Hi everyone,
Got my new-to-me flute in the mail the other day (M&E R&R) and want to take a couple lessons to get me started (on embouchure, hold, etc. and pure flute technique; I’m working on ornamentation and such via whistle). Regular lessons aren’t in the budget; I’d just like someone to make sure I’m not starting up with any bad habits/give me tips on the above-mentioned. (I’ve been mucking about with an American-Plating C fife-thing {this: http://www.amazon.com/American-Plating-150CN-Metal-Fife/dp/B002SCZRX8 & it’s not awful but it’s not a “real” flute}, but I’d be embarrassed to take lessons with that, so I’ve been waiting until I have a flute proper.)
Will I be badly-served by lessons from a classical/Boehm teacher, and should I find an Irish teacher instead? My reasoning is that I have a great local flute shop I like a lot and would like to support them by taking lessons through them, but I’m sure there are probably properly ITM-based teachers in my area as well who will be more well-versed on keyless flute vs. Boehm. I would speak with the owner of the shop and make sure the teacher I choose will understand that I am interested mostly in Celtic-type music and not really interested in Boehm flute (IOW, I don’t want someone who won’t know what to do with me or will try to convince me to switch; the owner knows me through whistle-playing so I know he’ll understand this and might be able to recommend a teacher who will, too), but if you all think I’d do best starting off the ITM-centric route, I’ll take that to heart.
(Um… how much should I be able to play before I go for lessons, so as not to waste my and my teacher’s time blowing soundlessly through this thing? I was just learning to get along with the fife-thing-- couldn’t even get the low notes at first and it took some practice; even now I can’t get far into the second octave. And now a whole new learning curve! Notes are spotty. I certainly haven’t got it figured out yet… I can’t even get to the second octave on just the headjoint if my life depended on it {though on the actual flute it’s easier} A tutor can’t really critique my embouchure if it’s barely even producing notes, right? {It is a catch-22. They should critique my embouchure if I’m having trouble producing notes. But if I can’t produce notes, then really we’re just standing around while I puff air ineffectually into a flute…})
(I tried searching, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to search for, for what I’m asking. I tried “classical flute lessons” but didn’t find much without a direct-phrase search.)
Look into Skype lessons. Lots of good teachers around.
If you want to play Irish trad on an Irish flute, it would likely be a poor idea to take lessons from a Boehm player who plays classical music. Find someone who plays ITM to take lessons from.
As suggested above sign up for the free flute lessons at the OAIM site especially the great player Steph Geremia’s Flute Basics which is aimed at complete beginners
Contact the local Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and ask their advice
Visit some of the sessions in your area - there’s a list of Michigan sessions here and speak to flute players you may get lucky with free advice or lesson
I agree with the above suggestions, but as a rank beginner, it can be very nice to have someone in the same room giving some tips. I’d suggest taking a few lessons from classical teacher until you can get a basic sound, then move on to Irish-specific lessons. (Just keep in mind the classical teacher’s mindset will be different. But the root mechanics are pretty similar.)
Anyway, just a thought to help muddy the waters. Regardless, have fun!
Teachers of either and other persuasion are (of course!) used to getting beginners started forming and training an embouchure. A couple of lessons just for that would be worthwhile. A teacher can observe what you’re doing and give direct instructions on what to change as well as help you avoid developing bad habits. You may also find my Flute Embouchure help sheet useful - linked in the Resources link in my “signature” below.
I agree with Tintin that having someone in the room can be a big help. Also I think it’s just prudent, if there are teachers of celtic flute in your area, to take a couple of lessons with one of them. Yes, they will start you from scratch. Good luck!
Thanks, everyone. I should have noted to start out with that anything involving the computer is out-- I don’t have a webcam, and my machine is quite old and needs an OS reinstall badly (it will no longer even update my browser), which I’ve not been able to do and probably won’t be able to do for some time until I have a friend who lives out-of-state help me (because if I mess it up myself, I’ll be without a computer completely, full stop), so most of the online lessons probably won’t even run on it/sound is spotty. A new computer is nowhere near in the budget for me (especially if my car doesn’t stop breaking). (My flute was a gift and besides, cost nowhere near what a new computer would/the repairs on my car will, so please no comments.) And, I think I definitely need a “real person” to help with my grip as well.
I’ve been reading through a lot of the old threads here, including a lot of the ones on embouchure and it’s been helpful, but everyone also recommends that one take a couple lessons, so I thought I should lest I start up any bad habits without realizing it.
I’ve looked up sessions, but most of them are 20-30 miles from me (I live in Metro Detroit but sort of the outskirts in the middle of nowhere), and I’m really shy about just… showing up to places with a bunch of people I don’t know and having to introduce myself, especially when I’m a complete hack at something they do well and when I have to ask for advice (and I don’t really like to go to pubs alone), so I’ve been sort of reticent to take that route, to make a long drive and then feel really nervous about walking in… I know there’s a session at the Gaelic downtown, and I’m marginally familiar with the place, but not with any of the other pubs listed. Well, there are a lot of reasons I’ve been sort of reticent about sessions, to be honest, but those are a few. Does anyone here go to any of the metro-Detroit sessions?
(and thanks, Jem-- I read through your helpsheet some time back and it was very helpful!)
At the risk of being a “wet blanket”, just because you’ve located a session doesn’t mean you will locate lessons. A session isn’t practice time (except for learning to play in a session) and while it’s good to go to see how they work and listen to how the music is played, there may not be any members present who teach flute.
In my own area (Albany, NY) we have 3 sources for sessions, the Celtic Hall, a Comhaltas chapter, and a slow session under the auspices of “Old Tunes” studio. None of these places had a teacher in their group, nor did they know of any locally (which, for the Celtic Hall, was ironic because they specifically say “flute lessons” on their website). Even at the Catskill Irish Arts Festival they were unable to locate a flute teacher for students to continue with.
Although I did end up taking a week’s worth of lessons at Celtic Irish Arts Week just to make sure I wasn’t teaching myself mistakes, overall I’d say a teacher isn’t critical. Yes, you will spend more time figuring things out on your own, but there are plenty of books and online resources available that you can successfully teach yourself. Once you’re able to consistently play notes, the most important tools are knowing the tune you want to play (eg can hear it in your head, hum it, etc) and listening to it being played so you can pick up the rhythm and phrasing.
