Hello from a new flute player

danieltaller · Post by **danieltaller** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 10:15 pm

Hello all, I just wanted to say hi. I have
begun learning to play the flute - teaching myself mostly for now, but I have
used some video and online resources, and I am seeking some learning help
locally from friends - I will see what''s available. It is a bit intimidating
to learn all the various elements - the fingerings, reading notes, etc. - but I
really enjoy the sound of the flute, and I love its versatility in music. So
much of my favorite music utilize the flute, and that was a very big impetus for
me to take it up. I bought a Bestler from someone on e-bay. Brand new, it cost
me about $120. I felt this was an appropriate price range for a complete
beginner to try to learn the basics. Anyhoo... hello to all, and I will be
seeing you around in these forums. PS - I wanted to post a nice chart I found
online for beginners. It has a nice layout of the fingerings, and a guide to the
three octaves and the finger arrangements for each note. However, I cannot seem
to be able to upload the file - it is in PDF format. Not too large. If anyone
would like a copy, just shoot me an e-mail and I will send it right over.
Toodles.

Haynes28600 · Post by **Haynes28600** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 1:40 pm

Good for you! It's not the easiest to
learn on your own. It's really all about producing the sound. Work a lot with
the head joint and get a really clear sound first. That's the best advice I can
give you. That's the way I start all of my students. Also, try to practice the
fingerings without the head joint. It's too much for your brain to try to focus
on producing the sound AND getting your fingers in the right place. You can say
the fingerings out loud while your watching TV! You can say to yourself, "Bb - 1
and 3" or "F - 1,2,3 and 4". Notice I don't say thumb or pinky? Just remember -
pinky stays down for everything except D and thumb stays down for everything
except C. That will get you through all the basics. Hope it helps - don't mean
to preach, it's the teacher in me! Good luck - it's a fantastic instrument,
Kasey

carolann · Post by **carolann** » Sat Jun 28, 2003 8:10 am

Hello Daniel, I will be starting flute
lessons soon. I am very excited. I would be happy to receive your guide on
fingerings. Thanks Carolann Have fun! [:)]

danieltaller · Post by **danieltaller** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 9:26 pm

Ok, post an e-mail address where I can
send it to you.

danieltaller · Post by **danieltaller** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 9:30 pm

Thanks for the advice. Also wondering if
you can give me any tips on these two things: First, I'm having enormous
difficulty generating the sounds for below G in the low octave. I keep getting
the sound for the middle octave, except if I open my embochure really wide and
practically breathe out heavily. Not very efficient way of doing it, I'm sure,
because all I can get is about 1/2 measure and I'm out of air. Second, in the
middle octave, I KEEP MESSING UP F! I don't know why, but I can do note after
note, increasing each one, and when I hit F, all of a sudden, I'm making kazoo
sounds! Any tips would be helpful. Thanks!

danieltaller · Post by **danieltaller** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 9:41 pm

Aw, heck - I decided to just post it on
my website already. You can get it here:
http://www.tallerworks.com/personal/flu ... 0guide.pdf

GerryG · Post by **GerryG** » Wed Jul 02, 2003 1:24 pm

Daniel, I've been teaching myself how to
play flute and piccolo after being away from my trumpet playing for about 35
years (I'm 54). One thing I've learned from everyone at tis site is to
practice long tones. I'm impatient and am always looking for immediate results.
As I started to practice long tones and focus on the quality of the sound I
found it much easier to get to all the notes in all 3 registers. It just takes
time. Keep working on the G and eventually those last few notes F, E, D and C
will come. Best of luck to you. Gerry

waterkicker · Post by **waterkicker** » Fri Jul 04, 2003 12:17 pm

Hey, What you are trying in the low
register is good! It does take a whole lot of air. What you can do and what I
tell my students is to choose a note that you are comfortable with and practice
holding it out as long as you can. after much work, low notes wont be such a
chore. Experiment with your embrouchoure (lips and face position) and see what
happens. Low notes do take a more open positioning, but maybe not quite as open
as you've been talking about. Keep practicing! Sounds like you're doing pretty
well.

waterkicker · Post by **waterkicker** » Fri Jul 04, 2003 12:22 pm

OOps I forgot to talk about your
difficulty with F. F and higher can sound rather odd because they are
essentially harmonics. You use the same fingering on F in the octave below. In
order to fine-tune your sound and get rid of the "kazoo" noise, tighten your
lips slightly and blow a little bit more air. this should work. Good luck.

kuka · Post by **kuka** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:57 am

HELLO DANIEL As I'm also a beginner,
I'll be very thankful getting thefingering chart. My e.mail is:
prengler@zahav.net.il thanks a lot

Whistler · Post by **Whistler** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 6:31 am

Hi, I am also new to learning the flute,
it is something I always wanted to do as a child (but wasn't allowed) and now
that my daughter is learning I have taken the opportunity to take private
lessons. However I have been asked to practice scales and I have only just
learnt B,A,G,D,E,F,G#,Bb and high D,E,F - therefore I am finding this difficult
- has anyone got any good techniques that may help me?