How Long To Learn With Private Lessons

[Quillter]

Hi all. How long do you think it'll take me to learn to play, for my own amusement, so I can quit planned private lessons and play on my own? I played for a year in school thirty years ago so I'm hoping my body will remember like riding a bike.

I looked into beginner flute lessons. I'm an adult so I can't take lessons at school. I need enough lessons to let me play hymns and simpler songs as a hobby.

The two choices I have so far are these: $70 a month with a longtime retired band teacher for 1/2 hour or a package with Musika Lessons in my home for $336 for eight weeks, 45 minute lessons. I might get a doctoral student from a state university. I don't know how much she'll charge. I believe Musika and the grad student would be more up-to-date than the retired band teacher. The problem is money.

How many weeks/months/years of private lessons would I need before I could play something like Amazing Grace, Holy, Holy, Holy, or Christmas music like Jingle Bells? I plan t move to a foreign country to teach so what could a beginner learn in 9 months to a year.

Thanks.

[pied_piper]

As far as who/where you take your lessons, you should interview with all of them to find out their experience and approach with teaching the flute. Sometimes, personalities are not a good match, so you need to feel comfortable with your teacher. You want to be sure that whichever you choose, the teacher should be a flutist. A retired band director could be a good choice (if s/he is primarily a flutist) or not so good if s/he primarily plays a different instrument. Band directors (especially from middle schools) have a lot of experience teaching so that could be a good option. As far as up-to-date teaching techniques are concerned, the flute has not changed a lot in the last hundred years, so that is not a big concern. Grad students can be a good option IF they are a flutist. Of course, often grad students may not have a lot teaching experience, so I have to say it depends. Musika is a business so they are getting a cut of the lesson fee which makes the cost higher. I'd say you can do better for less...

How fast you progress is really up to you. If you follow a daily practice regimen, you might be able to play a lot of what you described in a few weeks or months. If you do not practice regularly, it could take years. You may find that you become addicted to the flute and don't want to put it down or you might begin to view it with drudgery.

[Quillter]

Thank you pied_piper.

I have lots of time on my hands but little money so it's encouraging that it's possible to reach a good level quickly with practice.

All the teachers are indeed flutists (rather it's a top three instrument of the band director). The grad student is a doctoral student who was recommend by a DMA in flute so I'll see how good she is. The band director taught at elementary, middle, and high schools so I guess he has good experience. He's the cheapest choice I think.

[pied_piper]

You might consider doing a trial period of a couple of lessons with more than one of them and then stick with the one that's the best match for your learning needs and your budget.

[Quillter]

You might consider doing a trial period of a couple of lessons with more than one of them and then stick with the one that's the best match for your learning needs and your budget.

Great idea, thanks. Sort of like auditioning teachers.

[MissyHPhoenix]

You might also find that you don't need regular weekly lessons! I have money troubles so I can't take lessons all the time, but I find that a lesson every now and then helps immensely. According to my teacher, it depends on your level of commitment -- if you are really into it and practice intensely, you will progress with occasional check-ins to be sure you are not developing bad habits.

Good luck!

[Fox]

I agree with MissyHPhoenix ... I take a lesson about every month or so. At first it was mostly correcting all my bad habits, but now it's more of tweaking what I'm doing.
I also try and practice an hour a day, usually I end up skipping one day a week and another day I usually end up doing only half an hour.

My primary instructor is a grad student. He doesn't have much experience teaching. I generally try and have questions for him. But mostly the lesson is playing different things while he listens and makes adjustments.

[Quillter]

Thanks Missy and Fox. Good to know I don't have to do routine lessons to grow.

Terri