their conversation they speak about the many different types of tonguing and also copyright issues with music! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"Singing is so natural so sing a phrase first then play it!"  This week on 'Talking Flutes', Clare and Jean-Paul answer more questions that have been sent in by listeners.  They cover the subject of the need to 'Open your throat' when playing and also why you should buy your flute from a specialist music store with expertise in flutes rather than off Amazon or eBay.  'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flutes Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

How to get a beautiful third octave and how not to go flat at the end of a note? This week Clare and Jean-Paul answer some of the many questions that have been sent in to us over the past 8 weeks from listeners.  (1)"How do you not go flat when you are fading out a note at the end of a passage?" (2) "I’m struggling with high notes.  My teacher says that I’m forcing it too much!" (3) "What does my flute teacher mean when she says open my throat?"  Please 'like' and 'rate' Talking Flutes on whatever podcast channel you're listening to this on as it really does help the algorithm to kick-in and enable other flute players find us! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.ccom

Let's talk Ghost notes, whistle tones, harmonics and the power of exaggerating dynamics!   After over four years and 220 podcasts, Jean-Paul interviews his co-host Clare about her flute playing career and highlights.   'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com   

"I want flute playing to be expansive and to communicate a story! This week on Talking Flutes, Clare speaks with the wonderful London flute player, and Professor at the Guildhall College of Music in London  Philippa Davis about how she started and always being very busy!! Philippa Davies has established an international reputation as one of the finest flautists currently performing. Originally Principal Flute of the National Youth Orchestra of GB, Philippa went on to train at the Royal College of Music with Douglas Whittaker and later William Bennett. She won many awards including the Tagore Gold Medal Prize, the National Federation of Music Societies award, the Mozart Memorial Prize and was a Park Lane Group Young Artist. She was a member of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’s ensemble Fires of London, and of the ensembles Capricorn and Albion; currently she is part of the Nash Ensemble and London Winds directed by Michael Collins and plays in duo with Jan Willem Nelleke, piano, and with Maggie Cole, harpsichord. She

"There's something really human about making a mistake!" This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks with flute player, Professor and a Life Coach Dr Rik Noyce about nerves, confidence, imposter syndrome and much much more.   Just because you may not have followed the 'usual' route in to something, it doesn't mean you can't succeed! You find out more about Dr Noyce at https://www.riknoycedma.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com   

"We all flourish at different times and I wasn't ready when I was younger!" From musical prodigy to West End shows and orchestras with severe burn out along the way, this week on Talking Flutes, Clare speaks with musician, flute player and founder of the eFlute Festival Abigail Burrows. An enlightening podcast where Abbie speaks openly about the benefits and also difficulties that being a hugely talented and successful flute player at a young age brought upon her. After being completely burnt out after her first year at Music College, Abbie left the flute and music world behind as she dipped her toes in to other ways to earn a living.  However after a couple of years, the desire to get the flute out began to bubble up and she returned to practicing again. Now a very successful musician and flute player, Abbie explains how a career wobble doesn't mean and end to your musical journey and that it's vitally important that you remain authentic at all times, both to your music and also yourself. You can find our mo

"It's not just speaking in to a microphone, its how podcasting can open up your flute playing and performance by enabling you to understand your own unique voice" This week 'Talking Flutes' combines with another flute podcast 'Flute 360'  with podcaster Dr Heidi Kay Begay and 'Talking Flutes Extra' host Jean-Paul Wright. We speak about how podcasting during the past 4 years has changed our own 'voice', and how it has made us better listeners, teachers and musicians. 'We all have something to say in our own unique way.  There's room in this podcasting space for so many more musicians.  What are you waiting for!" 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ Flute Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com      

"I'm still a flute player, It's just that I now have funny coloured legs" This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks with a remarkable musician and flute player Emma Brown.  After a terrible accident two years ago in which Emma became a double leg amputee, Emma talks about her determination to become the flute player she wanted to be before the accident.  She also speaks about her lows, and also the determination, bloody mindedness and the humour which carries her forward as she builds her new normal. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"A brilliant app to quickly hear how a piece sounds!" Take a photo of a piece of music and your mobile will play it back to you! This week on 'Talking Flutes', Clare speaks with PlayScore Creator Anthony Wilkes about his brilliant app. The PlayScore 2 sheet music scanner takes traditional sheet music scanning to the next level, using the latest techniques in Optical Music Recognition. When you try this app you realise how invaluable it is for all musicians.  For example you can photograph a piano score of a piece of flute music and simply 'mute' the flute part.  You can then play along with the piano accompaniment.  Or if you don't know how something sounds, or you're interested in hearing the depths of a score, then simply scan with your phone and then you can choose what to listen to!!  You can also slow down an accompaniment without it losing pitch so you can learn to play a piece slowly!!! For more information on PlayScore visit the app store and download the free version PlayScore 2.   'Talking Flutes' a

