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Adult
beginner information, flute books & CDs
by Jen Cluff
If you're an adult beginner to the
flute there is one important technical piece of advice you must
have at once: Get your flute checked out and
cleaned-oiled-adjusted by a reputable repair person before
playing it. Many old flutes from the backs of closets have
minute pad leaks and possibly shrunken corks, keys that are out
of adjustment and bent moving parts, and make learning on that
particular flute almost impossible. Flutes are like Swiss
watches, and have very fine mechanisms. When out of playing
order, they can sound fuzzy, cause finger cramping, and be very
stiff to blow.
A local woodwind technician will likely
only charge less than $60 for a "tweak-up" and you'll
avoid frustration in the first few months of learning. Perhaps
begin by phoning the flute teachers in your area and get their
recommended woodwind technician phone numbers and use the same
phone call to inquire about starter lessons and other adult
beginners flute clubs, flute choirs, folk groups or flute
performance activities in the area at the same time. With a
perfectly tuned up flute you can THEN start learning with full
confidence.
There are many free articles aimed
toward adult beginners for downloading, as well as full
fingering charts for printing out (click here for Free
Flute Articles and Links
to the best flute fingering charts etc.)
Obviously the best possible start would
be to find a fine private teacher, so that you can start off
with the best and fastest way of learning (or re-learning ) the
flute. Read about finding
a teacher here, and what
you can do to start while you're waiting for lessons to begin.
And if you are interested in
recommended music books and flute CDs to inspire and self-teach
just prior to starting private flute lessons, here are my top
book and CD recommendations for flute instructional Books and
"Beginner Adult Music for FUN!" Order one from each
list through your local music store (or search the public
library if on a budget):
INSTRUCTIONAL
BOOKS:
1. First Lessons Flute by Mizzy
McCAskill and Dona Gilliam -Mel Bay MB99824CD
This book and CD has many photos and
drawings explaining everything from assembling your flute,
holding it, getting your first sound on the headjoint, how to
stand, and leads quickly intojamming along with the percussion
group on the CD using headjoint only. The first few beginner
tunes are jazzy and a salsa-latin style, and you learn to let go
and improvise all the while learning to read rhythms and written
notes. Putting the flute together the next session, you'll find
that the fingerings are clearly demonstrated one at a time.
Counting and playing simple tunes (ethnic and celtic in style)
is very straightforward.If you have trouble working out a
concept, you may want to take this book to your first flute
lesson. The CD goes with the first half of the book, and the
remainder of the tunes you are given the tools to work out
yourself.
2. Trevor Wye Beginner Book of
the Flute Volume I - Novello
This book is formulated by a master
teacher who actually picked the songs by handing them around to
hundreds of students and having them choose their favourites.
The pace is solid and steady. There are duets every three pages
or so, to play along with your teacher. Those adults who want to
play it safe, and be able to very gradually build their flute
skills will find this book to give good solid grounding in the
flute's low register. Reading rhythms and notes is covered and
if you are working without a teacher especially, you'll want to
order the CD that goes with this book.. Illustrations of flute
posture and balance are good.
3. How to Play the Flute
by Howard Harrison - Elm Tree Books; ISBN
0-241-10876-4
Full of great cartoons, good music
(much of it Celtic based) for beginners, and helpful hints for
all aspects of reading rhythms, pitches and generally beginning
flute. Suitable for the self-teaching adult as it goes amazingly
far all in one inexpensive paperback. You will learn a host of
more advanced skills by the time you reach the end of the book.
Full fingering chart, high register playing, all the rhythms you
need to play Celtic music.Only one drawback in the lastest
printing, you have to break the spine to get it to lie flat on
the music stand if you get the paperback.
Once you're about two-thirds of the way
through any of the above books, there is a treasure trove of
books for fun that I'm sure will inspire you:
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Beginning
Adult flute student music books FOR FUN!!!
1. Jessica Walsh's Celtic Music
for Flute with CD
See: www.fluteandguitar.com
or <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = SKYPE />
1-800-627-0823
An absolutely breathtakingly lovely
book, and one that you'll be able to play for YEARS without ever
growing out of it. Every tune is a winner.....and many of the
over 40 Celtic songs can be played as duets with one player and
CD or with two players and CD ( For creating duets: see list of
page numbers below for each book).
If you with to hear this Celtic music
before purchase, you can hear MP3s in advance by going to the
website above, taking note that the flutist is performing on a
wooden headjoint, giving an authentic tone colour to the
lovingly arranged Celtic tunes. And although many of the rhythms
and the lack of articulation markings (slurs could be put in by
a teacher) may make this music somewhat complex to a beginner at
first sight, I've had several 11-14 yr. old students who've been
playing less than a year pick up these tunes by ear, and be able
to play the most complicated songs, simply because they were so
inspired by hearing the CD.
If you think the music is lovely, but
you need easier note-reading try the following slightly
easier-to-read-music collections by the same artists:
2. Medieval and Renaissance
Music for Flute with CD by Jessica Walsh
These magical tunes (41 of them) deal
with slightly easier rhythms, and stay within the harmonies and
otherworldly sounds of the Medieval and Renaissance musician.
Many can be played as duets, using one player and CD, or two
players and CD. If you adore this period of music, you will be
charmed.
If you're REALLY into this period of
music also see:
3. Ancient Airs, Cantigas and
Dances for Flute and Guitar by Jessica Walsh and Allan
Alexander.
Even easier notes and rhythms for those
adult beginners who want to pace themselves, and play tunes that
are simply in half-notes and quarter notes, as well as gradually
learn to play eighths and sixteenth notes with secure rhythm.
See:
How to play from the Jessica Walsh Celtic and World/Renaissance
books DUETS with the flute and guitar CD:
If you own any of the books above, and
would like to play a duet with the CD, print out this list of
"create your own duet" for using at home, as one flute
plus CD, or at your flute lessons with two flutes and CD. See
above link to creating duets from the Jessica Walsh books.
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Adult
beginner books worth checking into
A biographical novel that's a really
fun read for adult beginners is the book by Noah Adams called Piano
Lessons. Look for it in your bookstore or library. It's a
laugh-out-loud look at his own attempts to learn piano at 50,
and how he neglected to look for a teacher until LONG after he'd
overspent on a Steinway for his livingroom. :>) Just
hilarious.
You might also enjoy an older book
called Never Too Late by John Holt. Look for
both these books whenever you feel discouraged. :>)
Some adult beginner books recommended
by Just Flutes that I've never tried, but may be worth a look
are:
Un-tested
beginner flute books:
Fast-Track Flute, Sumbler Designed for
adult learners who already have
some musical knowledge or who play another instrument.
Invaluable
information to stop you getting into bad habits.
"´®£8.99
-----------------
Illustrated Flute Method, Mellersh.
More text than music, this
is ideal for someone already musical who wishes to take up the
flute.
Excellent diagrams. "´®£9.95
---------------------
Learn As You Play Flute, Wastall A
popular tutor -- good for the
younger players. A backing cassette/CD is available.
"´®£5.99
---------------------------
Learning to Play the Flute, Hunt This
is excellent for the adult
learner. A history of the instrument is given as well as hints
on
technique and posture, Includes many tunes, some duets for
teacher and
pupil Good value for money.
"´®£16.95
-----------------------------
A Progressive First Flute Book, CD
available separately. Useful for
students of any age and especially popular with adult beginners.
"´®£8.95
Jen Cluff. 2004
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