Beyond Classical: Irish, Jazz, and Other Styles
Arwen
One of the great , disappointing shortcomings of conservatory flute study is that the student is often unexposed to the music world that exists beyond classical repertoire. The exploration of another music genre can be exciting, challenging, and advantageous.
Jazz
The flute player’s classic introduction to jazz is often at school, when their band teacher tosses a saxophone to them and says, “Try this! See you after-school in jazz!” Saxophone, especially alto or tenor, is an excellent second instrument for a flute player, as it has a very similar fingering system and written music range. Though jazz flute players aren’t uncommon, most that play in a jazz ensemble typically play saxophone for the majority of the time, and “double” on flute for a particular song or improvised solo. The most versatile of jazz saxophonists will be able to double on flute, clarinet, or even piccolo! (I’ve seen it done!)
Playing in a jazz band is an incredibly beneficial experience, especially to your musical appreciation. Saxophone interferes little with the flute embouchure, and forces the student to learn to project their sound to a greater extent. Jazz contains different articulations and rhythms than more classical work; it’s a great way to make you more aware of the music you play. It’s a chance to both “let your hair down” in performance and more deeply analyze chord progressions. Your first time improvising a solo on the spot may be terrifying, but with practice you’ll become addicted to the experience - through improvisation, you can express yourself through your own music. It's like a really expressive cadenza, only better; in a jazz ensemble, you usually have an energetic horn and rhythm section supporting you!
And remember how great you thought it was to be a concert-pitch instrument, never having to transpose any pitch? Well, yeah, playing sax in Eb does require the odd transposition, but knowing how to transpose early on will save you grief later, especially as you become a more advanced flute performer.
Irish
I can never forget the first time I ever heard The Chieftain’s flute player, Matt Malloy, perform the Mason’s Apron. It was amazing - I couldn’t get enough of the dark, woody Irish-flute sound. A really slow version of this piece is the background music of this page, but go find the recording I've listed below - Malloy plays it so fast that he honestly sounds like two flutes! The Irish flute style, completely different from orchestral flute, is almost brazen: the sound is rough and very breathy, but has awesome expression with powerful sound and creative rhythms. The technical prowess of professional players, such as Malloy, is astounding. In their fingerwork, at least, they are the equal if not better, of the classical performer. In fact, many famous performers began their career or at least their flute-playing on a classical instrument.
A great wooden Irish flute is hard to come by, though, and almost dangerous to bring to a drier climate like North America, and playing Irish pieces on the classical (dare I say wimpier?) sound of a concert flute just doesn’t have the same effect. However, the equivalent of the bright concert flute sound in Irish music is the tin whistle. Fun and inexpensive ($10 or less), tin whistles have pretty much the same easy fingering as recorders. It’s easy to improv on them, too, and there are lots of beginner books out there to introduce you to Irish music. (Try to get ones that call them “tin” whistles, not “penny” whistles; I find they have MUCH better music and instruction) Add a nice vibrato when you play, and tah-dah! You sound great, and you’re having fun. Not to mentioning practicing your vibrato in an easy, casual way. For a really, really awesome tin whistle guide complete with free sheet music and sound files check this site out: http://www.sessioneer.com If you're more into the percussion aspect of Irish music, check out this great website on the bodhran Other fields to explore with flute and tin whistle: check out some of the “east coast” or folk recordings out there.
Recommended Listening
These are some albums that I think are really great for showing the versatility of the concert flute sound (the exception of course being musicindia.com and The Chieftains’ Irish flutist - both show an entirely different sound achieved through wood).
The Chieftains An Irish Evening
Rawlins Cross Celtic Instrumentals
Moe Koffman The Best of Moe Koffman
Various artists (Tito Puente) Introduction to Latin Jazz/Jazz 101
Captain Tractor East of Edson
Jethro Tull Original Masters
Led Zeppelin IV