Hi there,

I just wanted to say 'hi'. I am a mother of 3 in my late 20s who is relatively new to the flute. I started playing about 8 weeks ago, and can honestly say I am becoming a little obsessed with my flute playing!
I am fortunate that I have just picked it right up.
I play piano also.. went through grades on piano many years ago, but havent found the time to play since I had my children.

I have a Buffet Crampon 6020 which if I do say so myself sounds beautiful (even with me playing it!) but ideally some point in the future, I'd love to purchase a more 'serious' flute.

I never really took to music lessons, even back when I played the piano. I was taught the very basics of piano (middle C, and the basic theory) and then I pretty much self taught from there. I only took my grades because at the time, my school offered this.

To learn, I started with "abracadabra flute" which came with a CD accompaniment to play with. I found that gives me more confidence in my playing.

I have bought about 10 books since, take the lead books, guest spot, etc...
My current favourite is this book:
Harry potter chamber of secrets -(http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/056655/details.html)

I prefer to play accompanied but dont know anyone else that plays the flute, which is why I buy books with CD backing. I am finding that the books I currently have are still a lot of fun to play, but are not so taxing anymore.

Can anyone recommend a good next-level book that come with CD backing tracks?

Also, is there an easy way to find other flautists?
I could do with a few suggestions, I would love to find a player to a similar or a little higher level than me to play with.

Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

xxx

<Added>

ETA:

Sorry, I just relised that the link doesnt work...!

HI fluffy,
Welcome to this place.
The link actually works fine if you remove the )
http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/056655/details.html

I'm curious what it is about private lessons that turn you off.
Rigidity of the material?
A good reason for a private teacher is to coach the student and give them proper habits so that they can get the most out of their playing. If a student develops incorrect habits that hamper their playing, it may take decades to get them to play better.
Of course each player should have the right to develop and enjoy the flute in their own individual way.

~Bilbo
N.E. Ohio

Hi there and welcome to the board!
I am in the same vote as you as I love to play with those music minus one CD's, I must have about 20 of them!
Have you check out that site? I know there are beginning -intermediate and advanced level books and I am sure you could find some really fun stuff.
Here is the web site:
http://www.musicminusone.com/

I really like the Harry Potter books too. They are fun and good for working on tone at the same time.
Some other good books that have CD accompaniments with them are:

*The very best of John Williams
*A Celtic Top Ten
*Play Puccini

I purchased those off of ebay, but I am sure you could order them on line else where. Let me know if you need help finding them.

Keep on enjoy the flute!



<Added>

Oh, I forgot to add that the first edition of the Harry Potter book is also really good!

Hi Bilbo!

Sorry about the link. I realised what I had done once I'd posted, then you cant go back and retract can you?!

Thanks for replying.

In all honesty, I'd not really thought about what turns me off to lessons! How daft is that?!

I remember I had a 'mare' of a piano tutor when I was little (started piano when I was 4) and I think that will probably always stay with me.
I think that has put me off.
Also, I dont know why, but I think of lessons being for younger people.. I'm nearing 30 and feel a bit long in the tooth to be just starting music classes... appologies to any mature musicians here, its just me being strange!

I'm not easy to teach either.. I like to learn music that I like the sound of, and I appreciate that its probably difficult to improve in a 'structured' manner if you are hopping from tune to tune only playing music that pleases you!

Maybe there are music teachers out there that could totally accomodate my style... I guess I never really thought about that before.

To be honest, I guess if I wanted to take grades, I'd have to take lessons right? It would be kinda nice to be able to say "I'm grade *insert number here* flute" lol

Hi Kara,

Sorry, you must have posted whilst I was whittering away there!!

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad to hear that there are others like me. Thanks for the link. I'll have a looksie in a moment.
I'll also hunt down the books you listed.
I havent seen the first HP book.. I bought HP2 score because I LOVE 'Fawkes the phoenix' I think it sounds so beautiful played on the flute.

I think I'm gonna like it here

Drop me a line in my in box and I will help you out with that first book.
It is fun on here, we are like a family. It does get crazy at times, but come on.. we are all flutists after all. Lol!

Welcome to the place, fluffy. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I have been studying flute for 3 years, with a private teacher, but here I have learnt many new and important things.

BTW, I more than double you in age and several of my student colleagues are not much younger (though I feel like the Patriarch anyway). So having or not a teacher should not really be a matter of age. But one should have the teacher one likes and gets on well with. I have found that the older one is, the more choosy one becomes. At least that is my experience

It is nice to know you can learn with books and CDs, that is not my case.

Hello Jose Luis,

I had a feeling that there would be mature musicians here... me and my big mouth! (remove flute, open mouth - insert foot!!)

It is nice to know that there are other people who are learning later in life.

I think your post along with the other posts here have inspired me to seek out a tutor!

Although I am learning with books and CDs, I am sure that there is no substitute for an actual teacher.
I know from experience how easy it is to learn bad habits playing the piano, so I am sure it is easy to do the same for the flute.
Also, I realise that there many techniques that just cannot be explained in a book or on a CD.

As they say.....watch this space

Thankyou..

Fluffy, Oh My Goodness!! Those are cute kids!!
Welcome to the forum! I'm also a "mature" player, but I've been playing longer than you've been on this earth!
Dang, that sounds so old!

Hey Kippsix,

Firstly, thankyou for the compliment on my daughters.. I think they are cute, but then I am just a little biased!!

Wow, you have been playing just a few years then!! Dont think of it making you sound old.. just erm... 'experienced'

I do know what you mean though.. I have been playing piano for almost 26 years.... that makes me feel old!!