Just one flute

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 7:27 pm

eilam wrote:.... flute teacher .....

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 8:13 pm

Well, I'm guilty of having two flutes - one keyed, one keyless. I'd originally thought of selling the keyless when I got the keyed, but it's an antique, the keyless is a Seery delrin, and I like that I can take that Seery anywhere.

I have toyed with the idea of getting the Seery keyed and selling the old german flute, but there is something unique about playing an old piece of wood like that...

However, overall, I tend to feel that less is best in the number of instruments arena for playing that is...collecting is another issue, but I don't like the thought of unplayed flutes laying around (it just seems sad to think of an unplayed flute).

Eric

oleorezinator · Post by **oleorezinator** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:10 am

just like kiki dee said ,you have the music in you. the music is your friend, the instrument can be your enemy. make both of them your friend.

Snuh · Post by **Snuh** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 7:40 am

I guess I'm lucky. I can only afford one flute, so the choice was made for me!

This way I'll really get to know my Dixon 3-piece.

A.J.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 3:22 pm

Hey, Jim!

I was there; which of us droolers were you?

(But it was that $3000 cocus Hall I can't stop thinking about!)

Did you notice John didn't even LOOK at them? What a stoic.

Anyway, I think the magic bullet desire is totally human. But also, I think we can't help appreciating great workmanship, sound, etc.

Meanwhile, home to the Hammy and another slog along the Sunny Banks.

It was fun, wasn't it?

cat.

RudallRose · Post by **RudallRose** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 3:32 pm

I love John's sentiment about one flute....

and then I look at the photo of him and a slew of flutes spread out on a table before him, a picture on the back of his solo recording.

oh....flutes and bombards

amusing.....even he's got it!

dm

davemoffsite · Post by **davemoffsite** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 6:25 pm

You know, I'm not certain I agree with the one flute message. Personally I like to have two instruments that are similar but different. I keep one for years, and the other changes. For flute, I doubt I'll ever get rid of my old Armstrong. It's silver and Boehm and I really don't like playing it, but I am so familiar with it that the instrument is transparent to me. If I'm having trouble with something on my current love, I pick it up the Armstrong and play it. Never fails, I find my mistake problem in minutes, but on any other instrument it might take weeks to ID. I did the same thing with guitar - I never got rid of the mandolin, because I could debug my playing on it, then go back to the guitar and play the passage correctly.

Some day, perhaps, I'll settle on my ONE flute, but for now, count me in for Two. Even if one of them is tarnished and only played 5 or 6 times year, it is worth it in the saved headaches for me.

Just my 2 cents worth of observations.

Cheers
David

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:10 am

Fear not! John will be the first to tell you he's got a room full of flutes and such, few of which he ever plays. And he still has his Hawkes, too .... but what he's saying is you need to get to know a flute inside and out, because that's ultimately what's going to make you a better player, esp. when you trade up. I can't count the number of times I've heard him say it took two years' solid playing on his Olwell before he really felt he knew it (in particular I remember him coming back from last summer's round of teaching and saying 'At last, I'm finally getting to know this thing') .... and I think most listeners will agree the results of such effort are pretty obvious.

I mean, before the Olwell the man toured the world with a flute held together with electrical tape and rubber bands, and he managed to make that sound pretty good, too -- but of course, he'd been playing that one for Lord knows how long -- since the late '70s?

Anyway, that's just what I've understood from hearing him talk, but basically he's not against multiple flutes -- shoot, he's the one who told me to jump on the Hamilton I have now when it came up for sale on this board -- what he *is* against is being "an owner of many flutes and master of none," simply because he believes even the best flute is not going to make you a better player. The only thing that's going to make you a better player is ... playing!

I hope I haven't misspoken -- like I said, that's just my understanding -- but his philosophy's pretty simple: know the flute like the back of your hand, know the tune like the back of your hand, and then work on both some more!

Hope this helps

cat.

P.S. I'm pretty sure I recall him saying that "flutearrhea" photo was supposed to be sort of a joke.

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:31 am

davemoffsite wrote:You know, I'm not certain I agree with the one flute message. Personally I like to have two instruments that are similar but different. I keep one for years, and the other changes. For flute, I doubt I'll ever get rid of my old Armstrong. It's silver and Boehm and I really don't like playing it, but I am so familiar with it that the instrument is transparent to me. If I'm having trouble with something on my current love, I pick it up the Armstrong and play it. Never fails, I find my mistake problem in minutes, but on any other instrument it might take weeks to ID. I did the same thing with guitar - I never got rid of the mandolin, because I could debug my playing on it, then go back to the guitar and play the passage correctly.

Some day, perhaps, I'll settle on my ONE flute, but for now, count me in for Two. Even if one of them is tarnished and only played 5 or 6 times year, it is worth it in the saved headaches for me.

.....

Interesting post. I sorta do this with with a very old old harmonium.
If I improvise something exciting on flute
I will take it to the harmonium and sing to "debug" it,
to get a handle on it, and then when I go back to the flute
it kinda develops better on the flute then if I'd stayed just with the flute.

I know this because I've only had the harmonium 2 years
and singing with it has improved my flute compos greatly.

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:35 am

Cathy Wilde wrote:........but his philosophy's pretty simple: know the flute like the back of your hand, know the tune like the back of your hand, ........

And then watch music kiss it.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:06 pm

now, that's poetry!

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 3:14 am

'Just one flute' deosn't mean owning
just one flute, but playing just one flute.
John said he's got nothing against
collecting flutes.

Cathy I was in the front, center--I was the fellow who was
always dropping stuff. Terrifically
helpful workshop.

RudallRose · Post by **RudallRose** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 11:07 am

good clarification, jim

I'm not a fan of playing more than one flute at all.

Makes it hard on the embouchure and, besides....my fingers are way too short to hold both flutes and cover the holes properly.

Now, playing two whistles is another matter entirely!

dm

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 11:32 am

Why must I be the butt of merciless jokes
from ruthlessly clever chiffandfipplers?

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:52 am

Jim --

Wasn't it good, though? I actually bailed on the Mary Bergin class and came in after lunch (yes, I'm sick but I'm really obsessed with the flute right now and anyway, I'm just a terrible whistle player!)
-- I was the one with the rubber-banded stick.

Hey! Wait! That means it's broken and I need a new flute, right?! Heee, heee, let's see .... a McGee? A Murray? That $3k Hall?

Ah, the addictive personality

Okay, John.... sigh. Back to the repair guy.

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