Johnny Hiland Band

The flute is a musical instrument under the woodwind family. Music is heard from it when air is blown into its opening. It is one of the oldest instruments known and the earliest flute was discovered from a region in Germany.

The flute is one of the easiest musical instruments to learn. It is the kind of instrument that can make both listener and player feel only peaceful vibes. To learn flute, the first and the most basic thing you have to know is the proper way of producing a sound. As we all know, it is through blowing that the flute creates a sound, but normally, it takes time before a beginner can learn the flute.

There are proper techniques in blowing that they must learn in order to make it sound. Blow into the embouchure hole (the hole where in the air passes through) through a pursed lip until a sound is produced. Maintain the blow until you slowly run out of breath.

Regularly do this breathing exercise to develop the muscles that will sustain you on those long notes that you have to sing. Proper posturing is needed to establish balance and good circulation of air in and out of the body. Finger placement is also important in playing the flute because each finger of both hands will be utilized to produce desired tones. Hold the flute with the pads of your fingers creating a letter “C” with the thumb supporting it from below. With the pads of your fingers doing the work, you can achieve faster change of movements for those fast tempo pieces. You may feel strained and sore at first but it will quickly pass as you get used to playing. Maintain a relaxed pose and just hold the flute lightly.

A fingering chart is a diagram to guide the flutist the proper positioning of their fingers on the flute to create variation on the tones. In this chart, there are black and white circles which represent the flute holes. On reading the chart, the black circles are the holes to be covered while the white ones are the ones that are to be left open. After studying the finger placement based on the fingering chart, you should be familiarized with the musical notes. There are just a few notes that a flutist needs to memorize. These are the whole note, half note, quarter note, eight notes and sixteenth note. When basic techniques have been mastered, you can progress from the basic notes to more complicated ones but only through constant practice. Learn more advanced skills and techniques through reading books about flutes, watching videos, online tutorials or consulting an expert who could assist you in developing your skills. When you are confident enough with your playing, then you can try to participate in competitions to gauge your talent against other performers.

Learning the flute seems fun and easy, but it takes a lot of effort to become a great flutist. Practice and dedication are keys to achieve mastery in this field of music. For the flutist, the flute is an output of his emotions and the medium to communicate his thoughts. For the listeners, the flute brings a tranquil experience to soothe their tensions and allows them to get back to serenity.

There is nothing wrong with taking adult flute lessons. It is a universal belief that adults find it hard to learn new things especially when it comes to learning music. However, not all late bloomers would agree. Adult flute lessons can be a rewarding experience for people who haven’t been endowed with enough opportunities to discover or hone their musical talents during their childhood years.

You will find that there are other misconceptions about learning flute as an adult aside from this. Take heed of these myths which can prevent you from getting the most out of your adult flute lessons.

It is now been proven that learning a new musical talent is not dependent on the age of the person. The reason why many people associate musical talent with childhood training is because many musicians have been trained early. Childhood training isn’t necessarily the biggest factor in learning music, but those who have been trained in their early years would definitely have an advantage.

Why do some adults quit their adult flute lessons? Aiming too high at the first instance is one reason. You are likely to get disappointed if you think that you’ll see notable improvements every time you finish one flute class. There would be days in which you’ll feel that no significant improvements have been made. However, this is just a normal part of music education. Other factors like health and attitude also reflect on the the musical performance. So just give your music education enough time to work.

Hard work and dedication are truly commendable but if you give yourself too much pressure you will likely just burn out. It is not advisable for beginners to follow the learning pace of professional musicians. Going slow is sometimes the right way to learn. If you set too high an expectation for yourself, you leave yourself open to a lot of disappointments. It is better to enjoy the process of learning rather than set unreasonable objectives. Be patient and follow the normal pace of adult flute lessons, otherwise, you might be tempted to quit early.

Working on your flute 24/7 is not something you should plan on. It is perfectly acceptable to take rests from music class so that your brain will be more able to process what you have been learning. Plus, being rested makes the brain take in more facts easily.

