Frequently Asked Questions

To register for this course, you have to fill in the registration form. Next we will process your registration and send you a confirmation email and information on how to pay the advance payment of 95 euro. This amount, which is non-refundable, should be paid within 8 days, which completes your registration.

The course is open for advanced flute students (conservatory and music college), flute teachers and flutists from all around the globe with or without the experience of modern music.

The course is certainly aiming at flute teachers and in the past many teachers have participated with great interest. Also Offermans' educational books like For the Younger Flutists, The Improvisation Calendar and the Thumpy flute will be presented.

You can register as long as the registration form is available online.

Yes, that should not be really a problem. Basically the language at the course is in English and of course it is most handy to have some knowledge of speaking English. However Wil Offermans also speaks - besides his native language Dutch - some German, Spanish, French and Japanese. Offermans has been teaching world-wide in so many different situations and is very comfortable dealing with and crossing any language barrier.

Every participant will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the course. If needed, one can request other types of papers.

Offermans is promoting the extended flute techniques not just as a goal ('special' sound effects), but mainly as a phenomenal tool to develop the most essential aspects for deepening our flute playing and teaching. The focus of this course will be mainly on the 'modern' techniques, though the final musical aim is evidently broader and includes a general flexibility, creativity and development of the breathing, the sound and the body. While some participants in the past did not have a background as a modern music player and others did have so, they all left the course with great inspiration and motivation for their playing and teaching, looking back to a most intensive week full of music, friendship and enjoyment.

In 1991, Offermans' etude book For the Contemporary Flutist was published by Zimmermann, Frankfurt. In 1992 the Studio E Music Creation initiated the flute summer course For the Contemporary Flutist by Wil Offermans with the purpose to create the opportunity for flutists to further study these materials in a relaxing and focused situation of a one week course. Studio E - a music office by musicians Junko Ueda and Wil Offermans - at first organized this course in the east of Belgium (Gênes, Ardennes). In 2005 they moved the course to a beautiful location in Andalucia (Sayalonga, Malaga, in south of Spain). During the years of this course, many young as well as mature flutists have participated the course with great enthusiasm and enjoyment, including conservatory flute students, professional flutists, orchestra players and flute teachers. They arrived from all parts of the world, including Europe, North and South America, Australia, Middle-East and Asia (see a list of past participants here). While different in level, musical focus, and culture, Offermans coached them intensively, while also creating a great atmosphere, enjoying delicious food and a splendid surrounding and nature.

The course starts on July 20th. On this day participants will be welcomed at 'Cortijo La Granja' in Sayalonga from around 16:00 (we will assist you with transport from Malaga to Sayalonga). You will checkin your room, whereafter there will be dinner. In the evening will be a first short introduction. The course will end on July 27th after the breakfast. The organization will assist all participants with their travel to Malaga, from where the participants will continue their travel home.

An advance payment of 95 euro should be paid within 8 days after receiving the confirmation email. The rest of the fee should be paid before June 20th 2019.

From most European countries it is the easiest to pay by bank transfer. From outside of Europe it is usually advised to pay by credit card or PayPal. But we will inform you about your payment options when confirming your registration.

In case of cancellation by the participant the following rules will be applied:
• if cancellation is made up to four weeks before the start date of the course, only the advance payment will be owed and the rest will be refunded.
• if cancellation is made between four and two weeks before the start date of the course, half of the total course fee will be refunded.
• if cancellation is made within two weeks before the start date of the course, no refund will be made.

Of course you can order them via your local music store. But you can also order them via the Studio E Online Store. (Studio E usually has stock and can ship immediately).

Yes, all books and CDs by Wil Offermans will also be available at the course.

Main literature will be the etude book For the Contemporary Flutist by Wil Offermans (published by Musikverlag Zimmermann, Germany; Zenon, Japan; and SeJong Publishers, Korea). With this book as a starting point various extended techniques will be discussed and studied, including wind tone; bamboo tones; harmonics; multi-phonics; whisper tones; and circular breathing. Later in the course other compositions by Offermans will be introduced, including the flute solo pieces like Honami, Tsuru-no-Sugomori, Luna y Sierra, Made in Japan and ensemble pieces like Bamburia, Kotekan, Dance with Me, Itsuki-no-Komoriuta and Forbidden Valley. For additional literature see the list of compositions by Offermans.

It is advised that you have a look at Offermans' book For the Contemporary Flutist. If you want to prepare further, you could study one of these etudes and/or one of his flute solo compositions, for example Honami or Tsuru-no-Sugomori. You can find all published compositions by Wil Offermans here.

