Learn to Play the FLUTE While Not Playing the FLUTE

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Flute listening can help you become a fine flautist nearly as much as the practising you do on the flute yourself.

Why?

Flute listening helps you...

1. Learn the flute repertoire.  The more familiar you are with what has been composed for the flute, the broader your flute knowledge becomes.
2. Learn pieces faster. Knowing how a piece sound should make the learning process go faster. Get those rhythms correct the first time, play ornaments correctly, and incorporate dynamics from the beginning.
3. Incorporate flute techniques into your own playing, including developing a good tone, vibrato, breathing, and phrasing.
4. Learn to play various styles appropriately.  Mozart is played differently than Prokofiev, and sometimes just listening is easier to absorb the style than having a teacher talk to you about it for an hour.

Flute listening is inspirational! Just imagine yourself playing that fabulous piece you've fallen in love with and you're halfway toward being able to actually play it! Even if you never play anywhere but your living room, it makes it much more fun!

There is so much wasted time in our days that we could turn into valuable listening time...

• Driving
• Standing in a line
• Waiting in the doctor's office or for other appointments

Using an iPod or other MP3 player allows you to listen to flute music anywhere, anytime.  Every flautist needs to have one of these devices as part of their equipment, along with a metronome, digital tuner, and music stand.  An iPod is so compact that you can easily pack it in a flute bag or purse. It's even more convenient than a small CD player.

Start listening and become a better flautist!

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Learn to Play the FLUTE - Find Out How Easy it Is!

Yankees considered education very much the study of music. Most children learned to play the flute 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can learn to play the flute through a variety of ways, not just the traditional private lessons once a week for 30 minutes or one hour.  If you're an adult beginner, this style of flute lessons is very difficult, sometimes impossible to stick with.

You're busy with work, taking care of your family, and all the other activities that adults have to deal with.

And how about finding free, uninterrupted practice time?  No wonder adults want to give up before they even start!

And it's too bad, too, because the dream of many adults is to learn to play the flute.  For whatever reason, an adult didn't learn to play the flute as a young person in school.  Maybe they thought the band was dumb, faced peer pressure not to be in a band, their school schedule didn't permit it, or their family couldn't afford to have them play in the band.

No need to wait any longer!  Today you can take flute lessons on the internet!  Your lesson time is whenever is convenient for you.  Break free from that rigid schedule the teacher sets up.

Sure I understand that teachers' time is valuable.  If someone sets up a lesson time, then the teacher should be paid for that time.  Otherwise, a teacher couldn't stay in business.  But if that schedule is too constrictive for the adult student, well, the adult student will probably not start to learn to play the flute or quit.

  Somebody is always throwing a monkey wrench into adults' schedules:  the boss, children's school, or any number of small crises that pop up.

On-line lessons are a convenient way to learn to play the flute.  Fire them up whenever you're ready!

Are you worried that these prerecorded lessons won't cover the topics you have questions about?  Learning to play the flute is pretty basic and there is a very good possibility that everything you need to know has already been addressed.  If not, e-mail the teacher or web site owner and ask for another lesson on that trouble spot.

Hey, don't give up that dream! If you want to learn to play the flute, you still can!  Turn on your computer and get out your flute--it's your lesson time!

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SHAKUHACHI Flute - Music-Instruments of the World

Shakuhachi Flute - Music-Instruments of the World

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Learn To Play a SHAKUHACHI FLUTE

Shakuhachi - Photo Vijay (CC) 

The Shakuhachi Flute is definitely one of the most popular musical instruments that people love to have in their homes and learn to play in Japan. According to musical history, the Shakuhachi flute has been traced back as far as ancient Egypt and is thought to have migrated through India and China before being brought back to Japan by monks who were studying abroad in China during the 6th century.

Even though Shakuhachi Flutes look different from other flutes of the world and it looks very simple, remember that it can be difficult to learn how to play. Be patient with yourself if you want to become proficient with this instrument. Your practice and work will be well worth it because the sound of a Shakuhachi is very unique and rewarding.

If you are interested in learning to play a Shakuhachi flute one option is to try to teach yourself. Yes, it is possible for someone to learn to play the Shakuhachi flute in their own homes like learning guitar and piano. If you don’t have time to spare for formal lessons, even those taken at home, teaching yourself the flute may be a good option. Fortunately, there are tons of resources that you can pick to gain knowledge and learning. If you don’t have time to buy musical books at the bookstore then you can browse and download instructions or guidelines from the internet. In fact, there are a lot of flute packages these days that can be purchased online that come with comprehensive instructions on how to play the flute.

