ASTUTE MUSIC - Astute Musings

30/4/2021

Rediscover your love for the flute!

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Are you returning to the flute after a break? In need of some support to ‘blow those playing cobwebs away’? Or are you a flute player wanting new ideas?

Flute Reboot is your friend!

This complete workbook by Clare Southworth is designed to help you rediscover & reignite your love for the flute. Whether you’re returning to the instrument after a break, or are already in the swing of things, there will be something in this tutorial for you.

Flute Reboot consists of 12 lessons that cover a range of topics, from building your technique
through tone development, to style,
communication & how to best practise a piece.

'There is a wealth of valuable information within each of the lessons, drawing on Southworth's extensive teaching experience' - PAN Magazine

Clare’s tutorial will guide you through the process with each lesson presenting instruction, practice tips, exercises & more!

The emphasis is on learning through the enjoyment of playing, so Flute Reboot is packed with extracts of fantastic flute music, including old classics and new music by contemporary composers.

Snapshot of Lesson 7 on Articulation

Flute Reboot will give you the tools and skills to
build the solid foundations needed for successful flute playing

Find out more about this extensive, flute music book here

26/3/2021

Introducing Kickstart Flute

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Give your flute practice a kickstart with this unique approach to learning!

Kickstart Flute is a unique flute method by Clare Southworth, based around 24 duets in a wide range of musical styles, with custom, play-along backing tracks so you can play with Clare and rhythm section.

There are 24 lessons, one for each duet, that take you through all the keys and are spread over two books - Kickstart Flute Book 1 & Book 2. Each lesson will introduce you to all the basics of learning the flute, with special emphasis on the material required to play the duets: notes, rhythms, articulations, dynamics & more...

Explore a wide range of genres from ambient & chilled, folk rock, samba to swing (and that's just in Book 1!), all written by versatile composer Andy Scott. Simply scan your QR codes throughout the book to access your custom, play-along tracks for each duet.

Kickstart Flute is ideal for the beginner flute player, or those wishing to kickstart their practice, with a fun way to learn & develop their playing, immersing themselves in an exciting range of genres and styles.

Lesson 11 preview from Book 1 (E flat major key & Ambient Music)

In addition to hard copy books, the Kickstart Flute series is also available in instant access, download form - for more information, click here. We'd love to see your copies on social media too, so feel free to tag us or use #kickstartflute

"I hope you enjoy these wonderful duets as much as I do. Learning should be fun as well as educational.
Let me Kickstart your love for all things flute!" - Clare Southworth

17/3/2021

'Ket' performed by WTAMU Saxophone Studio

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Check out this fantastic performance of Jenni Watson's piece 'Ket' for Saxophone Ensemble...

Recently performed by the West Texas A&M University Saxophone Ensemble as part of the 2021 North America Saxophone Alliance - Region 4 Conference on March 12th - 14th.

Composed by Jenni Watson, Ket aims to show the versatility of the saxophone in timbre & style, through quasi-medieval chorales, flowing lyrical lines, heavy funk-based grooves and reflective, soaring melodic qualities.

Sheet music available as an instant access, PDF download here

Read more on Jenni and her Astute published works here

Follow our instagram at @astutemusicuk

29/1/2021

'Signposts' ahead for Solo Mandolin Music

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Are you looking for a book of solo mandolin music to help develop your playing?

Suitable for the advanced beginner – intermediate player, Signposts presents eight fun pieces varying in style from the charming Calypso to the popular, traditional tune Scarborough Fair

Composer Hugh Boyde has curated a playlist of videos, performing each piece from the book here

In addition to helping develop technique...

These pieces aim to place those techniques within the context of pieces which typify particular genres & to spark (or ‘signpost’) ideas for the more adventurous player as to how other, similar pieces might be arranged for solo mandolin.

For an instant access PDF download version of Signposts click here & for a hard copy book here

23/1/2021

...so this is what happened review

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Christoph Enzel’s piece …so this is what happened received a great review in the Winter 2020 CASS Magazine by Gerard McChrystal.

This fun solo piece for Eb Saxophone is the result of a composer's slam and is designed to be a crowd pleaser.

Reviewing for CASS, McChrystal writes:
"The hypnotic opening leads to a really cool and funky meno messo, with a heavy metal feel! [...] If you like pieces like Lauba's Steady Study on the Boogie or Barry Cockcroft's Kuku you will love this one."

