Christmas Flute Days! Okehampton 2019
We are delighted to be returning to Okehampton, Devon on 14th and 15th December 2019 for a very special Christmas Flute Days! Join your coaches Joss Campbell and Mel Orriss and fellow flautists for one or two days of flute ensemble fun; the perfect break from the frantic run-up to Christmas! Get your flute bodies and brains ready for the day - work on posture, sound and technique in our new warm up sessions. You chance to ask for tips on any problems you may have with your playing. A chance to have a go on the other members of the flute family. Pieces with a festive feel! Music will be sent out in advance for you to have a look at. Choose repertoire from the Wonderful Winds library and work together in smaller groups. Show your friends and family what you’ve achieved! Free entry, 5pm on both days.Festive Flute Ensemble fun for players of all ages and abilities!
Warm-ups
Q&A session
Meet the big flutes!
Massed Flute Choir
Chamber Music
Informal Concert
The fabulous Just Flutes will be with us with an amazing array of flutes, accessories and stocking fillers! The Wonderful Winds pop up shop will also be there, with a huge selection of flute music.Shopping
Christmas Flute Days! Timetable
Okehampton 14th and 15th December 2019 (both days)
Click Here For Full timetable
The Ockment Centre, North Street, Okehampton. Devon EX20 1AR
Sat. 14th December 2019, 10am - 6pm
For novice/intermediate players & rusty returners! (Approx. Grade 1-5)
Sun. 15th December 2019, 10am - 6pm
For more confident or advanced players. (Approx. Grade 6 - Diploma)
Confident intermediate players are encouraged to attend both days of the workshops, as are advanced players who would like to enjoy a fully immersive flute weekend.
The fun starts with our ice-breaking body and brain warm-ups, and continues with coaching
on fundamental flute techniques, including a chance to quiz Joss and Mel on anything flute
related! If you play the flute this event is for you! In this, our third fluting trip to Okehampton, we’re
bringing a festive selection of flute choir music, brand new exercises and warm-ups, and a
touch of sparkle to guarantee a lively and enjoyable weekend of music making.
You’ll then have chance to get acquainted (or reacquainted) with the larger
members of the flute family, and experience the joy of playing in a full Flute Choir. Music for these pieces, together with all the information you'll need is sent out prior to the event in your Player's Pack.
The afternoon’s activities include playing in smaller Chamber Music groups, (independently
and with coaching), using music you’ll choose from the Wonderful Winds library.
The free informal concert at the end of the day gives friends and family the chance to hear
the results of your work. The chance to do some Christmas shopping at the fabulous Just
Flutes travelling showroom is the icing on the cake!
If you have any questions or would like further information, please get in touch. We are happy to help!Have any Questions?
Mel Orriss: mail@wonderfulwinds.com
07817 703844
Joss Campbell: josscampbell@hotmail.com
07930 093564
Completing the booking form.
Adults: £40.00 one day/£75.00 weekend Under 18s: £30.00 one day/£55.00 weekend Early Birds: book before 31st October for a further £5.00 discount! Booking closes 30th November. We are offering two bursaries in the form of free places to two children under 18 who would be unable to attend the workshops due to financial constraints. If this is something you would like to apply for, please contact either Joss or Mel in complete confidence. Early application advised.Prices
Bursaries
Booking Forms
Click here for Adult Booking Form
Click here for Under 18 Booking Form
Click here for Terms & Conditions
Special offer for teachers
If two or more of your pupils attend, you can come along too, on either day, at the Under 18s price. Just tell us when you send in your form, and ask your pupils to add your name in the appropriate place on their forms.
This helps us to plan suitable music, so that you won’t feel out of your depth. Don't worry, we won't be testing anyone! Please Click here to see detailed guidelines for judging your approximate Grade. If you’re not sure which day is best for you, please contact us and we'll be happy to help. For those new to the flute choir world, there are various sizes of flutes within the flute family. The most common of these is the C flute, the one most of us usually play on. If you own or play a piccolo, alto, bass (or contrabass!), please bring it; we promise you won't play it for the whole day unless you want to! Once booking closes, we’ll send you a Player's Pack containing music for the massed flute choir for you to practise, a catalogue of the chamber music available in the Wonderful Winds library, and all the information you will need for the day.Why do I need to put my playing level?
I’ve never taken an exam; how do I judge my playing level?
The booking form mentions C flutes and others, what are they?
