Flutes are Fun

Mozart Andante k315

2011-09-13T12:31:00.001+10:00

Mozart's Andante k315 for flute and orchestra is beautiful and elegant piece for solo flute, 2 oboes, 2 horns and strings.

I have created a play along backing track that is really fun to practice with. I have tried my best to keep the accompaniment accurate to the original score and as realistic as possible. I have used lovely sampled instruments that don't sound like corny midi files but closer to a real orchestra.

I have not left room for a cadenza as with a pre-recorded accompaniment it is hard to determine re-entry points.

Have a listen to the play-along below and download it for yourself to play with.
Just click on the file to play or right click on file and select download.
(I have now added a slower version with metronome and at tempo version with metronome)

Download or print the PDF of piano accompaniment and solo flute part.

You can download all the files zipped together from HERE

You can download just the files with metronome as a zip from HERE

Have a listen to Sir James playing the Andante in a video from 1983

If you enjoy playing my accompaniments say thanks or put a dollar or two in my paypal donate link. Any sort of encouragement is good motivation to make more arrangements.

Best Matt

Reedmusic

Easy Improvisation

2011-06-01T14:30:00.002+10:00

When teaching I think its a great idea to get students to free up and be creative by improvising. To often beginners only look at dots, when they can be creating there own music from the start. Most beginner improvising tutors are jazz based and tend to confuse students with to many chord changes or are based only on blues scales.

I think simple pentatonic scales are great for beginner improvising and better for learning major and minor scales.

Have a listen to a backing in a new age style that can be used with C maj pentatonic and A minor Pentatonic. There is also a fail safe PDF with scale suggestions.

Alternate link: HERE

This whole track can be played just using those 5 notes or even less. The piece trades 4 bars with a C major feel then A minor for 4 bars. Its slow so the student can be encouraged to even use sparse notes and if they play just the pentatonic there are no wrong notes.

Some ideas:

Student and teacher trade short phrases with each other. Teacher keeping it simple say 1/4 notes and 1/2 notes so the student doesn't think they have to play heaps of notes.

When the student hears a phrase they like get them to repeat it explaining that improvising is just instant composition.

Student writes a short simple 4 bar pentatonic melody in 4/4, play along and keep looping it each time adding some embellishments.

Teacher and student can play the tune that the student wrote in a round a couple of bars apart. maybe the teacher can put it in a different register

Teach melodic shape.

Major and Minor arpeggios

Major scales and natural minor relative.

If the student is able to play a full major scale highlight that their improvising will sound better with the track if they use f and b as passing notes.

Ask the student what they imagine when hearing the backing and can they make their solo match what they are imagining.

I'm sure you would have many better ideas than me.

Any level player could go off into their calm world and think peaceful thoughts playing whatever they feel like. Very Medative

Tell me what you think.

Opera for Flute (18 pieces for flute and piano)

2011-05-24T06:55:00.001+10:00

I am proud to announce my book Opera for Flute a collection of 18 pieces for flute and piano is now being published by reedmusic.com

This book contains 18 classic opera songs arranged for flute & piano. Play-along and demonstration tracks are also available as a free download for use as an excellent and inspiring practice tool.

Have a browse through the sample book and listen to the Orchestral demonstration tracks below. I'm sure you will enjoy them.

Price (inc tax): AUD$32.99
Outside of Australia? Save 10% Tax.

Free Shipping Worldwide.

Just spend $40 or more.

To purchase from reedmusic CLICK HERE

John Dowland 1st Book of Songs

2011-05-20T15:36:00.005+10:00

Hi All

I have arranged some little C flute trios with cool medieval style backings. They are the first six songs from John Dowland's first book of songs for voice and lute. I have transposed the songs into a good range for beginner/intermediate players. I have added modern key signatures and simplified the time signatures to recognisable modern time signatures.

