No online lesson will ever replace the experience of learning one-to-one in a traditional teacher-student environment. But as an introduction to the flute, or as a ‘top-up’ for those lapsed flautists among us (the daily practice sheets and studies are particularly useful), First Flute is a noble effort. Sir James comes across as down-to-earth, friendly and, above all, ego-free – quite an achievement for a musician who learned with the great Marcel Moyse and played for six years in the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan. ‘So many flute players, of all levels, have reached to me over the years,’ he says. ‘I am thrilled that I can share this advice in a systematic way.’