Obviously taking flute lessons from an experienced player and teacher is definitely much better, just to make sure that you are learning the instrument properly and correctly. A certified and professional flute teacher can show you exactly the proper technique when it comes to playing the Shakuhachi Flute. There are many flute teachers out there however if you want to learn fast and easy make sure to think about the basic things before taking their lessons: see if they are certified and if they have been teaching flute for a while now.

Have they been working long enough to be known as one of the best teachers out there? Check with their previous students and get their feedback. Are they affordable or worth spending your money and time with? And lastly, do you feel comfortable learning with them? Good luck and have fun learning to play the Shakuhachi flute!

Tom Budko is a fan of Shakuhachi Flutes. A traditional Japanese bamboo flute which has been used in Zen Buddhism for centuries as a tool for meditation and learning to be fully aware of one’s breath.

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How to Make a BAMBOO FLUTE For Homemade Music

Bansuri, a bamboo flute popular in India.
The picture shows a 23-inch long flute often used in concerts
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Want to know how to make a bamboo flute for your own homemade music? Flute making with bamboo can be really simple, as most of the work is done for you by way of the natural hollows that are grown into the bamboo. However, there's just a little bit of math involved in figuring out how to make a flute the right length for the fundamental note (the lowest not that you can play, with all fingers covering every hole), and for how to make flute finger-hole placements precise, as well as the embouchure (blowing edge hole). The one, simple, all-important mathematical formula to do the job, is really very easy to understand. Allow me to show you...

To understand how to make a bamboo flute, you'll need to be aware of two basic numbers in flute making in order to make perfect homemade music. The numbers to know for how to make a flute with perfect tuning are; the linear measurement for how far sound travels per second, and; the number of Hertz (the vibratory frequency) of any particular notes you will have the flute play. But to correctly gauge the sound, first, we need to know how to make flute embouchures. For this example, we'll use a transverse (or "side-blown") flute. It's very simple - make the hole for this be about half the width of the bore diameter, and have the hole's center point be situated at one bore diameter's distance from the inside of the closed end. Bevel one edge on the inside at an acute angle for the best "airstream splitting edge".

Okay, now for the numbers and how to use them in making our bamboo flute, and superb homemade music. The distance sound travels per second, at sea level, and at about 70 degrees F (or 21 degrees C), is 13526.5 inches (or 34357.31 centimeters). Now you take the frequency number of the note, which for this example we'll say the fundamental note will be "A", which would be 440, and divide the previous number by this one. What you will get is the length of one wavelength for this note, in this case, 30.74 inches, or 70.08 centimeters.

How to make a flute body the correct length for this is now to divide this measurement by two, which would make it about 15 3/8 inches, or 35.04 centimeters. You'll find that due to other factors in flute making, such as bore diameter and flute body wall thickness, you may need to shorten this a little bit more to get the note precisely - do this a little at a time. Use this same formula to find out how to make flute finger-hole placements along the length according to the notes you wish them to play, and there you have it!

If you'd like to learn more about how to make a bamboo flute, flutes of various types and varieties, or any homemade instruments of woodwinds, percussion instruments or strings with precision, feel free visit my website on how to make your own music with professional quality homemade musical instruments that you can make yourself, at http://rockfreakinsolid.com - these ain't your children's paper plate tambourines, shoebox and rubber band guitars, or butter bucket drums! Article Directory: EzineArticles

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How to Develop a Great FLUTE Embouchure

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Learn how to develop a great flute embouchure and you are well on your way to being a great flutist.

Embouchure is a French term for the position of the lips and facial muscles used when producing a sound on a wind instrument.

Keep the following steps in mind...

1) The facial muscles and lips should be relaxed.

A tight embouchure with the corners of the lips pulled back and lips stretched produces strain and stress, a puny sound, and tires the player quickly.

Strained facial muscles inhibit the air from flowing freely out of the body. It's like putting your hand over a garden hose--the water is slowed down.

Try these exercises...

a) Pout as if you are unhappy or angry.

b) Imagine the corners of your mouth are reaching down to the floor. 

c) Roll your bottom lip out and try to hold a pencil with your bottom lip.

2) Keep the lower jaw relaxed as well.  Imagine this...

a) You are holding a golf ball in your mouth.

b) Your lower jaw is falling off your face onto the floor.

c) Try to yawn with your lips closed.

