Do you take private lessons ?

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Sat Aug 30, 2003 8:34 pm

I was curious as to how many of you take private
flute lessons. I don''t remember any of the kids that played flute in my band
when I was in school taking them. I think roughly 1/2 of the 12 flute players in
my daughters band take them !! Kim

krzymunkey · Post by **krzymunkey** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 12:07 am

Yeah, I take lessons for 45 minutes a week,
[:bigsmile:]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 8:06 am

Yes 30 min once a week, wish it could be an hour.
of the top 6 chairs 5 took private none of the lower chairs did making it about
half. Many people do fine being self taught. But an extra pair of ears and being
able to hear what an etude or drill or piece or whatever is supposed to sound
like is a big help. Imatation is one of the best learning tools. I would guess
almost all of the players in HS top bands take private. There is always the
danger when you learn without instruction that you will take twice as long
unlearning.

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 10:48 am

I guess I should answer my own question. My
daughter takes 45 minutes once a week. I have been suprised to see so many 6th
and 7th graders at my daughters school taking private lessons. Kim

CuteFlute · Post by **CuteFlute** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 3:43 pm

I don't take private lessons, and i think i should
start, but i'm in the top HS band. I'm also one of the top 3
chairs...(depending on challenges and tests) I started taking lessons once in
6th grade, but it was only for a week. i found that as long as i don't
"practice" only music that i can play....i get better on my own instruction. I
practice scales and do long tones. plus, i bought a flute instructional book
that i do excersises out of. Not to mention i have lots of books with tapes. I
guess, lessons are good, but i am pretty proud of my abilities and progress on
my own.[:halo:] [:)] [:p] [::)]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 5:41 pm

Sounds like its working for you. You must be very
talented and self motivated. A player can never be sure how much lessons made
them better and you can never be sure how much better you could have been if you
had taken them. Just an unknown both ways. Also impossible to tell how good
someone plays by what chair they are. One bands first chair may not make the
good band at another school and a last chair at some schools could move and be
first chair. I know two middle schools here have bands so different in level of
what they play and quality of sound one can compete with HS bands and the other
is not much better than an elementary school band. But somepeople learn well on
their own, some need a teacher. Your way is cheaper which would make my bank
account better.

krzymunkey · Post by **krzymunkey** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 12:41 am

Then I guess I suck. I took private lessons for
about a month now, and I haven't gotten much better. I still haven't memorized
my major scales, which I need for an audition in 3 weeks, and I my piece is
nowhere near prefection... UGHH!! I practice 1-2 hours a day, taking one break
(Sat/Sun) a week. I tried so hard. What's wrong with me???

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:35 am

What do you expect in a month? You are probably
doing just fine. I don't think many players have all major scales memorized for
a couple years. If you are doing an hour or more of quality practice daily you
will do very well. Make sure your teacher gives you practice advice.

krzymunkey · Post by **krzymunkey** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 4:57 pm

ok, that makes me feel a lot better, i already
memorized ,b flat,c,d, e,f,g, and i am still learning the a scale. but i need
them perfect for the audition!!! plus, i memorized the chromatic scale, but
it's not that perfect, now, my worries are about the piece i have to perfect in
3 weeks, plus all the scales and chromatic... ugh.. [:((]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:20 pm

I love that attitude and ambition. If you are able
to play all 12 majors from memory in 6 weeks you will be ahead of about everyone
I ever heard of. Good luck

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 11:03 pm

I agree it takes a lot of committment and a good
attitude to learn them quickly. I do have to say that they can be learned
quickly though because my daughter just memorized all 12 majors,the minors and
appregios for both in under 3 weeks. She was pretty driven as she wanted to have
them down before school started

Kim [quote] ---------------- On 9/2/2003
6:20:22 PM If you are able to play all 12 majors from memory in 6 weeks you will
be ahead of about everyone I ever heard of. [/quote]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 8:03 am

Well I must be missing something. But your daughter
learned all the majors, minors and arpeggios in the first 3 weeks she played the
flute??? That is remarkable. Most people I would guess are having trouble
finding the fingerings to play the middle register notes for the first month. I
admire you and your daughter that is wonderful.

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 8:39 am

Yep, you are missing something. My daughter did not
learn them in the 1st 3 weeks of playing the flute. As I have said here before
she has been playing the flute for 2 years. She just memorized those scales this
summer. Kim [quote] ---------------- On 9/4/2003 8:03:17 AM Well I must be
missing something. But your daughter learned all the majors, minors and
arpeggios in the first 3 weeks she played the flute??? That is remarkable. Most
people I would guess are having trouble finding the fingerings to play the
middle register notes for the first month. I admire you and your daughter that
is wonderful. ---------------- [/quote]

tarzaflute · Post by **tarzaflute** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 7:22 pm

I take private lessons and I swear by them. If I
hadn't started them, I know I wouldn't be playing the way I do now, my flute
teacher has pretty much made me the player I am so I'm really thankful for that
too. I have lessons for 45 minutes, even though they're only supposed to be 30
minutes, lol. And she's at a music school so I dunno what happens for the poor
person after me. So yeah, I've found that my playing is sooo much better since
I've had private lessons!

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 7:40 pm

Fluteluversmom I remember you saying she had been
playing 2 years. When you said she learned them in 3 weeks I thought you meant
the first 3 weeks she played from scratch. That would be remarkable indeed!!! I
was about to ask my daughter why it took her over a year to have hers down when
others were doing it in 3 to 6 weeks. lol For those of you that are taking
private lessons, and I cant imagine how tough it is without them, what book or
method does your teacher use? Or recommend?