We will have a small number of these other flutes available to use on the day and some of you will have the opportunity to play them in the flute choir and chamber ensemble rehearsals. Don't worry, you won't need to have played them before, and you don't need to transpose! Player's Pack
If you have any questions or would like further information, please get in touch. We are happy to help!Have any Questions?
Mel Orriss: mail@wonderfulwinds.com
07817 703844
Joss Campbell: josscampbell@hotmail.com
07930 093564
Your Tutors
Joss Campbell was inspired to take up the flute at the age of five after hearing it played at her school speech day. Her father, a music teacher, brought her one home to try and she was hooked!Joss Campbell
At the age of thirteen she made her solo London debut with The London Symphony Orchestra playing Mozart’s G Major Flute Concerto and later gained a scholarship to study at The Royal College of Music followed by further studies at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her flute playing has taken her all over the world as a soloist, an orchestral and chamber musician, a pit player in the West End and as an educator.
Joss is based in London where her teaching is in great demand. Her pupils regularly achieve success, gaining music scholarships to study at some of London’s most prestigious schools and winning prizes in various competitions, the most recent being 1st and 2nd place in Brent Music Service’s Junior and 1st place in the Senior Young Musician of the Year competition. She runs several flute choirs in and around London (including Brent Flute Choir, which she runs with fellow Flute Days! coach Mel Orriss), and has been asked to guest conduct at various others around the country.
Joss runs an annual residential course for adults at Benslow Music Trust in Hitchin, entitled The Complete Flautist. The course consists of four days of comprehensive flute study where participants are guided through all aspects of flute technique and have the opportunity to play their chosen repertoire in master classes with Joss and Benslow’s resident accompanist. The days are interspersed with small ensemble playing, guided by Joss, and massed flute choir sessions.
Joss is a member of the flute quartet ‘Festive Flutes’. The quartet regularly perform and deliver flute choir workshops at Flute Conventions and educational establishments across the UK. They have recorded two albums and have severaltracks available for download from iTunes.
Playing Reviews
“...a natural presence. Her phrasing is rhapsodic…”
Stephen Pettitt, The Times.
“…an attractive stylist with just as much subtlety as agility...”
Gerald Larner, The Guardian.
“...extraordinarily gifted...”
John Robert-Bhinn, Manchester Evening News.
Course and Workshop Reviews
“This course was inspirational and 3-4 weeks later I am still buzzing!”
“Joss is a brilliant tutor, one of the best!”
“... a very supportive tutor. Lots of useful tips”
“Joss lead the course with great style; approachable and energetic”
“Course delivered with lots of humour and enthusiasm”
Mel Orriss studied flute at Chetham’s School of Music and then at the Guildhall School of
Music and Drama with Peter Lloyd and Kathryn Lukas. As a student she was a semi-finalist in
the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Competition and also toured with the European
Community Orchestra.Mel Orriss
In 1999 Mel swapped the hectic pace of life as a London musician for an equally hectic life as
a musician in Devon. She now teaches flautists of all ages both privately and in some of the
region’s schools, coaches flute ensembles and woodwind groups, and is the Assistant
Conductor and Woodwind coach of the Devon Youth Symphony and Concert Orchestras.
Mel’s passion for arranging and composing led to her co-founding the music publishing
company Wonderful Winds in 2010. The company has since built a global reputation for
excellence, providing inspiring ensemble music for wind players of all levels worldwide, and
its publications have been major prize winners in the National Flute Association (USA) Newly
Published Music competition.
Major Commissions
2013 – Shaun Davey’s “The Relief of Derry Symphony”
arranged for massed flute bands and soloists, Maiden City Festival, Derry, Northern Ireland.
2014 – “Towards the Blue Horizon”
the central piece for The Big Flute Challenge world record, Belfast.
2015 – “Bonny at Morn”
for The Big Flute Challenge, Belfast.
2016 – “1.7.16”
for the Hamilton Flute Band’s Somme centenary performance, Derry.
Customer Reviews
“...a real joy. Their arrangements are interesting and well prepared, easy to read and very well presented with humour,
goodwill and efficiency - a constant miracle.”
Atarah Ben-Tovim, MBE.
“Nobody could fail but to be delighted by all you do - great arrangements”
Liz Childs, Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy.
“I can truly say that you have transformed my working life!”
Liz Fife, Ex-principal Cor Anglais, Royal Opera House; Oboe teacher, Wells Cathedral School.
“The most brilliant arrangements for all abilities - witty, creative and super educational tools! I really don't know where
I'd be without them!”
Louise Rayner, Director, Flute Salad and Flute Cocktail, Hampshire.