Alternative Crowns & Stoppers: A Resounding Leap Forward?

Posted on April 22nd 2011 by Pasha Mansurov

Recently there has been some debate over whether the cork assembly inside the headjoint makes a difference to the way the flute plays and feels. Many headjoint makers and flute enthusiasts have been experimenting with different materials and set-ups, and several alternatives are already available through specialist shops. In this article I want to demystify this subject and find out whether there really is truth to it. Continue reading →

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Ian McLauchlan’s Guide to Making A Headjoint

Posted on April 8th 2011 by Ian McLauchlan

What I am intending to do over my next few blog posts is to describe the process involved in producing a headjoint from tubes and sheet, through to the final finished product. I am not for one moment suggesting that this is the only way of making a headjoint, but it is one that works well for me. Continue reading →

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Building A Flute Library: Baroque Sonatas

Posted on April 1st 2011 by Chris Hankin

One of the most bewildering parts of the Just Flutes catalogue is the Baroque section. All the titles seem to be the same, there are a great many composers who wrote a great many sonatas, and there are just so many editions to choose from! No wonder it’s confusing! This is a golden age of flute writing though and some of our most wonderful music comes from this period. Continue reading →

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Don’t Let A Metal Allergy Stop You Playing Flute

Posted on March 25th 2011 by Pasha Mansurov

Over recent years in Jonathan Myall Music, we have come across more and more flute players who suffer a silver allergy – and I’m one of them. I have several allergies: silver, dust, cats, (sharp flute playing!), and have found that I can not do anything about them other than to find a way not to be exposed to the causes. However, a silver allergy really isn’t helped by playing a silver flute! If you are like me, and need help with finding an answer to this miserable problem, read on! Continue reading →

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Flute Essentials: Cleaning and Maintenance Accessories

Posted on March 18th 2011 by Adam Clifford

There are masses of accessories designed for cleaning your flute and keeping it in top playing order. Here’s our round-up of what we suggest that very flute (and piccolo) player should have in their cleaning arsenal. Continue reading →

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Sticky Pads: A Perennial Problem

Posted on March 11th 2011 by Ian McLauchlan

Sticky pads can be infuriating. However, they are something that nearly all flute players have to put up with to some extent. Very few flutes have no stickiness at all, and to be honest, there is not that much that you can do about it! Continue reading →

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Assessing Your Practice through Recording

Posted on March 4th 2011 by Pasha Mansurov

Sometimes the best teacher you ever have will be yourself. Yes, it’s true! Many of us are used to listening to recording of ‘the greats’ performing the pieces that we are learning, and we know how they sound through our headphones, stereo or computer speakers. Why not listen to yourself like that too? By doing so, you have the opportunity to find out what it that ‘the greats’ have that you don’t (or even vice versa!). Continue reading →

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Composer Profile: Amanda Jane Fox

Posted on February 25th 2011 by Chris Hankin

I absolutely love the music of Amanda Fox. She is a wonderful combination of classically trained flute player and natural jazz pianist. She has an amazing way of performing her own music, her rhythmic understanding being instinctively different from the ordinary musician. She once described to me an astonishing list of styles that she has drawn from. These included Bach, Rachmaninoff, Elton John, Carol King, Debussy, Chaminade and several jazz musicians – very much a mixed bag. She is also quite a character! She never stops talking, and is infectiously enthusiastic about all she does. Continue reading →

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7 tips on choosing a beginner flute

Posted on February 18th 2011 by Adam Clifford

Buying your first flute can be daunting: there are so many different makes, models and types of flutes available, and the price range can be huge. Below, we’ve compiled our top tips to help a complete newcomer decide on a new flute. Continue reading →

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Open G#: To open, or not to open?

Posted on February 11th 2011 by Ian McLauchlan

If you look at your flute, you will find that all the keys are sprung open except for D#, G# and the trill keys. The reason for this is that Theobald Boehm, the inventor of the mechanism on the modern … Continue reading →

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