Latest news with #flute
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Humor: How to Choose Your Middle Schooler's Instrument
Considering your ears, wallet, and sanity How will you ever know if your son or daughter is a musical prodigy if you don't put an instrument in their hands?! But what instrument should it be? Here are a few to consider. Flute You wish you'd been allowed to play the flute as a kid, or you did play it, quit as soon as your parents made the final payment on it, and have wondered ever since if that was where your high school career went wrong. You still have the flute. And you know that 99% of kids quit their instruments before high school graduation. Why are you even reading this? Clarinet Perfect if you *really* miss the days of the 3rd-grade recorder. You just must be willing to endure extremely high-pitched and ear-rattling squeaks during the approximately 500 hours of practice it'll take to hit those high notes. And not have an aversion to saliva puddles on your floor. Oboe Is your middle schooler looking for something 'clarinet adjacent,' but that costs 3x more? Is your nickname MoneyToBurn? Might we suggest the oboe? Just don't expect this 'investment' to result in hearing anything, because if your middle schooler doesn't commit to an immediate and rigorous lip strength training routine, you won't. Which may not entirely be a bad thing. Saxophone You desperately miss the musical stylings of Kenny G, but will happily settle for something akin to the sound of cow burps. It's important to you for your kid to play an instrument that they can wear hanging from their neck like a gigantic necklace. It's simple: You need your kid to play the saxophone. Violin Are you CRAZY about 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'? Do you want to hear it every single freaking day for 6 months?? Sounds like the violin might be perfect for your kid. Just be honest with yourself about how likely they might be to try and smoke the rosin meant to smooth the hairs on the bow. Because, yes, this is a thing. Viola Do you not want your kid to be basic and just play the violin like everyone else? Did you think you bought a large violin at an estate sale, but were wrong? The viola might be right for your family. As long as hearing only the harmony of every song won't give you a massive case of FOMO. And you aren't afraid to have rosin in the house. Cello If your kid gets tired when you ask them to hold something, but loves sitting down, the cello might be a good option. Especially if you think smoking rosin is a myth and you have no aversion to the car drop-off and pick-up lines. Because cellos aren't allowed to ride the bus. Double Bass Your motto is 'GO BIG OR GO HOME!' and you love driving your kid to school in your large vehicle? You're dying to give your kid the responsibility of an unwieldy and expensive instrument that is taller than they are? As long as you don't think low notes sound like Eeyore, and therefore make you sad, bring on the double bass! Trumpet You love being jolted awake at any time of the day by deafening sounds not remotely resembling 'Reveille'? Or, alternatively, you already wear a fantastic set of earplugs all day long and your favorite lullaby is 'Taps'? Get that kid a trumpet! Percussion It may sound crazy, but if you're sure they'll be content to practice using drumsticks on a pillow in their bedroom with the door closed, this could work. Just be sure to check that there's not even the remotest possibility a xylophone might be sent home on loan from the school. And be honest with your tolerance for repetitive beats. Even if they are 'sick.' Remember, the goal is to avoid insanity, or at least kick it down the curb a few more years. Or this... Don't have the patience of a saint, the deep pockets of a multimillionaire, an old instrument hidden in the closet, or at least some high-quality earplugs? There's another possible choice. And no, it's not letting them decide. You're funny. It's called 'joining Chorus.' No instrument to accidentally leave at home, school, or on the bus — and the price ($0!!) is RIGHT. Just don't think this will get you out of sitting through the concerts. It won't. Good luck! And choose wisely! Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Robert Burns family flute played again after 150 years
It's been on display in a family museum since the this rare boxwood flute hasn't been played in almost 200 last person to do so was likely its owner, James Glencairn Burns, son of Robert Burns, a talented musician and a passionate advocate for his father's thanks to a grant from the Pilgrim Trust and the Association of Independent Museums, the flute has been restored and is helping raise money for the wider restoration of Ellisland Museum and Farm near Dumfries. Ellisland was the home Burns built for his family, and where he composed over 130 poems and songs including Auld Lang Syne."It's the only instrument that we have in our collection, " says Joan McAlpine, director of the campaign to preserve the Ellisland site."It's a boxwood flute dating from the very early 19th century and we know it belonged to his son who was an accomplished flautist and often performed his father's songs.""So as part of the restoration we took a decision that we wanted it to be restored to a playable condition so that the music that Burns created at Ellisland and passed down to his son could be passed to audiences worldwide who we hope will help us save Ellisland." Restoration began two years ago as Edinburgh-based conservator Lydia Messerschmidt of Phoenix Conservation, with specialist repair work undertaken by early flute expert Robert Biglio of Dickson, curator at the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust said the restoration was complicated because the flute had been stored in the living room of a family home, which had still been in use until 2019."The previous curator lived