Flute Page

All right, I play the flute and I'm probably the weirdest flutist you'll ever meet! I have been corrupted by my violist friend and now, truly, believe, that with some exceptions, flute overall belongs in an orchestra, not as a solo instrument. However, this page right here is TOTALLY dedicated to flutes!

Fun flute facts/quotes:

Even though Mozart wrote the opera "The Magic Flute" he hated the instrument!(makes us feel special, eh?)

*Haha, I might add he wrote two flute concerto's and other flute repetiore too! How much did he really hate us?*

"The only thing worse than a flute is two flutes."(come on, give me a small laugh!)

-Cherubini

At least some composers like our instrument, like Mendelssohn, who really admired it!

*I heart the Mendelssohn violin concerto in E mineur! Soo good!*

The modern flute was invented by Theobald Boehm, previous to this flutes couldn't go below D, now we can go to C or B.

Rossini greatly admired our kind of flute! So much so that when he first heard it and was shaving, he ran out with soap on his face.

When he did this he said "You can't play that, it's impossible."

Boehm replied "But I am playing it."

*That might explain the crazy piccolo parts in La Gaza Ladra and such?!*

LITERATURE I SUGGEST WORKING ON:

*Taffenel et Gaubert

As a flutist this should be your bible, technique wise you cannot do better than this book! These men wrote the book on flute technique!

*Trevor Wye

Tone studies that are admitedly frustrateing and boring, but worth every second when you actually hear yourself play!

*Mozart G & D Major concertos

Boring though they be, for me, they are good learning tools, especially for younger flutists! Beyond all else, they are also good technique exercises.

*Chaminade Concerto

Over played? Prehaps, but it is a great concerto for musicality, and because it is so over played you have to keep the audience engaged. Welcome to the realm of developing your own interpriations.

*Martin Ballade

Why? 'Cause it's just that amasing! It really is too, you can't beat this piece. Fire and sugar...oh wait-that makes carmel and this isn't carmel, but that's okay, it's still amasing!

*Paganini Caprices 1-24

Because we should all know how string players feel sometimes! These are definetly exciting and they're a lot more challenging and intersting than a traditional etude.

*Neilsen and Ibert Concertos

Can you say hard, but worth every second? Develope musical and technical skills. Worth every second of practice, which I'm not currently doing...!

*I.M.E.A. Senior Band Audition Scales

Even if you don't want to audtion for IMEA or for Wind Ensemble, these are really great at helping you learn Major Minor and rythms

*Chamber Groups

If you can find a chamber group, I recommend trying it! I've only been in one for...less than a week? But it makes you depend souly on yourself, without anyone elses help! It's good experience...especially if you have stage fright...!

If you want/need anything else to work on come find me sometime or go bug Doc, I know he'd be glad to help!

I know this is going to sound goofy, but listen up! Every so often you need to clean your flute! (It'll thank you!) I just cleaned mine for the first time in several months, you DON'T want to know!!! Also, another hint of advice: take your flute through its paces every so often, scales and what not, just fast AND slow stuff, just to keep it happy! Lastly treat your flute like it's your best friend, if you don't it won't return the favor, trust me on this!