Chiff and Fipple Forums

I'm wondering if there are others on this forum who are early learners on flute like myself? As there appear to be no blog spaces or other group areas on this site to create a support and sharing group I thought starting a thread with those intentions in mind would be a positive. I've no particular focus or questions at the outset, just an interest to share our experiences as we begin what I hope will be our long and happy flute journey...

Me, I'm one. I've been at it for around 6 months or so. Mainly ITM I have a Tipple delrin that I take with me to work. A boxwood (?) Sweetheart and another UN named much heavier wooden flute with a tuning slide. Completely self taught so far, though i play other instruments.

FWIW, the experienced people here are here in part to help you.
You can post how you feel about this and that, too. Welcome!

I'm about two and a half years in, and I'm also a new dad with very limited time for practicing. I'd be happy to share the resources I used, as well as my practice method with you if you're interested!

mendipman wrote:I'm wondering if there are others on this forum who are early learners on flute like myself? As there appear to be no blog spaces or other group areas on this site to create a support and sharing group I thought starting a thread with those intentions in mind would be a positive. I've no particular focus or questions at the outset, just an interest to share our experiences as we begin what I hope will be our long and happy flute journey...

Yes, it seems there isn´t many people with didactic vocation in traditional music and that manages well the web technology, this is why a couple of friends an me have built a blog for beginners in spanish. In spain 90% of people are early beginners.

By other hand, there is tons of usefull information in this forum for learners, and many experienced people happy to help you, just ask them.


David

mendipman wrote:I'm wondering if there are others on this forum who are early learners on flute like myself? As there appear to be no blog spaces or other group areas on this site to create a support and sharing group I thought starting a thread with those intentions in mind would be a positive. I've no particular focus or questions at the outset, just an interest to share our experiences as we begin what I hope will be our long and happy flute journey...

I'm a relative beginner too.

In regards to your idea, it is unclear to me whether you intend this thread to be what you are describing or if you are describing a theoretical thread. Can you clarify which one it is?

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My guess is that it is the first interpretation, that this is the thread you were thinking of starting. If so, here is my contribution:

I'm still working on relaxing my grip and posture (as was recommended to me here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=106572 ). Unfortunately, since I have been playing around with flutes off and on for 8 years now, I need to work harder at relaxing. (I still consider myself a relative beginner because I haven't made all that much progress in 8 years. I'm not particularly skilled musically... but that is another topic.)

I am also working on a few tunes from my local session: Out on the Ocean Jig, Little Diamond Polka, and Charlie O'Neill's.

I’ve dabbled over the years, but just now finally getting serious enough to put real practice time in. I can usually get a good tome, but run out of air about twice as fast as with whistle. I’ve read that with a good embouchure one can actually go longer between breaths than with whistle. So, that’s a big goal.

Hi,

I'm also a beginner. I've been playing for a bit less than a year (first post btw). I'm starting to be able to play comfortably and not run out of air to quickly. I've been playing wind instrument since I was ten so it helps. My next goal would be to increase my repertoire (I know only 8 tunes or so) and be able to play whole set. For now I can only pair two short tunes together at best, and at the end my tone starts to falter.

Piloshun wrote:Hi,

(first post btw).

Welcome out of the shadows, Piloshun .

I joined the forum a little while ago, but didn't get very far at that time - I have a regular Boehm flute, & recently got a Boehm piccolo, as I have always wanted to try one, (both pre used, I might add, but in good condition).

T'other day, I cracked & ordered up a Dixon keyless pair, (flute & piccolo), & am awaiting delivery.

I hope to give them more attention this time around, & start playing tunes.

I also have learned to play ukuleles, (badly ), & harmonicas, (reasonably) since I retired 3 years ago - it was my challenge to myself to learn to play a musical instrument, & now I'm trying to learn to read music too. So I've got a lot on my plate, but am enjoying myself.

Hope to find my embouchure fairly quickly, so that I can get on & play.

fatmac wrote:I joined the forum a little while ago, but didn't get very far at that time - I have a regular Boehm flute, & recently got a Boehm piccolo, as I have always wanted to try one, (both pre used, I might add, but in good condition).

T'other day, I cracked & ordered up a Dixon keyless pair, (flute & piccolo), & am awaiting delivery.

I hope to give them more attention this time around, & start playing tunes.

I also have learned to play ukuleles, (badly ), & harmonicas, (reasonably) since I retired 3 years ago - it was my challenge to myself to learn to play a musical instrument, & now I'm trying to learn to read music too. So I've got a lot on my plate, but am enjoying myself.

Hope to find my embouchure fairly quickly, so that I can get on & play.

I also commented on your other Dixon post ( viewtopic.php?f=2&t=106766 ), I hope they go well for you. For me, it was helpful to get used to the fingering difference between playing a Boehm flute (in C) to playing an Irish Flute (in D).

Though I liked my Boehm flute much more than my Dixon, the people at my session seemed quite happy. It seemed as though a budget Delrin flute was better to them than a silver flute. Yet, they aren't really purists as they were also inviting someone to bring their bassoon and play. Whatever. As long as there is good beer, good music, and good company I enjoy playing.

Thanks for your comments & link in my other thread, Aaron, it really just boils down to enjoying playing some music.

This seems like the most appropriate place to post this...

For a few years now, I've been subscribed to a weekly article by the Bulletproof Musician and there was an article two weeks ago worth sharing in this thread (keep reading):

In general, the Bulletproof Musician is a blog about Music Performance Psychology. The author posts articles that draw insights from one or more recent studies and tries to explain how recent studies might help us learn and play better and more confidently.

This recent article is about learning by pausing more. In previous articles, I had learned that the brain does its growing primarily when you sleep, but there is also some evidence that taking short rests are just as helpful. I've begun applying this article as I've been working on learning songs on flute, working to read music better, and learning to play the Uilleann pipes. That being said, I think it has been very helpful, so I wanted to share it here. Other of you might also enjoy or benefit from other articles from the Bulletproof Musician.

Here is the article:
https://bulletproofmusician.com/memoriz ... ess-pause/

Just got around to reading that; I think it relates quite well to the idea of practicing little but often.

When I started with the ukulele, I'd do 10~15mins practice sessions two or three times a day, sometimes missing out days too. I'm still not that good, but I'm sure I'm better than if I had tried to cram in all the practice within a couple of weeks/months.

I also remember reading somewhere that if you practice late at night, that your brain keeps going over what you practiced as you rest & sleep - can't say for sure, but it sounded feasable, I thought.

fatmac wrote:Hope to find my embouchure fairly quickly, so that I can get on & play.

Best advice I ever got for improving embouchure to upgrade tone is to practice playing long tones (holding a single note for an entire breath). Seems to have helped me.