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In
all my years as a professional musician, the times I spent playing chamber
music are probably my fondest memories, much like moments spent in the
company of family and friends. The simplicity of the conversations between
the various instruments conveyed beautifully music's power as an international
language, each instrument representing one language blending in harmony
with another.
Being from the Midwest, my earliest musical experiences were with band
programs in my junior high school, typical for a beginner flutist. Even
though I excelled at the flute at an early age and studied privately,
I still never had many chances to play in small ensembles. Eventually,
I became part of a youth symphony and had the opportunity to play in
wind trios, quartets and quintets as well as flute ensembles. Even before
that, though, I began my chamber music experience with flute duets and
the occasional flute/clarinet duet. I was fortunate, but the average
junior high or high school flutist doesn't always have this opportunity.
There is, however, a
solution to this lack of chamber music in school music programs; flute
ensembles.
Getting
Started
Flute ensembles can, of course, consist of duets and trios right on
up to flute choirs. As most junior and senior high school bands have
as many as twenty flutists, flute ensembles are a natural choice as
an outlet for small ensemble playing, and any music director shouldn't
have to look too far to find interesting and innovative literature for
such ensembles. In fact, even beginners can play easy duets and trios
after several lessons.
Actually, flute duets, trios, and even quintets, especially those by
Boismortier, were common during the baroque period and have remained
popular to the present day. The advent of the modern piccolo,
alto flute and bass
flute have made their inclusion in modern literature and transcriptions
customary and give young flutists the opportunity to play instruments
they normally would have limited exposure to.
Benefits
to the Player
It is not uncommon for students unfamiliar with the other members of
the modern flute family to shy away from attempting to tackle these
instruments. Students need to be taught that these instruments are extremely
enjoyable to play and challenging to master; but more importantly that
they actually help their flute playing to improve significantly.
A student once asked me how I was able to produce such a clear and focused
high register. Besides the typical lecture about the importance of tone
studies, I told the student about all the time I spent playing piccolo
and how it helped me to refine the focus in my embouchure, thereby giving
me greater tonal control. The same can be said for playing alto and
bass flute. The beautiful warm grainy texture and timbre of these instruments
is of great value in developing a wider variety of colors on the c flute,
especially in the low register.
Benefits
to the Band or Orchestra
Besides the obvious benefit to a student's flute tone and musicianship,
small ensemble playing helps students develop a greater appreciation
and sensitivity in section playing, whether it is as part of a wind
ensemble or orchestra. Flute ensemble and flute choir participation
helps students develop a sense of communication, intonation and assists
them in understanding their role as members of a larger ensemble. It
is this sense of involvement and communication that will give students
the pleasure I have been lucky enough to have over the years as part
of numerous flute ensembles.
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