The International Low Flutes Society

We invite you to participate with your low flute in a Playing Challenge for the summer through August 22nd! 

If you complete five challenges: send us your name, the five challenges that you completed and we will post your name and your completed challenges on our website. You will be invited to participate in the online Summer Celebration that will be held in September that will recognize those who took part in our challenge.

More Information on the Challenge.

Congratulations to our participants.

15+ Challenges Completed

Frankie Jacquette – completed 4 challenges all outside in his pajamas!- Videos

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. Do this by either penciling in note heads a 4th above on a copy of the piece or, use music writing software to scan and transpose. You may have to change some octaves. Scan and send it to us. 
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Compose and play your own 16 measure (or longer!) solo piece. Scan and send it to us.
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece. Give us the link.
• For the truly adventurous, play ten different keys using the Taffanel/Gaubert Daily Exercises scale pattern E.J. 4. Two must be minor. Any articulation.

Donna Hangen – continuing with the pajama theme played Danny Boy, Sakura, Girl with the Flaxen Hair and Greensleeves in PJ’s.

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Go to IMSLP.org (International Music Score Library Project), search for “Irish Flute” and play three or more of the pieces you find there on a low flute. Tell us the names of the pieces you played.
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. Do this by either penciling in note heads a 4th above on a copy of the piece or, use music writing software to scan and transpose. You may have to change some octaves. Scan and send it to us. 
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece. Give us the link.
• For the truly adventurous, play ten different keys using the Taffanel/Gaubert Daily Exercises scale pattern E.J. 4. Two must be minor. Any articulation.

Mikayla Farmer – played the exposition of Mozart’s G Major concerto standing on one leg and later balanced “Music in Cental Java” on her head while playing.

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play 3 minutes of a piece by any Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg.
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book was used?
• Hold four notes in any octave for 25 seconds each. What notes?
• Hold middle A for 10 seconds while crescendoing and decrescendoing, keeping the pitch in tune the entire time.
• What piece was James Galway playing on his alto flute?
• Play Happy Birthday in 4 different keys, transposed by ear. What keys?
• Listen to 30 minutes of low flute repertoire. What did you listen to?
• Play outside for 10 minutes. What did you play?
• Play 12 major scales in 2 octaves.
• T&G pattern in 10 keys, 2 being minor.
• Look up Irish flute tunes on IMSLP. What 3 did you play?
• Play the harmonic minor version of all keys in 2 8vas.
• Play any piece by a Baroque composer that is not Bach. What piece and by whom?

Faith Wasson – played Happy Birthday in F Major, DM, BbM and GM and listened to Daphnis and Chloe and Till Eulenspiegel for flute orchestra and Primals III by Victor Somma.

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Arrange to play duets with someone – you will be on a low flute, they could play any instrument. Tell us what duets you played.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece. Give us the link.
• For the truly adventurous, play ten different keys using the Taffanel/Gaubert Daily Exercises scale pattern E.J. 4. Two must be minor. Any articulation.

Shelley Atchison – Shelley went to the IMSLP site and played through the 24 Favorite Irish Aires book

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Go to IMSLP.org (International Music Score Library Project), search for “Irish Flute” and play three or more of the pieces you find there on a low flute. Tell us the names of the pieces you played.
• Arrange to play duets with someone – you will be on a low flute, they could play any instrument. Tell us what duets you played.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds.
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. Do this by either penciling in note heads a 4th above on a copy of the piece or, use music writing software to scan and transpose. You may have to change some octaves. Scan and send it to us.
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• For the truly adventurous, play ten different keys using the Taffanel/Gaubert Daily Exercises scale pattern E.J. 4. Two must be minor. Any articulation.

Carolyn Dow – Finished All 20 challenges!!