On the other hand, it doesn’t mean that practicing more is bad. Just do not overdo it. The important thing is that you make realistic goals in the development of your musical talent. You can play longer hours, but choose shorter pieces so you wouldn’t be exhausted easily. Another way to ease the pressure from adult flute lessons is to measure them based on the number of pieces you practice rather than the actual time you spend.

It is hard to practice flute if you are afraid of how the people around you would react upon hearing you play. This attitude is counter productive and should not be allowed to continue. Do your best and look at the feedback objectively. Furthermore, aiming for perfection could ironically lead to failure if you lose sight of the essence of art. Music after all is for everyone and not just for the naturally gifted.

Is it possible to learn flute by oneself? There are a few flutists who were able to achieve excellence without formal training. However, getting help from flute teachers is not a bad idea, especially if you are just starting. Although self-learning can save you time and money, going to classes to learn flute can provide both professional guidance and motivation.

Beginners will first have to learn how to blow into the flute and where to position the fingers. Blowing into the flute’s mouth hole creates a vibration, which in turn produces sound. The intensity of the vibration is determined by the length of the column it travels in the flute. To produce the desired tones, certain key holes have to be covered by the fingers.

Working With the Mouth Hole and Finger Keys

Aside from the blow hole, the flute has a set of key holes along its main body. If you blow into the flute with these holes uncovered, the flute will produce its highest tone. If all the key holes are covered, however, what will come out will only be low tones.

Proper blowing on the flute is achieved when you place the lower lip lightly on the edge of the mouth hole. However, when using a thick-walled flute, your lips should be pressed harder against the head joint. Blowing hard is not necessary; the desired tone is easier to achieve when you blow gently across the mouth hole.

Make sure that the mouth hole faces upward and your head is held straight up as you blow. Avoid curling your lip or pulling them up when you are blowing. Your lower lip is placed more or less one-fourth of the way over the mouth hole.

If you hear no sound coming from the flute, then you can try pulling your lips back. Change the angle at which your breath enters the hole. You may also change the air pressure and the length at which your lower lip extends over the mouth hole.

People with larger lips may have to exert more effort to learn flute. A sizable protrusion on the upper lip can block the passage of sufficient air into the hole, splitting the breath to the left and right. The answer to this is to pull the top lip back. If the desired tone is not yet achieved despite forming the right flute embouchere, another instrument may be considered like oboe, clarinet or saxophone. This, however, should not pose a problem to the ordinary flute learner. You only find it in about one of 300 flute students.

Finger Positioning

People with larger lips may have to exert more effort to learn flute. The fingering system establishes the position each finger should be on to produce a particular note. Flutists also follow a standard finger positioning. The left hand normally holds the front of the instrument near the end. As for the left hand, the index finger should be on the second key. Place the middle finger on the fourth key and the ring finger on the fifth.

The pinky finger should be assigned to the longer key sticking out from the instrument, while the thumb is placed on the key on the side. You will place the index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand on the three keys near the end of the flute. The right pinky finger you will place on the key at the top of the foot joint. The right thumb will be at the under belly of the flute.

Are you a music enthusiast who wants to learn an instrument but don’t know how and where to begin? If you feel like playing the flute, there are a number of flute music schools in the country that can grant what you’re looking for.

To begin with, it is essential to learn the fundamental steps when getting hold of the flute. And as you pursue learning, you may enroll in a more advanced class to help you master the craft of flute-playing. The process is not at all easy and requires a lot of time and hard work. Always bear in mind that you need to strive for excellence and perfection every time you study. Maintain focus and have lots of dedication, passion and patience and you will eventually succeed.

Several prominent musical institutions are all over the country dedicated in teaching the flute. Because there are a great number of schools to choose from, it is important to carefully pick one which corresponds to your musical needs and wants.

You may start out with a sizeable talent in playing the flute but you should be careful about choosing your flute music school so that your innate talent will grow in the right direction. Deciding on which school to enroll in should be a serious and cautious process.