All the accompaniments are enjoyable to listen to and play-along with. Here is the PDF Sheet Music of the trios::

If you want to download the Sheet Music to play yourself click the arrow pointing down
or just print it out

To listen to the backing accompaniments click on a file below. (These do not include the melody just the backings.)

I have made a correction in files changing No1 from F minor to E minor to make it easier for beginner players. Thanks for suggestion Atarah

If you would like to download all the files the PDF and MP3's in a single zip file download Click Here

I hope you enjoy let me know any way I can improve these.Please leave a comment .

best

Matt

My Publications

Free Flute fingering chart maker

2011-02-06T19:12:00.002+11:00

Hi all

A guy called Bret Pimentel has made a really good woodwind fingering generator program online.

You create the fingering you want then save the image file. It is very professional looking using colour or b/w or mixed.

This would be perfect for making worksheets adding to tutors whatever you would want to import the files to.

Here's a couple of examples:

Or to indicate a trill use a different colour

Bret has added fingering diagram builders for lots of woodwind instruments.

Bret's Fingering Diagram Builder. Click Me..

Let him know if you use it. I'm sure he would be thankful.

best

Matt

P.S This program doesn't seem to work in IE browser it does however work very well in Firefox,Opera,Chrome, Safari etc

La Plus Que Lente Debussy

2010-12-31T16:13:00.008+11:00

Here is a beautiful arrangement of Debussy's "La Plus Que Lente", it is a waltz for solo piano written by Claude Debussy. I have arranged it for flute and a lovely play-along mp3.

It's not for a beginner however quite a challenge for more advanced students with a range from low B to high B and a wide variety of dynamics(including a delicious pp B3)

Have a look at the pdf of the score while listening to the demo

.Press the print icon to print or the downward pointing arrow to download.

Have a listen to the demo. The flute is a midi realisation so you will sound better.

To Download RIGHT click on the player below and select Download Document

Download the backing Mp3 below for yourself.

My favourite version by a flute player of La Plus Que Lente is performed by Lorna Mcghee on her album "fin de siecle" music of Debussy and Ravel. Its absolutely beautiful. You can purchase it at amazon here .
Buy anything by Lorna Mcghee you wont be disappointed.

I hope you enjoy playing this piece, and have a good fluting 2011.
best
Matt

Japanese Scales

2010-10-25T17:40:00.001+11:00

Hi All
I hope you or your students enjoyed playing Sakura. Why don't you get your students to write their own Japanese sounding piece of music. They could base it on the scales used in Sakura. Have a go with the scales pictured here:

I hope you have fun.
Seeya soon.....

Sakura for Flute

2010-10-18T19:15:00.003+11:00

Hi All

Here is a lovely tune for any beginners. It has a small range and simple rhythm. "Sakura", is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring, the season of cherry blossom.

The backing track for this arrangement I think is very beautiful and will make it a pleasure to play. Have a listen to me playing along with the backing track then download it with the sheet music and have a play.

Beginner students will love this.

Download pdf and backing track below:

Sakura Backing.mp3

Download all files(Demo,Backing and Pdf) in a zip file

Sakura.zip

I hope you enjoy this piece and your students do as well. Let me know.

best Matt

My Publications

Some Irish Tunes for All

2010-08-24T18:25:00.000+10:00

Hi All
Its been a while since I have posted, I've been busy catching some virus . Anyhow I thought some of you may like some Irish melodies to play-along to. The first is a traditional tune called Ketty Terrol in Bb it is very playable and in duet form. I have also included a lovely backing for you all. If you want to have a listen to me playing it today click below. Yes I'm playing both parts, I cant blame anyone else...........

The pdf of the sheet music is available here

Ketty Terrol Backing.mp3

The second piece is a compilation of 3 Irish Jigs by Mr/Ms Anon, that very famous composer. This arrangement is a bit harder than the first. I have included a slower version as well. Have a listen.....

You can download the pdf and backing tracks here............

