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Original poster

talk to me about learning to play the flute

14 replies

geekgirl · 18/06/2008 18:43

because dd1 (almost 9) has announced that she is very keen
I am generally in favour as I like the sound, I play the piano and we could play duets, plus dd is very sociable so maybe playing in some kind of ensemble is just what she needs to motivate her. She had piano lessons for a year and made very little progress because she just wouldn't practice. She reckons she'll practice the flute .

I had a look on ebay and found cheapish flutes like this one, are they any good? Her birthday's coming up...

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 18/06/2008 18:45

My nearly 14-year-old niece plays flute.

She started on the recorder first, then the clarinet.

I don't know about just moving into flute because there needs to be a good groundwork laid for the fingering and getting used to such an instrument.

Flutes aren't as cheap as recorders, either. I'd start with that first.

My niece had just turned 8 when she took up recorder.

southeastastra · 18/06/2008 18:46

i played the flute for a while, it was quite easy to pick up and ime hard to make it sound awful.

Ecmo · 18/06/2008 18:46

The one on Ebay looks fine but I would see if you could hire one first in case she doesnt get on with it.
The first few lessons are usually about just being able to blow it!
Have just got mine out as my ds expressed an interest. None of my DC's could get a sound out of it!

NigellaTheUndomesticGoddess · 18/06/2008 18:47

you'd be better off getting a better quality second hand one. DD has a yamaha. she did start off on a cheapy imported one but it didn't last long and also i'm told it was more difficult to get a good sound from than from a better quality one.
lots of music shops do a rental thing.
but generally the sound of a flute beng practiced by a novice is much nicer than say a trumpet or violin.

mazzystar · 18/06/2008 18:49

i played for about 7 years - got quite good
i played the recorder first and fingering is similar - but not sure its necessarily a prerequisite
can you arrange it through school and borrow one for a bit?

wannaBe · 18/06/2008 18:50

playing the recorder is nothing like playing the flute though. for one the mouthing is totally different, you blow into a recorder whereas you blow over the hole for the flute iyswim?

I would say go for it.

Whereabouts in the country are you? I have a yamaha which is currently stuck in a cupboard upstairs which I haven't played for years. Have been thinking of selling it but perhaps you could have it on loan and if it works out I could sell it to you?

2468 · 18/06/2008 18:52

Dd played the flute for a while. We hired one from the Music School and I'm glad we didn't go to the expense of buying one because the school doubled the cost of the lessons and we couldn't afford it anymore.

Dd has since learned to play the recorder and has picked it up very easily.

Original poster
geekgirl · 18/06/2008 18:53

I'm not sure I could do it through school as the council music service only does group lessons for beginners.
There's a music school in town which sounds quite good and structured. I was wondering whether it's actually worth hiring if I can buy an instrument for under £100?

Don't really want to go down the recorder route - my ear drums tremble at the thought!

Wannabe, I'm in Harrogate!

OP posts:
Cosette · 18/06/2008 19:05

My DDs aged 12 and 11 have both been learning flute since they were 8, and I have been pleasantly surprised at how much they practice it - and how nice it sounds to hear them playing.

They both did recorder when they were younger. We hired a flute for a while first, and then got second hand ones off ebay - one is a Yamaha and the other a Trevor James - both are very good. Both cost around the £100 mark, but have also needed servicing at around £30 each. DD2 has said that her flute is her favourite birthday present ever!

mazzystar · 18/06/2008 20:34

I did group lessons from age nine and then one to one from secondary school age - surely whatever school can offer is a good first step/test of commitment before any major investment?

I begged and begged to learn the flute - only in part because I was previously learning cello - which was basically bigger than me and thus rather harder to transport.

Original poster
geekgirl · 19/06/2008 07:53

mazzy, I agree, group lessons would be fine, but they won't offer any because it's a very small school and there aren't enough children interested in playing the flute to fill the group IYSWIM

OP posts:
RubberDuck · 19/06/2008 08:17

Don't buy a cheap flute!

Just about every flute teacher I've ever spoken to talk about the scourge of cheap flutes on Ebay that students have bought and then had to replace a few lessons in because they're just not good enough.

You can get some good quality flutes second hand (loads of people start then don't get anywhere with it - including me!) so a good flute needn't be extortionate.

getbackinyouryurtjimjams · 19/06/2008 08:28

I started aged 9. Carried on with lessons until I was 18. (Was far less interesting in the piano). It takes a few weeks to be able to get any sound out of it at all....

castille · 19/06/2008 08:34

Get the advice of a teacher before you buy a flute and sign her up for lessons, because her arms will need to be long enough to hold it correctly and get a good sound. I wanted to start at 10 but had to wait a year until my arms were a bit longer!

Ask about borrowing/hiring one for the first year - or at least until she has proved she will practise and does enjoy it!

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