When determining the right flute music school, there are some factors you need to consider. The following are some of the most important tips when selecting for the finest musical institution:

1. Pick the most excellent flute school. To choose for the finest school there is, you need to ask musically-inclined individuals about the standards and reputation of prominent schools. You can also visit the websites of the music schools you are considering to see what schemes they offer students. Search out forums and discussion boards to get a feel about which schools made a good impact and which ones are to be avoided. Consider too to what your musician friends have to say and recommend.

2. Learn about the instructor. It is important to know the background of your instructor. Try to find out if the music coaches are equipped with the right qualifications and skills to help you grow your own talents. Go over their pertinent credentials and find out if they are licensed to become a flute teacher. Above all, make sure that you establish a good working relationship with your music coach to better foster unity and friendship between you.

3. Check out extensively their equipment and facilities. You can drop by these schools and observe their teaching environment to see if they are conducive to learning.

4. Know the fees and charges. We often associate excellent education with astronomical tuition costs but if you search hard enough, you might find a school that offer quality education at affordable prices. So be diligent in your search for an affordable quality school.

Given the above tips and guidelines, you can now easily choose the most appropriate school for you. Make sure that this school would augment your talent and support you in mastering the technique which will make you a good and multitalented individual.

If you are serious about learning how to play the flute, then it becomes essential to find the perfect teacher who will instruct you in all the important aspects. To find a flute teacher in Singapore is a bit daunting. But now it is very easy to find a perfect flute teacher in Singapore. All that is required of you is to heed the tips outlined below.

• You first need to develop an abstract idea about the teacher you aspire for. You have to list down a reasonable set of qualifications that you require your flute instructor to possess. Sometimes, it can be very adventurous to look, research and to choose a new teacher. This can be done by seeking the names of the flute teachers and selecting the candidates from your colleagues, your musical neighbors or from your relatives. Other ways could be by browsing the internet or the yellow pages. You could also inquire in music stores for they sometimes offer tutorial services.

• if your aim is just to learn the flute exclusively, then you should look for a teacher specializing in flute. There are those teachers that have various numerous specialties for e.g. all types of woodwind instruments. But they are often suitable for the students who want to learn other instruments also.

• For selecting the appropriate teacher, it is often considered necessary for the students also that they must identify their goals properly. This means they should know what is their aim and why do they want to learn. The main reasons can be to get a promotion or a higher chair; to win competitions; for some kind of audition prep; or just for the sheer enjoyment.

• Next important step is to determine the commitment level and your seriousness for the practicing. You should try to devote as much as time you can give to your practice sessions. Lots of practice are always needed for learning any musical instrument that is new to you.

• Having laid the foundation of your goals and ambition, you will now have to know your level of proficiency. The qualifications of the instructor that you choose will also be dictated by your level of learning – whether you are an upper beginner, advanced or an intermediate learner.

A student who thrives in structured and high learning environment can do better with a perfect flute teacher in Singapore. This is because the teachers develop a lesson plan for the whole class and give the same practical assignments to everyone. A flute teacher plays a very important role in sparking a passion for the instrument like flute among students by catering all their instructions around the interests of their musical students. Teachers impart new learning styles to their students.

Many flute teachers advocate the teaching of flute using the Suzuki method of learning. The Suzuki method of learning will rely more on the students’ hearing abilities to learn a piece of music. It is not necessary to read and to play by the musical notation at the beginning stages.

• Before choosing a flute teacher in Singapore, conducting a performance survey from among the students currently studying under a candidate teacher will be a great help in determining the suitability and competence of that teacher.

• Next, it is important that you know whether the teacher encourages and put their students for the competitions.

These days, the popular trend is to learn as many instruments as you can, with the flute chiefly among them. Today parents are also encouraging their children to learn flute in Singapore and to take part in the competitions worldwide. Before buying a new flute for your child, make the arrangements first to hire the best flute instructor so that you can give your child the best flute lessons.

The easiest way to impart your child flute lessons is by the help of a flute teacher. Before selecting a best flute teacher in Singapore you should carry out proper survey and consult all the references. There should be no compromise while selecting the flute instructor. You should only accept an instructor with enough experience as well as possessing exceptional education.

