The Flute Roadshow
Play Day – Gosport, January 14th 2023
We are excited to be travelling to Gosport for our first Flute Roadshow Play Day of 2023. Join leading flute ensemble coach Mel Orriss for a lively and exciting day of flute ensemble playing, suitable for early graders and rusty returners, right through to more confident and advanced players/teachers. (approx. Grade 1-Diploma.) We are also delighted to be joined by Just Flutes, with their trade stand packed with flute goodies!
An inspirational event for flute players of all ages and abilities.
Saturday 14th January 2023, 10am - 5pm,
St Mary the Virgin Church, Rowner Lane,
Gosport, PO13 9SU
What the day will look like
Warm-ups
Ice breaking warm-ups get your bodies and brains ready for the day. Work on your posture, breathing and sound in a supportive group setting.
Meet the Flute Family
An opportunity to get to know some of the more unusual members of the flute family.
Massed flute choir
Be part of the incomparable sound of massed flutes playing together. We‘ll work on a diverse selection of music, and will send you parts suited to your playing level in advance so you get the chance to do a bit of practice.
Q&As
Ever wanted to know how to play high notes quietly, or get a rich sound on your low notes? Stuck on a trill fingering? Now’s your chance to find out answers to all those flute questions in our Q&A session.
Smaller Groups
Explore new pieces from the extensive Wonderful Winds library in smaller groups with players of a similar level. You’ll get chance to work independently with your new flute friends and Mel will pop into the groups to give a bit of help where needed.
Just Flutes Trade Stand
You’ll have time in the breaks to visit the Just Flutes trade stand packed full of fabulous flutes, music and accessories. If there’s anything particular you’d like them to bring, just let us know beforehand.
Wonderful Winds pop-up shop
We’ll be bringing along a small selection of the Wonderful Winds flutes catalogue; you can also order music in advance and get a special event discount.
Price: Adults £35 Under 18s: £25 Booking closes on 31st December. Places limited to 50 players Booking forms
Under 18 Booking Form
Terms & Conditions
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, and you don’t need to have taken any exams to join us. Please note, the workshops are not suitable for complete beginners (see grade guidelines for details). Please click here to see detailed guidelines for judging your approximate Grade. If you’re not sure 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 have a piccolo, alto, bass (or contrabass!), please bring it; we promise you won't play it for the whole day unless you want to. We’ll have a small number of these other flutes available to use on the day. You don’t need to have played one before, and you won’t have to transpose the music – they’re just like normal flutes, only bigger (or smaller) Once booking closes, we’ll email you a Player's Pack containing music for the massed flute choir for you to have a play through, and all the information you will need. You don’t need to bring printed out music with you – we will have parts for each player on the day.Completing the form
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?
Player's Pack
Just get in touch – we’re happy to help! Mel Orriss: mail@wonderfulwinds.com 07817 703844 Ruth Leech: rockingleech@sky.com 07746 297474 “So amazing to have this Wonderful Winds weekend on our doorstep. We'd definitely sign up again. Thanks for an amazingly well organised event.” "We just wanted to say a big thank you for the flute workshop on Saturday - my daughter had a whale of a time with the music and also made 3 new friends which was a bonus! The concert was really impressive and had a lovely relaxed, creative feel about it. She is definitely up for more!" “I thought today was amazing! I have learnt loads and really enjoyed myself....I wished it was longer!” “‘Picked up some useful breathing tips – still learning after xx years!” “Lovely atmosphere and nice bunch of people.”Have any Questions?
Reviews
Your Coach
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.