What is Your Opinion on Male Flutists?

[Phineas]

I cannot believe I slept on this one....LOL

[xDom]

I'm a male flutist. I also happen to work as an electrician in a workplace dominated by working class men. I don't mention to people that I play the flute.
It's not that I'm ashamed of it, not at all. However I know that if my "secret" was leaked, the mentality of some of the people I work with, would be such that I would become the brunt of their jokes. It could be said it would be in good humour, but I just cant be bothered with it, pure and simple.
I go to work, mind my business, get my pay.....I can then go home practice piano and flute, have my lessons. These are the things I love to do.

[Bob_Forever]

In my opinion, there's nothing more manly than doing something feminine. If you can be confident in yourself as a man while being the only male flautist in your band then you have to be a manly man. So take pride in how little you care and have fun playing some flute.


(Plus if you're the only male flautist in your band, then you get to sit next to all of da ladies B). Awe yeah.)

[maynard]

I work in a law enforcement setting, a prison, full time and have done so for many years. I'm 6 foot and one inch tall, weigh 240 pounds and I look small next to some of my closest officer friends. Trust me, it doesn't get much more "manly" than that. I'm very open about my flute playing and going to my flute lessons; I've never received an unusual look or comment. In fact, it's just the opposite. I also play the Highland Bagpipes, perhaps that balances out the scale in some fashion, I don't know, but I doubt it.

[pied_piper]

So, are the Highland pipes part of your riot control gear?

Sorry, I couldn't resist! Actually, I really like bagpipes.

[fluteguy18]

Let's not get too much closer to what is and is not considered 'manly.' Otherwise this sassy queen will have to use a hammer or mandrel to beat some sense into you whilst wearing glitter and mascara.

[Morne]

Let's not get too much closer to what is and is not considered 'manly.' Otherwise this sassy queen will have to use a hammer or mandrel to beat some sense into you whilst wearing glitter and mascara.

^ LOL... love this! Too funny!

I am a male flute player (flautist here in South Africa, lol) and while I was teased in high school "because flute is a gay instrument", I still played. I took music as a subject from grade 10 - 12 and very nearly went to university to study flute. The fact that I am gay had nothing to do with it because I started playing before I even knew ...lol... I went to an all-boys' school so there were lots of bullies. I still play and it's been 25 years since I started playing. Hopefully I will get my Trinity diploma soon and then I can also teach/perform professionally.

[fluteguy18]

^ LOL... love this! Too funny!

:sigh: I try.

Morne, stay happy my friend.

[Gocatdave]

I'm a 52 year old man just taking up the flute. It never occurred to me that the flute might be regarded as a feminine instrument. I just like the tonal qualities and expression potential of the instrument. I tried the keyless irish flute for a while, which was fun. But I realized that I need a fully chromatic instrument to play the music I want to play. So now I am beginning to learn with a regular orchestral flute. I'm really excited to be beginning this journey.

[pied_piper]

Good for you!

[christielea]

Hey!
Both of the flute teachers I had were men and I thought they were fantastic!

It's a shame there aren't more male flute players as I think the power they can naturally bring to the instrument is really unique. Gender stereotypes are alive and well when it comes to choosing musical instruments. We all tend to associate certain instruments with being either feminine or masculine and flute is waaaaay on the feminine end of the spectrum... (i talk about this and have some references to research in this area in my blog post below)

http://www.theflutecoach.com/choosing- ... struments/

Keep on playing and enjoying the flute!!

[fisherman]

Male hetero flutist here. I love the NFL and MLB and played sports my whole life. I’m a lawyer and work in an Alpha Male jock-like culture. No one has ever mentioned that my flute playing is a feminine endeavor. Even if someone would say flute playing is fem or gay, I wouldn’t care. Who are they to be the arbiters of person’s sexuality or masculinity based on his instrument? It’s ridiculous. In fact, playing the flute allowed me to meet all kinds of beautiful and talented women. I once had a woman teacher who said men “on average” have longer fingers and are natural blowhards so they are excellent at playing. If you are a young guy and are being picked on for playing the flute I suggest the following: 1) there are a ton of great male flutist that you can learn about, 2) stand up for what you believe is right, 3) the guys picking on you are insecure otherwise they wouldn’t care, 4) as a very last resort – the flute can be a great weapon if used correctly.

[Saxoflute]

I hate it when some people think male flutists are ‘gay’, though I am a female flutist, I can kind of relate because when I played bari sax, I was made fun of because I was a female and it was an ‘instrument for men’.

[cfootfan]

When I was in Jr high and high school in the 1970's the flute was considered a "girls" instrument and all the brass we're considered "guy" instruments. What NONSENSE !!! I play the flute now and as a man am proud to do so. If anyone doesn't like it they know where they can go !!! LOL ! People are so shallow minded to come up with gender stereotypes !

[collie]

Some of the best flutists I have known are male flutists. When I was in high school, I worked my way up to playing the first part in the symphony band as a sophomore. I was sitting right next to a male flutist who I never challenged. He was a year ahead of me in school. His father was a professional flutist, and his son was a phenomenon. He also taught me so much! I didn't play flute for years after high school. Then when I joined a community band, I again quickly worked my way up to first part. I sit next to a male flutist. He is also absolutely awesome and teaches me so much--much more than our prima donna female principal flutist who seems to feel threatened by others. I know not all female principals are that way, but that has just been my experience with the different principals who have sat in first chair since I joined the band. They have been aloof and seem insecure, even though everyone is awed by their skill level. The male flutists in band seem more willing to share knowledge, tips (and also to accept advice without getting all bent out of shape). They just seem more secure. I don't want to believe that that is how all of us females are, because this is the only band I have been in since taking up the flute again. However, sadly, this has been my experience since joining this band. Maybe female principal flutists in an audition band take their role more seriously. Our principal is related to the conductor, so she can behave however she wants. I have already mentioned in another thread that she never allows anyone else to play the solo parts in pieces. The male flutist I sit near said that in the audition band he formerly was a member of, any flutist who felt comfortable playing a solo was permitted to throughout the season.