REGISTRATION DEADLINE March 24, 2027
Welcome to this 23rd year of Low Flutes Retreats!
If you haven’t been, you should go! A wealth of information, connect with other low flute players. It really is for all levels of players. Doing a chamber piece and hearing the other chamber pieces at the concert was so much fun. Even though I’m not a beginner musician I am fairly new to low flute and highly recommend doing these! Kathy Thompson
Players of all skill levels on alto, bass and contrabass are welcome at the Retreat. We will be playing Eventide by Gay Kakhonen, Under the Aurora by Edward Knight, This I Tell Them by Kinley Lange, Réjouissance from Telemann’s Suite in A Minor and Big Flutes Happen Here by Jonathan Cohen. Chamber music will be assigned and rehearsed during the Retreat to be part of our Sunday afternoon performance. The two workshops are Improving Breath Control and Turning the Notes into Music: Making the Magic Happen. The location is St James Lutheran Church, 109 York Street Gettysburg, PA. 17325
Location: St. James Lutheran Church 109 York Street, Gettysburg 17325
First meeting: 7:15 PM on Thursday, April 22nd
Retreat ends: Sunday the 25th about 8:30 PM after a group dinner.
Recommended Accomodations: To make a reservation, click this link Swope Manor B&B Reservation which is where I will be staying. It is the least expensive of the three places close to the church. 58 York St, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA (717) 398-2655 There are other cheaper hotels farther away if you have a car.
Workshops Topics: Improving Breath Control and Turning the Notes into Music: Making the Magic Happen.
Click this link to download the Registration form: Gettysburg Registration
RETREAT DETAILs:
- Dates: Thursday, April 22nd – Sunday April 25. Starts Thursday 7:15 PM through 8:30 PM Sunday, April 25th. Friday and Saturday we start at 9:15 AM and go till about 9 PM with meal breaks. A catered lunch will be provided on Friday. Sunday’s Concert ends at about 5:00 PM. Fun group dinner lasts until 8:30 or so on the 25th!
- Tuition: $385.
- Parking: There is a small lot behind the church with designated handicapped spots. Metered parking is available on the street.
- Registration Deadline: Wednesday, March 24th.
- Sunday Public Performance: 4:00 to 5:00
- Required Workshop Books: either the Alto Method or the Bass Method. Contra players bring the Bass Method. The books are available from chrispotterflute.com, Flute World, world-wide via Amazon, Flute Specialists, Carolyn Nussbaum’s, The Flute Pro Shop, West Valley Music, Flute Center of New York and Just Flutes (UK).
- Private Lessons: Lessons are on Thursday the 22nd. Mark that on your registration form.
Workshops – Improving Breath Control. We will work on finding the system-replenishing breath we need to play the flute and make it the default breath. We will find ways to make that kind of breath happen in our music and discover the places where we squander opportunities. Once we have such a breath, how do we learn to use it efficiently? All this will be answered in the workshop. Required – the Alto Method or the Bass Method. Contra players bring the Bass Method.
Turning the Notes into Music: Making the Magic Happen. Does my tone have something important to say? What are the tools we need to be able to produce an effective and engaging performance? How do we decide what to do with the notes once we have the tools? Some performers just seem to have a gift, what can we learn from them? Understanding the beat heirarchy in different meters is a starting point. Wisdom from William Bennett will guide us as we steer through this very subjective topic.
Evening Events – Thursday night at the church. We will start at 7:15 PM, introduce ourselves then read through our full ensemble pieces. Friday night is a recital featuring players who have asked to play solos/duets/trios. Saturday evening is a group sight-reading session. Bring music to share.
Sunday morning we will play at a church service. Opportunities for more full ensemble and chamber music rehearsals will ensue in the afternoon. There will be a dress rehearsal ending at 3:30, then a 4:00 concert at the church. The concert will be followed by a group dinner at an area restaurant.
