Flute Instruction

Flute instruction begins with a proper method book. There are so many good ones available, I will just give you some guidelines for making a selection.

Make sure the book you choose has a fingering chart. The flute range covers three octaves, starting at middle C--plus the B natural below the middle C if you get a B foot joint.

In addition, there is about another half-octave above the standard three octaves. Try to find a book that includes the fingerings for those notes as well. You may not play them, but why not have that information available to you?

Also get a book that includes trill fingerings. Then you won't be the one always asking for trill fingerings--you'll be the one who knows them!

One of the best series of flute instruction books comes from English flutist, Trevor Wye. I like these books because they focus on a particular aspect of flute playing.

This particular book is great because it includes a CD and has great illustrations. In fact, these days, most books are available with a CD. What a great way to learn!

Play Flute Today! - Level 1 (A Complete Guide to the Basics) Instructional book and accompaniment CD for flute. With instructional text, glossary of musical terms, fingering chart, illustrations and introductory text. 48 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.842043) See more info...

Next you will begin developing the proper flute embouchure to begin getting a sound on the flute.

Other important aspects of playing the flute include...

• breath control
• intonation
• vibrato

The plan will encompass tone development through long tones, technique through scales and other exercises, duets, solos, and anything you want to learn to play on the flute.

If you decide you want private lessons, you'll need to locate a teacher.

• Check with local high schools for recommendations. Try their web site - many band directors post lists of private teachers.
• Check with a local college or university. They may have a "prep" department or community school that gives lessons to non-college students.
• Search on line for "flute teacher" or "flute lessons" and the name of your city. Many teachers have their own web sites these days.
• Attend a masterclass when they are offered in your area.

What is you don't even have time to leave the house? You can get flute instruction on-line and take flute lessons via the internet!

If you have time in your summer schedule, consider attending a flute camp. Flute instruction is really fun at camp!

If your music-reading skills are a little rusty, a great way to improve that is to learn to play piano first. You don't have to be a concert artist by any means, but remember--it's a lot easier to learn musical notation on the piano than on the flute, or any other instrument for that matter.

Learning about music theory will also help advance your flute playing. If you understand the principles of key signatures, major and minor scales, and other basics of music theory, you are free to concentrate on your embouchure, breath support, and fingerings.

Learn some flute solos, too, and put your hard practice to good use. Check into some easy flute sheet music to get started with.

At Music Learning Workshop.com, you'll find an ever expanding range of music learning, music theory topics, and lessons, starting with a mini-course on the master staff or a workbook to quickly and easily learn the note names and keys on a piano.

And last, but certainly not least, remember that your health contributes greatly to your success as a flutist. Take care of yourself, too!

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