• Play in PJs: Played Drouet’s Etude in A flat Major and Mower’s Sonnets
• Bach: Played all movements of J.S. Bach’s Partita
• Play standing on 1 leg: Played Reichert Daily Exercise #1 for 68 seconds
• Play outside: My outdoor concert began with Plaisir d’Amour, continued on to Entr’acte III from Carmen, and concluded with Mozart’s Andante, K. 315
• Play with book on head: book was The Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, by Richard French
• Baroque not Bach: Played Telemann’s Fantasie #2
• 12 major scales, 2 octaves, one practice session
• Steady pitch p to f to p on A with tuner: did 20 seconds (one breath)
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Irish Flute in IMSLP: Discovered Jansen’s Twelve Irish Favorite Melodies (with variations), selected and played St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning, Twisting of the Rope, The Fox’s Sleep, and Gramachree.
• Hold notes for at least 25 seconds: Held G1, G2, C2, C3, B flat 1, B1
• Happy Birthday in 4 keys: Played B flat, C, F, G
• 12 harmonic minor scales, 2 octaves, one practice session
• Jennie Cline Challenge: Played Plaisir d’ Amour with a West Highland White Terrier on my lap
• Taffanel/Gaubert scales: Played all 24 keys consecutively in one session

Dianne Deming

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Go to IMSLP.org (International Music Score Library Project), search for “Irish Flute” and play three or more of the pieces you find there on a low flute. Tell us the names of the pieces you played.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• The Jennie Cline Challenge – play for 20 seconds or more with a pet sitting on you. (pet on shoulders is ok) What did you play?
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.

Roberta Howe

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Go to IMSLP.org (International Music Score Library Project), search for “Irish Flute” and play three or more of the pieces you find there on a low flute. Tell us the names of the pieces you played.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece.

Ronda Sprague 

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece youplayed.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Go to IMSLP.org (International Music Score Library Project), search for “Irish Flute” and play three or more of the pieces you find there on a low flute. Tell us the names of the pieces you played.
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. Do this by either penciling in note heads a 4th above on a copy of the piece or, use music writing software to scan and transpose. You may have to change some octaves. Scan and send it to us.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Compose and play your own 16 measure (or longer!) solo piece. Scan and send it to us…on
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece. Give us the link.
• Play ten different keys using the Taffanel/Gaubert Daily Exercises scale pattern. Two must be minor.

Amy Neher

• Play for 10 minutes in PJs (played Beeftink’s Fireflies and Richard Rodney Bennett’s Summer Music)
• Play at least 3 minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach (Suite in B Minor)
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg (part of Grieg’s Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits)
• Play outside for 10 minutes (played Beeftink’s Fireflies and Richard Rodney Bennett’s Summer Music)
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head (I used Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale while playing part of Vivaldi’s “Spring”)
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach (played Arioso and Presto by Joh Joachim Quantz)
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching the tuner.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing
• Go to IMSLP.org, search for Irish Flute and play three or more pieces (I played “Fairy Queen,” “The Pretty Girl Milking the Cow,” “The Sly Wooer,” and “The Rising Sun”)
• Arrange to play duets with someone. (I played selections from Handel’s “Water Music” with my husband on cello)
• Hold 4 notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each (middle staff A, Bb, C, and D)
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto (transposed part of the Water Music used for number 11; scans are attached)
• Play “Happy Birthday” by ear in 4 different keys (I used D, G, F, and Bb)
• Post a one minute (or longer) video of you on your social media of choice.

Lisa McMahon

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was
  playing.
• Go to IMSLP.org (International Music Score Library Project), search for “Irish Flute” and play three or more of the pieces you find there on a low flute. Tell us the names of the pieces you played.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds.
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. Do this by either penciling in note heads a 4th above on a copy of the piece or, use music writing software to scan and transpose. You may have to change some octaves. Scan and send it to us.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Compose and play your own 16 measure (or longer!) solo piece. Scan and send it to us.
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece. Give us the link.

Halcyon Pope

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Arrange to play duets with someone – you will be on a low flute, they could play any instrument. Tell us what duets you played.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds.
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• The Jennie Cline Challenge – play for 20 seconds or more with a pet sitting on you. (pet on shoulders is ok) What did you play?
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Play ten different keys using the Taffanel/Gaubert Daily Exercises scale pattern E.J. 4. Two must be minor. Any articulation.

