What is it like?

[freethephoenix]

Hello.
I am a novelist, and right now I am beginning a book in which the main character is a musician.
I wanted to pick something interesting for him to play, so I chose the flute.

Since I have no musical talent whatsoever, it didn't really matter what I chose. And now that I chose flute I'm sticking with it. I have a few books on how to play the flute, how to take care of your flute, things you need to know about the flute, history of the flute, some famous quotes about flutes, etc...

I found this site during a search on-line and thought it was a good opportunity to ask people who actually know what they're doing what it's like.

So, what does playing the flute feel like?

Or, if you can't answer that, do you know of a book or site I could find where this is discussed?

Thank you for your time!

[SaturnCat]

Playing the flute is wonderful. You can talk your emotions through music.
I think you chose a good musical instrument for your character to play.
What else should I post here? Feel free to ask questions, and I'll try my best to answer them! Good luck with your work!

[freethephoenix]

Thanks for responding,

What does playing the flute do to your body? Is there anything happening at a physiological level when someone plays the flute? Is it just like breathing into a tube for a long time? Do you get dizzy from playing too long?

[SaturnCat]

I don't think it is just breathing into a tube for a long time. You have to have the right position or you may develop a condition. Yeah sometimes I do get dizzy from playing something for a long time, but look at some flute players on symphony's that play pieces that are sometimes 13 minutes long. Sometimes your arms hurt from holding up your flute for long, but I guess I have to get used to it alittle more. Last friday I was playing The Swan, and it is a slow piece so my arms really started hurting.
And I was using vibrato so that it would be even more beautiful.

[MeLizzard]

How 'bout a Mahler symphony? Usually over an hour. Flute-playing was once famously described (can't, now, remember by whom) as "singing witha pipe in the hands". This is fairly accurate by my experience. It's simply an extension, focus, or amplification of our own voice. Sometimes beginners get dizzy a little, but this quickly passes with regular, adequate amounts of practice. I'd compare it to an athletic endeavour, like distance running, hiking, or jogging. Conditioning and pacing are important. Repetitive-use types of injuries--carpal tunnel, digital nerve compression, etc.--can evolve from overwork or a combination of overwork plus poor hand position, or from playing a flute with a mechanism with too much spring tension. When performing, not only is a flutist communicating emotional elements (art), he or she is truly working--synthesizing huge amounts of literally mathematical data into an aesthetic reality for the listener. That stuff on the page isn't music, merely 'notation'.

[freethephoenix]

Thanks so much for your responses. This really helps me.

[MeLizzard]

Another thought: I would suggest taking a few voice lessons with a good teacher, maybe, to get a feeling for moving air and creating sound. You could sort of feel like a musician, and you could avoid buying an instrument!

[freethephoenix]

The voice lessons helped, thanks for your suggestion!

And I found someone willing to let me touch their flute, it was interesting. I played some notes... but I don't think the fumbling awkward feeling I had is the one I'm trying to convey. hahaha

I have so much respect and admiration for musicians. All of you make something beautiful and precious. I hope you realize this.

[SaturnCat]

Yes thank you. It is beautiful and precious!

[Burke]

I have so much respect and admiration for musicians. All of you make something beautiful and precious. I hope you realize this.

freethephoenix: I hope you realize, and I'm sure you do, the magnificence of writing talent. I also can't help but wonder what latent musical ability you may uncover in the course of your current endeavor.

Music is the soul of my life. I would be lost without it. I wish I had more to offer, except to say that music elevates me to a pacific mental state inaccessible by any other means. More specifically, there is something especially captivating about the sound of a flute, at least there is for me. I'm not sure I can define nirvana, but I'm sure this is better.

Another thought comes to mind, and I'll offer examples pertaining to my own interests. You can extrapolate and explore though, if you so desire. Perhaps you will find a useful resource through the study of specific figures and their relationships with music.

I recall reading, for example, that Stephen Hawking, when first diagnosed with ALS, immersed himself in Wagner. At that depressing moment in his life, he probably needed to be one with the work of Wagner. I suspect that Hawking's appreciation of Wagner has a vastly different basis now.

