Flute: 49 year old beginner needs advice!

[LittenTree]

.... other than 'For god's sake, give up now, woman!'

I am borrowing a Jupiter flute for a couple of months. I will have to teach myself and plan on using a mixture of on-line tutorials an 'A Tune A Day' type books.

I am a reasonably competent descant recorder player.

I got the flute today, and I have a question:

Naturally I'm finding it quite heavy (and I have quite short arms!) but the thing is, I can't work out how one can 'balance' the flute whilst playing 'C'. Am I supposed to be able to hold it stable using my right hand thumb and pinkie, my bottom lip and my left index finger only? Without the flute rolling towards me? If that IS the case, I will practice away- if it isn't, what am I doing wrong?

Any tips?

Tia.

You're not using your left hand quite right.

Don't have your palm straight on to the flute, roll it slightly, so the back of your hand faces towards you, just a bit.

Then some of the weight of the flute will sit on the fleshy bit of your palm just below your index finger.

It's hard to describe what I mean - have you tried looking on You-Tube.

BTW - If you can play recorder, once you get the hang of the blowing, you'll be away.

Sort of. The base of your index finger on your left hand will rest against the flute too (otherwise, there'll be a disaster when you try C sharp -- not even the left finger in place to help!)

Disclaimer: I am also a latecomer to flute and had to get it out of the case to check what I do for C.

Ah, I think Sherbet knows how to explain it better than I do!

Look at this bloke -

Hi, have just checked on mine! I hold it with the tip of the left index finger on the key and the rest of the finger curled under the flute. I have the fingers of my right hand straight up and resting against the rods connecting the E,F and D keys at the bottom and my right thumb under on the other side of the flute. Not sure if that's how a teacher would do it - I learned a long time ago and may have some bad habits! Maybe a professional will come along and give us some tips!

Ah ha! I hadn't realised you were 'allowed' to support the flute with your 'palm' at the very base of your left index finger!

I also found balancing the flute in your hands that helped!

Sit by your PCs. There are bound to be more questions!

And thanks, all.

Here's one!

What that purple thing on the shaft of the flute where she'd rest the flute on her left hand? In other words, on that place I've just discovered? Watch the video, you'll see it 17 or so seconds in.

Thanks!

One of [www.justflutes.com/flute-thumb-and-finger-rests-category1237 these]]?
Never used one, but especially if you have small hands it could be helpful.

Here is a picture of where the flute rests in James Galway's hands.

I'm going to state the blindingly obvious now and ask if you have the possibility of taking a lesson or two? Half an hour from a decent teacher, even if you can only mange once a fortnight or so would help a lot.

Apart from that, have a go in front of the mirror to check your posture (it's fun to play in the bathroom every so often, it usually gives a very flattering sound). Take a look at Trevor Wye's Beginners book for the flute if you see it in a shop - you might like it as a guide.

finger saddle

One of these.

Yes, I am wondering if I can find a teacher. I just would find it hard to commit for the same time every week and also yes, there'll be weeks when I've barely had time to practice!

Well my teacher is happy for her adult pupils to arrange lessons when she and they have time, so sometimes I have one every week and other times I may go more than a month without one. The hourly rate is a little higher with this arrangement but it suits both of us.

Another thing, if I haven't practised, then I just say so and we work on something else. The same if I'm just too tired to concentrate, then we sometime do something fun like sight-read duets together. It's a big advantage of being an adult beginner/restarter - nobody cares how fast you get to Grade VIII or even if you get there at all, nobody can force you to perform if it's not your thing and you get to have a lot more input to what you play.

OK, so it would be worth my while to find a teacher, wouldn't it?!

I think especially in the early stages so I don't teach myself bad habits! I think there's enough on t'internet to guide me through embouchure so I can make a start but I am waiting for my finger saddle to come before I get too much into 'correct hold!

'Fraid so. I would recommend mine, but she's in the wrong country. Most will do some sort of trial lesson so that you can see if you are going to get along.

The ABRSM have a music forum where you can ask all sorts of questions, maybe that would be a useful resource too.

Thanks for the forum link- very useful- already had one question answered!

Guess your teacher's travelling expenses wouldn't make it economical, eh?

A question: Can anyone recommend a teach yourself book with a CD?

tia

Sorry, she's in Germany and I don't think she ever travels to the UK for concerts.

There are a whole load of books with CD here and they also sell a DVD called the ABC of flute. I don't have any personal recommendations, sorry.

How are you getting on?

Not too badly, thanks. On the recommendation of a music shop (didn't know there was still such a thing on the High Street!) I got 'New Tune a Day' which comes with a CD. You'd certainly have needed to have studied online prior to using it- the 'how to hold the flute' section is cursory, and the first track on the CD is called 'tuning' which is someone playing a note on the flute, then on the piano, then an octave higher. Great, but I have no idea what note it's supposed to be! I did my tuning by listening to the first exercise and tuning mine to the first note (a G) the 'teacher' played. I, of course, am finding that to keep up with the teacher, I am just puffing away, rather than forming each note properly, too.

My finger saddle has been held up in the post which is a bit annoying, too!