Nor do I. Often times flutists will force more air through the horn (which will cause them to go sharp if the appropriate compensations are not made) in an attempt to vibrate, forgetting that a good vibrato does not merely pulsate sharp, but must be round, and go flat as well. A well formed vibrato, however does not require more air, and thus should have no effect on either tone or volume.

On a slight tangent; I've noticed that a lot of people seem to be learning how to play the flute from band-directors rather than from professional flute teachers. Is this indeed the case?

I went to an American high school myself (20 years ago), where I took up saxophone, as taught by the BD. One of the reasons I'm now on the flute rather than the sax forum, is the instruction I received, or perhaps didn't. In my experience all the BD was interested in was in getting another horn in the band. He taught me no music theory at all, no scales, no exercises, no background whatsoever. It was all strictly mechanical, certainly didn't instil any interest in music, and killed my interest in the sax. In doing so, I think he did me a great disservice, and put my musical development (in terms of playing) back by twenty years.

I feel very strongly that if I had had a proper teacher, whose only interest was to teach me how to play well (like my current flute teacher), rather than in trying to fill out the numbers in the band, I would have caried on with the sax, and perhaps made a good player. (Though I'm very happy with the flute, and I'm a better flutist now after one year, than I ever was a saxophonist.)

Has anyone else had a similar experience?



<Added>

I should add, that I intend no offence to any band-directors out there, I'm sure many if not most do a fantastic job. I'm just relating my own experience, and wondering whether there might not be a conflict of interest between the needs of the band, and those of the individual pupil. I also don't know what the cost and availability is of specialised music instruction in most parts of the US and elsewhere.

>>I went to an American high school myself (20 years ago), where I took up saxophone, as taught by the BD. One of the reasons I'm now on the flute rather than the sax forum, is the instruction I received, or perhaps didn't. In my experience all the BD was interested in was in getting another horn in the band. He taught me no music theory at all, no scales, no exercises, no background whatsoever. <<

That definitely wasn't my experience. However, it was, more so, the experience of my sister, and she even had one of those band horror experiences later (band director wanting her to play the mellophone--er, hold one, basically ).

I really feel that it depends on the band director. My elementary school flute lessons were good, but I suspect that the band director WAS a flute teacher (I'm not really sure--I was 10 ). My jr high band director was a gem--he was a tuba player, but he had a love of music, and demanded excellence. I will note that my parents moved, so my sister had an entirely different set of band directors. The band directors who taught me are actually still there, over 20 years later, and very active within the PA band directors organization and in private performing groups.

I'll hold judgment on my son's lessons. He's not progressing quickly at all (i.e. the assignments aren't challenging), although I was happy to see the introduction of scales this fall. His director last year was great--very motivated, and got them off to a good start. He's switched schools to the middle school this year, so we'll see how it goes. That said, he's going to start private lessons in the spring, once he's sprung from his metal mouth.

--Judy

I remember in my community band one time our director cut us off and said flutes stop all the vibrato or tone it down. It gets to sounding like a bunch of solo sopranos playing together and competing with one another he said! I laughed out loud and I think it really is true. I agree to use it more in solo passages and if done as a flute section say has a main section try to blend it together so it's not too much.

I hope I don't sound like a nanny goat when I play!!! I was never taught how to play vibrato. I'm not saying I'm natural by any means at all but I would practice and play with conductors and my one private lesson teacher and a lot of times I'd get ooh that sounds good but I didn't know really what I was doing. It stinks now trying to improve without any guidance but I try to read and practice trevor wye books. My private teacher helped me the most. But I think a lot of times it helped more to listen to other great flute players and actually playing duets with my private teacher that helped me. However then I have a hard time producing my own sound and style. As a result I think i'm spastic and not very good control but working on that.

I do tend to play vibrato more from my throat. This one flute player I was amazed at her playing because I never thought to control the vibrato for different speeds. I would do the same thing all the time just in an ensemble may have not played it as much but never based on the peices adjusted it so much. It sounded great I think mostly because she could play all diffent things. However at times it did sound "mechanical." It still sounded great but certain peices not so great. Maybe it me trying to control it and I have issues with controlling it that make me feel that way about it and I'm just not feeling it. Then I read to do vibrato from support from your diaphram then others between that and your throat which I've had more succes with right now.

I tend to use my throat too sometimes. It get's all tight.. I'm working on it.
MMmm.. my BD would say. Vibrato is playing the flute like you're nervous. hahaha..:D
OOoh my BD
BD LOVES it every time flutes do vibrato. hehehe