Anastasia Anufrieva

Traverso Lessons Nijmegen - Children and Adults welcome!

Hello! I'm Anastasia.  As a professional flute player, I've combined my passion for the flute and Baroque music, specialising in playing the traverso. I regularly perform with various early music ensembles. Are you curious about Baroque music and authentic playing techniques on historical instruments? I'd love to introduce you to the world of the Baroque flute, the traverso!

Trial Lesson

You are welcome at my cosy location in Nijmegen to get acquainted, discuss your goals and wishes, and of course, to play! If you've never played the traverso before, we'll give it a try. If you don't have an instrument yet, I can advise you on how and where to best acquire a good, affordable instrument.

Eh...What was a Traverso again?

The traverso is the wooden precursor to the modern transverse flute and has a warm, intimate sound that perfectly complements Baroque music. Do you want to discover Baroque music as it was originally intended? Then this beautiful instrument is for you!

Introduction to the Traverso

• How do you hold the traverso flute?
• How do you produce a beautiful tone without keys?
• What's different from a modern flute?

Enjoy simple Baroque pieces and duets, while developing a relaxed posture, breathing technique and embouchure. No experience with Baroque music is necessary, just curiosity will do!

Baroque Music for Modern Flute Players

Do you already play the modern flute and want to switch to traverso flute or combine both? Then I'll give you tips and tricks and personalised advice. This way, you'll develop into a versatile player with knowledge of both historical and modern playing practices.

What can you expect?

• Historical performance practice (ornamentation, phrasing, rhetoric)
• Various Baroque styles: French, German, and Italian
• Embouchure technique for flexibility and timbre
• Dynamics and expression without modern aids-
• Reading old notation and facsimiles (optional)

You will play original Baroque literature, and I will introduce you to various sources from the 17th and 18th centuries for inspiration!

Ensemble Playing

Do you play with a harpsichord, viola da gamba, or other Baroque instrument? Bring your ensemble and scores to the lessons! We will work on intonation, balance, and musical dialogue. I will help you make your voice sound convincing within the ensemble.

Buy or Rent an Instrument?

Don't have your own traverso yet? No problem - I have an instrument available for an initial introduction and am happy to advise you on choosing or renting an instrument that suits you.

About Me

I was born in Russia, in the region where the sun rises in the Far East. I began my professional music education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vladivostok. During my studies there, I gained extensive experience with professional orchestras. After graduating with honors, I moved to St. Petersburg, where I played chamber music with various ensembles and taught flute.

When I came to the Netherlands in 2006, I continued my studies at the Arnhem Conservatory with Peter Verduyn Lunel and then at the Utrecht Conservatory with Aldo Baerten. During my studies in the Netherlands, I took lessons, masterclasses, and courses with Rien de Reede, Patrick Gallois, Philippe Bernold, Davide Formisano, and Claude Lefebvre, among others.

In addition to my flute major, I also studied piccolo with Vincent Cortvrint and traverso with Wilbert Hazelzet and Jed Wentz. I have also taken courses in early music with Marcello Gatti, Rachel Brown, and Marc Hantaï, among others. I regularly play, on modern and baroque flute, the St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion by J.S. Bach, Die Schöpfung and The Seasons by J. Haydn, and the Messa da Requiem by G. Verdi, to name just a few major works. I perform regularly with various chamber music groups.