3) Concentrate the strength and power in your abdominal area. 

That's where the airstream originates.  You need a fast airstream pushed from the abdominal muscle up through your lungs and out the mouth. If your lips are strained, this gets in the way of that rushing air coming out and your tone is not nearly as vibrant as it could be.

Keep these important elements in mind and you will develop a great flute embouchure.

Kathy Ferneau is a flutist and teacher. Her online flute studio is http://www.cyberflute.com/ where you can get free flute lessons. Article Directory: EzineArticles

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The Oldest MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Unleashed By A Cave

A prehistoric flute made of bone (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Music undoubtedly plays an important part in any sophisticated culture. But the fact that ancient people had a great longing for music might surprise you. The people of that time were not equipped with the modern accessories such as pedal extenders, adjustable piano bench or the sheet music cabinet space, but they certainly knew how to make musical instruments. One such civilization is known to exist in Europe. They used to make a flute out of the bone of a vulture. This flute was structured by drilling appropriate holes in the wing bone of a griffon vulture. The interesting part is that this flute has been recently excavated and is known to be the oldest musical instrument found.

Exhumed from a cave in Germany, the existence of this flute indicates that the people of that civilization had a good taste for music. Probably by now, you will be able to imagine how one of the first inhabitants of Europe used to enjoy the sound of the flute and drums by dancing around a campfire. As told by the archeologists, the flute is around 35,000 years old. But no real surprises there, as every civilization has a history of music. The way music is widespread today; there is no question to its prevalence back in the ancient times.

Moreover, you would not disagree with the fact that music probably has its roots even in ancient times which are not a part of recorded history. However, the discovery of this flute reveals that this was the first time when people started making musical instruments that can last for a long time. And as you can see, they were more than successful in their attempt.

Obviously, this cave was inhabited for millenniums otherwise it would not have provided such a clear view of the past civilizations. The cave protected the artifacts of the past quite well. Or else, how could you have possibly imagined a flute lying in the depths of the cave in a nearly original form for almost 35,000 years? Well, the idea seems quite perplexing. But all thanks to the excavation technology, today's archeologists have been able to get hold of a great piece of archeology.

Interestingly, the cave from where this instrument was excavated was the same from where a 40,000 year Venus statuette was found. For all those readers, this statuette is the oldest known sculpture of a female form. Besides this, the cave also had other beautiful artifacts including inscriptions and carvings. Various carvings of a horse's or bear's head; a water bird in flight; and other chimera forms of human and lion give an insight into the artistic taste of those people during that time.

This is not all, as another restructured form of the same flute was found further deep into the cave. Sadly, this one was found in 12 pieces buried under the floor of the cave. It is also believed that the cave will unleash more archeological assets in future that will surely leave one wide-eyed with excitement.

Connor R Sullivan  - Article Directory: EzineArticles

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The Asian Elegance of the WILLOW FLUTE

A simple willow whistle. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The willow flute is simple in design, as is the case with most flutes. It differs from most others, however, in that it does not have any finger holes to manipulate the sound that it emits. It has a fipple mouthpiece, meaning that the air escapes from a small hole just below where the musician blows into the instrument. The willow flute is also known as a sallow flute and was created by the Scandinavians and was often used in their traditional folk music. It is certainly a unique instrument that has its own unique sound and one that has been around for a fairly long time.

When the willow flute was first created, it was made out of the bark of willow trees and this is where its name came from. Today, this flute is often made out of plastic, like other types of flute such as the fife or recorder. When looking at how a willow or sallow flute is played, one might be curious at how one can alter the sound to create different notes.

Most other flutes have either finger holes or holes with keys that would allow a musician to manipulate the sound made by the flute in order to make different notes. This particular flute, however, does not have any finger holes; instead, the musician alters the sound that is made by the willow or sallow flute by changing the amount of air they blow into the instrument. To be more exact, the musician alters the pressure of the air blown into the instrument. The sound is also changed by the musician covering or uncovering the end of the willow flute. Covering the end of the flute actually creates certain overtones while leaving the end of the flute open allows for a different set of overtones to be created.

The willow or sallow flute is certainly unique in many different ways. First, its design is quite a difference from how other more typical flutes are created in that it does not have any finger holes drilled into the tube. It is also unique in the sound that it can create. While it may seem odd in how it is played in order to created different sounds, it is not an overly difficult instrument to learn. It can be quite challenging at first, but once someone gets used to it the instrument can be quite easy to play. It is not an overly expensive instrument and can be easier to acquire than other, more complicated instruments.

