Education and Outreach Work

The Flautadors are committed to raising the profile of the recorder and its music through a variety of outreach programmes. Performances at Carfest South 2017 and the NSPCC’s Carol Concerts at Southwark Cathedral brought the instrument to a wider audience and helped raise money for charity. Educational projects have been delivered to children and adults across the UK including masterclasses, workshops, lecture-recitals and ensemble coaching at all levels. The quartet has a wealth of experience in educational projects and their engagements have included the Wigmore Hall Education Series, The Centre for Young Musicians, an advanced recorder course for Hertfordshire Music Service and a series of workshops for schools in Scotland. The nature of the project depends on the age of the participants and the number involved. Workshops are tailored to the needs of the particular group concerned and informal evaluation during the session is used to determine the effectiveness of the workshop.

Family Concert

A varied programme designed specifically for children and families with introductions to the pieces and instruments together with questions and short musical examples to guide the listener. The aim is to present a number of different styles (for example renaissance, baroque, folk, jazz and contemporary music) and illustrate the differences between them.

Workshops and Courses

Designed for a large mixed ability group of recorder players with the potential for work in smaller groups and individual attention as required. The aim being to work towards an informal performance altogether at the end of the session. Courses are often spread over a number of days, are based on a theme or specific repertoire and culminate in a public concert.

Masterclasses and Coaching

Public masterclasses for both recorder consorts and individuals on pre-prepared repertoire chosen by the participants. Coaching sessions for individual recorder players and recorder consorts on either new material or preprepared works.

Each educational project incorporates a verbal introduction to the family of recorders and a performance (from either The Flautadors or the participants or a combination of the two) with the addition of a coaching / teaching session where appropriate. In addition, the quartet illustrates the relevance of the recorder to the orchestral woodwind family.