Classes will be held in groups. Besides every participant will have a master class to work in more detail on some techniques or pieces. The general schedule can be found on the main page here under Schedule.

Wil Offermans has a wide experience concerning ethnic flutes. In the ethnic flute class he will explain and demonstrate some of the ethnic flutes, play sound samples and show its relations to our 'modern' style of flute playing.

If you want and enjoy carrying your alto, piccolo or bass flute, you can surely bring it with you. It might be useful when working on some ensemble pieces. Anyway, Wil Offermans will bring his piccolo, alto, bass and contrabass flutes, which can be used by participants.

It is an informal concert at the course location, not open for public, and a great way to end the course and to review all materials which have been studied during the course. What exactly to play will be discussed with Offermans during the course.

This is not needed, as the concert is informal. Just wear what you like and feel comfortable with.

Malaga International Airport. They have international flights to many european countries as well as to the USA (JFK airport).

That is totally up to you to decide, but obviously, you can use any travel site on the internet or visit your local travel agency. However, it might be a good idea to buy a flight ticket as soon as possible. Summer is a busy period and flights might get more expensive or getting fully booked.

Choose a flight arriving early in Malaga on July 20th. An arrival time before or around 15:00 would be ideal, because you still will need some time to continue from Malaga to Sayalonga. For your departure it is advised to avoid to book an early flight on July 27th, since you will still have to travel from Sayalonga to Malaga. Departing on July 27th at 14:00 or later would be ideal. Contact us if you have any question concerning the arrival or departure time of a flight you intend to book. Flight prices can vary based on the travel dates. Sometimes it might be cheaper to fly one day earlier or to leave one day later and to stay in a hotel near Malaga during the additional nights. (whenever needed, hotels can be booked for example via booking.com).

Sayalonga is located most beautiful and away from the busy tourist areas of Malaga. This also means that there is not many public transport. But we will arrange your transport from Malaga airport to the course location by bus. We will fix this arrangement usually a few weeks before the start of the course, after we have collected the travel data (arrival times) of all the participants. We will take great care that all participants arrive safely.

If you arrive by train or bus: reserve your travel until Malaga bus or train station. In either case we advice you to arrive on July 20th before 17:00, so there still will be sufficient possibility to continue to travel to Sayalonga. We will assist you with the transport and inform you at a later time. For your return trip on July 27th, if traveling by train or bus, we advice you to reserve a travel departing Malaga not earlier than around 12:00, so that you will have a relaxed time to travel from Sayalonga to Malaga. Please contact with us if you have any further questions.

If you intend to travel by your own car, just contact with us and we will send you some maps and instructions to find the course location.

All meals will be served at the course location. We have our own wonderful cook and always receive great praise for the food we serve. That is also because we believe a good food does support an intensive and creative work. Because of the local feel and climate we follow the Spanish eating times for the breakfast, lunch and dinner. However in between some drinks and snacks will be served and our kitchen will be always open whenever you feel hungry or thirsty.

No problem. Please inform us in advance and our kitchen will surely respect your wishes.

The most obvious way of spending the free-time is relaxing in the beautiful surrounding, enjoying our private swimming-pool, going for a walk in between the fruit trees or to the typical Andalusian white village of Sayalonga. But you can also relax in your room or study the flute.

We do not offer any additional stay e.g. before or after the course. If you arrive earlier than July 20th, or depart later than July 27th, we advice you to look for a hotel in or near Malaga, for example at booking.com.

Yes, there is a washing machine and detergent available at the course location and it is free to use.

A general advice: do not take too many things and travel light. In fact you do not need many things, especially in the warm summer climate of Malaga. Also take care, because some airlines are really strict concerning luggage overweight. But do not forget to take these items:
- the book 'For the Contemporary Flutist' by Wil Offermans (this book can be ordered at your local music store or via our online store. Also the book will be for sale at the course).
- a swimming suit, since we have a wonderful swimming pool!
- no need to take your music stand (we will provide music stands).

No, your room has a towel for personal use. However you might want to take an additional one, like for swimming (however, usually we have also free additional towels). The rooms also have bed linen (sheets/blankets), so no need to carry any.

Yes, you can share the room if you travel with a friend who also joins the course. You will get a room with two beds. Be sure to mark the sharing room option at when making your registration online via the registration form.

The south of Spain is known for its unlimited hours of sunshine and hot summers. However, since Sayalonga is near the seaside, the climate at the location is much more mild and comfortable. However, in the middle of the day the sun can be pretty strong and, especially if one has a sensitive skin, it is better to be in a shadow. That is actually why local people enjoy having a 'siesta', having a break in the day to have lunch and relax in the shadow.

220 volt.

Yes, there is free Wifi internet in all rooms.