The Thumpy Flute
Thumpy originated as an educational concept to invite and motivate especially the younger generation to enter the wonderful world of flute playing.
This new flute has been designed and developed by Dutch flutist-composer Wil Offermans and is manufactured by Studio E Music Creation, Granada, Spain. The Thumpy Book by Wil Offermans is published by Musikverlag Zimmermann.
Thumpy© the thumb flute is a relatively simple instrument with a surprisingly natural sound. The Thumpy flute is most suitable as a beginners flute for those who want to learn to play flute. But it is also a challenging and enjoyable flute for advanced flutists who want to enhance their tone and embouchure flexibility. The focus is on the essence of the flute-playing: the flute sound and the blowing. The Thumpy is available in three models: the Junior, the Classic and the Classic Pro, which are described below. The Quick Start explains how to play the basic sounds, as well as various harmonics. Furthermore, you will find an attractive section about imitating Bird Songs, an extended guidance for Flute Teachers and finally the Studio E Online Shop to order Thumpy flutes directly online.
Thumpy originated as an educational concept to invite and motivate especially the younger generation to enter the wonderful world of flute playing. - Wil Offermans
This new flute has been designed and developed by Dutch flutist-composer Wil Offermans and is manufactured by Studio E Music Creation, Granada, Spain. The Thumpy Book by Wil Offermans is published by Musikverlag Zimmermann.
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Let's Start with Thumpy!
Thumpy offers an excellent experience in learning to play a first flute sound, before moving on to the Boehm-flute. Since Thumpy is an unconventional and non-chromatic instrument, its simplicity is demanding a musical sense which will help to naturally develop the embouchure and the breathing. Here the blowing is directly connected with a musical result. From the first practice - and without the usual stress of holding the flute and placing the fingers - we can focus to shape the sound. Once a kid moves on to the (Boehm)-flute, the experience with the Thumpy flute will contribute to a better sound and a relaxed and flexible performance.
Thumpy vs. Flute Headjoint
Traditionally the flute headjoint is used to learn to play a first flute sound. However when using Thumpy we will extend the fundamental learning with creativity, as Thumpy has many advantages compared to the flute headjoint:
| Thumpy | Headjoint |
|---|---|
a real instrument |
no musical identity |
strong and easy to carry around |
fragile to carry around |
five clear basic notes + more |
only few pitches |
Thumpy Book, bird songs, solo, duo, ensemble, theatrical, improvisation, creativity |
no repertoire available |
exciting for the advanced flutist |
less attractive for the advanced flutist |
results in a relaxed and flexible flute sound |
results in a more tense flute sound |
blowing produces a musical flute sound |
blowing produces a technical flute sound |
Feedback by Flute Teachers
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Thumpy is a simple way to determine a child's talent and interest for the flute, without having to invest in an expensive flute.
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I use the Thumpy and the Thumpy Book to teach beginners for the first several months and always have a nice result.
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The sound quality of the kids becomes much better when starting with the Thumpy compared to the flute head-joint.
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We used Thumpy in a theatrical music creation and some games with kids and had lots of fun!
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At first, Thumpy was also a bit difficult for me and indeed I had to focus on the blowing to get the right pitch. It is a good instrument to develop the embouchure, breathing and sound quality.
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Kids love Thumpy. It’s simple, solid and easy to position. Kids can try to flute at any moment.
