Taking the pludge

[dancingflutist3000]

Okay, I''ve read many topics on the the subject of
taking the pludge and self teaching the flute. I''ve heard many good points on
both sides but not as many tips on what to do if you ARE going to teach
yourself, so here I am: Part One: Most people want to begin putting together
their flute right away and play notes; uh, uh uhhh. Have to learn to breathe
before you can run right? So you have to know how to count before you play
music. I doubt you can go anywhere on this site without coming across words
like, key signature, time signature, or different notes like C# or Ab. You may
be thinking, "Huh?" in fact the average person would think that. Learning how to
count beats and read music is important. People may argue that people memorize
music and don''t need to read music but people that argue that are ignorant.
First of all have you ever noticed that mucisians (even playing memorized music)
tap there foot? In their head they are silently counting the beat, and their
foot is tapping that beat. Without the beat, nobody would know how to long to
hold notes or when to hold them. The first few notes learned should be the whole
note, half note, and quarter note. Eighth notes and sixteenth notes will come
with time. Knowing notes on, above, and below the staff is a tool as well. Some
instuments (like the flute) don''t go as low below the staff and many flutists
don''t know how to read notes father down. Other instruments (like the tuba)
don''t go above the staff as high and often as the flute. The clarinet
actually has probably the best field but that''s beside the point [;)]. There
are many cute little ways to remember the notes on the staff. Mneumonics like
E-very G-ood B-oy D-oes F-ine can help one remember. I personally didn''t use
any of them, but it can be a good tool, though after a while it just becomes
natural. If you look in any beginner book there is usually a brief explanation
on these two topics. Other music theory books focus longer on this subject.
Buying a basic metronome can be very helpful. Some take in this information and
are ready to move on quickly, others spend more time trying to understand.
Either is normal, however if you know a musician or ex-musician, I recommend
asking for help, learning to read music is very essential and the building
blocks for your future music ''career''. If learned incorrectly, it will be
harder to correct and break habits later on.

[dancingflutist3000]

Part 2: Playing: So you've got the notes and
counting down. Now you can start playing Minuet right? Highly doubt it. Before
putting the flute together try playing just the headjoint. By putting your palm
against the end you can lower the pitch. Playing the headjoint is important for
finding the correct embouchure (mouth placing). Mouth placing is just as
important as reading music. Different mouth placing can add (or subtract) to
playing in so many ways. For example: During sectionals for band we have to take
tests, mostly scales tests. When you listen to each flute you can hear a big
differences, here are a few of them and how to avoid and fix them: Overblowing;
Blowing so forcefully over the hole that your sound is loud, uncontrolled and
airy: Yes you want to get the all of the air in the embouchure hole to get the
maximum playing for air usage but don't be tricked into thinking more air =
more air into the hole. Most 'overblowers' puff out cheeks. Also, when
overblowing you get LESS air into the hole. This is for two reasons: 1. The air
is traveling so fast it over shoots the hole and goes into oblivion meaning only
a small fraction of the air actually makes it in the hole. Overblowing sounds
harsh and 'airy'. To avoid: Take into affect that less is more. Form a small
"o" shape with your lips and think of angling your air so that it skims across
the surface of the lip plate. I would say to try blowing over the top of a
bottle, but I've seen over blowing for bottles too! Too Rolled Out; The flute
is rolled out so that the embouchure hole is not facing the person but facing
straight the other way!: Not enough air is getting into the hole, therefore
wasting air and sounding airy. Usually leads to overblowing: Make sure when
finding your embouchure to have the hole facing not directly facing you and not
directly away. Nobody likes an airy sounding flutist! Too Rolled In; The flute
is rolled in so that the embouchure hole is facing the person, no sound can be
made at all really. Air cannot travel the full distance through the flute: Do
not have the hole facing directly toward you, but not directly away either,
pretty much in the middle is right. Finding the best embouchure: There is no
"perfect" embouchure. If you took one flute and had 10 flutists mark on it the
place of their embouchure, you would get 10 different places of markings. The
perfect embouchure for you may not be your best friends embouchure or
neighbor's embouchure, it's unique to you. When trying to find a good
embouchure, start with the hole facing straight up. Try rolling in and out to
see how it feels. Most people don't find their best embouchure until they've
played a few notes so don't worry if you find discouragement at the fact that
they all feel the same. Once you find your best embouchure you won't forget it.
I have marks from the wearing away of the plating where my embouchure is! My
director calls it a sweet spot. I call it embouchure. It is not simply mouth
placing. Mouth placing is the place where you put your mouth. Embouchure is the
place unique to you where you get your best sound and effort should be put into
finding it, it will be harder to fix in the long run.

