Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

even though its only cosmetic - if it gets bad enough, is there a way to have a flute re-silvered in places? There is, but in most circumstances it's not worth the cost for you to get a good plate job done. Custom replating is expensive, and the replating you get done by someone with a Caswell kit ...

Claiken wrote:I find i work best turning one on & getting the rhythm in my mind, internalizing it, then shutting it off. to play with it is too distracting.

And yet, IMO, it's important if you're to develop a solid sense of time.

There is no substitute for a metronome. That ukelele track certainly is not a substitute unless you recorded it using a metronome. I would suggest investing in one (they cost only a few dollars at most music stores), and getting accustomed to using it. They're a great tool, and should help you with ...

Plated keys actually have a harder alloy as the base metal than solid silver keys, which can make them much more durable. There is the risk of plating wearing off (on a high quality flute without any unusual amount of acidity in your biology, this normally takes years), but this is a cosmetic issue ...

Tone production and fatigue are not directly connected, but if you're tired enough that you cannot focus on your sound, or your muscles won't perform as you need them to, it could certainly contribute. Keep in mind that some recital artists travel halfway around the globe, getting 4 hours of sleep (...

but my thumbport, the way its supposed to be used, we dont hold the 'bottom' of the flute anymore, we use the thumbport more as a ledge, almost like holding onto the rods (but a little below). Which is exactly what I said. It changes where the forces are acting, but not what those forces are, or ho...

a thumb port probably throws any existing system way off... in a good way tho... lol Not necessarily. It changes the "diameter" of the tube, and thus where the forces are acting, but may or may not actually impact what those forces are, and how strong they are. The same basic support system is used...

Good points Steve. This is something we try to tell anyone who comes here looking to start playing. I don't know how many of them listen to us, but hopefully being able to read about your experiences will encourage them to get a teacher right off the bat. There's simply no substitute.

There are MANY, MANY different ideas about how the flute should be supported. Some opt for a three point system, such as the one you described, others like a 4 point system (where the right hand pinky is point #4), though this raises issues when the pinky must be lifted. Personally, I use my chin, a...

Frankly, I would NEVER consider buying such an expensive instrument sight unseen. While the seller says that it just needs a little cleaning up, what you actually receive may or may not match the description. Not to mention that for that amount of money, you're clearly looking at a handmade flute, a...

can moisture actually get through to the cork? Absolutely. The cork is what is responsible for sealing the top of the head, not that metal plate. Those plates almost never fit exactly right, in any case, so there's practically no way it could prevent moisture from reaching the cork. Assuming you're...

Hey Phineas (or anyone else that knows), is it possible to create a "Table of Contents" type of list with all the questions included so that people can find the topic they need info on, and click a hyperlink that would take them directly to that part of the FAQ, rather than making them scroll down a...

Here's the second half of the FAQ with my corrections. Once again, please feel free to point out any errors I missed. Section 4 Scifi(Myths and rumors) I hear gold plate will make me sound better. Is this true? Unfortunately, no. Gold plating involves too little gold, in places too unrelated to tone...

its not like, making me want to gag, its just more... not fresh smelling. yah know? No flute smells pine fresh (unless something unfortunate has happened to it). If the smell isn't overpowering, and doesn't make you suspect mold on the cork or some other potential health problem, I would clean the ...

Definitely an interesting question. I would not suggest loosening the fit of the headjoint so long as it is not overly difficult to put in place, as this will open up a leak, just as if one of the pads was not sealing. It may be that the Yamahas are simply not a good match for you and your concept o...