It may not be the best for a beginner, but it can be an instrument that a more experienced musician might enjoy. It can be more difficult for someone who is new to playing music because it is not like playing a recorder or some other basic flute. A person playing this particular instrument has to have good control of their breathing in order to create the sounds that they want. Once this is mastered, the instrument can be quite rewarding in the music that it can allow one to create.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used CDs, autographed CDs, and used musical instruments. - Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Playing Duets With NATIVE AMERICAN and ANASAZI FLUTES

Duet playing between Native American flute players is a fairly simple task. The players usually select the key in which they choose to perform, and take turns in listening and playing. As long as the flutes are tuned to the same pitch, the compatibility of the instruments will be pleasing. Pairing an Anasazi-style flute with a Native American flute (NAF) presents a different problem due to the way keys are designated for each kind of flute. The root note designation for Anasazi-style flutes denotes the beginning of a major pentatonic scale. Common keys for Anasazi flutes are A, G# (or Ab), and some higher pitched versions in C and D.

Unlike almost any other Western key-tuned flute, the NAF is named by a minor key rather than the major, because of the pentatonic minor scale structure of the NAF. Flute players fill in their collections by acquiring instruments in various root notes (F#, G, A, etc.), and that root note designation refers to the minor key of that note. For example, the NAF in A is really A minor, no sharps or flats. The major key with no sharps or flats is C, and with the right fingering the NAF in A minor can also play the major C scale (also called mode 2 for the NAF).

The Anasazi scale is based on a pentatonic major scale based on the lowest note of the flute. This distinction is important because a NAF flute in A (minor), no sharps or flats, is not compatible with an Anasazi flute in A (major), 3 sharps. And while it's worth noting that the Anasazi flute can play in a minor mode, a greater number of compatible notes between the two kinds of flutes are available if you use flutes with the same number of sharps or flats in their scale structure.

In music theory, each set of sharps and/or flats in a major key have its minor key complement (called a relative minor). The musical distance is a minor 3rd apart. If you pair a NAF with an Anasazi flute, use this as a guide:

Anasazi A with NAF F#m (3 sharps)

Anasazi G# (Ab) NAF Fm (4 flats)

Anasazi C with NAF Am (no sharps or flats)

Anasazi D with NAF Bm (2 sharps)

Take a listen to Welcome Dance and Two Hearts in the September 18 post at http://www.anasazidream.com. The overdubbed recording is played with an F#m NAF with an A Anasazi Dream flute. Because both instruments share the same key signature, the pieces hold together musically.

Mark Purtill is an educator, artist, composer, performer, and author and maker of Anasazi flute replicas as well as other rim blew flutes. http://www.anasazidream.com Article Directory: EzineArticles

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GEMEINHARDT FLUTES and the Historical Evolution of the FLUTE

Gemeinhardt is the world's largest exclusive maker of piccolos and flutes, making musical instruments for all level players from beginning students to professionals. Kurt Gemeinhardt was born in Germany and served as an apprentice to his father, also a flute maker. In fact, Kurt Gemeinhardt was a fourth generation flute maker. It is no wonder that Gemeinhardt has had a significant influence on the evolution of the flute in the 20th century.

In 1928 Kurt moved to Elkhart, Indiana, America's mid-20th century capital for musical instrument production. In 1948 he opened his own manufacturing plant called The Gemeinhardt Company. Gemeinhardt specialized in all-silver flutes, and in 1952 the plant had to be expanded to accommodate orders. Later, Gemeinhardt also made entry level flutes and other intermediate models.

In the late 1990s, Gemeinhardt acquired Roy Seaman Piccolo Company, which was famous for its handmade granadilla wood piccolos that are in demand from professionals the world over. Today, Gemeinhardt makes a range of flutes, including piccolos, student, intermediate, and professional flutes, bass flutes, and alto flutes.

The company is now part of a parent organization, Gemstone Musical Instruments, also based in Elkhart Indiana. Gemstone makes and distributes every level flute under a variety of names, including Gemeinhardt, which has a long reputation as a company that makes excellent flutes with beautiful intonation.

You can still occasionally find a hand-crafted Gemeinhardt flute from the 1960s - some of them made by Kurt Gemeinhardt himself. These are amazing instruments, many of which feature an open hole design, which allows for a richer, more lush tone. Anyone lucky enough to find a solid silver open hole flute from the 1960s will pay several thousand dollars for it, but in addition to its inherent quality and craftsmanship, it will have a long history to go with it, and might just have been held in the hands of the great Kurt Gemeinhardt himself.