...so this is what happened by Christoph Enzel is available as both a hard copy book & an instant access download, just click here

4/1/2021

Clarinet Music in CASS

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Did you see our free sheet music for clarinet in CASS?

We're delighted to have an article in the latest issue of CASS Magazine, presenting some fun, free sheet music for clarinet by Roger Purcell!

'Storm in a Teacup' is a fast and technical solo clarinet piece from the best-selling book Scaling the Heights, a guide to good clarinet playing with 60+ original study pieces, 'scaling' up in difficulty from grades 1 - 8.

'Piece O' Cake' is a lively, bouncy duet from Take Two Clarinets Book 2 which we hope the individual player can still enjoy using our custom, play-along tracks, despite current difficulties with group playing.

We're proud to publish Roger Purcell's works at Astute Music. Have a look at his catalogue of original, educational & enjoyable music (most of which now come with optional, custom play-along tracks) at bit.ly/astutemusic.

The Winter 2020 issue of CASS Magazine is a brilliant read, including features on saxophonist Timothy McAllister, Alastair Penman's new EP 'Do you hear me?' & Jenni Watson and Emma McPhilemy's project #lockthesaxdown.

6/10/2020

Remembering Alison Stephens

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Alison Stephens was the leading exponent of the classical mandolin in the UK, working at one time or another with most of the country’s major orchestras. She did much to popularise the instrument too, through contributions to popular films (most notably Captain Corelli’s Mandolin), live performances, teaching and composing.

A formidably accomplished musician, educator and composer, Alison was also the founding mandolin editor of Astute Music; editing and composing a catalogue of mandolin music for all abilities, ensuring that future generations of mandolin players would have an easier journey than the difficult road of musical discovery she had to navigate.

Admired by her many friends and colleagues, and much missed by her friends here at Astute Music, we fondly salute her memory at this poignant ten year anniversary of her untimely death.

Read more about Alison's life and career here
Explore her publications here
Listen to Alison's recordings here

Alison Stephens & Louis de Bernières at BMG Rally

31/7/2019

Bach Flute Solos Review

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We're delighted to have a great review of one of our flute solo publications in this months Music Teacher magazine.

Suites No. 1 BWV 1007 and No. 2 BWV 1008 (flute solo) by J.S. Bach arranged by Astute Music's Flute editor, Clare Southworth

Movements from this publication are set on the Associated Board and Trinity Exam syllabus:
ABRSM Grade 8 piece - 1st Movement from Suite No.2
Trinity Flute Grade 7 piece - Prelude from Suite No.1
Trinity Flute Grade 8 piece - Giga from Suite No.2

For more information on the suites click here

Whilst you're here... we highly recommend Clare Southworth's #1 flute podcast Talking Flutes! Find out more here

- Link HERE

5/6/2019

Behind the scenes... with Andy Scott & Tim McAllister

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Enjoy this vlog of a truly special weekend spent at Potton Hall recording an album of Saxophone repertoire by composer Andy Scott. Meet American Saxophonist Timothy McAllister and duo-partner, pianist Liz Ames and take a look #bts of the making of WESTLAND...

Great video filmed by Jamie Sharp, you can follow his instagram here

Team
Andy Scott - Composer
Tim McAllister - Saxophonist
Liz Ames - Pianist
Rachel Smith - Producer
Peter Newble - Sound Engineer
Emma McPhilemy - Page Turner
Jamie Sharp - Videographer

2/5/2019

Tjuonavagge

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Tjuonavagge by Andy Scott received it's North American Premiere this March with Gillian Blair and Nathan Mertens on alto saxophones.

This is a live recording of the premiere at the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 4 Opening Concert 2019 Faulkner Performing Arts Center, University of Arkansas with Dr. Chris Knighten conducting the University of Arkansas Saxophone Ensemble.

Originally written for two altos and saxophone ensemble, Tjuonavagge was commissioned by Selmer Paris Saxophones and given a world premiere performance at the 9th RNCM Saxophone Day in November 2009 with soloists Vincent David and Carl Raven. Gillian Blair and Nathan Mertens gave the world premiere of the version for two solo alto saxophones and piano with Rie Yokota (piano) at the World Saxophone Congress, Zagreb, Croatia, July 2018.

As well as performing in a saxophone duo with Nathan, Gillian is also a member of the Borealis Saxophone Quartet and the Polaris Duo (saxophone & harp). Find out more about Gillian here and Nathan here.

Tjuonavagge by Andy Scott for two altos and saxophone ensemble is available HERE
Tjuonavagge by Andy Scott for two altos and piano is available HERE