Masterclass with Natalie Schwaabe

Loving the piccolo

My personal essentials for playing the piccolo

Three class lessons on Zoom with Natalie Schwaabe,
Piccoloist of the Bayerische Rundfunk Symphonieorchester

18 / 23 / 25 October 2023

time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm (UTC+2)

(Los Angeles 8.30-10.00am, NY 11.30-13.00am,
London 4.30-6.00pm, Rome 5.30-7.00pm, Paris 5.30-7.00pm,
Pechino 11.30-13.00pm, Tokyo 0.30-2.00am)

Registration is available from September 22th to October 1st

WARNING:

THE CLASS IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 7 PARTICIPANT STUDENTS,
TO ENSURE THE BEST INTERACTION WITH THE TEACHER DURING THE LIVE BROADCAST

Why this Masterclass?

The piccolo is a versatile, sensitive instrument which can at times really challenge the player. It can sound witty and powerful but also tender and sensual.
Having a solid technique is an essential part of playing, enabling you to show all of these characteristics and have fun with the instrument.
In this masterclass, Natalie will take you on a journey, sharing her own daily practice routines with you. Her personal essentials for obtaining a solid grounding on the piccolo, will provide you with tools and exercises to expand and better your own playing skills.

This Masterclass is dedicated to:

Piccolo players who want to develop and strengthen their very own style of piccolo playing;
Piccolo players who are curious about engaging with other players;
Piccolo players who are already working in orchestras;
Flutists who wish to participate in auditions where piccolo playing is also required
Piccolo players who want to improve their performance skills.

This Masterclass should NOT be attended by:

Piccolo players who are not interested in improving their style of piccolo playing
Flutists who do not consider the study of the piccolo a serious and interesting thing
Flutists who think they have nothing more to learn on the piccolo
Users lacking a basic understanding of English
Users who do not have a webcam and internet connection

This Masterclass is dedicated to:

Piccolo players who want to develop and strengthen their very own style of piccolo playing;
Piccolo players who are curious about engaging with other players;
Piccolo players who are already working in orchestras;
Flutists who wish to participate in auditions where piccolo playing is also required
Piccolo players who want to improve their performance skills.

This Masterclass should NOT be attended by:

Piccolo players who are not interested in improving their style of piccolo playing
Flutists who do not consider the study of the piccolo a serious and interesting thing
Flutists who think they have nothing more to learn on the piccolo
Users lacking a basic understanding of English
Users who do not have a webcam and internet connection

What will you learn in this masterclass?

Basic practice techniques to help develop a homogeneous and flexible sound

Ways in which to discover different tone colours

Intonation exercises to strengthen your inner ear and boost your confidence

Help with the high register

A closer look at articulation and dynamics

Ways in which to approach contemporary music

Basic practice techniques to help develop a homogeneous and flexible sound

Ways in which to discover different tone colours

Intonation exercises to strengthen your inner ear and boost your confidence

Help with the high register

A closer look at articulation and dynamics

Ways in which to approach contemporary music

THE MASTERCLASS INCLUDES:

3 group lessons divided into explanations by the teacher and interaction with the students

pdf of exercises specifically created by the teacher for the event

video recordings of the lessons, available for two weeks after the lesson

the certificate of participation in the Masterclass

The IPFA Masterclasses are unique events full
of energy, enthusiasm and desire to improve!

Natalie Schwaabe

Natalie Schwaabe has been a piccolo and flute player with the prestigious Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra since 1996. This has given her the opportunity of playing under the baton of great conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta,
Sir Simon Rattle and Carlos Kleiber.

In addition to orchestral playing Natalie Schwaabe has a great passion for chamber music, performing regularly with her woodwind quintet. In 2017 she released her first solo CD Piccoloworks together with the pianist Jan Philip Schulze.

Teaching is a vital part of her musical career. She holds the piccolo teaching position at the „Hochschule für Musik und Theater” in Munich, is a founding member of the International Piccolo Flute Academy and gives many piccolo masterclasses worldwide.

She plays a Jochen Mehnert piccolo and lives in Munich with her husband and their 3 children.

Natalie Schwaabe

Natalie Schwaabe has been a piccolo and flute player with the prestigious Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra since 1996. This has given her the opportunity of playing under the baton of great conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta,
Sir Simon Rattle and Carlos Kleiber.

In addition to orchestral playing Natalie Schwaabe has a great passion for chamber music, performing regularly with her woodwind quintet. In 2017 she released her first solo CD Piccoloworks together with the pianist Jan Philip Schulze.

Teaching is a vital part of her musical career. She holds the piccolo teaching position at the „Hochschule für Musik und Theater” in Munich, is a founding member of the International Piccolo Flute Academy and gives many piccolo masterclasses worldwide.

