Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

The older, thicker-walled, legacy flutes tend to be darker -- strong and rich in the first register. Modern flutes have thinner walls and a thinner lower register sound. They excel in the middle registers. I have a Boston Legacy in mint condition, and I love it. I also had an old, solid silver Gemei...

How does one indicate in a score that the first note of a slur is strongly tongued?
Not so much louder, but with a strong, audible, t' sounding articulation.

You can play a low Bb on the flute (assuming that you have a B-footjoint). Finger a low B, and bend the note with your embouchure. On most flutes (orchestral or indigenous), you can bend a note down a half-tone. In fact, on the pan flute, all accidentals are obtained by bending a note down a half-to...

I did not realize that playing F#6 was difficult until I read this message thread. What I figured out is that playing F#6 is not difficult if you play it perfectly . It simply does not have a lot of latitude or forgiveness. So I developed an exercise that might help you get a clear high F#. I don't ...

I just found this thread, after posting a question on how one can play the tremolos in Flight of the Bumblebee . https://fluteland.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=28069 I have heard flute performances, where the tremolos sound just like a buzzing insect. This thread alludes to two techniques, but does...

What is the best way to play the flutter tones (tremolos) in Flight of the Bumblebee ? I have heard performances where the tremolos sound just like a buzzing insect. I do not think that the gargle tone sounds very good. Breath tremolos are too slow, with a slow attack & decay (non-staccato). I canno...

I once auditioned a couple of Di Zhoa flutes -- a 400 and a 600. They arrived by mail, in impeccable condition. They played beautifully right out of the box! I did not buy them, but that was a matter of personal taste. IMO, they have the best action in the world. Low (minimum travel) and quick. To m...

There is a flute fingering Android app that I use, which I find indispensable. The app shows 18 different flute fingerings for F#6, plus trill fingerings. For each respective fingering, it tells you whether that fingering is loud or soft, or slightly sharp or slightly flat. Search the Play Store for...

I tend to develop my best blues flute sounds by listening not to flute recordings, but rather to slow tenor sax recordings, and duplicating the sax sounds as best as I can on the flute. Lots of note bending, and very sensitive dynamics. I use embouchure and rolling the flute rather than rolling the ...

I do not like short cleaning rods. I want to be able to clean my flute during a gig or concert without breaking it down. So I like a full-length flute cleaner. One person in this thread mentioned the "Take-Down Flute Flag", which is $40 and getting harder to find. I have one and, unscrewed, it fits ...

Is there any difference in sound between the 471H silver lip plate and the 471HIIAL gold plated lip plate?

My flute coach uses two Foster extensions (stacked) on her Brannen-Cooper flute (with "C" footjoint). I can attest that there is a significant increase in volume and projection when she uses the extensions. She uses the extensions when she needs to stand out or project, such as when leading an ensem...