Flute Or anything else - What Instrument Should You Learn
What you need to do is gather all the information you need to make an informed decision and then give a musical instrument a go.
The data which could assist you to decide is:
1. What is the instrument?
2. Good reputation for the instrument
3. How can you take part in the instrument?
4. What sound does the instrument make? Do you such as this sound?
5. Types of music the instrument plays.
6. Portability.
7. The way you are going to learn - teach yourself or find a teacher
8. Are you prepared to practise?
This article will tell you the information using the flute as an example.
1. What is the Flute?
The flute is really a popular, versatile, affordable, long-slender-pipelike, woodwind instrument, with no reed. There are different sizes of flutes with the more common ones being, from promising small to large ~ the piccolo, concert flute, alto flute and bass flute. The concert flute may be the flute we learn on and is 67cm long and weighs 400 - 600g based on what it's made from. Materials include silver and other metals. Superstar James Galway is called the "Man Using the Golden Flute" as his flute is made of solid gold. Some student flutes have a curved head joint that makes it much more comfortable for the younger players.
2. History
The flute goes back to the Ice Age a lot more than 20,000 years ago, as a simple carved bone with three holes used for bird calls. They developed over the years in the early recorder like end-blown style to the more powerful transverse or sideways style dating back 3,000 years. Transverse flutes developed from the 4 - 8 hole system to the three sectioned flute with 15 holes and 23 keys, revolutionized in 1847 by Theobald Boehm, a flute playing metal worker. Flutes were made of various materials over the years including bronze, ivory, wood as well as glass and porcelain (that have been great until dropped!) and metal.
3. How do you play the flute?
The flute is played by blowing across an opening on the side near one end. Different notes are created by covering the holes alongside with the fingers or keys.
4. What sound does the flute produce?
The word flute comes from the Latin verb flare which means circulation. So when the air flows on the instrument, a clear bellbird like sound with expressive colour is produced ranging over three octaves from low C (middle C on piano) upwards. Some flutes possess a special B foot end piece, whereby the cheapest note played is B below middle C.
5. Kinds of music the flute plays
You can play so many different types of music around the flute which range from classical, jazz, musical theatre and more. Hence you may enjoy making friends by joining a musical group or two. These may include chamber groups, flute choirs (using the various sizes of flutes), orchestras, big bands, jazz ensembles. You can also love playing duets with another person on any instrument or soloing within the comfort of your own home playing your favourite styles, maybe to a backing track on a CD or computer.
6. Portability
The flute is very portable and can be studied everywhere. Just imagine looking at top of a mountain on the sunny day, looking out at the magnificent scenery and playing your favourite melodies to nature. Wow! Try doing this with a double bass.
7. How's it going going to learn - yourself or having a teacher?
~ yourself: You can teach yourself by purchasing a tutor book or online
~ teacher: Find yourself an instructor who will recommend a book to learn from.
An initial lesson may go something like this:
1. Breathing exercises, to become conscious of proper breathing techniques. Some students think the tummy gets into when you breathe in, however it goes out. Think of a balloon getting bigger as air goes into it. While you breath in air goes into the lungs, making them expand and therefore moving the tummy out. You should get the breathing in order to produce a good sound.
2. Sounds in the head piece alone.
3. Putting the flute together.
4. Standing or sitting posture.
5. Getting sounds from the flute: Depending on the student there might be time for you to learn the fingering of the notes B A G and play them. One can try long and short sounds.
8. Do you want to practise?
You must be in good training to experience a wind instrument like the flute just like you have to be to be worthwhile at sport. Your real jobs are the daily workout sessions made by you and your teacher is the coach.
So, in conclusion, discover as much information on any instrument of interest, such as the example using the flute. Would you like the size, shape, sound and designs of music the instrument plays? Then, try one.
