Hi Everybody!

Man so very much has happened since the last edition of the Flutopia Press...  Here's an update on some of whats gone on!

One of the big events is after having been in my current location for the past 7 years (I think I broke a mirror somewhere...) I have now re-located back into the far more friendly environs of the Harbor Mill Complex at 5 Division Street, Suite 23, Warwick, R.I. 02818. The longer time friends of the HFco will recognise this address as I was here for about 8 years before the last place. You can see and read all about the move if you read Blog #8, "On the road Again in 2010".

Another huge event for the HFco has been the decision of the U.S. Army's Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps to switch over to my fifes.  This is a huge honor for me personally as I have had a very long standing relationship with TOG for over 35 years now.  This move has been in the works for years but the climate is now right for them to make the move and they have.  I am REALLY looking forward to hearing their fife section on my fifes.  TOG fife line has been known to be a bit on the quite side of loud in the past, especially when the drum and bugle section play with them.  Not any more!!!  They have bought 35 Deluxe model 10 hole fifes and after a month or so of breaking them in, I expect they will be using them full time very soon.

There are some new features on skiphealy.com as well, one is called "Skips Tips Express".  These will be a series of 60 second lessons designed for those with limited time to sit for a lesson. One technique per lesson, clear, quick and to the point.  Check it out, it only takes a minute, really!

Another new feature is that I am adding audio content to the existing Skips Tips as well.  Its something I've wanted to do for some time and now we are set up to do it.  The first edition is "Learning by Ear" and will go live very soon...

The third new feature is called "Covering my Tracks", pretty clever huh?  This is going to be a look behind the scenes at the process of recording a particular track.  By this I mean the idea, the tunes, the players and whatever stories I can tell without the local constables showing up at my door. The first edition is finished and will also go live very soon.  It's a look at the first track on my recording Empty Pockets, "Swallowtail - Fifty Cents".

We will also be set to do skype lessons for those of you who have skype, those of you who don't, GET IT! It's a great free service, yes FREE. Uh, the lesson isn't, gotta make a buck you know...  Also going to soon be a bunch of cool video content too so please do check back again.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot-

BUY MORE STUFF!!!

All the best,

Skip