Thumpy Models
Thumpy Junior
€ 49,00 ~
- Fully handmade out of European maple wood in natural, red, yellow or blue
- The instrument has a nice natural feel
- Protected against moisture by an environment and child friendly, non-toxic coating
- Comes with a protective cotton bag
- 100% handgemaakt uit Europees esdoornhout
- heeft een mooie natuurlijke uitstraling
- afgewerkt met een beschermende, milieu- en kindvriendelijke lak ter protectie tegen vocht
- wordt geleverd in een beschermende, katoenen etui
- komplett handgefertigt aus europäisches Ahorn-holz in Naturfarbe, Rot, Blau oder Gelb
- hat eine schöne natürliche feel
- mit einem transparenten Kinderfreundlichen Eco-Lack zum Schutz gegen Feuchtigkeit beschichtet ist
- wird geliefert mit einem Baumwollbeutel
- Il est entièrement fait à la main en bois d'érable européen, couleur naturelle, rouge, bleu ou jaune
- l'instrument possède un toucher naturel et agréable
- avec une couche de protection contre l'humidité adaptée aux enfants, non-toxique et respectueuse de l'environnement
- livré avec un sac de protection
- tiene un tacto agradable y natural
- totalmente hecha a mano de madera de arce europeo en Natural, Roja, Azul o Amarillo
- recubierto con un barniz para la protección contra la humedad y lo cual es apropiado para el medioambiente y para niños
- viene con una bolsa protectora
- 完全な手作り、ヨーロッパのカエデ材使用、ナチュラル色、赤、黄、青
- 自然な仕上がり
- 湿気保護のためのニス(環境保護保証つき、安全な無毒性塗料）仕上げ
- 楽器保護用の布製の袋付き
Thumpy Classic
€ 119,00 ~
- Fully handmade out of European Olive, Plum wood or other hardwood
- Beautiful, natural wood with a delicate sound
- Impregnated with a special oil which protects against moisture
- Comes with a protective luxury bag
- volledig handgemaakt uit het Zuid-Europese olijfhout, priumenhout of een andere hardhout-soort
- heeft een heel mooie en verfijnde klank
- is geïmpregneerd met een speciale beschermende olie
- wordt geleverd in een luxe, stoffen etui
- komplett handgefertigt entweder aus den südeuropäischen Olivenholz oder Pflaumenholz
- sehr schönen Holz-Klang
- Öl-imprägniert
- wird geliefert mit einem luxe Tasche
- entièrement fabriquée à la main en bois d’olivier européen ou bois de prunier
- un son délicat
- est imprégnée d’une huile spéciale
- livré avec un sac de protection de luxe
- totalmente hecha a mano de madera, ya sea de la madera de olivo del sur de Europa ou madera de ciruelo
- puede producir un sonido delicado
- impregnado de un aceite especial
- viene con una bolsa protectora de lujo
- 完全な手作り、エキゾティックな堅木サンダルウッド、南欧のオリーブ材、その他を使用
- 木目が美しく、洗練された音質
- 湿気保護のため、特別なオイルを染み込ませてあります
- 楽器保護用の高級袋付き
Thumpy Classic Pro
€ 199,00
- Fully handmade out of high-quality Grenadill wood (African Blackwood), a precious dense hardwood often used for professional piccolo's and flutes
- This wood produces a rich and powerful sound
- Impregnated with a special oil which protects against moisture
- Comes with a protective luxury bag
- volledig handgemaakt uit het edele Grenadilla-hout (African Blackwood), vaak ook gebruikt bij topkwaliteit piccolo's
- deze houtsoort heeft een krachtige en rijke toon
- is geïmpregneerd met een speciale beschermende olie
- wordt geleverd in een luxe, stoffen etui
- vollständig handgefertigt aus hochwertigem Grenadillholz (African Blackwood; oft für piccolo's verwendet), ein kostbares dichtes Hartholz
- sehr reichen und kräftigen Sound
- Öl-imprägniert
- wird geliefert mit einem luxe Tasche
- est entièrement fabriquée à la main en bois de grenadille (African Blackwood; souvent utilisé pour les piccolos)
- un son riche et puissant
- est imprégnée d’une huile spéciale
- livré avec un sac de protection de luxe
- totalmente hecha a mano en madera de grenadilla de alta calidad (otro nombre; African Blackwood; usado mucho para los piccolos de alta calidad), un precioso densa de madera dura
- un sonido muy rico y poderoso
- impregnado de un aceite especial
- viene con una bolsa protectora de lujo
- 完全な手作り、高質のグレナディル材使用。この高価な堅木は、プロ使用のピッコロや木製フルートにたびたび使用されます
- 非常に豊かでパワフルな音質
- 湿気保護のため、特別なオイルを染み込ませてあります
- 楽器保護用の高級袋付き
The Thumpy Book
The Thumpy Book by Wil Offermans (also available at your local music store), published by Musikverlag Zimmermann (ZM34230) introduces the Thumpy flute and its technique in 75 progressive solo and duo pieces with explanations in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch and Japanese. Here below are some sound samples from the Thumpy Book. Thumpy is also recorded on these CD's by Wil Offermans: The Magic Flute and Luna y Sierra.
