1 - 2 hrs a day. I started with the flute about 1
months ago. Still trying to add 2-3 new notes to my range per week (finally
getting into the 3rd register). 1. long note warm up starting with high notes
going down to low ones, include new notes 2. scales 3. double-tonguing 4.
practise certain trouble areas with fun pieces that have them in them (bought
some C fake books that have nice tunes) 5. practise from my son's band book 6.
scales 7. repeat practice on new notes 8. fun pieces for the nice sounds of it
I practice daily, but the amount of time can vary
between, 30mins and 2 hour intervals as I have a young baby (and older kids).
However as soon as I finish pactice I can't wait until my next chance to pick
up my flute again!! Whistler
Well, I practice everuday during my lunch period
and study halls ( 1 1/2 hours) and sometimes choir has a freeday so I will get
in 2 hours right there. If I have time I will go home and play for another hour,
but during audition times I put in a good 4 hours + a day, not including the 45
minutes I play in orchestra and the other 45 minutes I spend in band. When I
start I do some long tones, then chromatic scales. I do TG #1, then do double
tonguing. After that my mouth and fingers are nice and nimble and I begin
working on tech. scales/chromatic, then music. Its all very enjoyable
4 hours a day? You are one serious flute player.
You must be tough physically to withstand that kind of strain. Diminishing
returns supposedly hit around 2 hours so the question becomes are you doing your
body more harm than the practice helps. But every player is different. Every
body endures differently and every mind sustains more or less. Most likely you
could do yourself as much or more benefit from just listening or reading than
playing that 4th hour according to some things I have read. Some even say the
third hour is only worth about half an hour. But you seem to break up your time
during the day which should help. I am just not sure any young person should
dedicate that much of their free time to any one thing. Unless you are a college
flute performance major. It is questionable mentally, physically and
psycologically. Plus the old saying what you can't get done in an hour or two
won't get done in 4 either. Practicing the same mistake over and over makes you
worse and if you get it right you don't need to do it for 4 hours. You should
discuss your practice schedule with a quality teacher or read articles on the
subject which should convince you 2 hours is plenty and special times 3 for
short periods before a performance. One thing kids learn late in life, MORE is
not Better. Doctor perscribes one pill for a week to cure you doesn't mean you
take 4 and get better in two days. 2 quality hours of practice a day will make
you good so pound on your keys for 6 hours and become Galway in a month.
Doesn't work that way for most people. Just one mature persons view who is
concerned for the well being of our youth. When you become the next principle
flute for a large symphony post how wrong I was.
Hi Fluteluversmom, hope you and your daughter are
doing great and having fun playing. Been reading a few lists but not much time
to post. Nor much worthwhile to say. My daughter is very disappointed in how
band is going this year so the enthusiasm is down around here. Be careful what
you wish for, being the best player in the band is not always the most fun.
[quote] My daughter is very disappointed in how
band is going this year so the enthusiasm is down around here. Be careful what
you wish for, being the best player in the band is not always the most fun.
---------------- [/quote] WOW we have been dealing with the same thing here !! I
feel your pain...I picked my daughter up from school in tears last week. She
told me that if she didn't love playing the flute so much that she would quit
band. Luckily we have a great teacher to keep her motivated. Kim
Some
days you catch the bus and other days it runs over you.
" WOW we have been dealing with the same thing here
!! I feel your pain...I picked my daughter up from school in tears last week.
She told me that if she didn't love playing the flute so much that she would
quit band. Luckily we have a great teacher to keep her motivated." I could have
written that word for word. Maybe we have the same daughter! hehe. I guess it
must be an experience that happens to many talented players. Hope next year is
better.
Oh I DO NOT do 4 hours straight haha, I would
DIE...although I have when I had a big audition coming up. I do 45
minutes...then break ( during school ) then another 45 minutes then break, then
another 45...then I come home and do an hour or so. Not all is playing, so IS
reviewing my music and reading over it. Lately I have just been doing so much
because I am going to have to audition for college... I want to do Music Ed and
I need to prepare myself for it because I get soooo nervous at auditions
When I was playing guitar in various bands in
school it was average for my friends and I to play 6-8 hours a day, I think it
was because we loved playing so much. nothing wrong with 4 hours a day if its
pleasureable just dont have a embolisum doing it, Thats a stroke Penny. when
your parents start getting on your about practicing its time to put it down for
a while, or for ever if you chose, just dont let anyone make these decisions for
you youll end up very unhappy. I can remeber in high school when A very nasty
music teacher named "Peggy Mehl" from vestal new york ,shes divorsed and living
in canada now, cant imagine why, came into our class and was going absolutly
nutz because her son decided to give up the trumpet and play guitar for a while,
It was so nice to laugh at her. she was an elitist and hated me and my group and
he became one of us anyway toddles
"How long do you practice each day?" Well I got my
flute 3 days ago. Found this site. I've been practising for about three minutes
at a time (hee hee) maybe three times a day. Reckon I'll still progress anyway?
[:p]
[quote] ---------------- On 2/4/2004 2:59:07 AM
"How long do you practice each day?" Well I got my flute 3
days ago. Found this site. I've been practising for about three minutes at a
time (hee hee) maybe three times a day. Reckon I'll still progress anyway? [:p]
---------------- [/quote] Are you serious?
Yep. Was at the time. Teaching myself (I'm a
piano/keyboard/singing teacher) You know it's not the quantity of time, it's
the quality[;)] Once I know more than four notes I may even increase the time to
four or five minutes at a time[:praise:] [:devil:] Okay, my delivery might be a
bit cheeky, but it's still true. How long have you been playing the flute, and
how long do you practice, pianogirl1rules?
A word about practice time.. It's easy to measure
yourself by the amount of time you practice, but I'm not sure I really like the
concept. When I go to practice, I have musical goals that I want to work--things
that I want to improve in my playing right now! If I change my playing
positively, that is a good practice session, regardless of how long it lasted.
It is very possible to practice many hours a day without improving at all if you
play without critically listening to the sound you produce. That said,
obviously, you cannot become good without lots of practice, and professionals
will tell you how they practiced for incredible amounts of time while in school.
I do not think this is because they forced themselves to practice all day, but
because of their desire to improve and play the flute as well as possible
leading them to practice. I recall in middle school that we had a "practice
card" which required us to practice 3.75 hours a week for and "A", and that was
a lot of practice for me at the time. I'm now in college and typically practice
10 to 20 hours a week plus 10 hours of ensmemble rehearsal, but I really only
practice when I want to. It's really the goal that makes practice productive.
The next time you practice, pick something that you want to improve in your
playing and work changing the way you do it, without worrying about how long
you've spent in practice. -Bradford P.S. The word "flautist" is used
prevalently in Britain, but many Americans prefer the word "flutist." Both are
correct, so get used to seeing and hearing both.
