Jen, I agree wholeheartedly on what it takes to be a classically trained flutist. Even though I¡¯ve been taking lessons, studying classical pieces, practicing almost everyday for 15 years (plus several years as a child learning the basics) I am certainly not a ¡°classically trained¡± flutist. I¡¯m just a hobbyist doing the best I can to improve my playing.?
But, to be fair, Amanda did not say Ian Anderson is a classically trained flutist. I reread her post. However, she did say that she was.?
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On Aug 3, 2023, at 12:27 PM, Jen Cluff <jen@...> wrote:
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Dear Flutenutz,
I've had a shock reaction to the idea that Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull was (according to one post yesterday) "Classically Trained" as a flute player.
Do people who say this know how long Classical Training takes??
It isn't just one year of lessons at Mrs. Smith's house down the street.
?It's six to ten years of very difficult exams and recital performances in the style of "Classical Music" which, like "Classical Ballet" or "Classical Languages" (Greek/Latin) take many many many years to perfect because they are "classic" and have lots of historically correct RULES of style etc.
No, Ian Anderson was entirely self-taught, and in one interview said he got a fingering chart from his daughter who was in Grade 8 at the time, and played flute in band.
There's a huge amount of difference between "classical training" and taking a few lessons.
Training is very serious, like training in a sport for the Olympics. You don't just make up your own way of doing something and then claim to be "classically trained".
Those two things are opposite.
Mind you, to be a true innovator, and to invent something entirely new (like Anderson did) is a different skill than taking training.
Jen