in the house, as well as looking after the museum. It was exposed to the peat and timber which was burned in the fire so it needed to be thoroughly cleaned up."Flautist Claire Mann had the task of gently reawakening the instrument by playing it for short bursts of time in the "Spence", the room in Ellisland in which it had been stored, and where Burns composed many of his songs between 1788 and 1791. And then came the moment of truth when the flute was played for the first time in 150 years at a private performance in with vocalist Robyn Stapleton and harpist Wendy Stewart, she played a number of Burns works from the Ellisland songbook including Auld Lang Syne, Ye Banks and Braes, and John Anderson, My Jo, all written at the farm which Burns described as "sweet poetic ground"."I mean, with any old instrument you think to yourself, who played this and what kind of music did they play?" says Claire."So for it to be associated with Burns and his family is really he played the melody of old Lang Syne on the flute so I guess to play an instrument in his footsteps is very special." Claire is the only musician with permission to play the historic instrument and the plan is to take the flute on tour as part of a wider fundraising campaign called Saving The Home of Auld Lang Syne which will be launched later this year. It already has support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, South of Scotland Enterprise, Museums Galleries Scotland and the Holywood Trust and has a further seven million pounds to raise."When he lived at Ellisland, Burns focused especially on song, collecting and composing for the Scots Musical Museum," says curator Adam Dickson."Our goal is to make Ellisland a creative hub once more while preserving the buildings, which are currently at risk."This is a very special artefact and to be able to hear it being played again, and playing the music that was created for it. It's a very special moment."
RNZ News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Hamilton Flute Festival
Photo: Jean-Paul Wright The Hamilton Flute Festival takes place this weekend - two days of workshops, masterclasses and lessons with Guest Artist Joshua Batty, along with flute ensembles, concerts, forums, and trade stands. RNZ Concert host Andrew Clark spoke with festival founder Kathryn Orbell about the event - it's the fifteenth one she's organised - and how she came to play the flute in the first place. "I started out in a Saturday morning music class. It was compulsory to play recorder for a couple of years first, and then you were allowed to choose what you might want to move on to. And I wanted to play the cello." "But we had a roster of parents who picked up all the local children and dropped them off for lessons on a Saturday morning, and you couldn't fit five kids and a cello in the car. So flute it was!" This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Here's one of Kathryn Orbell's favourite flute pieces: 2025 Hamilton Flute Festival Saturday 12 July - Sunday 13 July Fairfield Intermediate School Auditorium Clarkin Road, Hamilton
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Jethro Tull Charts Yet Another Top 10 Album — The Band's Third In Months
Jethro Tull's Live from Baloise Session debuts at No. 6 on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, ... More marking the group's eighteenth top 10 and third appearance of 2025. UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 16: BOURNEMOUTH PAVILION Photo of JETHRO TULL and Ian ANDERSON, Ian Anderson performing on stage, playing flute (Photo by Harry Herd/Redferns) Jethro Tull started releasing albums in the late 1960s, but unlike many groups that got their start during that time, the rockers are not only still together, they're seemingly working just as hard as ever. The band, remembered largely for bringing the flute to rock and roll, has been on a releasing streak lately, with multiple collections dropping in just the past several months. The latest of the bunch, a live album titled Live from Baloise Session, quickly becomes a bestseller in the United Kingdom this week. Jethro Tull's New Top 10 Album Among the three rosters where Live from Baloise Session arrives, it earns its loftiest starting point on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. On that genre-specific tally, the new project opens at No. 6. The title instantly becomes Jethro Tull's eighteenth top 10 and twenty-ninth total appearance on the tally. Jethro Tull's Very Busy 2025 Live from Baloise Session is, impressively, Jethro Tull's third new placement on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart in 2025 alone. Back in March, Curious Ruminant hit No. 1, becoming the band's first champion on the list after the group stalled in the runner-up spot multiple times. Just a month later, Songs from the Vault: 1975–1978 opened and peaked at No. 17. The group has scored a total of four new wins in the past 12 months, as The Jethro Tull Christmas Album peaked at No. 2 on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart in mid-December 2024. A Top 40 Debut for Jethro Tull Live from Baloise Session is also a top 40 bestseller on two other related rankings — ones that don't focus on a single style. Jethro Tull's newest offering, which was recorded in 2008, captures a performance that took place in Basel, Switzerland, and it opens at No. 33 on the Official Physical Albums chart and at No. 35 on the Official Albums Sales list.
ABC News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Alexander Litvinovsky: Snow White
Belarusian composer Alexander Litvinovsky reimagines the classic fairy tale Snow White for flute and string orchestra in this week's Feature Album on ABC Classic. Litvinovsky's musical story-telling comes to life in the hands of Belarusian ensemble Metamorphose String Orchestra, led by Pavel Lyubomudrov, with Nikolay Donskoy joining as the flute soloist.
