What could be better than starting a Flutacious! newsletter with the absolutely fantastic, wonderful and glorious news that SCHOOL HAS STARTED AGAIN !!!  

(So maybe the caps and colors are a touch of overkill, but it’s no coincidence that we didn’t manage to write newsletters in July or August, and that too many kids were on too-long of a summer vacation at the time…..) 

Ok!  We’re done celebrating our freedom!!  And hopefully we have exciting Flute news to report as well: 

Starting this coming Saturday, Janet Ferguson, former principal Flute of both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Antonio Symphony, is hosting a series of masterclasses!  Entitled A Course in Formidable Flute Playing, these seminars will focus on tone, technique, practicing, overall Flute sound, and will culminate with an inspiring recital featuring Janet performing works of Bach, Debussy and more.  For more information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

September’s Practice Advice, appropriately, is from Janet Ferguson!  We asked her how she got her Flute chops back into tip-top shape after an I-didn’t-exactly-practice vacation.  Here’s how she responds: 

"Getting back in shape after a ‘vacation’ from the Flute can be daunting, can't it?  But I have a great solution.  Decide first to dedicate just 20 minutes a day, each day, to playing long tones. Start in the low register first, then move up only into the middle register.  Try playing whole notes chromatically slurred, descending from our ‘middle C,’ and then ascending from the same ‘C’ just one octave.  Next, choose one major scale per day, playing it in whole notes with your best possible tone.  Within two weeks, you'll have your ‘chops’ back and be rarin' to go!" 

Thank you, Janet!  

As it is so late in the month, our Pre-Owned Special is for both September AND October!   Someone recently brought in Powell #12006 as a consignment.  We played.  We drooled.  This gorgeous Flute is a Custom Handmade Grenadilla Wood beauty.  Boasting Silver keys, a half-offset G, and a low B footjoint, this unique instrument showcases the absolute best of Powell Flutes’ legendary attributes.  We’re pricing this darling at $10,500, which is almost a steal.  Please call if you’d like a trial!

Our Gadget this month is actually a book, ‘Flute Stories’, a collection of personal stories and experiences penned by the most celebrated Flute players in the world.  Ranging from the lighthearted to the deeply emotional, their words, touching the many highs and lows along the rocky road to success, will inspire and empower any artist or musician attempting that same difficult journey.  Published by Windplayer Publications, this 264-page softcover book is $19.95, and well worth it! 

Happy Autumn!!