What is "IF"?
Innovative Flutist (IF) stems from asking the question, "what if ____?" when creating different interactive programs to see how listeners can explore their connection with music.
From coffee shops to 1,000 seat performing arts centers, I have loved performing for and collaborating with people who have no formal music training to professional musicians. These programs provide a fun and creative musical experience for universities, performing arts organizations, museums, business wellness events, and social groups.
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My programs include a variety of interdisciplinary elements, lengths, and potential to be tailored to meet your community's needs. You'll find them organized here by Concerts, Interdisciplinary Performances, and Workshops.
Performances
Performance/ Collaborative Program
Imagine your ensemble and audience having fun making music together! Concerto for Audience is a participatory concert work for large ensemble (orchestra/band).
James Brinkmann will rehearse the participatory parts with the ensemble, teach the audience and guide them in concert, and provide a post-concert Q/A session. The host ensemble is encouraged to commission a local composer to write a new participatory movement. New movements will be added to the collection of Concerto for Audience. Ensembles can mix and match movements from the collection to tailor the program and create a “choose your own adventure” for their audience. Create a memorable music experience for your community and join the Concerto for Audience family!
Length: 10 min - 60 min depending on the number of movements performed.
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Performance/ Interdisciplinary Program
This is a comedic and theatrical music production of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute/Oboe. A fusion of classical music, costumes, and theatre, this program tells the story of a Divo flutist and Diva oboist who try to upstage the other and prove their musical dominance by playing Mozart’s music! The audience interacts throughout the show as the divas’ adoring fans. Rivalry, impoliteness, short tempers, a little romance, and of course, Mozart’s music reign supreme in this comedic classical music production. Will the Divas ever see eye to eye?
Chamber Version: 60 minutes
Orchestra Version: 75 minutes
Interdisciplinary Performances
'L'-Evating Art
Subway Station
'L'-Evating Art, Broad Art Lab 2019
Performance/ Interdisciplinary Program
‘L’-Evating Art began in Chicago’s subway stations when train passengers created art while listening to me play classical music. This interdisciplinary social event recreates the interactive subway experience for communities by having audiences
create artwork while listening to the same music
that I performed in the subways. Afterward,
participants will see and talk about the subway art
collection and the new artwork they created.
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This program can be offered as a single concert or
as an exhibit at a museum or art gallery.
Length: 75-90 minutes
Interactive Performance
(Trust me to create it)
Performance/ Collaborative/ Interdisciplinary Program
Let’s work together! This custom option allows me to learn about your community and cater an interactive program tailored to their interests. In addition to high-quality performance, interactive programs can include a participatory activity (artistic or not), individual reflection time, and small or large group discussion. This option requires 2-4 meetings 6 months before the desired concert date to design a tailored program.
These performances engage audience members by giving them a fresh and welcoming approach to listening to music using different creative activities. As they actively participate in the performance, they find a deeper personal meaning in music.
Length: 45 - 90 minutes depending on the community’s needs.
Workshops
8 Elements of Art and Music
Teaching/ Interdisciplinary Program
Art and music are everywhere, but how are they related? This hands-on workshop series is a creative experience for adults to explore the relationship between music and visual arts. Each workshop focuses on an element: Line, Shape, Form, Color, Value, Texture, Space, Point. The artist leads hands-on activities, discussions, lectures and will perform music and display visual art examples to facilitate these conversations.
Length: each workshop lasts from 60-90 minutes (depending on venue needs) and can stand alone or be a recurring series.
The Performer's Story
Teaching/ Collaborative Program
What is your voice as a performer? This creative and reflective brainstorming workshop allows college music students or adult amateur performers to explore their musical identity and ways to authentically express themselves through performance. This includes a variety of performance formats including solo, chamber, orchestra, genre-specific, interdisciplinary, and more.
Every participant will flesh out a personalized concert program by exploring their historical and current experiences with music. Through collaborative activities, they will also receive feedback and bounce around ideas on other participants’ projects in an open-minded environment.
Length: 75 - 90 minutes
