Does anyone play flute?

[mystic_monkey]

Thanks for that! Shall practise now! I know the theory behind it, and can do double occasionally, but I find that I have to change the position of my tongue in my mouth, and the sound I end up creating is horribly breathy and sometimes not even there. I just need to work on that!

[Amythe]

I'm just starting to learn the flute, and it's hard!
But I need it, because there's no other performance instrument I could audition on when I try out for a music college in a year.

[Silhouette]

Originally Posted by Amythe

I'm just starting to learn the flute, and it's hard!
But I need it, because there's no other performance instrument I could audition on when I try out for a music college in a year.

Does that mean you'll have to be a really high standard in a year? I feel for you! I've been playing 2 years and im taking grade 5 soon (I don't know if grades are different where you are). When I first started to play flute i used to get really dizzy and my tone was atrocious!

[Amythe]

I'm pretty sure I need to be on par with the average flaustist that's been playing for four-seven years by the end of this calendar year, because it's in February and such that college auditions are usually held.

I think I can do it~

[sneekymum]

I've been playing the flute for 32 years

[Silhouette]

Well you must know lots about the flute then! Do you teach it?
Can I ask does it make an awful lot of difference if the flute has open hole keys, does it make it better or worse? I've never been sure.

[sarah-flute]

Originally Posted by Silhouette

Can I ask does it make an awful lot of difference if the flute has open hole keys, does it make it better or worse? I've never been sure.

Open hole keys allow you to do some alternate fingerings, special effects, note bends and quarter tones.

They also mean you have to use good hand position, or you won't cover the tone holes properly.

Some people reckon they make the flute sound louder/better - I remain unconvinced...

I know at least one exceedingly good flautist who plays a high level flute with plateau or closed-hole keys, ie what most student flutes and beginner flutes will have, because her hands are small and her fingers won't reach far enough for open holes... and she's a VERY fine flautist. So while they are good in many ways, they're not essential.

(And I play the flute, as you may have guessed )

[Silhouette]

Thankyou very much for the info! I have always wondered and now I know! Hehe

[sarah-flute]

You're welcome... I'm by no means an expert, but if I can help anytime...

If you decide to get an open hole flute at any stage, (check first that you are able to cover the centre of each key with your fingers at the same time - ie, in the left hand, make sure you can place your finger in the centre of the F# key without moving your index finger and middle finger from the other two) it will take you time to get used to it, but once you are you will wonder what the problem was. Unless your hands are physically unable to stretch for open holes, once you've got it, they're as easy or hard to play as plateau keys. I find plateau-keyed flutes REALLY odd to play now, as I am so used to open holes!!!

[Stenir]

I've been playing flute since 6th grade...so what...about ten years now? I started on plateau...but quickly moved to open-holed. For some reason I play better on open-holed rather than closed. But I guess some people are like that.

I'll have to take a look at the page and see if I can't offer any help with it.