Master Class: a contemporary approach
for flute-students, flutists and flute-teachers
by Wil Offermans

Several decades ago the contemporary playing techniques seemed solely a subject for those interested into ‘intellectual’ contemporary music. Today however, we can see that contemporary techniques have evolved into an essential and actually most enjoyable musical aspect in both the instrumental study as well as in music education in general. The field of contemporary techniques and the extended sound possibilities allows us to discover seemingly unlimited creativity to express our sensations and reflections in the dynamic world of today.

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Since about twenty years Wil Offermans has been presenting master classes and workshops to promote the contemporary techniques as integrated part of the flute study. While teaching to both the students as well as the professional flutists, he developed and presented a contemporary approach towards flute playing aiming for sound development and flexibility in general. In this way he has been teaching all over the world, including: The Hague Royal Conservatory, Holland; Hochschule Hamburg, Germany; Conservatoire Royal de Mons, Belgium; University of Music, Vienna, Austria; New England Conservatory Boston, USA; University of Michigan, USA; Kunitachi College of Music Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai Conservatory, China; Seoul University, Korea; Frankfurt Flute Festival, Germany; Flute Festival Boswil, Switzerland; the US Flute Convention 2003 (Las Vegas) and the Japan Flute Convention 2003 (Fukuoka).


A body-development-tool


When studying extended techniques - like circular breathing, bamboo tones and whisper tones - you are actually developing the refined control of your body and your muscles. You are training different physical actions and involving almost all of your body. This training can be so physical, that we can regard the extended techniques as a ‘tool’ to develop and refine the body-control, especially the breathing-system, the throat and the embouchure. Obviously, these aspects are important to all of us. So even if you are not really interested in the ‘crazy’ sounds of the contemporary music, still it will be enriching and essential to study extended techniques. It can help us tremendously to develop flexibility and improve our sound and playing in any musical style.


Master class contents

Tsuru-no-Sugomori
The main subjects include:
  • circular breathing
  • bamboo tone
  • harmonics and multiphonics
  • whisper tones
  • vocalization
  • tone-development
  • body-mapping
  • flute & movement
  • game-style pieces and Improvisations
  • repertoire (see below)

Master class repertoire

OnTheMove
The master class repertoire and materials include: