Since its launch in 2018, Flute Unscripted has released over sixty five episodes with a roster of flutists ranging from Rock and Roll band Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson to “The Man with the Golden Flute”, Sir James Galway. Each episode is unique, but a constant remains; the conversions with these consummate storytellers are inspiring and uplifting. Here are five reasons why you should tune in and check it out for yourself!

1. Conversations on the Go

 Flute Unscripted started as an audio podcast and adapted into a video series during the pandemic. The video format was fun and has stuck years later, so these episodes are released in conjunction with an audio version. You can choose whichever format works for you! Whether you listen while you walk the dog or watch while you are on a lunch break, you can hear Ransom Wilson talk about auditions: “People that are winning principal jobs are not the people that play the most perfectly. They’re the ones that play the most interestingly.”

2. There is Room for Every Voice

Every flutist featured in Flute Unscripted has faced their own unique challenges and followed their own path. Just like no two people are the same, no two flutists are the same and each shared story has been eye opening and captivating. It is fascinating to hear the different ways in which the flute has played a pivotal role. Take astronaut and flutist Ellen Ochoa, for example. She brought her flute aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and on Earth, the flute grounded her during her studies: “Once I got into physics as a major, I was taking four or even five physics classes a semester. I remember being so relieved to get to Wind Ensemble”.

3. It’s fun!

Within each episode, there is of course a lot to learn and a lot of helpful information. There is also a lot of humor, honesty, and candid moments. It can be so refreshing to hear larger-than-life artists talk about relatable topics and share real-life moments. As performer and content creator Katie Althen says, “If I’m not being authentic, what’s the point?”.

4. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Flute Unscripted features a lot of flutists you may have heard of or even idolize. There are also many episodes with flutists you might be less familiar with. It is a great opportunity to learn more and expand your horizons about different genres, different styles, different specialties, and even different career possibilities. Lew Tabakin says it best: “If you’re improvising, you come up with a little melody and you answer it; You start thinking about telling a story. It can’t hurt your classical playing, I think it can give you some insights”.

5. Connects Us All

The flute community is a supportive and encouraging place and the Flute Unscripted series serves as a starting point for personal and professional development. Each episode can be shared for deeper conversations with your friends, family, colleagues, teachers, and students. When we learn more about each other, we also tend to learn more about ourselves. Stephanie Mortimore says, “Once you learn the piccolo I think that it becomes a little microscope that can help you learn more about your flute playing”. This sentiment can be applied to the stories of each Flute Unscripted episode and help us to realize that no matter our unique personal paths, we are all ultimately connected by a shared appreciation and passion for the flute. How lucky!

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