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Players now travel from all over the UK to take advantage of the expert individual tuition provided by Nicholas and Sien Vallis-Davies. Some students attend weekly; some fortnightly or monthly, while others enjoy occasional consultations.

Sessions tend to be most beneficial for adult players and students who are interested in:

• Developing the most beautiful tone possible

• Exploring the most inspiring repertoire for the instrument in depth and in imaginative new ways

• Improving technical ability and conquering technical weaknesses by novel methods.

Most of all, lessons are enjoyable, focusing on playing the flute and oboe in a positive, self-affirming way, whatever your ability level. Age is not relevant and is no obstacle to study (many have enjoyed success in their retirement).

Also supported, as part of an integrated approach to performance and musical exploration in general, is advanced study leading to diploma qualifications and professional/semi professional/amateur orchestral and solo work, if you’d like to go in this direction

Do you have a question? If you are frustrated by a particular flute or oboe challenge, do send us an email: mail@vallis-davies.com, and we shall do our best to help.

Or phone: +44 (0) 1458 860006. We are always pleased to hear from you!

Open Academy offers the opportunity to explore, in an enlightened and enjoyable way, the finer aspects of flute performance, oboe performance and chamber music.

Open Academy was founded in 1997 by Nicholas and Sien Vallis-Davies to share the exhilaration they had formerly enjoyed during their professional careers as soloists for EMI, principals with the London Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras and masterclass tutors at the Royal Academy of Music etc.

Lessons at Open Academy are enjoyed by:

• Dedicated flute teachers and oboe teachers who are looking for innovative new ideas to learn and share, refresher study or help in gaining further qualifications.

• All amateurs, interested in discovering confidence-boosting techniques, performance and technical tips, expert and expedient problem-solving, technical advice and enjoyable good humoured lessons.

• Professional, semi-professional and freelance players preparing for auditions who would like to learn the secrets of success in this area, and exactly how to achieve high professional standards consistently.

• Everyone who wants to enjoy playing inspiring music for sheer pleasure, in an encouraging and helpful setting.

Open Academy takes place within the compelling landscape of the Somerset Levels, a few miles from Glastonbury Tor , Wells Cathedral and Glastonbury Abbey.

Nicholas and Sien Vallis-Davies, directors, have an international reputation for their enlightened approach to music education, and transformative expression in sound.

They have spent 25 years on their own path of exploration. In that time their music books and CDs (published by MUSIC SALES, USA) have been selling in every major city throughout the world, and their film and media music (published by EMI and Boosey & Hawkes), has been heard in cinemas and homes globally.

Sought after as soloists in their early career by the LSO and London Philharmonic Orchestras, and as masterclass consultants at European Conservatoires and Universities, they have an abundance of practical knowledge.

By founding Open Academy they have realised their vision to share, with literally thousands of flautist and oboists already, all the most helpful and self-supportive philosophies
which they have been fortunate to discover through their own varied and life-changing experiences.

Nobody need feel daunted whatever their level of playing. Every flute player and every oboe player is wholeheartedly welcome.

We explore connecting with the true intent behind the sound, projecting nourishing thoughts while playing and developing deep, invincible core confidence.

We sincerely believe that human potential is truly unlimited and so is everyone’s playing potential...there is so much to learn from playing a simple expressive tune. There is so much kindness to express in a single note.

We encourage everyone to see way beyond the traditional and outdated hard-graft approach! To relish applying the ideas; playing duets and good music with dynamism and fun-of-life.