Beverly Troup

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played. – SAUDADE (Gareth McLearnon)
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach. – Partita in A minor
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play? – Happy Birthday
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play? – Telemann Fantasies 1 and 2
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. – Telemann Fantasies 1 and 2
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 second, – Alto: Low G, Middle D, Middle A, High D
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. –  Blue Skies
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick? – F, G, A, B flat
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.
• Compose and play your own 16 measure (or longer!) solo piece.
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice.

Lyn Snyder

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played. – Machiavellian Exercises
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach. – F Minor Gigue
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play anywhere outside for 10 minutes. What piece(s) did you play? – ‘The Swan’
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use? – Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by? – Menuets by Boismortier
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Arrange to play duets with someone – you will be on a low flute, they could play any instrument. Tell us what duets you played. – Air, by Handel and Menuet Italien by Corrette
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds. –  Alto: G, A, B, C
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• The Jennie Cline Challenge – play for 20 seconds or more with a pet sitting on you. (pet on shoulders is ok) What did you play? – with a puppy
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to.

10 Challenges Completed

Stephanie Patterson

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played.
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play?
• Play for 30 seconds with a soft book balanced on your head. What book did you use?
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by?
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Arrange to play duets with someone – you will be on a low flute, they could play any instrument. Tell us what duets you played.
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds.
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. Do this by either penciling in note heads a 4th above on a copy of the piece or, use music writing software to scan and transpose. You may have to change some octaves. Scan and send it to us.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick?

Katrina Emtage

• Play for 10 minutes in your pajamas. Tell us what piece you played. – The Butterfly Slip Jig, The Swan, The Elephant, Grandfather theme from Peter and the Wolf
• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach. – Sarabande from partita in A min, Courante from Cello Suite in G, Andante from Sonata in E minor
• Play for 30 seconds standing on one leg. What did you play? – Ravel Bolero
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. – Marin Marais – Variations on La Folia
• Play a middle of the staff fingered A for at least 10 seconds and go from piano to forte and back to piano watching your tuner. Keep the pitch steady.
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Go to IMSLP.org (International Music Score Library Project), search for “Irish Flute” and play three or more of the pieces you find there on a low flute. Tell us the names of the pieces you played. – The Coolin, My Lagan love, An Paistín Fionn, Kitty Tyrell
• Arrange to play duets with someone. – Contra and Bassoon Duets – Bach Air on a G string
• Altos and basses, hold four notes in any octave for at least 25 seconds each. What notes did you pick? For contras – 15 seconds. Contra – High D 24 secs, Middle G 20 secs, low A 16 secs, low D 16 secs
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto. – Ravel – Piece en Forme de Habanera.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick? – G D C Bb
• Search on YouTube for videos of people playing alto, bass or contra. Listen for 30 minutes. Tell us who and what you listened to. Daniel Kessner – Imaginary Temple, Matthias Ziegler – Musikwoche Braunwald, Ned McGowan – flute improv, Jonathan Cohen – Urban Ferret

5 Challenges Completed

Shari Shaw correctly identified the piece Sir James Galway is playing on his gold alto flute.

• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach. – Video
• Play a piece by a Baroque composer by anyone whose last name is NOT Bach. What piece did you pick and who was it written by? – Video
• Listen to Sir James Galway playing his alto and tell us what piece he was playing.
• Play Happy Birthday by ear in four different keys. What four keys did you pick? – Video
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece. – Video

Kiyo SAKAI

• Play at least three minutes of a piece by anyone whose last name is Bach. – Bach Sonata no.3 BWV1005 Ⅱ. Fuga
• Play all 12 major scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Transpose at least 24 measures of a c flute part for alto.
• Play the harmonic minor form of all 12 minor scales two octaves in one practice session.
• Post a one-minute (or longer) video of you on your social media platform of choice. Play any piece. Give us the link.