I'm fairly new to learning to play the flute. I"ve signed a contract with a local music store for 16 lessons.
I desire to play flute for my own pleasure and nothing else. So, when my 16 lessons are finished, I don't intend
to pay for any more lessons and I could use some information about just how good are online flute lessons for
an amateur who has no aspirations to go to a professional level at all.

But, what puzzles me is this: If there is such a thing as "Online flute lessons"....how can your flute instructor hear how your
doing with the flute?

I'd appreciate any information.

thanks
grumpy31.......

I really don't think that you can get good instruction online. You really need one on one experience with a good flute teacher. Someone who specializes in flute and plays flute as their primary instrument.

Unless you have some really go recording equipment, I don't think that you can adequately demonstrate your technique and embouchure to a teacher over the internet.

I don't think that a teacher can demonstrate techniques adequately thorough the internet.

For example, Last week at my lesson the instructor was pushing against me to see if I was supporting my breath with my core. At least that is what I think that she was doing. Whatever it was, she said that I was supporting my breathing properly.

I don't think that you can get that online.

Also, sometime I find myself stareing at my instructors mouth as she plays. I watch how she adjusts her embouchure as she plays high and low, soft and loud. I don't think that you can learn that online.

I think that nothing beats one on one lessons.

You can learn some things online but if you don't take private lessons you may be doing something very wrong for years that will make it a deeply ingrained bad habit simply because you misunderstood what was said or written and there will be no one to tell you any differently.

I hope that you believe me when I say that learning to produce a good flute tone quality is a good example of how you can't use online to do this. This is because the tone quality isn't experienced fully in any recording. It needs to be understood in a live acoustic environment.

As already written, there's a lot to be said for a good example that is right there playing in front of you. All of the great players in history have learned from others in this way. Just because "online" is new and popular and it may seem to be a cheaper way to get your information does not mean that it is always correct.

When I teach a student in private lessons, I store into my memory what they know. I also have everything in the way of what they need to learn and I try to give them the information in a certain order that they need to learn it. I also try to teach them in a positive way to enjoy learning and to have the proper outlook on how to perform properly.

Playing musically artistically involves not only learning certain facts (Such as how to finger a note) but it involves having a certain understanding of how to convey the language of music and then gaining an understanding of the whole self-practice learning process.

However, if you are taking private lessons from a competent teacher, the internet can be a good supplement for certain things if you know where to look.

I believe if you are already a competent musician with another instrument and have a good understanding of what it is you want to accomplish, you can probably find enough information online to suit your needs. Especially, since you said you only want to play for your own enjoyment. You're not looking to become a professional flutist, you just want to have fun playing the flute at home. See how much information you can find. There are lots of podcasts popping up all over and you may be able to find some old standard flute books in print online, too. There are so many resources available with the internet these days. Then, you could always sign up for some master lessons with someone in your area a few times a year to make sure you are on the right track. The trouble with trying to do it yourself is being motivated enough to make progress each week when you're only accountable to yourself. I have to take lessons to improve because I don't practice otherwise.

Amy Boyack
http://SisterSingers.com/blog
http://TheInterestExterminator.com