By Lynn Bonzero Lynn loves to write about the Gemeinhardt Flute and the Gemeinhardt Piccolo. - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Band Instrument Repair - FLUTE - The Foot Joint

Photo  by Khairil Zhafri 

The foot joint of the flute consists of 3 keys on a C flute and 4 keys if there is a low B on the foot. The foot joint keys are the property of the baby finger of the right hand. The keys are made in such a way as to be pushed in different combinations by the baby finger.

One of the weakest points on the flute is where the foot joint joins the body. This is called the lower tenon and can be easily damaged. The foot joint can become loose and cause air leakage and loss of sound or become to tight and be very difficult to remove or put on. This can lead to numerous problems. The fact is that the foot joint is long, almost 6 inches in some cases, and the tendon that supports its weight is only half an inch long. Supporting that much weight and length as well as being constantly put under the pressure of the keys being pushed down can tend to take it's toll if not maintained.

Like the body of the flute, the foot joint keys, springs and pads have to be maintained. Replacing, leveling, and seating all have to be done in order to have the keys seal correctly and thus allow the lower notes to play.

Almost all of the keys of the flute work in conjunction with one or more other keys. This means that when you press down on one key it may also cause one or more other keys to be pressed down at the same time. These keys have to be regulated so that when it is required that two or more keys close at the same time, it has to be the same time or you will have loss of sound and the flute won't play. Regulating the keys so that they work in this fashion is probably the most vital repair of the instrument. It requires a delicate balance of bending and leveling the keys as well as seating the pads better and adjusting spring tensions.

The final result of all of this should be a flute that is solid feeling, with no rattles or excessive key noise. No sticky pads or loose feeling keys. When you press the keys it should be very light pressure with a big sound and minimal effort. The last thing you want when you are playing the flute or any instrument really is to be fighting with the physicalness of it instead of just enjoying the artistic and creative nature of it.

To sum it up, you need to have respect for the instrument you are playing and give it the attention it needs. Care and maintenance mean that it will always perform the way it is intended to play and you will enjoy your creativity uninterrupted by physical glitches.

By Darrell Hare - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Japanese Zen Flute SHAKUHACHI - History, Information and Facts

The shakuhachi is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is the Japanese most well-known woodwind instrument. The shakuhachi flute (or also known as Zen flute) is used by Zen Buddhist as a tool for meditation as well as playing jazz, classical and traditional Japanese folk music. This flute is made from the very bottom of a bamboo tree, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods.

Although the bamboo flute is quite simple in appearance, it is very difficult to play; its unique and magical quality is revealed to the listeners by the purity of its tone. In the hands of a master, the flute produces an extraordinary, subtle, sensual music – prized as being perfect for meditation and relaxation. Its beautiful, soulful sound made it popular in 80’s pop music in the English-speaking world.

The name shakuhachi is derived from the term “isshaku hassun” meaning one shaku and eight suns (1.8 Japanese feet). Usually, the term shakuhachi refers to the standard size instrument, which is 54.5 cm in length, but it can also refer to many different sizes ranging from 1.3 – 2.5 shaku (39.4 – 75.7 cm) and longer. The shakuhachi is usually made from the root portion of a thick-walled bamboo (known as madake in Japanese).

There are two contrasting styles of making these instruments: the first involves using a style that is similar to the Zen Buddhist monks from the past. There is no filler in this shakuhachi and it is also sometimes called as ji nashi or hocchiku. If you look down the bore of a ji nashi, you can see some nodes of the bamboo protruding. While the second style has a filler made up of a certain mixture of ingredients, possibly including a powder called tonoko, lacquer or urushi and water. This is finished to create a polished surface.

Shakuhachi can be made in one piece (it is called as nobekan) or in two pieces with a middle joint (this also called as nakatsuki). Two of them has no difference in quality, only the two piece is easier to transport and often contains filler. The top part of shakuhachi is called utaguchi – literally ‘song mouth’, and this contains an insert made of various materials such as buffalo horn, ivory and plastic. Its shape is based on the preference of different schools.

