I just ordered an alto flute as a rental at the local music store.. (it is only a Jupiter 521S but I am kinda broke and it was the cheapest rental....gems and sonare were almost $75 more a month!!!)

Does anyone have any repetoire suggestions or even exercises to get used to alto? I am proficient at concert flute having done a BMus and considering doing a MMus but nobody around here actually plays alto (actually I am one of 2 professional flutists around!) so I need some advice. My low register on concert flute is my best..it is big and rich. Hopefully that will transfer onto alto!

When I bought my alto a few months ago, I looked around and came to the conclusion that alto music and information were either scarce or else I was looking in the wrong place. Nevertheless, I did find one book that you may find useful - The Alto Flute Practice Book, by Trevor Wye & Patricia Morris.

i have a question what is and alto flute and wahts the diferance between an alto flute and a concert flute and a normal flute(a c flute)

Alto flute is pitched in the key of G (a perfect fourth lower than the concert flute), and is relatively unusual (though far more common than other members of the flute family), and is most commonly seen in flute choirs. It's mostly used for its unique timbre. Composers such as Stravinksy and Holst wrote parts for it, but otherwise, it's orchestral repertoire is quite small, though modern composers have greatly expanded its solo repertoire.

thanks for explaining

I have used it for shows and will feature some alto on my new CD, look on flute world, I know Gary Schocker has some alto pieces, plus you may find some nice transcriptions...

Check out Chris Potter's website. She has a very detailed list of repertoire for both alto and bass.

http://altoflute.net/

One reason composers have been relunctant to write for it is that it's easily covered. Another reason is that it's rare enough that they're not always convinced that if they call for it they'll get it. It's more common in arrangements that are strictly for recording (such as television and movie soundtracks) where it can be artificially amplified.