Silver Flutes

It can be difficult to choose a flute. There are so many options. I will try to explain some of the terminology for you.

All band flutes should be in the key of C.

There are two footjoints, a B foot or a C foot. Beginners and intermediates can get away with a C foot. The B foot gives you an extra note, but some people find it makes the flute a little more resistant. A little bit harder to play.

Off-set G is about comfort for the last three fingers of your left hand. The keys are displaced for a more comfortable hand position. The other option is an in-line G, where all the keys are in a straight line all the way down the flute. I have played both ways and found them both to have advantages. If you have small hands is may be better to go with an off-set G.

The most important part of the flute is the headjoint. Solid silver is ideal. You can have a solid silver headjoint on a silver nickel body and get a great tone. Eventually you should strive for a handmade headjoint. Gold plating on the lip is pretty but will not affect the tone. Gold on the inside is great, it will warm up the tone.

Open-holed flutes have the inside of the keys taken out. These flutes give a larger tone that has more depth to it. When playing, the open-holed keys need to be completely covered with your fingers. You can get plugs for the keys where you don't complete the seal. Closed holed flutes are easier to play and are ideal for beginners and intermediate players.

I have a couple tricks on how to get started with your embouchure.

Play bottles. Yes, that' right! Get together some glass bottles and practice blowing over the top of them. Blow faster and slower while listening to the sound.

Spit rice. Stand in one spot. Put a piece of rice on the tip of your tongue. Aim. Fire! This will help your tongue and embouchure.

Blow bubbles. Blow slowly, and make big bubbles. Blow fast and make small bubbles. Try to get so good at it that you can decide how big the bubbles will be. This develops your air speed.

Good luck!

Thinking of buying a new flute? The biggest question is, how long has it been on your current flute? It takes a couple months to adjust to a new flute. Switching too often can be disruptive to your progress. Three to four years on each flute is average. Also, are you close to an exam or important audition? Give yourself six months to a year of adjustment time before any audition. However, if you are uninspired or dreading your practice time, a new flute can kick start you into high gear.

Think about your headjoint when buying a new flute. Try to get a more sophisticated headjoint. This will help improve your tone. Solid silver is ideal, handmade is best. You can find these headjoints on affordable flutes made by Powell and Yamaha. Look for the intermediate flutes.