Shakuhachi flute is possibly the simplest non-percussive instrument ever conceived. This instrument has no keys or pads like a western flute, no strings like a violin or guitar, no mechanism inside like organ or piano, no reed like a clarinet or saxophone, it does not even have a mouthpiece like a recorder. Zen flute has only five finger holes, which is fewer than the penny whistle or much other wind instruments. To play a note, your mouth and lips must become part of the instrument. Despite this simple construction, this instrument can produce an inconceivably broad range of musical sounds

The Zen flute came from China to Japan sometime in the 6th century. The instrument was then adopted by a sect of Zen Buddhist monks around the 15th century. During this period, the flutes began to be made from the spiked root section of the bamboo – so the flute could double as a particularly ferocious weapon. That probably explains the flute’s long association with the martial arts.

By Susan Wong Feng shui bamboo flutes are used to ward off the bad chi whereas the lucky bamboo plants are used to attract wealth. Article Source: EzineArticles

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PAN FLUTE - Music-Instruments of the World

Pan Flute - Music-Instruments of the World

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BAMBOO FLUTES

A saluang (bamboo flute) from West-Sumatra (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the many materials used to create the musical instruments known as flutes is bamboo. This is a tradition that stems back to the early generations of Australia and the Aborigines. The Chinese are also well known for using bamboo to create flutes but they are believed to have been directly influenced by those found in Australia.

Each of the flutes was hand carved from sticks of bamboo and then holes were placed in them for the fingers. A location towards the top of it was for the person to blow air into. The way the fingers covered up the holes was what determined what sounds that the flute produced. This is very similar to what most people know as a recorder. Bamboo flutes can be good for children to learn on too before they move on to more advanced models.

Today you can buy bamboo flutes to play as well but you need to be patient in getting on. Each of them is made custom and it can take up to six months before you order will be processed. Yet you will end up with a flute that is original and that you can make music with. They are also very beautiful so you will want to display it when you can for others to see.

Most bamboo flutes don’t have all of the musical ranges with them though. You can get them custom made with particular keys in place though. The majority of bamboo flutes out there though are in D minor. They also feature seven holes for the fingers to cover. You will definitely notice a different sound coming from a bamboo flute though. It is a very low and deep sound that is interesting. It is quite different though from the soft sound you get with a nickel flute.

Bamboo flutes often run a couple of hundred dollars due to the amount of detail that goes into the workmanship. Many of them are imported from other countries too. You can find them online as well as listen to the various sounds they offer. For those that enjoy the flute, this can be a great item to add to the mix.

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Band Instrument Repair - FLUTE - Body

Western concert flute (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now the body of the flute is quite intricate. There are 18 keys on the body of a C flute. The number of springs can vary somewhat but it is around 13 give or take.

The springs can be made of steel or copper or bronze. Steel is the best and easiest to work on. They have to be adjusted for the right strength. They can be too weak, which can cause closing problems and leaks. Also, they can be too strong which can cause the same problem. You have to get a feel for the exact strength and that can vary from flute to flute. Some springs need to be replaced and that in itself can be very tedious indeed. Also, for the first while, as a beginner in flute repair you stab yourself with these little springs and it really hurts to put it mildly!

The pads also need to be taken care of and need to be replaced or reseated. They are made of felt and covered with 2 layers of fish bladder. I have no idea why they use fish bladder. Pads can get torn or punctured or just plain worn out. They are vital and cannot leak or the flute will lose some or all of it's volume.

Pad replacement is time consuming. Each ad is held in with a tiny screw and washer or a nylon snap. They vary in size and thickness. Once you have put them in you have to iron them and reseat them so that they will seal completely. To reseat them you have to wet them with alcohol and then clamp each key and pad, then heat them and if possible leave them overnight. It's not always possible to leave them overnight so I tend to put them in a pad oven and cook them for a couple of hours. This helps make the flute seal air tight when being played.

Next is to balance and regulate the keys with their newly seated pads.

By Darrell Hare - Article Directory: EzineArticles

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The Unusual Sounds Of The Vertical FLUTE

Photo   by DrBjorn 

The vertical flute is meant to be played in an upright position. There are three designs of a vertical flute, including the rim-blown flute, a transversely blown flute, and a tubular duct flute. While these three different types are referred to as a vertical flute, the rim-blown flute is more readily recognized as a vertical flute.

There does not appear to be any general date in the creation of this particular type of flute, and there does not appear to be any specific reason why these kinds of flutes were created. Most people are familiar with flutes that must be played when held in a horizontal position; the fact that this flute is meant to be played in an upright position makes it a unique flute.

While many will be unfamiliar with any of the terms mentioned above, such as the vertical flute, rim-blown flute, transversely blown flute or tubular duct flute, many are quite familiar with these kinds of flutes. Different kinds of flutes such as the recorder, or the tin whistle are examples of tubular duct flutes. They are, for the most part, played in an upright position, even if not completely vertical.