Jig backing slower.mp3

Jig backing.mp3

Jig demoslower.mp3

I hope you enjoy these arrangements and have fun playing them.
best
Matt

Rhythm Names Part 2 Simple Rests & Dotted Notes

2010-06-10T13:44:00.004+10:00

Hi all
To continue with some simple time names in Common Time I will now add 1/4,1/2 and 1/8th note rests.
The important thing with any rests is to hear them as if there are notes there. Using the time names any rest will have a "s" at the start for silent.

Remember you only ever play only on a T or K

First say out loud clapping on the T or K sounds while a metronome keeps the constant beat or pulse..

Simple 1/2,1/4 and 1/8th Note Rests

1/4 Note Rest

Have a listen

1/2 Note rest

Have a listen

1/8th Note Rest

Have a listen

Simple 1/4 and 1/8th Dotted Notes

Dotted 1/4 notes

Have a listen

While the second bar below isn't viewed as being correctly written in 4/4 it is seen written this way.

Have a listen

Dotted 1/8ths

Have a listen

A Practice Tip.

1 Say the rhythm with metronome.

2 Say the rhythm with metronome and keep constant beat pulse in left or right hand.

3 With the metronome, say the rhythm out loud, keep the pulse in one hand while tapping the rhythm with the other.

That's it for today .

Next Time: Compound Time

Rhythm Names Part 1

2010-06-03T20:38:00.012+10:00

Hi All
My first flute teacher would continually yell every time I miss counted a piece of music. I just couldn't grasp all his 1&2&'s. I would try to count but I would be so busy counting I would forget to play, or so busy playing I would forget to count. I found the whole experience caused me a lot of unneeded anxiety.

I even got to the stage where I believed I could never play rhythmically, all because the teacher could not teach with any other strategies than the way he counted.

The subdivision method worked well for him and many others but it didn't work for me. I ended up being a copier and follower of everyone else rather than truly counting rhythms myself.

It took until I entered university to find out there are other possible methods to play in time and rhythms correctly. I found out about using simple time names while keeping a constant beat. Also that practising with a metronome would not make me play like a robot without expression as my first teacher had taught me. Shock!!!

I always thought time names were for preschool kids not realising that anyone could apply the simple principles and improve their rhythm.

In the next few blogs I shall give a general overview of one way you can use time names. In this post I shall show and demonstrate simple time names in 4/4.(Time names vary across the world these are just the names I use)

Note I use the consonants "t" and "k" each time a note changes much like the tonguing and double tonguing we use as flute players.

Simple time names 4/4 no rests.

1/4 notes (Crotchets)

Have a listen below

Note:You only change notes on a "t" or "k" consonant. If a sound doesn't have this it is tied to the previous "t" or "k"

1/2 and Whole Notes (minim and Semi-breves)

Notice the tied aa's after the Taa.

Have a listen

1/8 notes (quavers)

Have a listen

1/16 notes (semiquavers)

Have a listen

1/8 + 2/16

Have a listen

2/16 + 1/8

Have a listen

Part 2: Simple Dotted Notes and Rests

Staffnotes Free Customisable Manuscript Paper

2010-05-23T17:25:00.006+10:00

Hi All
This is a very cool and useful tool for making customisable manuscript and note paper. It is free to use and is provided by Dan Comerchero at www.staffnotes.net

Adjust your manuscript to your own specifications and press print. .

Press fill page for only manuscript. Drag margins wherever you like. Add a title,adjust staff and line spacing by opening the Tools B tab.

Have a play around with it. Easy huh cool.

Maybe Dan can add landscape printing in the future. Well done Dan a great useful application for teachers and students.

Deciding Dorian

2010-05-06T18:21:00.001+10:00

Sometime last year I began writing a suite of simple Modal tunes for flute and piano(I must finish it all some day). The idea is to show the different colours and characteristics of each of the seven modes. I thought I would share the second movement called Deciding Dorian. Have a listen to me playing it and download the PDF of the piano and flute parts if you like it.

