Am i To Old

Basics of Flute Playing, Tone Production and Fingerings

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simonnathan
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Am i To Old

Post by simonnathan »

Hi, i have been think that i would like to start playing to flute again after 20 years. AM I TOO OLD?

I have got a yamaha 311 which i got about 1 year ago and has been put in the cupboard, but i think that i should get it out and start playing ( That should be fun)
:D

So what do you think
should i feel silly playing infront of my partner?

HELPPPPPPPP

Many thanks

Simon

sinebar
Posts: 183
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:20 am

Re: Am i To Old

Post by sinebar »

simonnathan wrote:Hi, i have been think that i would like to start playing to flute again after 20 years. AM I TOO OLD?

Only if you think you are.




I have got a yamaha 311 which i got about 1 year ago and has been put in the cupboard, but i think that i should get it out and start playing ( That should be fun)
:D

So what do you think
should i feel silly playing infront of my partner?

HELPPPPPPPP

Many thanks

Simon

fluteguy18
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Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm

Post by fluteguy18 »

absolutely not. Playing music is for most people a hobby, and an outlet for creative energies. My father played guitar when he was in his teens, and he decided to pick it up again when he turned 47. He is actually very good, and is one of the best guitarists I have ever heard [in a live setting].

So, dont let your age get in your way. Do what you want to do. If you want to play your flute, then play it. You shouldnt feel embarrassed in front of your partner. If your partner discourages it, then [with no disrespect intended] perhaps your partner isnt as supportive as they should be, because true partners should support each other 100%.

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MonikaFL
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Post by MonikaFL »

You're never too old! :D I have a 50+ year old adult flute student and she's doing great. And having lots of fun playing. She's even participating a solo & ensemble-like festival that our local music teachers association is holding in a couple of weeks. Like you, she's picking it up again.

I have a 77 year old harp student who started lessons last year... and she started from scratch!

So yeah... you're never too old! Enjoy the music and your flute. :)
Visit [url=http://www.monikadurbin.com/formiapress]Formia Press[/url] to check out my compositions and arrangements for flute and more.

fluteguy18
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Post by fluteguy18 »

MonikaFL wrote:
I have a 77 year old harp student who started lessons last year... and she started from scratch!
sorry to get away from the topic, but I am a bit confused.... do you mean that the student already played harp, and started flute lessons, or started learning harp from scratch [implying that you are the teacher]?

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Mark
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Post by Mark »

That is a lovely harp pictured on your website Monika. :)

Now, as to being to old, not at all.

I took 20 years off and then picked up saxophone again, and got
serious about flutes.
It sounds like you already have a good instrument, so dust it off and
have a good time with it. :)

mark
So many instruments.... so little time.... :)

simonnathan
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Location: United Kingdom

Thank you

Post by simonnathan »

thank you so much for all your comments, i will get started, think i will get the scales book out and see what happens.

Many thanks

Simon

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MonikaFL
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Post by MonikaFL »

fluteguy18 wrote:
MonikaFL wrote:
I have a 77 year old harp student who started lessons last year... and she started from scratch!
sorry to get away from the topic, but I am a bit confused.... do you mean that the student already played harp, and started flute lessons, or started learning harp from scratch [implying that you are the teacher]?
hahaha sorry... she started harp lessons from scratch, no former training :lol:
Visit [url=http://www.monikadurbin.com/formiapress]Formia Press[/url] to check out my compositions and arrangements for flute and more.

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MonikaFL
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Post by MonikaFL »

Mark wrote:That is a lovely harp pictured on your website Monika. :)
Thanks Mark! :mrgreen:
Visit [url=http://www.monikadurbin.com/formiapress]Formia Press[/url] to check out my compositions and arrangements for flute and more.

fluteguy18
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Post by fluteguy18 »

so... does that mean [as implied by your website as well].... you are a harpist??? :D if so, you will be joining Briolette and myself as flutists/ harpers.


***crosses fingers***

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MonikaFL
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Post by MonikaFL »

Yep, I am! I play lever harp -- a Lyon & Healy Prelude.

That's so cool that you guys play, too!
Do you play lever or pedal?

I've had to write my own arrangements of flute/lever harp stuff just because there seemed to be more for flute/pedal harp.
Visit [url=http://www.monikadurbin.com/formiapress]Formia Press[/url] to check out my compositions and arrangements for flute and more.

fluteguy18
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Post by fluteguy18 »

I am a lever harpist as well . However, my tutor was a pedal harpist, so I have an odd combination.... a lever harpist with a pedal harpist's technique.

But, it has worked to my advantage when it comes to playing complicated rythms.

Anne
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Post by Anne »

Hi everyone,

I just joined the forum. This thread is so encouraging! I'm 59 and I just started playing my flute again after five years. Don't know why I left it so long. I also took up the lever harp a couple of years ago. Self taught in both instruments. I was surprised at how well I can still play the flute, and plan to keep it up this time, and to practise scales properly. I learned the basics of lever harp with the aid of a teaching video/books. The flute, I learned with books and by listening to recordings. Still obviously a beginner in both, but slowly improving I think. :)

fluteguy18
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Post by fluteguy18 »

Very good! I personally think it is a great thing when people learn new instruments, young or old. In a recent study, it was discovered that playing a musical instrument causes the second highest amount of brain waves between the left and right lobes of the brain. I assume that this is because the mix of mathematics, and creativity being on opposite lobes. So, it keeps your mind as sharp as a tac regardless of age.

It also seems that we are accumulating a decent number of harpists here! :D There are only three or four in my area, and we seldom see each other. :?

Anne
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Post by Anne »

Yeah, I'm quite excited about my flute again. I think the trick is to keep yourself motivated and inspired. There is quite a bit of good beginner music out there. I have a simplified version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons for Harp, and found I could play it quite easily on my flute as well, so it's interesting to switch between the two. :D

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