Which method is better to learn the flute? (My sister and I had an argument about this because her friend learned it one way, and my sister said her friend was better than me because she learned how to play it that way).

The Suzuki Method (of being taught by ear...I think...this is the method my sister`s friend learned how to play).

The method by just learning the staff, the notes, etc. like FACE, EGBDF, the articulations, dynamics, etc.

Please help!!!

I would like to say," The best way to learn flute is get with a professional flautist, that can teach you the proper way to play flute." I am a professional flute recitalist and flute studio instructor in Chicago and I have taught students who were beginners, intermediate, and advance. Each of the students I have taught differently, from similiar books.

Books that will help you are the Marcel Moyse method books: he has a beginners book, book on long tones, daily exercises, and tone development. These books are very important as a flutist, because the French Flutist was taught to have clear, supple and expressive tone, when playing flute.

Also, I would recommend you to start researching famous flutists and listen to their CDs for tone, technical passages, rhythm, harmony and what ever comes to your mind.

I wish you all the success!!!

My e-mail is valflutemusic@hotmail.com if you ever in Chicago e-mail me.

Valerie

Here`s an interesting encyclopedia bit on Susuki method:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_method

Had a couple of Suzuki music books for violin, but it really was just normal music... don`t know how the teaching method works, but some of those little Suzuki violinists are amazing.

But I don`t think any of the major flute professionals went through Suzuki though, but its rather new to the West.

There are a few Suzuki teachers on FluteList/Net (don`t remember which) that would probably fill you in on how they teach.

Thanks...This should help a little...

Any other input?

I feel that at first mabey its good for younger players to learn by the suziki method but all in all to advance in music it is probobaly worth your while to learn the traditional stave way.

Suzuki has some advantages, but it seems many of these kids run into a brick wall when they have to read music, also, do you really want to learn so few pieces by rote learning and memory, or do you want to learn to read music properly and play all music available to you?

"Suzuki has some advantages, but it seems many of these kids run into a brick wall when they have to read music, also, do you really want to learn so few pieces by rote learning and memory, or do you want to learn to read music properly and play all music available to you?"

True. I would want to learn both, but my friend and I both agree it is better to learn the music properly.

My daughters private teacher started studying flute using the Suzuki method at the age of 7 and then studied the traditional method at at conservatory.

She holds a bachelor`s degree in flute performance, a master`s degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Professional Studies certificate in flute performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
She now plays professionally.

I guess I would say the Suzuki method definitely worked for her. She does not teach my daughter using the Suzuki method but has had her play a couple of songs out of her Suzuki books.

Kim

I can admit I don`t know any other teaching methods personally other than the "normal" way, but I can see where both sides would have merits.

Learning by ear would help you recognize intervals in notes and would probably significantly help you when learning tuning and pitches. It would also teach you to actually feel a rhythm rather than counting it.

That being said I think a strong foundation in rhythm and musicality are very important for beginners. It is like learning grammar.

I might do some more research into this alternative teaching method.

I think the question is moot because you`re very likely too old for Suzuki.

Suziki is fine if you just want to play pieces but Im mean if you ever want to get into a band or orchestra oyu would fall at the first hurdle. I mean if you get given a piece of sight-reading, what do you do? Obviously you can`t read it so they`re not going to accept someone who can`t read music.

Suziki is for fun learning-Stave if you want to advance

Leprachaun

Suzuki does teaching reading; it just doesn`t start with reading. As I say, I think in this case the question is moot. Suzuki is for children.

I am a child...well, a teenager, but still...I`m a minor.

My private lesson told me it is better to learn to read music...then I`m not sure what she said (Then I think play by ear)

Here`s a more indepth article on Suzuki:
http://www.natesviolin.com/instruction/suzuki.html

and here`s another quesioning why it is so popular:
http://www.violinist.com/discussion/response.cfm?ID=8225

Woh woh woh, slow down a little guys.
I`m new to this forum and yes i do play the flute. I have always learned the flute using the suzuki method and i recently got my A.Mus.A at the age of 15. However i do believe that some of you are confused about suzuki music. Of course the students can use dynamics and learn the notes on the staff and are in fact very accomplished at reading. The only difference is that at a young age suzuki students listen to the pieces they are playing to become more musical. Of course all suzuki students can read otherwise it would be almost impossible to make it past 4th grade. I hope you can understand that suzuki students dont learn music by ear, they simply just listen to their pieces.
Cheers!