The Flute

December 18, 2006 at 6:52 PM

I if I get any money for Christmas am thinking about getting a flute. Most people say that it's a girlly instrument, but one of the greatest flute players that lived was a guy and his first name was Daniel. And it sounds really good with the violin.

From bilbo Pratt
Posted on December 18, 2006 at 7:03 PM

You have IAS. I feel for you man.

From Sarah Montoro
Posted on December 18, 2006 at 7:34 PM

it's not toooo much of a girly instrument---iguess--but last time i checked you were trying to learn the ukele (However u spell it)--and u play the piano and violin and and and and and----you gotta make up ur mind on which instrument u like best---you can't do them all - at least not properly---just MHO but o well

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on December 18, 2006 at 9:35 PM

I agree with Sarah. I think you should stick to only a few instruments (I have found 3 that I play regularly in ensembles ect. do-able.) But incase you are going to do it anyways, I have heard that the flute fingerings are somewhat very similar to the clarinet (Bb) fingerings. So the only trouble that you might have is embouchure and holding it.

This might sound a little "radical" but I like to think of the flute as a cross between reed and Brass instruments. It is like a reed instrument because of the keys, not valves. And it is like a brass instrument because the tuning of it can be adjusted with a small mouth opening change or moving the flute towards or away from your lips. Plus jsut like brass instruments the flute has different partials.

From Daniel Blomdahl
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 12:40 AM

You don't know my determination. I am very determined to start a music academy someday. You start a music academy playing only one instrument.

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 1:31 AM

I'm not saying that you shouldn't play more than one. But there isn't enough time to get as many instruments as you want to up to performance or teaching level. I mean 2 or 3 is obviously fine.

When you do someday start a musical academy I doubt you will be teaching ALL the lessons and ALL the instruments. You can prob get certification to teach a few, but not a ton. That is what you must consider when you are learning. Do you want to focus on a few main instruments or a bunch and detract from the ones that you are best at and will prob teach.

From Scott 68
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 3:16 AM

flute and violin go so well togather

From Scott 68
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 3:17 AM

i listen to jean pierre rampal all the time

From Elaine Fine
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 3:46 AM

As a former flutist I would suggest either getting a baroque flute or an alto recorder rather than a modern flute. The best repertoire for the instrument is the baroque stuff (stuff written for Frederick the Great, Bach Sonatas, Handel Sonatas) and it is so much more interesting to play it on a baroque instrument. Also, coming from the perspective of a violinist, the alto recorder would be a lot of fun because it is so much like the violin in its various registers.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 6:51 AM

I love the flute. I think its expressive capabilities are similar to those of the violin. I admire people who can play several instruments. I heard James Galway in concert recently, and he sounded great.

From bilbo Pratt
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 1:43 PM

I have IAS too, or I should say I enable the IAS of my son. We have piles of instruments--including flutes--but only the violin is played at the serious level, and gets lessons. But he plays the kena, the Zampona, the penny-whistle, the transverse native american flute, the fife, the end-blown indian flute, ocarina, recorder etc. He finds the Kena and the other end-blown non-fipple flutes most difficult.

The baroque idea is interesting. I agree. I think simpler is better-at least to start. Start with one of the ones we have--something without the mechanical keys and chromaticism. You have lots of choices with the flutes. And a whole universe of tonality to explore, and without too much technical expertise. It isn't very difficult to make a nice sound on most of the simpler flutes, and especially the fipple type.

A short list of prospects:

Transverse:
fife
native american flute (transverse type)
baroque flute
dizi Chinese membrane flute)
bansuri (India)
"melodie flute" (fipple)
moceno (fipple)

End Blown:
Kena and kenacho (start with the kena)
Nay (arabic)
shakuhachi (japanese)
siku, zampona, malta, zanca (pan pipes)
recorder (fipple)
pennywhistle (fipple)
ocarina (fipple)
native american flute (fipple)
tarka, pinquillo (fipple, Andean)

Haven't you figured outr what IAS stand for yet?

From Linda Lerskier
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 8:50 PM

Instrument Addiction Syndrome?

From Bill Platt
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 9:19 PM

That's it! Though the lesser forms are Instrument Acquisition syndrome.

I'm listening to Bartok right now, payed by Ivry Gitlis. It is really fun but causes my head to spin. I will play some friendly Kreisler next:-)

From Daniel Blomdahl
Posted on December 19, 2006 at 9:40 PM

Is IAS real?

From Sarah Montoro
Posted on December 20, 2006 at 1:56 AM

ya but some people (including my pooor self) don't have money to just acumulate instruments- use them or don't get them---i guess unless ur not broke like myself-lol---sides how can you practice 2-3 hr. on THAT many instruments--but then i guess it is sorta like all the books i have-- don't read all of them all the time but look at them a great deal--we (my family) have a TON of books- my brother has between 900-1,000 books just himself-guess some people collect instruments!! ya i had friend who as my mom descibes "Vladimir and his backpack of instruments" lol- he's not very good (BY MY standard at any of them but he's got a backpack full of them) LOL i've rambled to much but oh well!!

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