Master Class & Workshop
For many 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; Trinity College of Music, London, UK; Guildhall London, UK; RNCM Manchester, UK; University of Music, Vienna, Austria; Hochschule Hamburg, Germany; Grieg Academy of Music, Bergen, Norway; Conservatoire Royal de Mons, Belgium; New England Conservatory Boston, USA; University of Michigan, USA; Kunitachi College of Music Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai Conservatory, China; Seoul University, Korea; DGfF Flute Festival, Frankfurt, Germany (Freiburg; Frankfurt); Flute Festival Boswil, Switzerland; the NFA Flute Convention (New Orleans; Las Vegas; Boston) USA; the Japan Flute Convention (Fukuoka); 1st Norwegian Festival Hamar and various NFG Flute Festivals in Holland.
- movement studies
- at a masterclass
- coaching
- Honami masterclass
- teaching circular breathing
- Honami masterclass
- Thumpy
- at a masterclass
- Tsuru-no-Sugomori at a masterclass
- conducting Eternal Winds (Neflac)
- Dance with Me
- flute ensemble coaching
- scores by Wil Offermans
- flute ensemble coaching
- Tsuru-no-Sugomori score
A Contemporary Approach
Several decades ago the contemporary playing techniques seemed solely a subject for those interested into ‘intellectual academic’ 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. For this reason, Wil Offermans has developed and presented throughout Europe his Flute Day for music schools as well as his masterclasses for advanced flute students, described below.
Extended Techniques and Body-Development
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.
Contents

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)
Repertoire

This is a selection of Offermans’ compositions and materials frequently used in his master class:
- For the Contemporary Flutist (12 flute etudes on contemporary techniques)
- Honami (flute solo)
- Tsuru-no-sugomori (flute solo)
- Just A Short Version (flute quartet)
- Kotekan (flute ensemble)
- Itsuki-no-Komoriuta (flute ensemble)
- Voices of Nagasaki (flute ensemble)
- The Thumpy Flute
- Luna y Sierra (flute solo and accompaniment)
- Dance with Me (flute and movement)
- Bamburia (flute ensemble)
- Forbidden Valley (flute quintet)
www.forthecontemporaryflutist.com

In 2012 the website www.forthecontemporaryflutist.com has been launched by Wil Offermans to share extensive information, exercises and background stories related to the extended flute techniques and especially related to the etude book For the Contemporary Flutist. Visit this website here.
Flute Day project for Music Schools

Wil Offermans also has presented numerous of his Flute Day project at music institutions for smaller or larger groups of flute students of any level. Offermans developed a personal approach concerning the Flute Day based on enjoyment, creativity and group action. With the involvement of e.g. ensemble playing, graphic notation and improvisation, the Thumpy flute, contemporary techniques, he invites and attracts the flutist for a more flexible attitude towards the flute playing and music in general. For more detailed information, visit the dedicated Flute Day website: www.fluteday.com.