Talking Flutes

"If one is aware of vibrato, it is either unnecessary or too deep!" This week on Talking Flutes, Clare talks flute and flute study with flute player, adjudicator and one of the UK's most respected flute teachers Carolyn Kelly. 'Talking Flutes', 'Talking Flutes Extra' and 'Bitesize' pods are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.tjflutes.com  

In today's episode, we'll be talking about the relationship between happiness and success. The definition of ‘success’ is also very personal, different for each and every one of us.  If we must measure any perceived success, then it should always be based on our  own ‘values’ and passions and not on how others see us. 'Talking Flutes', 'Talking Flutes Extra' and 'Bitesize' are podcast productions...

"Your voice is all that matters in this world!" "Make your own choices rather than them being made by others!" This week on Talking Flutes Jean-Pau speaks via Zoom with the brilliant musician and sax player Andy Snitzer who following a suggestion from Amy Kilkain, a doubling musician in Texas. Amy suggested that flute players can learn so much more if they opened their ears and eyes to other instr...

What makes us happy? In Talking Flutes 'Bitesize' this week Jean-Paul looks at the areas of happiness and how we must make conscious decisions and changes to experience happiness in our music making.   'Talking Flutes', 'Talking Flutes Extra' and 'Talking Flutes Bitesize' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.tjflutes.com  

The power really is in your hands! This week Jean-Paul and Clare muse around on subjects such as how to get back to structured practice, the flute players sound, warming up, the influence of teachers and asking the question..."Why do we have to play scales?" Without good posture your sound will never reflect you full potential.  Have good posture and then learn to shape your sound to create a mult...

Mindfulness for musicians and staying in the zone! In this bitesize episode, Jean-Paul look at the benefits that being 'Mindful' can help our practice and performance.  How it can help to prevent that negative feeling coming in to unwelcome focus when a hard part is coming up in a piece of music. How being mindful is very simple and yet totally transformative! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes...

Limitation breeds creativity! This week on Talking Flutes Extra Jean-Paul speaks with flute player, arranger and social media influencer Barry Griffiths about his love for video game and film music.  During the podcast we listen to performance of 6 of his favourites pieces from Star Trek II through to Harry Potter. 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute...

What is happiness to you? Hello and welcome to these new ‘Talking Flutes’ bite-sized podcasts, where over the next few weeks, and sandwiched between the usual and longer ‘Talking Flutes’ pods that Clare and Jean-Paul record, we are going to briefly explore the fascinating world of human psychology and behaviour, and specifically the areas of happiness and relaxation for musicians as a counter bala...

Anti-Resolutions!   This week on Talking Flutes and the first one of 2023, Clare and Jean-Paul speak about why they don't make NY resolutions and how small changes in mindset and practice routine can make so much difference to your flute playing. Let's try once a week breaking the stranglehold of the dots, which can often create pressure and frustration by simply 'Noodling'! Talking Flutes and Tal...

It's good for our wellbeing to take a break!  It's the Festive Edition where Clare and Jean-Paul speak about Christmas activities and practice routines.  During this episode we listen to Clare playing the Martinu Sonata and are also serenaded with flute choir music by the brilliant Barry Griffiths. Clare and Jean-Paul return with a New Year Special on January 2nd so until then, wishing you Seasons...

Understand the composers narrative and your performance will come alive! In this 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 my opinion, Damase doesn't get the credit among...

Using chocolate instead of tonal colours! Is there an easy way to learn how to double and triple tongue? Are specialist flute stores actually a kind of 'Tinder' for flute players? This week on Talking Flutes Extra, Jean-Paul is flying solo answering some questions received from listeners.  He certainly has some interesting theories around new ways to improve the speed of your double and triple ton...

Being your own self critic and not letting criticism define you! This week on Talking Flutes Clare and Jean-Paul speaks about the difficulty in being honest with yourself and also with other musicians. We have to change the inner narrative of the word 'critique' to 'observation' as this can then be one of the important elements of our development.   Talking Flutes & Talking Flutes Extra are podcas...

