Flute-players..?

[Ash Armstrong]

For my birthday back in 2017 I treated myself to a flute, a decent student instrument made by Trevor James. Bought a 'Flute For Dummies' book, which is actually pretty good. It's been slow going however, and in July it'll be five years since I bought it.
I think one of the things holding me back, aside from myself as usual, is I didn't realise how loud a flute can be, and living in a flat I'm always conscious of other people living above and below me.
Any other wannabe flutists out there, or in here, who could suggest anything helpful to me in getting to grips with it much appreciated. I've no aspirations to play for or with anyone; it's purely a personal recreation thing.
I get a nice tone, a flow of notes, I've had no problem with my embouchure. It cost me nearly £400 so I want to do my best to make it worthwhile.

[Susanne]

I have a flute. And I have a mouth. The two don't work very well together, unfortunately. So I can't offer the suggestions you are seeking, but I may well also be interested in any responses.

(I had thought that I might progress a bit during the lockdowns, but that didn't turn out to be the case!)

[Ash Armstrong]

I have a flute. And I have a mouth. The two don't work very well together, unfortunately. So I can't offer the suggestions you are seeking, but I may well also be interested in any responses.

(I had thought that I might progress a bit during the lockdowns, but that didn't turn out to be the case!)

I completely relate to that Susanne.

[Gilly Goodness]

Once tried to learn saxophone. Could only play it out in the back paddocks. Did a decent The Saints Come Marching In. That's about all.

The cows were amused though.

Keep at it. Would be great to play along with records and maybe join a group to play at pubs etc.

Or arenas 😉

[Awaken]

I don't have or play the flute, but I have an harmonica (or harp, in american english). I practice a little every day to learn to play the blues. I use to follow a good harmonica player who posts a lot of video on YouTube: you can find him on Spotify. I have a Tombo Lee Oskar, the same Roger Daltrey of The Who uses to play. I plan to buy me another harmonica in another kay, maybe in A or G, this time I wish a Honher Blues Harp, which is the one Chris plays in AYAI (I guess). I like the way the harmonica disappeared in his big hands!

[Soundwaveseeker]

Tried messin' around with a flute and a trumpet, but couldn't get much out of them. Bass, drums and synths are more of what I can handle in an amateur yet creative way, those I can fake/borderline actually play when in 'the zone'. I was thinking of getting an 8-track porto-studio thingy to record my strange creations. But instruments you blow into I just can't make work for some reason.

I do like the sound of a flute - a beautiful and expressive instrument. Oboe as well.

[pianozach]

For my birthday back in 2017 I treated myself to a flute, a decent student instrument made by Trevor James. Bought a 'Flute For Dummies' book, which is actually pretty good. It's been slow going however, and in July it'll be five years since I bought it.
I think one of the things holding me back, aside from myself as usual, is I didn't realise how loud a flute can be, and living in a flat I'm always conscious of other people living above and below me.
Any other wannabe flutists out there, or in here, who could suggest anything helpful to me in getting to grips with it much appreciated. I've no aspirations to play for or with anyone; it's purely a personal recreation thing.
I get a nice tone, a flow of notes, I've had no problem with my embouchure. It cost me nearly £400 so I want to do my best to make it worthwhile.

Lessons with a flute teacher will actually go a long way. One-on-one interaction will get you results.

No I don't play the flute, but I've been a working musician for fifty years, working with singers, other musicians, conductors. Only a small percentage of singers/musicians can actually make decent headway all on their own (I've known a few that have), but most benefit greatly with some guidance from a qualified musician.

Any music store will be able to help out.

Lessons can be pricey, but if you have any friends that play and want to help you out for free, that is fine. It's gonna be way faster to have someone RIGHT THERE that can make suggestions, or simply demonstrate ("no, like this . . . ").

[Olorin]

I played alto sax in school band. In those days we thought nothing of swapping instruments (wet with the owner's saliva) to see if we could play something else. I totally did not have the embouchure for flute, or anything smaller than an alto sax. And I didn't have the wind for anything bigger than an alto sax. All of which was fortunate...my parents owned the sax and we didn't have to rent it, vs had I wanted to play something else.

[Gilly Goodness]

MORE SAX MEMORIES

Yes. Was forbidden to squawk the sax at home by mum and dad, at the time, so went to nearby farmland. Crows would gather around. Cows would bellow.

Sax belonged to my teacher. A Duntroon Army Academy officer. A squat, little Czech fellow. A soldier, but only because he was a full time musician. Fun to drive into the military base in Canberra, past guards, watch soldiers salute officers. After the lesson, we had pizza with his wife.

At the same time some college friends formed a band and we played one night at a charity gig. We played Roxy Music's Let' Stick Together. I played sax. I played 1 note "A". That's the way it starts. Honkin' 1 note.

A AA A AA AAAAA AAAAAA A AA



# givedbaranadvancecopy

[Susanne]

I wanted to get a clarinet, because I love the sound. The person selling the clarinet was also selling a flute. The flute looked a lot less complicated, so I bought that, instead.

[Drone Decipher]

Record yourself playing. Always practice with a tuner. Be as relaxed as you can when playing. Practice in the mirror.

It's hard to give specific advice without seeing or hearing you play or knowing what's in the book but:

Lessons with a flute teacher will actually go a long way. One-on-one interaction will get you results.

No I don't play the flute, but I've been a working musician for fifty years, working with singers, other musicians, conductors. Only a small percentage of singers/musicians can actually make decent headway all on their own (I've known a few that have), but most benefit greatly with some guidance from a qualified musician.

Any music store will be able to help out.

Lessons can be pricey, but if you have any friends that play and want to help you out for free, that is fine. It's gonna be way faster to have someone RIGHT THERE that can make suggestions, or simply demonstrate ("no, like this . . . ").

Definitely invest in at least one lesson. If you can "play the flute" half decently already, and you have a good ear, the instruction you get from that first lesson could propel you pretty far if you're keen.

I found out that Ian Anderson was a self-taught flutist until his daughter picked up the flute in a more formal setting and told him he was using wrong fingerings. Then he went on to take lessons and overhaul his flute playing and his flute tone absolutely flourished from the 90s on.