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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Flute

16 replies

alwaysaskingquestions · 09/04/2011 17:33

Hi

My ds can read music, and enjoys learning, and wants to learn the flute.
My question is:

Can the flute be learnt at 7 years old, without adult teeth in yet?

TIA

OP posts:
AtYourCrucifix · 09/04/2011 17:43

yes if his arms are long enough. or if not you can get a curved head for it.

Original poster
alwaysaskingquestions · 09/04/2011 19:06

Great - I think his arms would be long enough, but I'll get him to try one out.

OP posts:
AtYourCrucifix · 09/04/2011 19:10

DD started at about 7 (she did recorder untl she was big enough). She's just stopped age 14 Sad its a nice instrument - portable and not too squeeky or loud Grin

HappyAsASandboy · 09/04/2011 19:12

Definitely! I started to learn at 9, but itcwould have been fine at 7 too. I actually think 7 would be a great age as he'll get quite skilled before it becomes relevant that more girls play flute than boys. I don't think that should matter, but it wil be easier to shrug off comments if he's a bit more skilled.

FWIW, I had a female friend who played trumpet (only female trumpet player in our school). She shrugged of the comments by being heaps better than the boys Grin

IShallWearMidnight · 09/04/2011 19:13

we were advised that adult teeth should ideally be in before starting, as you need to relearn the embrochure when the adult teeth come through. Speak to the music teacher as some may let you, some may not. Don't underestimate how heavy a flute actually is though, for 7 year old arms to hold out. DD2 struggled a bit even with a curved head.

Original poster
alwaysaskingquestions · 09/04/2011 19:17

Interesting point re perceived gender - my dd plays in a brass band and is the only girl trumpeter, and now my ds wnats to play the flute - where am I going wrong??? Grin

I will sort lessons out through school so will check with teacher, but wanted to make sure, that I wasn't being unreasonable by asking.

OP posts:
crazymum53 · 12/04/2011 14:30

Interesting discussion here. I learnt the flute and had to wait for my brace to be removed before I could start lessons so teeth must be important. Learning the recorder is a good start though as most of the fingerings are similar.
My dd plays the trumpet sounds as if we could start a female brass band between us.
The only other thing to bear in mind is that the flute is a very popular instrument in most of the music groups, school orchestras etc. there are loads of flutes. The instruments they seem to be short of are oboes and French horns.

frakyouveryverymuch · 12/04/2011 14:38

You can learn but the point about embouchure is a good one. I had to adjust for my gap Grin

However the teeth argument isn't such a big considerstion with flute as it can be with something like clarinet where you're putting pressure on the teeth as they're coming through.

Original poster
alwaysaskingquestions · 12/04/2011 18:08

I tried to suggest cello for my ds but he was having none of it. My dd listed a chain of instruments.

He is adament he is going to learn the flute Hmm he plays the recorder like he is playing the flute.

But where he is so adament on the flute I don't know he knows noone who plays one, and as far as I'm aware he's never seen one.

But he is currently practicing on bottles to get the sound!!!

OP posts:
unitarian · 13/04/2011 01:38

My DD started flute the moment she became 7 which seems to be the required minimum age with teachers round here. She was desperate to do it and had no problems at all when her adult teeth started to grow in. Players can adapt to a gradual change like that. She was slightly worried that she might need a brace when she was 12 or so because by then she was flute-obsessed.

It is tiring on the arms at first but some makes of flute are heavier than others and lessons at that stage aren't long. A good teacher will work on posture.

DD loves the sound of the flute as well as the music available for it. It is also brilliant for transportation. (She plays cello too and that's a whole different matter when it comes to transport!)

If he can get a sound out of a bottle then he's good to go.

brimfull · 13/04/2011 03:27

my dd started on the fife first as flute teacher said she was too small
fife is horrid imo but teaches embouchure and arm positioning

Original poster
alwaysaskingquestions · 16/04/2011 21:11

Oh dear - am I going to put my ds off for life?
Went to a music shop today, and was trying out the flutes, all was good.
I then bought him the Yamaha Fife for £7 to play around with for the embouchure until he starts flute lessons.

My god it is very difficult to get a sound out of it let alone a note. Now he won't try.

Any advice? - Chuck the yamaha cheap plastic? Or continue? BTW he can get the sound out of a bottle. And could get a sound out of the flute in the shop.

OP posts:
bitsyandbetty · 20/04/2011 21:02

I started playing the flute at about 7. It is a lovely instrument and easy to learn if you can read music.

BrigitBigKnickers · 21/04/2011 09:42

The cheap plastic fife you are talking about is impossible to play and really nothing like the flute (the hole is much smaller- I really can't see it would help him to develop a decent flute embouchure.)

I have a friend who plays the flute and she also found it very difficult to make a sound on it.

Chuck it out.

Original poster
alwaysaskingquestions · 22/04/2011 08:39

Thank you - the fife will be removed. I will wait for school to start and get him on the flute.

OP posts:
McMillanMusic · 12/06/2011 19:27

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