Talking Flutes!

When you eat well and exercise, your flute playing comes alive! In 'Talking Flutes Extra' this week, Jean-Paul speaks with flute player and food blogger Katharine Carter about how a well balanced and structured diet makes for a happy individual!  Katharine also gives some quick and handy recipes for the busy musician! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

Why are old French flutes so expensive? Inbreath and outbreath should be a seamless action for flute players. In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Jean-Paul is once again back down at Clare's home in Hove to answer more of the many questions which have been sent in by listeners over the summer. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"We need to develop awareness of how we physically play our instrument otherwise we'll not reach our potential" In 'Talking Flutes Extra' this week, Jean-Paul speaks with flute player and teacher Niall O'Riordan about his passionate methodology for getting musicians to reach their potential. Niall is a certified Feldenkrais Method awareness through movement teacher and uses the method to help musicians reach their potentially by learning about their functioning and how to act efficiently. He has taught Feldenkrais classes at the Galway International Flute Festival since 2013. He is internationally recognised for his completely holistic approach to flute playing and teaching drawing inspiration from yoga, psychology, voice work, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), metaphysics and visualisation. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company. For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

'Balance - Rhythm - Timing' - the correlation with playing the flute and playing golf! It's important to keep those imaginary blinkers on to focus on ourselves rather than on others! In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare and Jean-Paul answer more listeners questions which have been sent in. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com  

Do scientists at CERN get drunk and let their hair down? This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul is speaking to Scientist, physicist, composer, flute player and Cambridge based lecturer Dr Domenico Vicinanza. In a data driven world, Dr Vincinanza uses date created from scientific experimentation to create beautiful compositions to make the unheard natural world come alive. During the podcast we hear excerpts from his compositional partnership with Yellowstone National Park and also with CERN and the discovery of 'Higgs Bosun'. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company.  for more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"You were the 'Spice Girls' of the flute world back then!" In Episode 180, Clare and Jean-Paul answer some of the many questions that you've been sending in over the summer.  Such as "What is the best venue you've played in and why?" and tips on how to cope with struggling when being recorded! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

Beautiful flute recordings of 'In Ireland' by Hamilton Harty, Donizetti Sonata in C and Daniel Wood's Valse Caprice. This week, Clare looks at three of her own wonderful recordings which she feels a real connection to.  'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute Company. For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"We need to reframe what a mistake actually is!" In this 4th week of 5 where we are looking back through our podcast archive, three pods were very popular with download stats.  We start with the Paul Edmund Davies a very special musician, soloist, author, teacher, educator, wine and champagne connoisseur and seriously nice guy. So here’s an excerpt from podcast #117 published in September 2020 called "Metronomes and tuning machines should be banished to outer space.." Next up is an excerpt from Podcast #131 (October 2020) when I spoke with the brilliant composer and flute player Carla Rees in a podcast titled “We need to reframe what a mistake actually is!” Now I always love visiting Dublin, the wonderful city in the beautiful emerald aisle.  During  my last visit there in late 2019, I  recorded a podcast in a Dublin café with William Dowdall Professor of Flute at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin about probably the most famous solo flute piece of them all Syrinx.  So here’s a short excerpt  of t

Understand the composers narrative and your performance will come alive! In this 'look-back' podcast, Clare takes a look at the beautiful 'Sonate en Concert' by the prolific composer Jean-Michel Damase and two movements, the 'Rondeau' and the 'Aria' from the beautiful and haunting flute piece Suite Antique by John Rutter Of the ‘Sonate en Concert’ Clare says in her Podcast #88 recorded in 2019, "in my opinion, Damase doesn't get the credit amongst flute payers that he deserves!' Composed in 1979, 'Suite Antique' is a concertante work by John Rutter and is written for harpsichord, flute and string orchestra. Rutter composed the piece, in six movements, for a concert at which Bach's fifth Brandenburg concerto was to be performed, and so decided to write the piece for the same ensemble. In this podcast from 2019 (#68) Clare looks at two movements in particular, the 'Rondeau' and the 'Aria'  Please 'Rate - Like - Follow' Talking Flutes 'on whatever podcast provider you are listening on as it helps others to f

When you break open your old mindset, you'll find anything is possible. Part 2 of the 5 week 'Summer' looking back though our podcast archives.  This week we are back to a podcast #106 recorded in March 2020 where Jean-Paul talks to NY based electric flutist and author Melissa Keeling about the unique 'Glissando' flute headjoint and the new tutor book on it that she has just written.  How it can open up so many more performance possibilities especially when paired with looping and effect pedals. We also listen during the podcast to some of Melissa's chosen works on the Glissando headjoint as well as with looping and effect pedals. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' and podcast productions by the Trevor James Flute Company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com    

