Where to start teaching a beginner?

[Shelby]

Hi All!
I am in a bit of a quandary right now.... I'm currently a music major at university, been playing flute for about 14 years and also play alto flute. One of my professors just emailed me that her 5-6 year old daughter wants to play the flute and she wants to hire me to teach her daughter if I am willing. I am very excited about somebody else wanting to learn to play the flute and I would love to teach, but I don't remember much about how I got started! So I am hoping you all can help me.

1) My professor needs to know what instrument to buy. There is only one music shop in the area of my university, so she will probably end up getting one online. I started with a Gemeinhardt, which I now know is not a very good instrument. So what do you recommend for a beginner?

2) I remember starting out using the Standard of Excellence books for learning to read notes and memorizing fingerings. Is this okay to use or are there better books out there?

3) How long do you recommend lessons should last for a beginner so young? I want them to not be too long so the little girl doesn't get bored, but I also want to make sure I have enough time to give her enough to work on that first week.

4) What do you recommend doing on the very FIRST lesson? I do remember that I started by blowing over the mouth of an empty soda bottle while frowning, then applying the same idea to the head joint by itself. Then, learning to put the flute together without squishing the keys and how to hold it with my hands in a C shape. Is that a good way to start?

Thanks so much in advance!

[Grasshopper]

Hello there,

I've decided to PM you instead because I don't enjoy the idea of giving away something so personal to the public. My apologies.

[Shelby]

I just read your PM. Thank you so much!

[tcarlisle]

I would take a step back and start by making sure that the 5-6 year old has a left arm long enough to fit a standard flute, because the answer is probably not. In that case, a curved headjoint will be needed and that really limits the possible makes/models to buy. Take caution so as not to lead your teacher into spending more than is required as a starter flute for such a young age. Make sure the teacher/parent knows that the first flute will get beaten up, and it is not logical to buy anything other than a low end instrument which, if the child takes to playing, will need replaced in a couple years. As much as we might want it, the child may not "take" to music or the flute. If the flute is not properly sized, it is almost certain to lose the child's attention, because they can't physically do it.

[Marvout]

Just how evil would it be to start the child on a fife? Then they can transfer to a real flute once their arms are long enough in a few years. Realistically, wouldn't all elementary/beginner work a youngster like that would achieve in the first years be doable on the lesser instrument. Not sure just how blasphemous it is to use the word 'fife' on a flute board.

Marvin

[fluteguy18]

It's just fine. A lot of good teachers do it for very young students.

[wall flood]

Piano lessons instead......

[theflutepractice]

I would absolutely agree with most of these comments. The size of the child in relation to the flute is very important. I started some children off on fifes as well (mostly for financial reasons). They are very beneficial for learning the basics but they do have limitation depending on the quality of the instrument. The curved head joints are great if the child can otherwise hold the instrument comfortably with their hands. Apparently they even have head joints now that curve down instead of parallel to the floor. Anyone know anything about these?

[Gandalfe]

Love the idea of starting a youngster on a fife. With the piano, all musicians should spend some time on the piano. So helpful in so many ways.

[Fotofavoloso]

I realize that this is an old thread.....but I would not start a child as young as 5 or 6 on a flute or a fife.....but on a recorder. Get them used to the concept of controlled tone production and fingering. Tone production on a flute is the hardest part of staying with it and maintaining interest. You can get the child used to reading and playing simple tunes on the recorder.

Just my 2 cents...........

Ciao,
Mark