Some of the older versions of the vertical flutes have a tube that decreases in size from top to bottom, much like many of them still do today, and has six holes on the top. Unlike the recorder, though, there is no hole on the back of the flute for the thumb to cover. Like just about any type of flute, flutes that fall under the category of being a vertical flute have been around for a very long time. There is no specific period mentioned that would mark when the first vertical flute was created, but it is obvious that it has been around for hundreds of years by looking through the history books.

Today, they are relatively easy to acquire. Just about any kind of vertical flute can be purchased at a relatively inexpensive price, depending on the specific type of flute as some are more expensive than others. The sheet music is also fairly basic and easy to find. Used music stores also tend to have various types of vertical flutes that have been traded in by others who no longer had a use for them. These, of course, usually cost less than if someone were to purchase them new.

Some of these vertical flutes are taught to students at a young age who are attending grade school. The main reasons for this could easily be the cost, but also because the music is so basic and easy for young children to pick up. Some continue to play it on their own time after learning some of the basics in school because they enjoy playing it. It is not a complicated instrument and can be a perfect instrument to play for fun on one's own free time. These kinds of flutes can also be great for individuals who are new to playing a wind instrument because it gets them used to the basics of how to play such an instrument.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used CDs, autographed CDs, and used musical instruments. - Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Understanding Tone Production on the FLUTE in Easy Words

Photo  by angelaathomas 

The flute is one of the most difficult instruments on which to produce a good tone. This is because the flute is the only instrument that relies solely on the performer's ability to direct his or her air column accurately and simultaneously continue to create space in his or her body for the sound to resonate. 

The other wind instruments have mouthpieces or reeds to guide their air, and the string family has a bow and resonating box built into the instrument that assists tone production. Understanding 3 basic principles will help beginning and intermediate flute players to both improve their tone on the instrument and make the good tone a consistent part of their playing.

The first principle of good tone is to get as much of your bottom lip on the lip plate as possible. Draw the corners of your lips forward so that they are hugging the lip plate. Do NOT pull them back in a smiling position. Bringing the corners of your lips forward creates more space in your mouth, therefore contributing to the size of your "resonating box". As a flute player, your resonating box consists of the sinus cavity, the space in your mouth and throat, and the chest cavity. This simple act also allows you to engage all of the muscles around your mouth area, which will give you more strength and flexibility when you attempt to change octave.

The second principle of good tone is to understand register production. The flute is capable of playing comfortably in 3 registers - low, middle, and high. It is the direction of your air column (the stream of air you are blowing over the tone hole) that will produce the register you are seeking to play. This should be the primary way you change your register. If you blow your air down, or more directly into the tone hole, you will produce the low register. 

The middle register is produced by blowing your air straight out across the tone hole (a parallel line from the hole you are making with your lips), and the high register is produced by directing your air column up like you are trying to blow a bee off of your nose. Other factors will contribute to the production of the different registers, but they should not be your primary focus because you will find that they all have their primary functions. For example, if you increase the size of the hole you are making with your lips, you will find the low register, but you will have also affected the color and pitch of your tone.

The third principle of good tone is to play with good, relaxed posture. Remember, the flute requires the performer's body to be its resonating box. Therefore, a flutist must sit up straight in his or her chair, or stand tall, when playing. Also, the flute requires the left arm of the player to reach across his or her body. A flutist must always remember to keep his or her shoulders square so that this arm does not decrease the size of the box around the lungs. The performer should attempt to play with as little tension in his or her muscles as possible so that tightened muscles do not inhibit the ability of the body to vibrate.

Of course, all of these techniques take practice and time to master, but with careful attention, determination, and practice, every flutist can play with the beautiful tone he or she desires.

By Stephanie Doell - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Band Instrument Repair - FLUTE - Balancing and Regulating the Keys and Pads

A western concert flute divided into many parts. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Flute keys have to close exactly on the tone holes to seal them from air leakage and then an exact tone can be produced. The only way this can happen is to ensure the key is level and the tone hole is level and the pad has no holes or creases in them.

This is achieved by seating the pads correctly and then bending the keys and testing them continually until you get the best seal possible. We test the seal in several ways. One of the most common ways is to use a strip of cigarette paper. You place it between the rim of the tone hole and the pad and then close the key to see if the paper is grabbed or slips out. If it slips out, that means that air can get out of that space and thus you will lose sound and volume etc. I use a jeweler's eye loop to examine the hole more than I use the cigarette paper because I can get a closer look through the magnification and I find it quicker.

