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Masterclass

The Flexible

Freelance Flutist

Rena Urso
Flutist/piccoloist Oakland Symphony

and Licensed Body Mapping Educator
ACCESS ALL COURSES
Build your skills to be a flexible, versatile and confident freelance flutist and piccoloist!

What you will learn in this course:

  • How to be the colleague you would want with you
  • Your sound in the section
  • The importance of a solid low register
  • Moving seamlessly between flute, alto and piccolo
  • Exercises to work on flexibility
  • The warm-up
  • Earplugs
  • The importance of being ready for anything
  • Awareness exercises
  • Recommendations on daily practice
  • Tuner and metronome

What you will learn in this course:

  • How to be the colleague you would want with you
  • Your sound in the section
  • The importance of a solid low register
  • Moving seamlessly between flute, alto and piccolo
  • Exercises to work on flexibility
  • The warm-up
  • Earplugs
  • The importance of being ready for anything
  • Awareness exercises
  • Recommendations on daily practice
  • Tuner and metronome

Lessons of this course:

1. Part one
In this first video of the series about the freelance flutist, Rena introduces us to the topic by telling us her personal story and the tips that have most guided her in the career. Rule number 1 is, as she will well explain, to be a flexible musician.


What you will learn:

  • How you need to be flexible
  • Be the colleague you would want with you
  • Your sound in the section
  • The importance of a solid low register
  • Moving seamlessly between flute, alto and piccolo
  • Some exercises to work on flexibility
  • Why do I start in the first octave?
  • Don’t get too attached to your warm-up
  • Earplugs
  • The importance of being ready for anything
  • Be aware of yourself and the space you’re in always
2. Part two
In this second video of the series about the freelance flutist, Rena talks about some challenging situations that she was in as a freelance player, to allow you to be ready if it happens to you too!


What you will learn:

  • Rena’s experience with the alto flute
  • A greater sense of awareness
  • An awareness exercise with physio ball
  • Maintain that quality
  • Mix up your daily practice
  • Earplugs
  • Have some quick dependable warm-ups
  • Recording sessions
3. Part three
In this third video of the series about the freelance flutist, Rena explains us what are the most important aspects to keep in training, and tells us about the technical preparation which has the primary purpose of maintaining the flexibility necessary to perform at best in the variability that a freelance career entails.


What you will learn:

  • Broaden your horizon
  • Rena’s experience with the bamboo flutes
  • Be curious to learn other types of flute
  • Rena’s recommendations on daily practice
  • Tuner and metronome

Other courses:

You will find new lessons every month

All the lessons are subtitled in English

30 days money back guarantee

ACCESS ALL COURSES
ACCESS ALL COURSES

What our members say about us

Elena
Winner of
Gazzelloni Competition Cat. Piccolo
“Hello, I’m Elena and I have been subscribed to the IPFA right from the beginning.
The Academy is an amazing project conceived by Nicola Mazzanti and supported by amazing teachers and musicians; in a world where technology permeates and sustains learning, the Academy gives young students and also professionals the chance to deepen the instrument’s pratice following the precious advices of the world-wide most renowned piccolists, reducing the often remarkable distance’s barriers.
I personally thank Nicola and all the professors involved in the Academy and I highly recommend the subscription to whoever wants to increase skills and awareness about the piccolo.”
Zuzana
Piccoloist of the
State Theatre orchestra
in Košice, Slovakia
“Hello, my name is Zuzana, and I have been a subscriber to IPFA since its beginning. The incredible lessons we are given are full with information, useful tips and tricks to play at our best level. I am eternally grateful for the inspiration all of the artists give us, and I highly recommend this platform to anyone who wants to attain deeper knowledge and proficiency on their instrument.”
Ksenia
A piccolo player
of the Saint-Petersburg
Philharmonic Symphony
Orchestra
“Hello, my name is Ksenia Kuelyar, and I want to thank Nicola Mazzanti for the wonderful Piccolo Academy he inspired the creation of, this is a great opportunity for me and my students to improve our playing and skills, to learn a lot of new things.
Thanks to the academy’s professors for your experience and knowledge!”
Lucas
Master’s Degree Student
in Music Performance
Zurich University of Arts
“I have been subscribed to the IPFA for the past 3 months and it has been extremely enriching! Learning from the most prominent piccolo teachers from today is a great deal for students like me who also pursue a piccolo job position.
The content of the Academy is 100% rewarding!”
Ugné
Piccoloist at the
State Musical Theatre orchestra
in Klaipėda, Lithuania
“Having completed my academic studies and begun my professional career, I find IPFA to be an unparalleled tool for learning and delving into piccolo speciality.
The online courses combine a wide variety of topics: from playing technique to human and instrument anatomy. Prominent piccolo artists give inspiration with their individual approaches to improving one’s performance. IPFA gives me the feeling of a creative community that helps each member grow, flourish, and contribute in their own way to the today and tomorrow of piccolo music.”

