Hi, I am actually a brand new uilleann piper, but do have a breif question about the flute. I played flute in the school band between the ages of 9 and 12. 16 years later I am returning to music to learn my long time favorite, the pipes (I learned piano and guitar in the interim, but not to a great extent). However, I also love the Irish flute and am considering learning it along side my pipe learning. I am toying around with a d-whistle as well, which is nice because I can practice after my 6 mo. old son goes to sleep and not wake him.
So, here’s my question, how far off the irish flute is a standard band flute? Are they relatively the same or are they completely different (beside the valve covers vs. open holes)? I still have my old nickle Gemeinhardt flute which I believe is keyed in C. It does need new key pads, but is in great condition otherwise. Since I have already spent enough on piping and do not want to spend more money on more instruments, would re-learning that standard band flute hurt? It has valve covers as opposed to open holes, which I know accounts for a huge difference, but am not worried about losing that skill as I spend plenty of time on my uilleann pipe chanter. I would learn it so that I could eventually pick up a Irish flute and have fun. The vast majority of my music time will be dedicated to the pipes, but it’s always fun to have a diversion here and there, which brings up the next question.
Is picking up a flute going to harm or enhance my pipe and whistle learning. I am the type that likes to really expand, but as I am not an expert in this I cannot be certain that this kind of expanding would not be detrimental. If any of you have experience in this I would love you hear your input. Thank you!
Hi and welcome! I can’t see why playing your Gemeinhardt would be detrimental in any way, bar the small consideration of a slightly different fingering pattern (chiefly for F/F# and B/C). People soon get used to that, though it can cause some confusion in the early stages.The skills are pretty transferable, but of course, as with anything new, you may be better off concentrating your practice time and effort on doing one thing really well for a while, then re-expanding.
BTW, a Gemeinhardt or any other Bohm flute is not what we usually refer to as a “band flute” - that term is usually reserved for conoid wooden flutes and piccolos in Bb, F and Eb for marching band/flute band use like these:
They are of course just other-key versions of the normal D Simple System flute most used in ITM, and the fingering is very similar to whistle and pipes.
FWIW, I think in America these days you sometimes call relatively cheap/robust/for outdoor use Bohm flutes that are sold for use in US style marching bands “band flutes”, though they are really perfectly normal Bohm flutes at standard pitch just like orchestral flutes - and many band players probably play the same flute in orchestra too? Or maybe keep a better quality one for indoor use?
Playing several instruments is not detrimental to your playing. It’s not like you get adjusted to one instrument and forget how to play the other. There is much room for the muscle memory to accomodate for several instruments.
It’s more a question of spare time.
Thank you for your input! I am not sure if there are differences between indoor and outdoor uses on the profesional level. However, in most high schools and colleges, bands (orchestral bands that is) usually use one metallic flute (per player) plated in either nickel, silver, gold or platium. This is where I got the term “band”. It may have been better to call it an orchestral flute, I don’t know. It’s more or less just my own ignorance or lack of broad knowledge of the subject that I called it that. On the professional level I have seen wood flutes being played…which I always envied as a young floutist.
I assume the breathing is very simmilar if not the same between wood and metal flutes, do you find this to be true? If there is a great diffrence, I am sure it would not be too much for me to adjust once I make the transition. I just know that while Ipractice on my metal flute I will be longing for that haunting smooth quality the wood flutes have…soon enough, soon enough.
Thank you for your input! I am not sure if there are differences between indoor and outdoor uses on the profesional level. However, in most high schools and colleges, bands (orchestral bands that is) usually use one metallic flute (per player) plated in either nickel, silver, gold or platium. This is where I got the term “band”. It may have been better to call it an orchestral flute, I don’t know. It’s more or less just my own ignorance or lack of broad knowledge of the subject that I called it that. On the professional level I have seen wood flutes being played…which I always envied as a young floutist.
I assume the breathing is very simmilar if not the same between wood and metal flutes, do you find this to be true? If there is a great diffrence, I am sure it would not be too much for me to adjust once I make the transition. I just know that while Ipractice on my metal flute I will be longing for that haunting smooth quality the wood flutes have…soon enough, soon enough.
I agree with Jem and Rhadge, playing the Boehm-system (metal, orchestral, etc) flute will only add to your musical abilities, not detract in any way.
It’s definitely possible to play Irish dance music on the Boehm-system flute and have it sound “right,” listen to the playing of Noel Rice and of Joannie Madden for two very fine examples.
