Welcome!
Welcome to the Thumpy homepage! Thumpy the thumb flute is a relatively simple instrument with a surprisingly beautiful and natural sound. This new flute has been designed and developed by Dutch flutist-composer Wil Offermans and is produced by Studio E. The Thumpy Book - composed by Wil Offermans and published by Zimmermann, Frankfurt - provides a basic method for the Thumpy flute with text in six languages. To see the video about Thumpy go here. Thumpy is available in three models:

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Here are some photos of various Thumpy events. Click the image to see it enlarged. Click on the enlarged image to see the next photo (click right side) or the previous photo (click left side).

Thumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Baunatal - Stuttgart, GermanyThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Granada, SpainThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Granada, SpainPlaying a Thumpy duoThumpy at a flute master class by Wil Offermans at the Hochschule Hamburg, GermanyThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Kampen, HollandThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Klagenfurt, AustriaThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in La Coruna, SpainThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in La Coruna, SpainThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Mieres, SpainThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Mieres, SpainThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Podersdorf, AustriaThumpy at a Flute Day by Wil Offermans in Villefranche, FranceWil Offermans conducting Thumpy at a Flute Day in Kampen, HollandThumpy at a flute masterclass by Wil Offermans in La Coruna, Spain


More about Thumpy
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The Thumpy is constructed out of a straight, cylindrical wooden pipe with an embouchure-hole near the middle of the pipe. The pitch can be controlled by covering the open endings with the thumbs (with the basic combinations of: open-open; open-closed; closed-open and closed-closed) and combining the various harmonics. Because of the primitive character of this flute, it may remind us to the European bone flutes or the Japanese Ishibue (natural stone flute).

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Anyone can play the thumb flute: if you have never played a flute before, Thumpy is a perfect way to learn to blow. You don't need any musical knowledge and you can start right away. It is a great way (surely for children) to develop the embouchure before switching to the Boehm-flute. However, if you are already a flutist, you will enjoy Thumpy, its simplicity and its rich sound, while you can easily take it with you wherever you go (sounds great in the mountains!). Besides, Thumpy can stimulate a flexible use of the embouchure and the breathing.

Where to buy a Thumpy flute
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The easiest way to buy a Thumpy flute is to visit the Studio E Online Shop. There you can order Thumpy flutes, as well as other music items (scores; CD's) by Wil Offermans. The shop is built with the latest and most secure SSL-techniques and is available in English, Dutch, German and Spanish. Click here to visit the shop now. Use our contact form if you would like to contact with Studio E directly.

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