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The Colburn School
 

Downtown Los Angeles

About The Class
Jim Walker’s “Beyond The Masterclass” Flute Week combines the traditional masterclass environment with special seminars designed to expand a flutist’s horizons outside the “flute performance major” mentality that exists at most music schools and conservatories. Morning masterclasses will focus on student performance while afternoon seminars will cover topics such as improvisation, session playing, instrument repair, audition technique, teaching at all levels, and building a real career in music. In addition to improving flute playing skills and benefiting from Jim’s insights and wisdom, participants will learn the ways working musicians succeed in the competitive environment that exists in today’s world. These extras make Flute Week go far beyond your average masterclass and will pay great dividends to any flutist who is serious about having a successful and rewarding career in music.

Special Guest Vivianna Cumplido, Principal Flutist of the Phoenix Symphony, will join Jim and the class mid-week to lead a special masterclass and perform in recital Thursday night. Jim will kick off the week with his own recital on Monday night. Special Guest Heather Clark, Principal Flutist of the Long Beach Symphony and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and past Principal Flutist with the Pacific Symphony, will lead the seminar on auditions.

Hosted at The Colburn School’s beautiful new facilities in downtown Los Angeles across from Walt Disney Concert Hall, participants will perform in masterclass, attend all daily sessions, play in flute ensemble, receive a private lesson with Jim, and perform in a gala recital at the end of the week.

Advanced high school, college, and professional level flutists are welcome to register as participants. Several different ways of auditing the class are available. See the Registration page for details.
 

Seminars in Detail for 2008

Building A Career in Music - Jim Walker
In today’s world, success usually means taking a multi-faceted approach to the business side of the profession. This usually includes not only performing in many types of ensembles, but teaching at all levels, making the right connections, and being smart about using publicity and technology to one’s advantage. Jim and guests will give a comprehensive workshop covering the topics and strategies needed for success.

Orchestral Auditions - Heather Clark
An audition can be one of the most challenging individual moments in a musician's life. Guest Heather Clark will discuss how to be successful at competitive auditions utilizing the preparation techniques and mental strategies she employed to win her orchestral jobs, as well as the NFA Young Artist Competition. Selected performers may be asked to perform "mock auditions." This seminar will be a shortened version of the two-day intensive seminar Heather gives at her Audition Boot Camp.

Session Playing for Motion Pictures - Jim Walker
Jim will talk about his experience playing in the studios and will give examples of music used in scoring sessions. Jim will also display and demonstrate his dazzling array of ethnic flutes, recorders, and penny whistles he uses to create a variety of effects in motion picture soundracks. Strategies for improving sight-reading and other "tricks of the trade" will also be covered.

Keeping Your Flute in Shape - Cynthia Kelly
Cynthia Kelly of Flutacious Flute Repair will lead a hands on workshop of the basics of flute maintenance and repair.

Improvisation - Jim Walker
Jim Walker leads an introduction to improvisation for flutists. This is an area that many instrumentalists find troubling, but its rewards benefit all areas of music making due to the heightened awareness improvisation brings to harmony, rhythm, and musical line.

Successful Teaching - Jim Walker
Many flutists enter music to be performers, but more often than not the ability of a musician to pay the bills depends on being able to teach well at all levels, including teaching to beginner and intermediate level flutists. In this seminar, Jim will identify what will make your teaching a success.

Flute Ensemble - Jim Walker, Karen Lundgren, Dr. Martin Glicklich
Serving as the chamber music component of Flute Week, participants will be arranged into smaller groups to rehearse and perform various flute quartets, quintets, etc. Coaches include Jim, Dr. Martin Glicklich, and Karen Lundgren.