Hi. I have played the “classical” flute for over 30 years. Our new Worship Director wants to do more celtic-type praise and worship. So I am delving into the world of the pennywhistle and irish flute. My strength on the classical flute is tone. (1) Will my embrochure transfer over to the irish flute? (I have ordered a F Olwell and am considering a Dixon 3-piece D - I have small hands.) (2) Can’t find any site or information on an Alan Mount flute somebody wrote about. Any help there? (3) Is the reach on the Seery okay for a small-handed person? (4) Being that I have played the classical flute so long, any suggestions on which flute to buy? I can go as high as $300 US. (I bought a $47 flute off E-bay which I returned. The reach was so uncomfortable. Now I am doing research.)
Thanks.
You should keep reading all the forum threads here that apply to your question; some of this ground has been gone over extensively, including what are the best flutes for small hands, low cost, etc. In the price range you are asking about, I’d think the M&E Rudall is your best bet (it’s a bit more, I think, but not too far off).
Yes, good Irish playing takes a different embouchure approach than classical modern playing, which means either you will play an “Irish” flute and make it sound more classical, or you will have to relearn your embouchure a bit on your new flute, regardless of make or price.
BUT, my opinion on this, frankly, is that there’s really no reason for you to change flutes at all just to sound a bit more Irish/Celtic. You have 30 years of playing on a Boehm system and you’re quite proud of your tone. Don’t mess with it. Listen to Irish music – alot! – and try to get a bit more of that sound in your playing on your current flute.
There’s really no reason – unless you really, really want to change over to a wooden flute, to play Irish music at its most authentic, and change your embouchure, etc., why you need a conical flute just to get a more Irish sound. Most of it is in your mind, the music is what’s important, and you are already an accomplished player. Players like Joannie Madden, poster child for great Irish playing on a modern flute, show us convincingly that it can be done.
If you must get a more wooden sound, spend your money on a good wooden head for your modern flute – some are quite pricey, but makers like Mark Hoza makes less-expensive ones that seem much more appropriate for Irish music than some of the more classical-but-wooden heads going for much more.
Gordon
I don’t think the reach on the seery will be good for you.
Casey Burns has some wooden flutes for small hands,
some of which go for about 400 dollars (mopane).
I venture to guess that the kind of sound he or she’s after is the long wailing notes that you’ll get more easily out of a low whistle than out of a flute. Irish flute is a very forceful “in your face” style, not a praise-and-worship kind of sound. In any case, this is the right web site; lots of whistlers around here. Many traditional players would give you grief for going after this clichè “Irish” sound that really has nothing to do with Irish traditional music, but the folks in this site are very open and helpful.
If you decide not to buy a whole new instrument, you might want to listen to some CDs by Flook. Quite a lot of their tunes are played with a boehm flute (alto, I believe). I find myself fascinated listening (did she tongue there? Was that a roll?).
I’ve played classical flute for 10 years or so and irish flute and whistles for about 5. I would agree that sticking with your classical flute and simply learning the style is a good solution, though not the most fun solution ‘:D’) Several problems that I’ve encountered doing worship music is that in order to play worship music you have to have a keyed flute in order to accompany the songs since they use various key signatures, and the more keys on the flute the more expensive it is and key’d irish flutes finger different than classical flutes. Worship music is usually E, D, A, G, and C. A keyed wooden flute won’t feel the same as a classic when using the keys and it will take a bit to relearn the dexterity.
That said, don’t be too intimidated. Celtic/irish music is fun and should be relatively easily because of your background in music. Regardless of whether you purchase an irish flute or not there is a learning curve for the style so in the end it makes little difference. Yes the embouchure is different, but you have the lip muscles in place, don’t sweat it too much.
The other option for you is to go keyless and/or pick up an irish whistle. I love whistles and I love keyless flutes. A ‘D’ instrument, an ‘E’ instrument and a ‘G’ instrument will let you play easily in the keys of D & F, E & A, and G & C - all the major worship keys. If I were in your shoes I would would order a couple of Patrick Olwell bamboo flutes, (amazing price and a beautiful instrument - are you anywhere near Maryland? I just saw him at the Maryland Renaissance Festival where he is selling bamboo flutes and he loves to chat. It lasts till mid Oct. http://www.rennfest.com/mrf/index.html You could purchase them there and avoid the wait - or send someone over to get them for you if you know anyone in the area). I would also get a whistle in one of the keys just for the pure fun of it, they are just like playing a flute but without the emouchure and they produce that signature irish sound; I’d go with a Michael Burke - good price, good tone, and an easy play and tuneable.
A keyless flute or irish whistle is something you could fly fast and effortlessly on in worship music - there isn’t a wrong note you can hit on them because there are no keys for accidentals. I have a lot of fun improvising and I’m not that great a flutist. They are relatively inexpensive and visually give a worship band a bit of spice. Along with traditional irish music, pick up couple of celtic worship CD’s: Eden’s Bridge and Revival in Belfast are great ones, and play along with them.
If you want to email me feel free: justbarak@yahoo.com. Hope this helps
Barak 