Maurice Ravel, the French composer, suffered from a neurological deficit later in life, which is thought to have influenced his subsequent musical compositions, most notibly perhaps, Boléro. At one time, I discovered an online paper addressing that very thing about Ravel, written by a neurologist for the European Journal of Neurology. Of course, Ravel in his entirety is deserving of attention, not just this aspect.

Django Reinhardt is another figure of personal interest, because of his guitar contributions despite a severe injury resulting in the loss of the use of two fingers of his left hand. I'm particularly fond of his rendition of Body and Soul. Reinhardt once performed for Andrés Segovia, who was said to be quite impressed. When Segovia asked if he could obtain the written form, Reinhardt was unable to comply, inasmuch as his offering was an improvisation for that occasion. I should think that Segovia was a hard man to impress to that degree however, and that's the sticking point in my mind.

Over the past few years, I have developed a growing interest in music and disability, since I am disabled. This will not be your focus, I understand that, but we each have our own direction. I'm just offering a sampling of mine for your inspection, and I sincerely hope that your own direction leads you to a place in the world of music such as that which I have gratefully found.

I wish you every success!

[FruityFlutie]

You're SO going to have to tell us when this novel comes out! I'll be one of the first to buy!


To answer your question, I can say this:
Hearing the flute, to me, is like hearing angels singing from the heavens. Everything about it is like, "Wow!" Ever since I was 5 years old, I chose flute for my instrument because the sounds it made just made me giggle with delight.

Playing the flute is just as magical. It's like an everyday escape to this magical meadow in which nothing else but the music matters.

Performing is scary at first. You have a big solo to play in front of an audience and your heart begins to race, you forget everything you've practiced- dynamics and articulation are completely erased. Your body begins to shake, your stomach is queezy, and then you begin. After the first couple of measures, sound in your playing, your body relaxes once more in the music that you yourself are creating, almost in union with the instrument. You and your flute become one and suddenly, nothing else matters. You finish your solo and people are clapping for you, your heart is no longer racing and you're relieved. The feeling is so amazing!

As far as physical? Sometimes your arms can get tired, depending on the length of the piece. After rehearsing for all-district or all-state band for 8 hours, your lips might hurt, your back may hurt from posture, but in the end, all of that pain is worth it.

Does that help? I tend to push things more to a psychological standpoint rather than a physical one, but I hope that can maybe help you and the reader to get more inside the character's head?

[SaturnCat]

That is so true FruityFlutie.
I got chosen to audition for All Region Band and that will be my first time performing infront of judges and stuff. Since the last tree years, I somehow didn't get a chance to do that like a solo contest.

[jazzyema]

hey first off when i read that you were writing a book about a flute player lets just say you made my day. anyways some "feelings" about being a flute player. Personally, i'm not gonna like a book thats all like "when i play the flute, i go into a world thats magical" or anything like that. Flute and music in general is a feeling, its so addictive, plus it sets you apart from other people. I love playing my flute, and its my #1 prized possesion. I think that when your good at flute, and you enjoy it, it would be impossible to stop. Theres always something new to learn and even though sometimes you can get stuck in a rut, eventually you will find something that you haven't learned, that you love. Flute is what i do, its apart of my life, and i can not imagine what it would be like not to play the flute. I think the best part for me is deffinetly, when you finally connect with your group, it seriously just brings a smile to your face, and your so overwhelmed with excitement you can't help but grin. I relate everything in my life to music, even when i dont realize it, i'm always tapping a beat, or singing a song, moving my fingers, writing my englsih papers about music, everything connects to my flute because when your this into something, you cant help but do that. I don't know what direction your taking this book.. whether is like factual or fiction but, I play jazz and classical flute and for me its a cool twist to your typical flute player. I can not wait for your book and your gonna have to let us all know when it is published. Hope something in this helped
*jazzyema

[freethephoenix]

Yes, jazzyema, I didn't want the character to describe playing the flute as "I go into a magical world" like you said. I'd rather talk about the things happening to his body. Like, heart rate, tinglings, numbness, things like that.

Thanks for responding.

And I have no problem describing the people listening to the music, because I already know how enchanting that feels.