"Understanding your emotional hook unlocks so much magic in your practice music and performance." This week on Talking Flutes, Jean-Paul speaks with Founder of 'Etude of the Week' and 'For the Love of Flute' Katy Wherry about her journey and her determination to facilitate a positive and loving 'voice' to every flute player online. "Growth happens in the hard parts so let's take it on.  Let's show...

We've all got performance skeletons! This week on 'Talking Flutes', Clare and Jean-Paul speak about their performance nightmares from getting on the wrong train to the wrong city, to tackling extremely hard pieces.    If you've got any questions or suggestions for future podcast topics or guests, then please send them to us flutepodcasts@gmail.com   'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are...

No flute player should be a guru!!" "It was really hard when I started out on my flute playing journey in the provinces" This week on a very open and without holding back, the fabulous musician and outspoken flute player Atarah Ben Tovim MBE speaks to Clare about how nobody in London was interested in flute players in the provinces when she started out on her journey. How as a woman she had to lit...

The flute with magic powers? This week on Talking Flutes, Jean-Paul speaks with the brilliant flute player and musician Dr Noemi Gyori about the importance of explaining colours to enable fluidity of sound. As Noemi explains, "changing note colour is an art form!" 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by the TJ flute company.  For more information visit www.tjflutes.c...

The importance of setting achievable goals for your music and study.   In the 'Talking Flutes' podcast this week Clare and Jean-Paul also look at the importance of emotional communication, playing in technicolour, communication as a flute player and after 233 weekly flute podcasts spread over nearly 5 years, we need your help! 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes Extra' are podcast productions by...

"Spend time with your monsters!" Creating emotional freedom to perform. Making friends with the inner critic, that invisible parrot that appears on your shoulder and offers unwelcome thoughts. This week on 'Talking Flutes Extra' Jean-Paul speaks with the ever happy and positive creative musician, artist and flute player Rozalind MacPhail. A very happy and insightful interview covering many areas s...

How to stay motivated and structured after a vacation! "Let's be honest about what ewer can and can't do and then aim to bridge the gap upwards so that our weaknesses begin to catch up with our strengths" "You have to treat your practice like a job!" This week Clare and Jean-Paul look at how we need to brush out the cobwebs after a vacation and get structured.  How we should immediately stop compa...

'Funky Fusion Flute Flix' (now say that fast 3 times!) When you give a brief to a musician, you usually need to supply them with an expected overview of the project, how much artistic freedom they have, how long or short, how many segments, who is the audience, what is the expected outcome… Early in 2022 the team at TJ flutes said to Grammy and Emmy winning musician José Valentino they wanted to d...

Let's put 'love' at the forefront of everything! A wonderful double interview interwieved in to a single, longer than usual podcast with stunning musician, flute player and conductor Wissam Boustany. During the podcast Wissam explains to his long time friend Clare how it really is 'love' that makes the world go around, and that as musicians, we should break down our own barriers and show the audie...

"I'm often surprised at the lack of knowledge about the history of the flute when I used to ask new flute students at Music College what they know" comments Professor of Flute at the Royal Academy of Music Clare Southworth in her 'Talking Flutes' podcast this week.  During this August (2022) instead of taking a break, we are looking back over some of our favourite podcasts.  Clare and I have so ma...

"Learning to beatbox enhances your flute playing and is being written in to many new flute compositions nowadays" During August we are revisiting some of our favourite podcasts and this week Jean-Paul has chosen one of his buddies, the beatboxing genius with 100m YouTube views Greg Pattillo. For more information on Greg visit www.pattillostyle.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes' Extra are po...

Arguably the most famous flute piece ever written! This week on Talking Flutes podcasts revisited, Jean-Paul speaks with the brilliant musician, flute player and Professor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin William Dowdall about all things flute, and Syrinx in particular. You can download the original score of Syrinx at www.williamdowdall.com 'Talking Flutes' and 'Talking Flutes' Extra...