I hope you enjoy it
best
Matt

Funky Dude

2010-04-22T03:19:00.012+10:00

This is a cool tune with a funky rhythm that's fun to play. It has 16th notes but quite a bit of repetition, so is easy to learn. Students should be encouraged to improvise on the backing track as well. I have include a suggested scale at the end of the piece that could be improvised with.

Get the students to clap the beat or pulse first as there are quite a lot of off beat patterns in the drum part, which some students may confuse with the pulse. Encourage them to listen down to the bass drum as it appears more often on the beat.

Have a listen its good fun.

Download the Pdf and Backing track.

Dude Backing.mp3

Is this useful to you all? Let me know
best
Matt

Bach's "Air on a G String"

2010-04-20T10:41:00.002+10:00

fHi

I have made a play-along for "Air on a G String". It has strings and harpsichord backing. Feel free to download it below. If you would like to have listen, click in the player.

To download the backing and pdf click the following links.

Air on G string backing.mp3

If this piece of Bach's is to your liking you will also like the following arrangements, I made in the past.

Bach Suite in Bminor

Sheep May Safely Graze

If you enjoy my arrangements please let me know.
best
Matt

Just Clownin' for 1/8th note rests

2010-04-19T03:52:00.002+10:00

Howdy
In about 1998 I wrote a tutor book for my students with play-along pieces. Anyway while going through my old music I found the midi files for the book I made. Yes on a floppy disk, does anyone remember them?

I wrote a little piece called "Just Clownin'" to help the my kids work on 1/8th note rests. Its a wacky piece that you might hear at a circus. I'm not sure how much coffee I had before writing this...

I thought teachers and beginners could use it. Have a listen, see what you think....

Download the pdf and backing tracks below.

Just click on the links they will open a new window for downloads.

Justclownin Backing slower.mp3

Justclownin Backing.mp3

Hope you can use it. Let me know what you think and if it is useful.

Free Sheet Music Online

2010-04-07T11:29:00.003+10:00

So you haven't got heaps of money to buy sheet music, where can you get some free online?

I have a legitimate site full of Public Domain flute music. Click on a folder below to be taken there. All of the composers are sorted into separate folders for easy searching.

Another great resource has been shared by a lady codenamed Melusina from Poland. I believe most of her uploads are in the public domain. I am not in control of what is uploaded so I can't be sure. All of the posts are definitely flute sheet music though. Check it out at the link below.

Free Flute sheet music link

A collection of Public Domain duets that I have uploaded can be found in the following folder.

If you play all the classical music on these sites it will keep you busy.

best

Matt
My Publications

Enrique Granados Duet and Play-along

2010-04-05T16:44:00.006+10:00

Hi Tooters

I have just completed a new piece with a lovely guitar play-along. Its an arrangement of Enrique Granados' Danza Espanola Op 37, No2 Oriental.

I have arranged it for two C flutes in two different versions Advanced and Simplified. Both can be played with the same backing track. I thought it would be useful for different level tooters.

Have a listen to the Advanced Version.
If you can't see the player refresh your screen

Click on the links below to download the Play-along track and the sheet music both Advanced and Simplified are in the same PDF..

Granados Oriental backing.mp3

Flute Parts

Guitar Part

Let me know what you think.

best

Matt

Rounds for Woodwind Fun

2010-04-04T11:43:00.008+10:00

Hi All

Grab all your woodwind playing friends and play some rounds. I have shared these with many teachers on different flute forums that have found them useful. If you haven't got them download one for your instrument and your friends as well.

best

Matt

Flute Flashcards

2010-04-04T04:11:00.001+10:00

Hi all Flute Players
I made some flute flash cards quite some time ago with note names, fingerings and notation. These could be very useful for lessons. Get your students to cut them out , fold them in half and paste them together. They are much better at that than us. Thanks to Jen Cluff for her fingering charts I adapted.

Please feel free to download them.

Click on the picture to download.

Enjoy
Matt

My Publications