Repertoire – Eventide – Until We Meet Again by Gay Kahkonen, selections from Under the Aurora by Edward Knight, This I Tell Them by Kinley Lange, Réjouissance from Telemann’s Suite in A Minor and Big Flutes Happen Here by Jonathan Cohen.. Everyone will be also assigned a duet, trio, quartet or quintet to prepare.
Saturday Sight-Reading Session – All participants are invited to bring a few ensemble pieces. Music with parts for both altos and basses are preferred, but c flute duets/trios/quartets can work for all altos, all basses, or all contras. You are responsible for making extra copies of parts and conducting your piece if it has more than three parts.
Friday Informal Recital – On Friday night of the Retreat there will be an opportunity for advanced players to perform a solo or other chamber music piece. There may be a piano available, but you will have to arrange for your own pianist. Sign up on the Registration form.
Private Lessons – Lesson slots are during the day on Thursday between 10 am and 5 pm. It is $90 for a 60-minute lesson.
Hotel – To make a reservation, follow this link Swope Manor B&B Reservation. They require a 50% deposit. The charge does include breakfast. I will be staying at this B&B which is the least expensive of the three places within walking distance of the church. 58 York St, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA (717) 398-2655 There are other cheaper hotels farther away if you have a car.
Tuition – $385. Payments are accepted by check, PayPal, Venmo or Zelle. NO REFUNDS after March 24th. 50% refund prior to March 24th.
- Paypal: send $385 to cpotter@mac.com.
- Check: My address is 2985 18th St. Boulder, CO 80304. Make payable to Chris Potter.
- Venmo: Send $385 to ChrisPotterFlute (Sometimes Venmo asks for the last 4 digits of my phone number – 6492)
- Zelle: To use Zelle, send to cpotter@mac.com. Let me know you are using this service.
- To pay for a private lesson, add $90 to your check or add $90 to your PayPal or Venmo payment.
Contact me at cpotter@mac.com if you want more information about the Retreat.
- Use these guidelines to determine your Repertoire Level which you need to know when filling out the Retreat Registration.
- Click here to download and complete the reg form when it is available.
- Snail mail the completed Retreat registration and tuition check so that it is received by March 24th along with the Retreat tuition – $385. With private lesson $385+90. OR, scan and email completed form by March 24th to cpotter@mac.com (payment must be received within 5 days).
Chris Potter
2985 18th Street
Boulder, CO 80304
50% tuition refund until March 24th for the Retreat. No refunds after the 24th.
More details here for other hotels in the area and nearby restaurants.
SLEEP
Swope Manor Bed and Breakfast – catty corner from the church – parking $9/day in garage 5 minutes walk to church. The Brafferton Inn Bed and Breakfast – catty corner from the church with dedicated parking lot cross the street from the church. Hotel Gettysburg – on Gettysburg Square 5 mins walk to church – parking also 5 mins walk to church. The Gaslight Bed and Breakfast – 5 mins walk to the church – free parking. Days Inn – 1 mile/5 min drive to church. Super 8 by Wyndham – 1 mile/5 min drive to church. Hampton Inn Gettysburg – 2 miles/10 min drive to church. AirBnb – several are located near the church – ask host how far they are from St James Lutheran Church
EAT
Restaurants within 1-2 blocks of church
Create by Chef Jason – fresh local and seasonal food – unique experience. Starbucks – adjacent to Gettysburg Hotel. The Upper Crust – pizza and bbq – fun and rowdy bar atmosphere. Li’s Buffet – Chinese. Blue and Gray Bar and Grill – great burgers. The Pub – nice fancy restaurant
The church has a parking lot but it might fill on Thursday night when we have choir rehearsal. On Friday the preschool will take many of the parking spaces. There is plenty of street parking but you have to feed the meter $1.50/hour. The fire station is one block away and I’m hoping they will give us permission to use their lot for overflow.
After 8pm on weekdays and Sunday mornings until 1pm street parking is free.
