Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

I took a lesson recently with a fabulous teacher in the area, who also happens to be a good friend of mine. She has this lovely dog, very friendly, but as soon as I would start playing, he would howl. It was a little disconcerting, everyone's a critic! Ha. My teacher/friend just laughed and said tha...

I am sorry that the teacher you found didn't click for you. You might have to search and try out a few people before you find someone you can work well with. Many teachers will offer a trial lesson for free to see if you're a student-teacher match.

Perhaps applying some "mole skin" or felt (Dr. Scholl's makes some, it's cheap and can be replaced periodically if it gets dirty and it doesn't harm the instrument) where the flute rests near at the knuckle joint of the left hand would free up his thumb to move and not bear the weight of the instrum...

I just wanted to say I feel your pain about the embouchure inconsistencies and occasionally struggles. In the past year I've gone through some major embouchure transformations after finding a permanent teacher. (I am an adult amateur... I majored in music in college 15+ years ago, but had a bad expe...

You might want to sample a few respected teachers in your area. One of them might say something that makes it simply CLICK for you. In fact, the teacher I study with regularly here (I'm an adult amateur, although I do some paid gigs with professionals every now and then) advises me often to do a les...

An adult community group I'm involved with now runs a silent auction each year as part of one of its recurring events. The band could run the auction before a concert and during intermission (if there is one). Donations are secured from local businesses. The auction is so popular it actually brings ...

I'd like to add a post script to the story. A few months back, my teacher recommended that I investigate different headjoints. I play(ed) a Brannen silver flute with a Brannen modern cut head. I tried out a pile of headjoints, and settled on a Williams combined with the Brannen flute, and it was lik...

Thanks Zevang! I will check them out.

I know you said no food, but our band booster club ran a citrus sale each winter. It was very popular, and people would order oranges and/or grapefruits by the case, and we raised a lot of money that way. This might have a different food feel than a bake sale or candy bar sale that the other groups ...

I am sure that the answer to this question is "well of course!" But naturally, I'm looking for any additional specifics or pearls of wisdom that can be thrown out on this forum. I currently play on a Burkart handmade model with a Clarion cut headjoint. It has a lovely, rather bright sound. Funny eno...

Actually, practicing without your instrument can be just as effective as practicing with your instrument! Athletes do this frequently before an event, something called visualization. Just make sure you visualize yourself playing the pieces perfectly, and then when you pick up the horn, you will play...

Rhythm was one of the later things to develop for me, also. I had a strong ear as a youngster, and grew to rely on hearing pieces first and then imitating. That wasn't a bad thing over all, because years later, I consider my good ear a huge strength in learning to blend with chamber and orchestral e...

Dierdre, you asked about checking to see if the problem is mechanical. You could check to see if you have leads in the foot joint. This might sound a little awkward, but it's easier to actually do than to write out how to do it! 1. Wipe off the tenon (connecting part) of the foot joint so that it's ...

OK, it's been some weeks, and I wanted to give an update for anyone else who might be going through a similar exercise. The hard work DOES pay off. At my last orchestra rehearsal, our principal bassoon pulled me aside afterward and remarked about how big my sound was (and we've played together for s...

Wow, thank you all so much for the shots in the arm! I am keeping at it. The funny thing is that during my long tone work, my progress is very slow. I'd say I've got B, B-flat and A sounding rich. From there, it's a roll of the dice. *laugh* But later in my practice sessions, when I'm working on my ...