When you think of the flute, what comes to mind? A lilting flute solo over a professional orchestra? The jazz flute? Believe it or not, the flute can do a lot more than just classical or jazz music.
The flute became a very popular instrument for avante garde composers to use in the 20th Century. These composers began to experiment with how musicians could play the flute, trying to find its full potential, which was common with many instruments in the 20th Century. Some techniques are somewhat unique to the flute, like the jet whistle, tongue stops, and my personal favorite, multiphonics. Each of these give the flute a very unique sound. Other extended techniques for the flute can also be applied to other wind instruments: circular breathing, flutter tonguing, and pitch bends.
Composers that wrote for the flute with extended techniques include Ian Clarke, Robert Dick, and Heinz Holliger. Check out some videos of extended techniques in action!
Flute Lessons with Jake Wark
We are blessed to have Jake as an instructor at the JESM. We invite students from Wheaton, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Lisle, West Chicago, Naperville and the other suburbs of DuPage to contact us for their first lesson. Call us today at 630-359-7725 or email us at admin@jeschoolofmusic.com to schedule your first lesson.
