The Willows

Hello!
This is a tune written by Jonny Dyer and it's gorgeous. Fits on the silver flute or the wooden flute just as easily. I taught it here on the wooden flute. In the video I play it in the octave written and then an octave higher. It's relatively simple to be able to transpose up the octave and this is really good practise! Enjoy!
:))
Vicki

The Silverwood Flute Unboxed

 Hello!

There's a new beginner flute on the block. It's the Silverwood Flute by Tony Millyard and Sophie Matthews. It's a hybrid flute - wooden head joint and aluminium body. I've been lucky enough to get hold of one, so I put it through its paces! I played it loud and high, slow and fast. To summarise I liked it!  But watch the video and make your own mind up!

The flute is available directly from their website at a price of £189 inc vat.
:))
Vicki

Anastasia

Hello!

For NYE we played for a massive dance (Sea to Sea) over in the USA (via Zoom obviously!) Mostly we played live, but we provided three videos for up and coming callers. This is one of the videos we made for the evening. This is the tune Anastasia played seven times through. Either play along or dance along! It's a 48 bar jig.

Enjoy!

:))

Vicki

The Aulos Fife - Unboxing

Hello!
I decided to 'unbox' my 40 year old fife that I had before I started to play the flute. It's a great little instrument! See what you think by watching the video.
The instruments have been updated in recent years - are they the same? Maybe if this blog takes off I can justify getting a modern one and unboxing that too!
Enjoy!
:))
Vicki

Shepherds Hey (beginner flute)

Hello!
I nice easy tune in G major for the wooden flute. It can be played down the octave or up the octave. Excellent for practising beautiful notes on. I've included a wooden flute lesson and a silver flute version up the octave for practising those higher notes.
Enjoy!
:))
Vicki

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Flute Duel - wooden flute vs the Nuvo Toot

Hello!
Today's blog entry is just a bit of fun, because we could all do with some fun! I was asked which wins in the unboxing of the Wooden Flute and the Nuvo Toot. So we had a bit of a battle off!
Which one wins? You'll have to decide yourself!
😂
Vicki
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Caught on Camera

Hello!
This tune is one of a pair really - we always played it along with the BlueTack Man. It cracks along a pace when you get it under your fingers. It's in G, so just a cross fingered C natural needed.
:))
Vicki

The Bluetack Man

Hello!
It's tune written by Jonny Dyer today. A pretty little jig, fits so wonderfully on the wooden flute. Of course - if you can play it on the wooden flute you can also play it on the silver Boehm flute. The eponymous BlueTack Man's video is below!
Enjoy!
:))
Vicki
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Unboxing: Flute by Tony Millyard

Hello!
I thought, having done a couple of unboxing videos I should do a serious one. I was very lucky to get my new flute two weeks before we went into lockdown. The timing couldn't have been better! I had selected the flute last summer and had it in its keyless state for a good few months and then handed it back to have keys added just before Christmas. When Tony said it was ready we jumped at the first opportunity that we were driving close to him to go and fetch it - little did we know that this was going to be the only opportunity for the foreseeable future. The gods smiled that day! I had in the back of my mind that I was going to start this blog up once I had this particular flute, so gradually I'm going to be adding things to it. Possibly a bit haphazardly, but I'll make some lists so you can follow through on a learning exploration that makes sense. Technically we're all in lockdown and this means that a lot of people have a lot of tie on their hands. We've actually been really, really busy creating, recording and filming. It's been a gruelling hectic schedule!
So the flute itself...
Made by Tony Millyard

• Pratten Model
• Baroque Style
• Ivorine Rings
• 8 keys by Sophie Matthews

Anyway - enjoy watching the video. Tunes will follow!
:))
Vicki

The Peppa Pig Recorder

Hello!
I thought we all needed some light relief, so I unboxed a Peppa Pig recorder. Question is - did it work? Watch the video to find out!
:))
Vicki

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Flute Basics Part 4

Hello!
A little video that helps you go all the way down to the bottom and then all the way to the top. (As far as you need to go anyway!) Bottom D two octaves up to top D.
Enjoy!
:))
Vicki
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Ormistons' Part 2

Hello!

This is the second part of Ormistons' - essentially the same as the jig, but its been reel-ified.

Enjoy!

:))

Vicki

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Also available from:

Ormistons' Part 1

Hello!

One of the very first tunes I wrote for wooden flute today. It's a really long tune and it comes in two parts, so today is part 1. It's a jig with 6 parts, but it's not that tricky. It's called Ormistons' because that was the maker of the flute that I played at that time, so the flute gave me the tune.

Enjoy!

:))

Vicki
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Hälleforsnäspolskan

Hello!
It's time for a Swedish tune today - a slängpolska. Easily played on the silver flute - I'm playing it on my wooden flute, but you will need keys to play it on a wooden flute. You need to be able to cross finger a C natural and you'll need an F natural key.
Enjoy!
:))
Vicki
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The Nuvo Toot

Hello!
I got myself a little Nuvo Toot and unboxed it. Did I like it? You'll have to watch the video!
😂
Vicki

Flute Basics Part 3

Hello!
This video deals with putting your flute together - being careful of your keys if you have any. How to align the holes and making your first tentative notes with the whole flute assembled. If you've followed part 1 and part 2 you'll notice that the whole flute takes a lot more air!
Beautiful notes is the key to this video - listen carefully to yourself!
:))
Vicki
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Hennessey's Gathering

Hello!
Today we have a tune on the silver Boehm system flute. It was written by Jonny Dyer many many years ago! It cracks along at quite a pace!
Enjoy!
:))
Vicki
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Flute Basics Part 2

Hello!
Part 2 is about how we approach starting the note. We use the tongue to give the start of the note a nudge. Watch the video! Then get ready for part 3!
:))
Vicki
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To Catch a Cat

Hello!
One of my tunes today. To Catch a Cat. It's a jig I wrote many years ago when I was trying to catch a cat that was coming into the house. A big black cat - I never did catch it, but I did get a great jig out of it! Dots are below and also a link to our recording of this on spotify.
Enjoy!
:))
Vicki
PS - if you find these videos useful. Please consider making a donation.

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Flute Basics Part 1

Hello!
So you've just got your first flute and need some help! This video is all about getting a good sound out of just the head joint. Definitely don't run before you can walk, beautiful zen notes are the order of the day! Once you're done here, head over to Flute Basics Part 2.
:))
Vicki
PS - if you find these videos useful. Please consider making a donation.