'Burn-out'.  The signs to look for in yourself and others, and what you can do as musicians to alleviate the effects of the downward slope. This week, and for the next 5, instead of taking the usual summer break, we are looking back over some of our favourite podcasts from a while back. This week Dr Roelof Joe Stammeijer talks with Clare about a subject we can all relate to 'Burnout' and 'coping with pressure!' 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"Why you and your actions define you and your flute playing" In the final part of your questions answered pt 4, Clare and Jean-Paul speak about breathing for relaxation and motivation, why taking a summer break is good for your flute playing and creating a 'Mood Board' of melodies is a positive way to utilise your warm-ups with how you are feeling. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"Flutist, Flautist, Flute player?" The name really does matter to some! This week on "Your flute questions answered part 3" Clare and Jean-Paul look at Clare's favourite recording of her playing 'Valse Caprice" by Daniel S. Wood and look at the pros and cons of listening to recordings of pieces you're playing. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com 

"My parents want me to study an academic subject and I want to study music performance, what can I do?" This week on 'Talking Flutes', Clare and Jean-Paul answer more questions which you have been sending in. From growing your Instagram account to should I study a non musical subject at University? 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

De-Ge-De-Ge or Te-Ke-Te-Ke or Du-Gu-Du-Gu or Tu-Ku-Tu-Ku what is the right way to double tongue? Part 1 or 4 - In  'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare and Jean-Paul begin the process of answering all the flute playing questions that you've been sending in.  "How do you double and triple tongue may seem an easy question to those who can do it but to young flute players, learning to do it is completely dependent on so many factors. Clare also speaks up about her love for the Open G# mechanism and why so many principal orchestral flute players still use this system. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"Circular breathing is a good warm up!" "We all look at sound in a very unique way.  To some visual people colours work, but to me, it's about vocal sounds..." This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks with the brilliant Spanish flute player Frederic Sanchez about his passion for teaching and his journey to help other flute players "find their voice".  Conducted via zoom and also 'Live' on social media the podcast audio has some issues when Frederic demonstrates on the flute but that aside, sit back and listen to the wisdom of how "You need to love your voice...Your Flute Voice!" You can find Frederic Sanchez on Instagram @fredericflute 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com   

'Embarkation - The resilience of humanity amid Covid-19'  So this week and with modern technology continuing to be at the forefront (We in the UK still can’t travel to the USA due to covid restrictions) I managed to catch up with Latin Grammy and Emmy winning composer, musician and polymath Jose Valentino at his home in Florida a couple of days ago to speak about his stunning new album ‘Embarkation – The resilience of humanity amid covid-19 which he’s just completed with the brilliant Bruno Miranda and featuring Vladimir Suarez, Jose Leonardo Leon and Derris Lee. And as you will hear, what started out as a general chit chat about the album, developed in to us listening to the whole recording and chatting about each piece.  So sit back and enjoy my chat with José which includes lots of flute playing. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"We need stimulating studies and not ones that crush or demoralise you!" In 'Talking Flutes' this week, Clare speaks again with the fabulous Elizabeth Walker this time on the important subject of study books.  In this hour long podcast they discuss many areas of flute studies for tone development, finger technique, articulation, sequences and take a look at their favourite  study books in each of these areas. From Moyse to Bernold, Karg-Elert to Robert Winn, Anderson to Robert Dick and so many more. We always love hearing from you so please continue to send in your comments and suggestions for future podcasts to flutepodcasts@gmail.com or via the 'Talking Flutes' Facebook page. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com

"We need to cut the umbilical with those nerves and just let go when we improvise - now more than ever we need some fun in our lives" This week Jean-Paul revisits a podcast going back a little while when he caught up in the beautiful Santa Monica in Los Angeles with the then, new Emmy wining musicians José Valentino (flute) and Gualo (guitar).  Since this recording was originally aired, both Gualo and José have gone on to win countless more awards including a Latin grammy win for Jose only a few months ago. In normal times, the stresses of study, finding work and then performances are immense for most performing artists. Combine this with the additional issues faced during the last 18 months of Covid-19 and that L world ‘Lockdown’…. and the word ‘fun’ in particular has been bottom of many of our vocabularies as the virus still continues to ravage populations around the world  whilst musicians have an continue to struggle to make ends meet and put food on the table.  So in choosing the podcast this week, I

"I love taking a spark of an idea and being able to formulate a new instrument or changes to an existing one!" In 'Talking Flutes Extra' this week, Jean-Paul speaks with David Farley technical director at TJ flutes in London (U.K) about his last 30 years of working with musical instruments, and his dedication and commitment to learning from the great makers before us. David also speaks about the wonderful new 'Voce' headjoint, the new wooden flute that he's designed and his drive to get the Open G# flute back in to circulation at an affordable price. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.trevorjamesflutes.com