She plays a Jochen Mehnert piccolo and lives in Munich with her husband and their 3 children.

What the participants
of the previous masterclasses say

This masterclass was not only well organized, it was an inspirational and positive experience for me. [...] These fifty minute classes were fun, efficient, and clear to understand. I appreciated how the classes were online (zoom) because that gave people from all over the world the chance to work with Nicola. I also want to mention how the administrative side of the program was handled with professionalism and clarity. [...]

Melissa Blanco

“

The Masterclass of the International Piccolo Flute Academy with Nicola Mazzanti was a fantastic and special possibility to learn from and improve ones skills in a familiar and absolute lovely atmosphere. I am so grateful for all the useful exercises, the perfect technical organization, the professional team behind the scenes as well as all the new inspiration I could gain with this masterclass. I can highly recommend this possibility and would love to take part in future masterclasses again!

Valerie Teresa Walter

“

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Masterclass with Nicola! [...] Along with each lesson were exercises to use to help develop your playing. As self-taught piccolo player, this masterclass gave me a concrete foundation to playing/practicing the piccolo that I wished I had years ago. It was well worth the price and time. [...]

Becky Stinnett

“

Participating on the Nicola Mazzanti's Masterclass was a marvelous experience. In each lesson, we had the opportunity to be answered, listened, supported and inspired with kindness and patience by him. These four Masterclasses are definitely a highlight not just in my musician life but in my personal life.

Gaby Prisco

“

You will be able to register from 22 September to October 1st

Participant Pass

join the class live on Zoom
ask Natalie Schwaabe any question during the live broadcast
play the proposed exercises and Natalie will help you to correct them
access to the recordings of the lessons for two weeks
access to the scores of the exercises proposed
get the certificate of participation

149,90 €

119,90 €

(for monthly subscribers*)

149,90 €

99,90 €

(for annual subscribers*)

*if you are an active member (or a former member) of the International Piccolo Flute Academy, you will receive an email with your discount code within the opening date of the carts.

Auditors Pass

access to the recordings of the lessons for two weeks
lifetime access to the scores of the exercises proposed

69,90 €

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do if I cannot attend all 3 lessons?

After each class, you will have 2 weeks to view the recordings of the class you were unable to attend.

Why is the availability of the class limited to 7 spots for Participants?

As the expected level of interaction between teacher and student is very high, it is necessary for the class to be closed and limited in number.

Who is Natalie Schwaabe and what skills does she have?

Natalie Schwaabe has been a piccolo and flute player with the prestigious Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra since 1996. This has given her the opportunity of playing under the baton of great conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Sir Simon Rattle and Carlos Kleiber. In addition to orchestral playing Natalie Schwaabe has a great passion for chamber music, performing regularly with her woodwind quintet. In 2017 she released her first solo CD Piccoloworks together with the pianist Jan Philip Schulze. Teaching is a vital part of her musical career. She holds the piccolo teaching position at the „Hochschule für Musik und Theater” in Munich, is a founding member of the International Piccolo Flute Academy and gives many piccolo masterclasses worldwide. She plays a Jochen Mehnert piccolo and lives in Munich with her husband and their 3 children.

What are the technological requirements necessary to be able to participate?

A stable internet line and a webcam with microphone are sufficient. Should you miss some portions of the lesson due to momentary interruptions of the connection, you will still be able to review the recording for the following two weeks.

What language will the Masterclass be taught in?

English. The minimum level required is elementary, with a basic knowledge of musical terms.

What if one or more lessons were to be cancelled?

We will refund any amount you have already paid corresponding to the lessons that do not take place. For example: if out of three lessons one is cancelled, we will refund you a third of the amount you paid for the Masterclass.
If we are able to make up for a cancelled lesson on a date other than the one previously communicated, but you are not available for that date, we will still refund you as described above.

Is there a different price for those who are also registered with IPFA Subscription?

Yes. For those registered with the IPFA subscription (and also for those who have been but today do not have an active subscription), the price of the Masterclass is 99.99 euros for annual subscribers and 119,90 euros for monthly subscribers, instead of 149.99 euros.

Can I participate as an auditor?

Yes, by purchasing the AUDITOR PASS you will have access to the recordings of the Masterclass for 2 weeks and to all the scores of the proposed exercises. However, you will not have access to live streaming with Natalie and therefore you will not be able to interact with her.

Do you have any further doubts?

Write us an email at info@internationalpiccolofluteacademy.com
We will be happy to provide answers to your questions!

All photos with Natalie Schwaabe were taken by Astrid Ackermann