It is necessary to provide the complete instruction set to the child before he attempts to assemble or play the instrument. They should know how to reach the keys without any strain in their neck and hands.

A flute with a curved head joint is also recommended by most teachers to beginners. Many times it has been observed that the smaller children find it hard to make the switch to the straight head joint quickly enough. But it becomes easy as the child grows more and more in terms of the stature and he musical ability. A flute novice should always be conscious of the right posture when playing the instrument. This is something that the flute instructor should be teaching them.

A C flute is considered as a best-known flute for the beginners. There are many other flutes like brass flute and an alto flute that are included in the family of the flutes. At the start, the children are given only the C flute for them to use to practice the notes and acquire some experience. Once the child becomes adept at it, he then will be made to practice on the more advanced flutes mentioned above.

Below are  some useful tips that parents need to follow before allowing their children to play the flute:

• First of all, you must buy the beginner’s flute book if you are not able to select the instructor for your child. One very helpful book will be the “First Division Band Method” written by Fred Weber. Besides this, parents can also give their children books that teach about the fingering techniques and act as a fingering guide. You can also search for various books on the scales.

• After getting the book, the children should be encouraged to practice and to make noises from their mouth piece. This method is also used to blow across the holes that are present in the flute. Pursing the lips loosely helps to make a low tone and pursing them tight and then blowing them sharply makes a kind of a higher tone.

• The fingering charts that are provided in various books can be used by the children to practice the scales.

After having practiced without the flute, the children should now be assisted with practicing their first song, this time using the flute.

Begin by standing in front of a mirror to check if you are holding the flute properly. Take the flute by the head joint, then holding it at an angle from your body, put your lips on the embouchure’s broader end. Make sure you cover the opening at the head joint of the flute and start to blow into the hole. You have achieved what you wanted if only you get a low airy sound

Assess the total length of the flute, as it will help you to line up the keys in a proper way. Proper assessment should be from the top of the head joint to the very base of the foot. The rod that moves downward till the bottom of the foot joint should be placed in a straight line with the center of the keys that are present on the body. As the foot joint necessitates the pinky finger to be used it doesn’t have a requirement for the keys to be in line with the keys of the body of the flute.

The left thumb will have to be placed on the key that bears a shape of a triangle and is situated on the back of the flute. The index finger of the left hand should go to the small key that can be found at the front. Leave the next key and depress the following keys with your second and third fingers on them. Finally, the pinky finger had to take care of the lever that is exterior to the whole body of the flute.

Make use of your right thumb to hold the flute firmly in place and in support of the fingers that will be busy on the keys on the topside of the instrument. Normally, the right pinky is placed on the key that looks like a half circle just right at the bottom of the body of the flute. To begin with, these things will be quite tough and uncomfortable to follow. Try relaxing your throat, mouth and fingers, to produce smooth and rich sounding notes, and eliminate the tension, stress and whatever pressure that is within you.

Use your fingers namely the left hand and right hand thumb, left hand index finger and the right hand index finger to depress the respective keys and place the flute near your mouth and start to blow to compose your desirable sound outputs.

After knowing the exact rate of air that will help you formulate the sound note, one would basically find it to be a low- B flat, which is third line on the treble staff, or a high B-flat that is present at a place above the treble staff. Spend more days practicing the low B-flat thoroughly to get more acquianted with its workings, sounds and combinations.

Start with the original B-flat and progress gradually to the advanced flute stages but make sure that you use the fingering chart in a proper guidebook. Pay attention to each and every note, take care so that the output is identical to that of the books, and once if you are confident about your flute playing skills, try playing a high original –B flat and repeat this until you achieve perfection.

By this time, you should have assimilated all the basic components of the instruments and have a general idea of how to play it correctly. Irrespective of the mode of your learning be it through lesson books or through a formal flute instructor in Singapore you may learn the necessary skills that help you play flute with ease. Normally people choose proficient flute teachers to teach them seeing that under those professionals the beginner can learn what are all the basic Don’ts and the obligatory Do’s, learning which you can have fun on your own and enjoy!