I have recently bought a flute off ebay, because I have nothing to do for 2 months this summer and am already a keen clarinet / saxophone player - associated board (uk) grd 8 distinctions in both.

What tips / advice / guidelines / etc, could you reccomend / give me to help me learning the flute - i have never even held one before - lol

Is flute similar to sax or clarinet ?

Are they any pitfalls sax / clarinet players fall into on the flute ?

Should it be particularly easy ? Are the fingerings similar, or totally different - easier, or harder ?

Thanks

The following resources may help:

Getting started with blowing:
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Resources/FluteLessons2.html

Other help for those coming from reed playing:
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Resources/FluteLessons.html

Useful resources:
http://www3.telus.net/Garry_McKevitt/

http://www.flutes.tk/

Ooh.. I have to say that I think that Mr. Palmer guy on the sax group is really hot! I love a man with intelligence.

Very distinguished looking! Obviously very knowledgeable on these subjects. It sure is nice to have the resources to refer these new players to. Sure goes a long way in squashing the rumor that flute players are just a bunch of stuck-up snobs. We`re actually nice, informative, and eager to help!!

I`m grateful that Mr. Palmer can provide better instructions than the old "pretend you are blowing on a bottle"!

I play Clarinet, sax, and flute. Flute has the same fingeings as sax although I don`t really think it is that similar to a clarinet.

Good luck!!! If you need any more help let me know :-)

I agree with you kippsix. It is rather nice. I get so tired of seeing people misguided by people that have no clue what they are talking about.

hey, i play flute and piccolo as my first instruments but i took up sax a few months ago and i find flute and sax very similar, i dont play clarinet (ive tryed once or twice) but that is kind of `backwards` if you dont mind me using that word. Its the embouchure that will trick you out at first but after that it should be a doddle, and can i just say ABRSM grade 8 sax, you must be some player!! Good Luck im sure you`ll do fine

^ thanks.

this might sound kinda ... arrogant / ignorant - hybrid (lol) but, considering that i have clarinet & sax distinctions at grade 8, how long do you think it would take for someone like me to beable to `attempt` grade 6 / 7 / (dare i say it) 8 flute ? ABRSM.

I had a friend who majored in clarinet at college and then borrowed a sax for 3 weeks before a grade 8 ABRSM exam and passed with merit after only having the instrument for 3 weeks - i know sax & clarinet are much more similar than reeds / flute, but still - valid question i think.

Where in UK are you from?

I reckon it would take you a couple of years, at least. While you might very quickly master the fingerings, mastering tone is a lot harder! I got a distinction in my Grade 8 flute in 2001, but it`s my first instrument so it`s harder for me to judge taking into account the fact that you already play. But I wouldn`t put yourself in for any exams until you learn to make a noise

I started playing flute when I seven (i`m now almost 16) but didn`t do any exams. I started flute lessons again a few months ago and am now doing my grade 5 in November.

As for how long it takes to get grade 8 stansard, it really does depend on how much you practise. In march, I couldn`t play any higher than grade 2, beacuse I didn`t have time to practise much. When I started lessons I realised that I needed to start practising and now, 4 months later, I can play up to grade 6 standard (I can`t do grade 6 exam because I haven`t done my theory exam yet).

One tip I have is to learn first octave B,A,and G first as these are the easiest notes to play. Also, each time you learn a new note, don`t try to play the next note until you can get your tone right on that one(My flute teacher told me this).

If I think of any more tips i`ll let you know