WHS

Toot Da Flute















​

  • HOME
  • CALENDAR OF EVENTS
  • CONCERT BAND
  • MARCHING BAND
  • MIXED CHOIR
    • Resources Choir
  • ORCHESTRA
  • MUSIC LIBRARY
Looking to Buy/Rent
Private Lessons
Articles/resources
Pro Recordings and Repertoire

Maintenance and Care

New to flute? Watch the video to the left in order to be able to identify the parts of the flute, how to assemble a standard C flute, and how to swab a flute once you are finished playing.

Note: All flutists must have their own swabs as sharing swabs is not sanitary. Silk swabs are recommended, but 100% cotton swabs are also acceptable. 

Posture

Picture
Incorrect: The angle is too low; look at the embouchure against the lip plate! Elbows are tucked in and the wrists are at "broken" angles.
Picture
Incorrect: The angle is too high; tendinitis would be so easy to contract in this position! The embouchure is also tilted off of the lip plate and air would not be able to properly move into/across the lip plate.
Picture
Correct posture: Angle of the flute/head is slightly tilted without bending the neck and cutting off the air stream. Elbows are close to the body without being tucked in. Fingers are curved on the buttons, not flat (including pinkies!). Flute is balanced on main joint of the index finger (LH) and the main joint of the index finger (RH).

Seated Posture
Picture
Incorrect: Feet are tucked back under the chair. Flute is angled waaayyyy too far down. Torso is leaning forward with the lower back touching the back of the chair.
Picture
Incorrect: This is the most common incorrect posture. Legs are splayed, elbow is hooked over the chair, torso is leaning back into the chair cramping the air passage.
Picture
Correct: Shoulders and hips are aligned atop one another. Flute is slightly away from the body (unlike marching band). Torso is supported for strong breath production. Back is straight without artificially curving the spine.

Troubleshooting


Videos and Articles for Advanced Techniques

Comprehensive Fingering Chart covering Piccolo to Bass Flute: wfg.woodwind.org/flute/
How Do Woodwind Instruments Work?: newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/woodwind.html
Flute Acoustics: newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/flute/

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from Sidneiensis
  • HOME
  • CALENDAR OF EVENTS
  • CONCERT BAND
  • MARCHING BAND
  • MIXED CHOIR
    • Resources Choir
  • ORCHESTRA
  • MUSIC LIBRARY