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.

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.

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 (thumb flute)
• Luna y Sierra (flute solo and accompaniment)
• Dance with Me (flute and movement)
• Bamburia (flute ensemble)
• Forbidden Valley (flute quintet)

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.

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.