About Robert Dick

Robert Dick is a flutist, composer, improviser, author, teacher, and inventor. With equally deep roots in classical music old and new and in free improvisation and new jazz, he has established himself as an artist who has redefined the instrument. He has dispensed with preconceptions about what a flutist should sound like and what a flutist should play. More than any flutist ever, he has reshaped the musical possibilities of the instrument, creating many thousands of new sonorities. In 2014, the National Flute Association honored Robert Dick with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early on, Robert decided that he wanted to share his discoveries with his fellow artists. This was his motivation for writing THE OTHER FLUTE, which quickly established itself worldwide as the resource for composers and performers to learn about the sonic capabilities of the flute.

Because THE OTHER FLUTE was primarily written from the composer’s viewpoint, Robert went on to create an entire pedagogy for flutists. Beginning with Tone Development through Extended Techniques, he continued with Circular Breathing for the Flutist and the two volumes of FLYING LESSONS: Six Contemporary Concert Etudes.

In addition to the books and printed scores for his etudes and pieces, Robert has provided audio instruction for his etudes and compositions. On these CDs and DVDs, he plays the music, teaches it both interpretively and technically, and demonstrates the sound of every type of mistake and how to correct them. Robert has also made a series of instructional videos that are available for the clicking on YouTube.  These include three videos on his revolutionary breakthrough “throat tuning”; two foundational videos on multiphonic playing, and an explanation of breathing that has been hailed a “the best anywhere”.

Going beyond the aesthetics of the classical approach to paying compositions, Robert has devoted a major part of his musical life to spontaneous creation, improvising as a soloist and in duos and other intimate ensembles.  He has performed and recorded with a vast and unique array of musical personalities, including Steve Lacy, John Zorn, Thomas Buckner, Roscoe Mitchell, Ursel Schlicht, Leroy Jenkins, Adam Caine, Tiffany Chang, Nicola Hein, Dan Blake, Miya Masaoka, Joëlle Leandre, Mark, Dresser, Gerry Hemingway, Ulrike Lentz, Dave Soldier, Christy Doran and many others.

Robert maintains an active private teaching studio, which includes working with flutists the world over using online platforms. 

For the past quarter century, Dick has been contributing to the evolution of the flute itself. He is inventor of the Glissando Headjoint®, which telescopes to do for the flute what the “whammy bar” does for the electric guitar. He has also made several significant additions to the Kingma System flute.

Robert Dick believes in unlimited potential for growth. Personal growth, artistic growth, growth and change for the flute. He intends to keep learning and improving for all of his life and does not feel that there will be a moment to say “I’ve arrived, it’s time to rest.” And he will keep doing what he loves — creating and sharing through performance and teaching.