Expanding Horizons

During my years as a flautist I have realised that being put into the Classical flute player box was definitely not where I wanted to be. I want to be versatile and creative with my playing, try new techniques and learn new instruments. So this is what I now set out to be. I still love playing Classical music but I have interests in so many other style of music I don't want to stifle.

I'm currently striving towards this goal by playing with a blues rock band, Jarrah Thompson and band. It's the most fun I've had on stage in ages and I get to express myself in a way I thought I might never get the chance! I will post some videos with Jarrah soon but in the mean time check out my performance of Ravi Shankar's L'aube Enchantee. In my Honours year at WAAPA I studied Indian and Japanese inspired flute music for the Western flautist. This piece by Shankar is a great way to introduce yourself with Indian melody, form and rhythm. This was played at my 2007 Graduation Recital with Tony Maydwell on harp.

Flute Salad!

So a little while ago I stumbled across the cutest Japanese man. Heita3 on Youtube, makes all his flutes out of fruit, vegetables, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, capsicums, apples, radishes and even ostrich eggs. He seems to be able to make anything into a working instrument! Some aren't as successful as others, but he admits all this himself. But not only is Heita3 a skilled craftsman, he is also a crack up to watch. The mind boggles.....he's great!!



On further research I found Heita3 was not alone and there are many people around the world making flutes from fruit and vegetables. The best thing about this research is that I found a couple doing it right here in Perth! I'm always surprised when I find out there are awesome people like this Western Australia, I bet there's a whole lot more. You can check them out here: http://www.flutenveg.com/. It seems as though Alain Thirion and Kerry Fletcher have done a whole lot of vege flute making in their lives and I'm really keen to check them out.



There are so many people doing great things out there and it all gets me totally inspired. I'm off to try making my own vege flute! I'll let you know how I go.