Zuzana

Piccoloist of the
State Theatre orchestra
in Košice, Slovakia

“Hello, my name is Zuzana, and I have been a subscriber to IPFA since its beginning. The incredible lessons we are given are full with information, useful tips and tricks to play at our best level. I am eternally grateful for the inspiration all of the artists give us, and I highly recommend this platform to anyone who wants to attain deeper knowledge and proficiency on their instrument.”

Ksenia

A piccolo player
of the Saint-Petersburg
Philharmonic Symphony
Orchestra

“Hello, my name is Ksenia Kuelyar, and I want to thank Nicola Mazzanti for the wonderful Piccolo Academy he inspired the creation of, this is a great opportunity for me and my students to improve our playing and skills, to learn a lot of new things.
Thanks to the academy’s professors for your experience and knowledge!”

Lucas

Master’s Degree Student
in Music Performance
Zurich University of Arts

“I have been subscribed to the IPFA for the past 3 months and it has been extremely enriching! Learning from the most prominent piccolo teachers from today is a great deal for students like me who also pursue a piccolo job position.
The content of the Academy is 100% rewarding!”

Ugné

Piccoloist at the
State Musical Theatre orchestra
in Klaipėda, Lithuania

“Having completed my academic studies and begun my professional career, I find IPFA to be an unparalleled tool for learning and delving into piccolo speciality.
The online courses combine a wide variety of topics: from playing technique to human and instrument anatomy. Prominent piccolo artists give inspiration with their individual approaches to improving one’s performance. IPFA gives me the feeling of a creative community that helps each member grow, flourish, and contribute in their own way to the today and tomorrow of piccolo music.”

Elena

Winner of
Gazzelloni Competition Cat. Piccolo

“Hello, I’m Elena and I have been subscribed to the IPFA right from the beginning.
The Academy is an amazing project conceived by Nicola Mazzanti and supported by amazing teachers and musicians; in a world where technology permeates and sustains learning, the Academy gives young students and also professionals the chance to deepen the instrument’s pratice following the precious advices of the world-wide most renowned piccolists, reducing the often remarkable distance’s barriers.
I personally thank Nicola and all the professors involved in the Academy and I highly recommend the subscription to whoever wants to increase skills and awareness about the piccolo.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IPFA?
The International Piccolo Flute Academy is a streaming platform that allows you to access video lessons created by internationally renowned piccoloists, as well as further added services such as piccolo backing tracks and the possibility to ask specialist questions to Nicola Mazzanti.
What is the IPFA mission?
We want everyone to have the opportunity to learn the piccolo with the best teachers in the world. The International Piccolo Flute Academy is a team project, where piccolo professionals have decided to join forces is to give the best materials to every flutist who wants to engage in this wonderful world.
What is included in the subscription?
VIDEO COURSES The subscription allows access to the entire catalog of video lessons and any other educational material available to users, divided into these topics: fundamentals, embouchure, sound, intonation, high register, flexibility, scales and arpeggios, warm-up, posture and handling, body awareness, orchestral excerpts, legato, staccato and piccolo choice. BACKING TRACKS You will find also backing tracks for piano or orchestra designed specifically for those who play the piccolo, using virtual instrument technology. You can slow it down, speed it up, or choose the bpm that best suits your practice. NICOLA ANSWERS Every month Nicola Mazzanti selects some of the questions that users have written in the appropriate form, answering them in the episodes on the “Nicola answers” section, available to all subscribers.
Where and when can I see it?
You can take advantage of all materials at any time and anywhere, by logging into the website with your credentials after signing up for the subscription plan.
How much does IPFA cost?
The subscription costs 14.99 euros and has a duration of 1 month, renewable from month to month. You can also choose to purchase the annual plan, which has a duration of 12 months and costs a total of 149.90 euros, thus saving 2 months of subscription.
Will I be charged for taxes?
All prices shown are inclusive of taxes. You will not have surcharges.
How does the "satisfied or refunded" work?
Our purpose is to help you in your training, so if you are not satisfied with our materials or our service you can request the cancellation of your account and get a full refund of your payment within the first 30 days of your first subscription activation.
How can I unsubscribe?
You can cancel your subscription by accessing your account settings or by sending an email here. You will still be granted access to all subscription materials and services until the date of the next renewal.