Hi Everybody!

Welcome to the first edition of the Healy Flute Company newsletter "The Flutopia Press"!

With the help of my new web master and designer Obi Wan Gamache (the Force is strong in him!) I am starting to make use of some of the cool cyber bells and whistles that are now available. It is especially helpful to me (neo-Luddite that I am) that the programs have been dumbed down so much in the past few years. Flutes and fifes I get, computers, not so much!!!

We have added several features to Skiphealy.com including blogs, podcasting, and this newsletter. There are a couple more things coming up too including videos of past concerts and a video lessons feature.  My Skips Tips feature is also going to be enhanced so keep an eye open for that too.  We are currently working on the content for my Wind on the Bay site, it will also be up soon. There will be WOTB content on Skiphealy.com as well as a stand alone WOTB site as well.  That site is also going to have lots of nifty new content so I hope you will all take a look at it as well.  There are still portions of this site under construction and the paint's still wet in some places so if you come across anything that isn't right PLEASE do send me an e mail about it.

I am currently in the process of re-releasing ALL of my past recordings as well.  Purgatory Chasm will be available in a couple of weeks, Farewell New England's Shores shortly after that and then Empty Pockets.  I am also finishing up recording a NEW (as of yet untitled) cd that I am very excited about. It is a mix of traditional Irish, American fife and drum music and original compositions featuring traditional as well as some beautiful classical arrangements of these tunes.  This cd is an expansion on the types of arrangements and styles I have touched upon in the past.  Instruments will include Flutes and Fifes, Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon, Cello, Piano, Cittern, Octave Mandolin, Bass, rope tension Snare and Bass drums, and a little Brass for good luck. I will be uploading some "teasers" soon so be sure to visit the "Music" page on my site. 

On the instrument front, I am also about to release a new and more traditional style fife too.  It features a cylindrical bore in the head joint with a double conical bore in the body. The fife has a very traditional sound and feel with very bright third octave notes and is very easy to play. I have been asked for many years to design a fife like this and now I have. I hope you like it!

Well, that's about it for edition one.  Please be sure to register on the homepage of Skiphealy.com so you can get this newsletter on a regular basis and also write in with your own comments on the blogs and podcasts.  I am VERY interested in your opinions on the new site and the content therein and hope you will not be shy about sending me your comments and suggestions for future topics.

All the best and as always,

BUY MORE STUFF!!! 

Skip Healy