"In one piece there was 33 Top D's!" The joy of making a crowd funded album and meeting either in person or virtually all the wonderful people who made the project happen!! This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks with musician and flute player Daniella Mars about the making of her exciting new flute album.  From initial conception, through to the process of crowd funding to the decision to undertake the recording and videography in Brazil. Daniela also talks about how she made her own Dizi flute headjoint by simply drilling a hole in it! For more information on Daniela and her wonderful new album visit www.danielamars.com where you'll also find all her social media links. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com  

The freedom to discover tone without restrictions! In part 4 of 'The Food For Thought' series with Flute Professors and musicians Clare Southworth and Elizabeth Walker, it's the week to discuss flute tone! From "Green Custard to Blue Custard", looking at air speed, harmonics, whistle tones and even touching on the big subject...Vibrato! "We shouldn't just be playing in monochrome!" An enlightening podcast on a very difficult subject with so many preference! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com  

A 'live' Feldenkrais lesson with flute player, soloist and Feldenkrais teacher Niall O'Riordan. In a first for 'Talking Flutes' we hand our podcast channel over this week to Niall to take you through a 'Live' session. You can find out more about Niall, his popular audio programmes and also more about his Flute Online at https://fluteonline.net 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"There's a complexity to breathing which belies its simplicity!" A must listen Talking Flutes podcast this week on the important subject of 'Breathing' for a musician. "It's crucial to align breathing with your posture as you whole body is your instrument". In part 3 of their 'Food for Thought' series, Clare Southworth and Elizabeth Walker take a look at 'Breathing' and how "...if your posture is good, your breathing is good, then your tone will also be good!" Please continue to send in your questions and suggestions for future podcasts to flutepodcasts@gmail.com or you can also message is on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @talkingflutes. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"Breath is rhythm - movement is rhythm" This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra', Jean-Paul speaks with the wonderful musician and flute player Elsa Nilsson about her two new albums, and in turn, has a lesson on the beauty and community of the giant Redwood trees.  Following the opening up of the music scene again (post covid) Elsa explains that it was "The communal experience of creativity was the thing that brought us back to life!" In this really enlightening podcast, they explore with a couple of tracks her new album 'Atlas of Sound' which is is a passionate dialogue with giant Redwood trees and also listen to a track called "Let it Burn' from a very creative album by the Esthesis Quartet. For more information on Elsa and also these brilliant new albums, visit www.elsanilssonmusic.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Exta' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

'Food For Thought' part two for flute teachers.  In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare and Elizabeth Walker are back with pt 2 of their 'Food For Thought' series aimed at flute teachers and those thinking of going in to the profession. During the podcast they talk about lesson payments, structuring lesson content and the importance of having lesson and prepared notes for each student.  Also the importance of creating a rapport and positive learning environment.   A fascinating podcast subject and one which I'm sure we'll hear more about from Clare and Elizabeth. Please continue to send in your thoughts and questions for future podcasts to flutepodcasts@gmail.com or @talkingflutes on our FB and IG pages. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"I rarely smile in photos!' "If you see me in a photo and it looks like I'm not smiling, it really is me smiling, it's just me smiling how relatively happy I am!" This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' recorded in a coffee shop in the centre of London,  Jean-Paul welcomes back the brilliant musician and flute player Philippe Barnes for a catch-up.  With updates to his popular 'Irish Music On The Silver Flute' book as well as  his '102 Session Tunes' book , we also take a few moments listening to a beautiful track from his album 'The Wilderness Yet'. For more information www.philippebarnes.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

Organisation - Preparation - Adaptation! "The role of the teacher is to unlock potential" In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare Southworth talks with Elizabeth Walker in a new series of podcasts for flute teachers called 'Food for thought'.  As they both agree "You teach the student and not the flute!" If you've any requests for future podcasts either on subject matter or guests you'd like us to have on, then please email them to flutepodcasts@gmail.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

'It's so important to open our eyes and take off our blinkers to other cultures, music and instruments." This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks with musician and flute player Veronika Vitazkova about some of her 70 'World' flutes.  During the podcast Veronika explains that emotion is culturally defined and that we need to find the borders of our instrument to really make it sing. Check out Veronika at https://veronika-vitazkova.com/ and  https://www.instagram.com/veronika_vitazkova 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com