[Crazy]

Great post. Now the one problem I having a problem
with is trying to tap my foot to keep time. I can play or tap...not both my
instructor just shakes her head. lol I'm trying...

[dancingflutist3000]

Part 3: Notes: Yes the day has finally come. You've
now graduated from toot tooting on the headjoint to toot tooting on your fully
assembled instrument. By the way? Let's shortly talk about buying instructional
books. There are many out there and when you're staring at a shelf full of them
it can get pretty intimidating. Since this is the thing you will be playing with
for a while, care should be taken in choosing one. Flip through it and check to
see: -Is the pace fast/slow enough? -Are the songs recognizeable? -Does the book
look 'fun'? -Are there follow up/next level books? -Is there a CD? I would
recommend getting a book meant for children players. Children have short
attention spans so most of the children books aren't frustrating and/or boring.
My personal favorite are the Accent on Achievement books which had recognizeable
songs, an optional CD, and follow up books. The book you choose should have
instructions on how to put the flute together. Try fitting your flute together
carefully, and put as little pressure on the keys as possible. The book will
most likely start with the two most popular notes used in flute playing: Eb and
Bb. Oh, I almost forgot, the book should not only have a fingering chart but a
finger placement chart, where to put fingers on the flute. As you progress
playing different and more notes you will encounter some notes that just seem
impossible. Believe it or not when I first started I couldn't play the C on the
middled of the staff! I don't know why but it really through me off at the fact
that you don't use your thumb. I just could not balance the instrument. But
eventually I got the hang of it and can now play C# which is just the pinky
finger. Keep practicing difficult notes to get the hang of it. Don't give up if
after only two months of playing you don't sound perfect, that comes with time.
Do listen to professionals but don't compare yourself because professionals
have been playing for probably longer than I've been alive! Self-teaching is
wonderful but every now and then a private lesson can help. I recommend one
intial one for the start and then after about 3 months of playing having a
private lesson at least once a month. That should help rid of any habits forming
and keep you inline and correct. Just remember, have fun! Playing an instrument
is a rewarding experience and a gift! Good luck! [:)] [;)] [:praise:] [:sun:]
[:bigsmile:]

[Kristin]

[quote] ---------------- On 3/6/2004 8:55:25 PM Great
post. Now the one problem I having a problem with is trying to tap my foot to
keep time. I can play or tap...not both my instructor just shakes her head. lol
I'm trying... ---------------- [/quote] LOL. I had this problem too [;)] It's
one of those rub your stomach in circles and pat your head type things at first.
If you keep practicing, you'll eventually get it. I still have trouble when
I'm tapping on the beat and playing eighth or sixteenth notes, but a lot of
times I find myself tapping when I didn't even mean to. You'll get it- just
keep at it [:bigsmile:]

[Crazy]

[quote] LOL. I had this problem too [;)] It's one of
those rub your stomach in circles and pat your head type things at first. If you
keep practicing, you'll eventually get it. I still have trouble when I'm
tapping on the beat and playing eighth or sixteenth notes, but a lot of times I
find myself tapping when I didn't even mean to. You'll get it- just keep at it
[:bigsmile:] ---------------- [/quote] Thanks for encouragement. I'll keep
trying. I can do the stomach and head thing. [:bigsmile:] dancingflutist3000,
these posts are a great help. Thanks for taking to time to help others.

[flute girl]

I tap my foot absentmindly. ALL the time!