What is the best way to start the flute?
Should I learn something like the recorder first?
And I have seen multiple categories of flutes and I am not exactly sure where to begin.
Is there a type of flute I should start with?
I looked at some Western concert flutes today and I will be honest, I do not think I want to spend $500 to $1000 or more to find out if I like the flute. However I may be able to get lessons from a flautist from a local symphony
Where to start
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
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leafblower
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:13 pm
Re: Where to start
Hi,
I played the recorder for a few years before playing a flute. I've been playing the flute for around 5 months now. Some things feel similar (phrasing/fingering), but they are still very different. I couldn't even make a good sound within the first hour. Recorder doesn't really require intricate breathing and embouchure (how you form your lips), but those two are really important when playing the flute. Even if I played the recorder for quite some time, I went really out of breath in the first few months because my embouchure and breathing were just bad.
As for beginner flutes I'm not sure. I usually see stuff like Armstrongs recommended; I forgot other typical brands. Don't get really cheap flutes especially from unpopular brands. For brand new flutes, I'd try to get stuff that's at least $300.
If you buy used, make sure it is actually in good working condition. It's best to have a flautist to test it for you. You could buy a good flute for cheap but you might have to spend a lot just to get it back in shape again.
Safest bet: borrow/rent a flute.
I played the recorder for a few years before playing a flute. I've been playing the flute for around 5 months now. Some things feel similar (phrasing/fingering), but they are still very different. I couldn't even make a good sound within the first hour. Recorder doesn't really require intricate breathing and embouchure (how you form your lips), but those two are really important when playing the flute. Even if I played the recorder for quite some time, I went really out of breath in the first few months because my embouchure and breathing were just bad.
As for beginner flutes I'm not sure. I usually see stuff like Armstrongs recommended; I forgot other typical brands. Don't get really cheap flutes especially from unpopular brands. For brand new flutes, I'd try to get stuff that's at least $300.
If you buy used, make sure it is actually in good working condition. It's best to have a flautist to test it for you. You could buy a good flute for cheap but you might have to spend a lot just to get it back in shape again.
Safest bet: borrow/rent a flute.
Re: Where to start
1. Get a good playable flute.WalterJ wrote:What is the best way to start the flute?
Should I learn something like the recorder first?
And I have seen multiple categories of flutes and I am not exactly sure where to begin.
Is there a type of flute I should start with?
I looked at some Western concert flutes today and I will be honest, I do not think I want to spend $500 to $1000 or more to find out if I like the flute. However I may be able to get lessons from a flautist from a local symphony
2. Take a couple of lessons to get you started.
If you cannot take lessons, find someone who can help you get started. I am 60% self taught. However the 40% that I learned from a good flute teacher was priceless!
Phineas
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ShadowPlay
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:59 pm
Re: Where to start
Speaking as someone who's just started a month or so ago, I can only say how what I've done has worked for me.
I picked up a used but refurbished (new pads, tuned etc) Yamaha student flute (YFL-211) for three hundred. Nothing fancy, but a tried/trusted brand and model that I know is working the way it's supposed to. I've found that wondering whether a given problem is you, your gear or a combination can slow down progress substantially and make a skill/hobby less enjoyable. If you pick up a decent used student flute and don't like it, you can probably sell it for what you paid. If you cheap out, you'll have a harder time selling it and will be less confident if you do keep at it.
As for lessons, I picked it up reasonably intuitively with a little reading, but I'd recommend at least getting a lesson a week for the first six weeks or so at a minimum. That's when you're most likely to start bad habits and have trouble with basics like breathing, posture, embouchure and holding the flute correctly, so it's a time when you're going to get a lot of value-for-money. Stuff like fingering, reading music and improving your speed and fluidity is probably easy enough to learn with just you, a book and some practice, but the subtle stuff is better to get right from the beginning. Practising the wrong thing can set you back; practising right yields improvements.
Personally, I'll probably be continuing weekly lessons until I head back home in a month, then putting in hours practising on my own for a while until I feel I need a critique and some direction. I'm definitely glad I'm taking lessons initially.
I picked up a used but refurbished (new pads, tuned etc) Yamaha student flute (YFL-211) for three hundred. Nothing fancy, but a tried/trusted brand and model that I know is working the way it's supposed to. I've found that wondering whether a given problem is you, your gear or a combination can slow down progress substantially and make a skill/hobby less enjoyable. If you pick up a decent used student flute and don't like it, you can probably sell it for what you paid. If you cheap out, you'll have a harder time selling it and will be less confident if you do keep at it.
As for lessons, I picked it up reasonably intuitively with a little reading, but I'd recommend at least getting a lesson a week for the first six weeks or so at a minimum. That's when you're most likely to start bad habits and have trouble with basics like breathing, posture, embouchure and holding the flute correctly, so it's a time when you're going to get a lot of value-for-money. Stuff like fingering, reading music and improving your speed and fluidity is probably easy enough to learn with just you, a book and some practice, but the subtle stuff is better to get right from the beginning. Practising the wrong thing can set you back; practising right yields improvements.
Personally, I'll probably be continuing weekly lessons until I head back home in a month, then putting in hours practising on my own for a while until I feel I need a critique and some direction. I'm definitely glad I'm taking lessons initially.