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A duet from the Thumpy Book Een duet van uit het Thumpy Boek Ein Duett aus dem Thumpy Book Un duo du Thumpy Book Un dueto del libro Thumpy Book A duet from the Thumpy Book -
Wil Offermans with Thumpy group in Veldhoven, The Netherlands Wil Offermans met een groep in Veldhoven, Nederland Wil Offermans mit Gruppe in Veldhoven, Niederlande Wil Offermans avec groupe - Veldhoven, Pays Bas Wil Offermans con grupo Thumpy en Veldhoven, Paísos Bajos Wil Offermans with Thumpy group in Veldhoven, The Netherlands -
Blowing hole of Thumpy Classic - Sandelwood Mondgat van een Thumpy Classic - Sandelhout Thumpy Classic - Sandelwood Embouchure du Thumpy Classic - Sandelwood Embocadura del Thumpy Classic - Sandelwood Blowing hole of Thumpy Classic - Sandelwood -
Thumpy Junior in colors blue, yellow and red Thumpy Junior in blauw, geel en rood Thumpy Junior in dem Farben blau, gelb und rot Thumpy Junior en couleurs blue, jaune et rouge Thumpy Junior en colores azul, amarillo y rojo Thumpy Junior in colors blue, yellow and red -
Left to right: production stages of the Thumpy Junior Links naar rechts: productiefases Thumpy Junior Von links nach rechts: Productionsstadien des Thumpy Junior De gauche à droite: étapes de production du Thumpy Junior Etapas de producción del Thumpy Junior (izq. a der.) Left to right: production stages of the Thumpy Junior -
Thumpy Classic Pro (above; Grenadill) and Thumpy Classic (Olive) Thumpy Classic Pro (boven; Grenadill) en Classic (Olijfhout) Thumpy Classic Pro (oben; Grenadill) und Classic (Olive) Thumpy Classic Pro (ci-dessus; Grenadill) et Thumpy Classic (Olive) Thumpy Classic Pro (ariba; Grenadill) y Thumpy Classic (Oliva) Thumpy Classic Pro (above; Grenadill) and Thumpy Classic (Olive) -
Movement game-piece with Thumpy in Saint-Omer, France Thumpy speelstuk in Saint-Omer, Frankrijk Bewegungsspiel mit Thumpy in Saint-Omer, Frankreich Pièce de mouvement avec Thumpy à Saint-Omer, France Juego de movimiento con Thumpy en Saint-Omer, Francia Movement game-piece with Thumpy in Saint-Omer, France -
Thumpy project in Saga, Kyushu, Japan Thumpy project in Saga, Kyushu, Japan Thumpy project in Saga, Kyushu, Japan Projet Thumpy à Saga, Kyushu, Japon Thumpy proyecto en Saga, Kyushu, Japón Thumpy project in Saga, Kyushu, Japan -
Thumpy Junior during production Thumpy Junior in productie Thumpy Junior während Production Thumpy Junior pendant la production Thumpy Junior durante la producción Thumpy Junior during production -
Thumpy performance in Luzern, Swiss Thumpy performance in Luzern, Zwitserland Thumpy performance mit Wil Offermans in Luzern, Schweizer Thumpy performance avec Wil Offermans à Luzern, Suisse Actuación con Wil Offermans en Lucerna, Suiza Thumpy performance in Luzern, Swiss -
Thumpy performance for all ages in Tokyo, Japan Performance voor alle leeftijden in Tokio, Japan Thumpy performance mit auch Ältern in Tokio, Japan Thumpy performance pour tous les âges à Tokyo, Japon Actuación con todos las edades en Tokio, Japón Thumpy performance for all ages in Tokyo, Japan -
Thumpy project in Zaragoza, Spain Thumpy project in Zaragoza, Spanje Thumpy project in Zaragoza, Spanien Projet Thumpy à Saragosse, Espagne Proyecto Thumpy en Zaragoza, España Thumpy project in Zaragoza, Spain -
Playing Thumpy in Feldkirch, Austria Thumpy-spelers in Feldkirch, Oostenrijk Thumpy spielen in Feldkirch, Österreich Jouer Thumpy à Feldkirch, Autriche Tocar Thumpy en Feldkirch, Austria Playing Thumpy in Feldkirch, Austria -
Thumpy players in Vienna, Austria Thumpy-duo in Wenen, Oostenrijk Thumpy Duo in Wien, Österreich Thumpy joueurs à Vienne, Autriche Thumpy dúo en Viena, Austria Thumpy players in Vienna, Austria
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have collected some of the most frequently asked questions concerning Thumpy. Click a question to display the corresponding answer. Feel free to contact with us whenever your question is not listed.
• In musical projects introducing the flute at schools and institutions: Thumpy can be used as an accessible instrument to stimulate musical creativity, improvisation, group interaction and the ability to flute in an enjoyable way. It also can be a help to find out or a student has ability for playing the flute.
• Thumpy Classic (Pro): this model has been fully oil-impregnated during production using a special oil. To keep it in good shape, one should rub the flute frequently with a soft dry cloth. Depending on usage, one may also apply a very little oil once a while, like twice a year, to both the outside and inside of the flute, rubbing it strongly with a cloth or rod until the oil is absorbed. Use some wood-oil or otherwise olive oil will also do.
Contact
Whenever you have any further question, please feel free to contact with us anytime and we will reply as soon as we can. Thank you for your message.