Bending the keys to make them level was at first very scary. You are working on a $300.00 and up instrument and you're taking a pair of flute pliers and bending the key to insure it is setting right over the hole. Yes, you occasionally break the keys right off. At first this is very unnerving but when you realize that you are suppose to be able to fix keys that are broken off, then it becomes no big deal. Once you realize that all the pieces of the flute had to be made and soldered together, you can rest assured that you can fix anything. We have recovered flutes that have been stepped on, sat on, jammed in doors etc., etc.

Alright so we took out all dents and bends, which is a science all on it's own. We made sure the springs are all intact and of the correct tension. We have checked and replaced and seated all the necessary pads. Finally, we bent and leveled all the keys and their pads over the tone holes so that we get as close to a perfect seal as possible.

Then we clamp the keys shut, to make a deep imprint in the pad, thus making a very air tight seal. We do this by first using a small pad iron to iron out any wrinkles from any new pads. Then you soak the pads with alcohol (this is one method). Apply the individual key clamps. Then you place the flute in a pad oven for a few hours. Pad ovens vary in size and shape. I use a long narrow leak light, which I put in the flute and then I put it in a wooden box. Some people don't use an oven.

After that, you'll get a great seal and the flute will play great. The volume will be great with no hissing or leaks.

After that if you give it regular hand cleaning and have someone a tech give it a once over every 6 months you get the best out of your flute and it will last a long time.

By Darrell Hare Article Source: EzineArticles

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How to Make a FLUTE - The All Important Mathematical Formula

Shot during first ancient music festival in megève
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ever wondered how to make a flute? I'm not talking about something cut from a drinking straw with scissors, or put together using a cardboard paper towel tube... I mean make a flute that's a genuine quality, professionally tuned musical instrument. Whether you use wood, PVC (flutes made from this material sound like blowing through glass - an excellent sound), or copper pipe (also sounds just as excellent) in flute making, there are a few mathematical things to keep in mind, but they all pretty much revolve around, and stem from, the one all-important mathematical formula involved in how to make flute type woodwind instruments or even those of other types. Do you know what this mathematical formula is? Well, I'll tell you...

If you want to know how to make a flute, you first need to know two numbers. The first one is the measurement of the speed of sound in inches (or centimeters, etc.) per second. In inches, that would be 13526.5, and in centimeters, that would be 34357.31 - this is how far in linear distance sound travels per second, at sea level, at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or at about 21 degrees Celsius. The second number to know in flute making is how many Hertz (frequency of vibration) that a particular given note resonates at. For a brief and simple example, let's say we use the note "A". The frequency of "A", in Hertz, is 440. Now we take the speed of sound in inches (or centimeters) per second and divide that number by the note's frequency, in this case, 440, and we will then have the measured length of the wavelength of the note "A". This would end up to be 30.74 inches, or 70.08 centimeters long.

The next step in how to make a flute is simple. With an open-ended flute, the body of the flute would actually need to be one half-wavelength long to play the fundamental note (the lowest note possible to play, with all finger holes closed) properly, in this case, "A". Due to other variable factors in flute making such as bore diameter, wall thickness and etc., the flute will actually need to be a tiny bit shorter - depending upon the thickness of the flute wall factoring in as well, this is generally about 1/3 of the bore diameter. Shorten the length little by little until the correct note is achieved. How to make flute embouchures or the blowing edge hole, is to make it half of the flute's bore diameter wide, measuring the center point of the hole to be a bore diameter's distance from the inner face of the closed end.

A very convenient part about knowing how to make a flute is in the fact that the above mathematical formula is also how you would find the positions for the finger holes' center points, according to the notes they are to play. How to make flute finger holes is to start small, slowly making them bigger as you "creep" them up the length of the flute towards the closed end until the right note is achieved. Finding the correct hole placements along the length of the flute's body is important, but anywhere around the body at that point along the length is fine for hole placements... this allows for the reach of different sized fingers and hands.

If you'd like to learn more about how to make a flute, flutes of many types, or any homemade instruments of types such as woodwinds, percussion instruments or strings with precision, feel free visit my website on how to make your own music with homemade musical instruments you make yourself, at http://rockfreakinsolid.com - these aren't your kids' paper plate tambourines, plastic butter bowl drums or shoebox and rubber band guitars! Article Directory: EzineArticles

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