Hi all - I'm new to the forum and to the flute, so please bear with me! Does anyone ever start out on the alto flute, or is that something that one takes up after becoming somewhat proficient on the "regular" flute? I played the soprano recorder as a child, and when I returned to the recorder in my forties, my teacher had me buy an alto recorder.

Is the alto flute enough larger/heavier so that a woman with average-size hands (size 7-1/2 glove) would have difficulty with it?

Thanks very much!

The alto flute is harder. The intonation is more difficult and some notes are more likely to crack unless you have really developed a good embouchure, which takes time and a good idea of what you are doing. It requires a lot of breath support, which you wouldn't really have developed on soprano or alto recorder. I have heard complaints from some of my friends starting to learn flute that even holding the C concert flute for any significant amount of time is really awkward- now imagine that it's much larger and heavier.

For reference, I am a flute performance major in my junior year. I have been playing alto flute for three years (though I have been playing flute for nearly thirteen years now), and I still find it exhausting to play alto for any significant amount of time. I still love it, but it is not easy. If you don't know what you're doing and you haven't developed any of the right muscles and basic techniques on a C concert flute, you could very well hurt yourself. Tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are scary, but entirely preventable.

I know the alto flute has a gorgeous tone quality, but it will be very hard to get the tone quality you're looking for unless you have some background on the C flute first.

Thank you, TBFlute - you've confirmed my suspicions, so it's good to know that I was on track. I was also happy to read that other beginners have issues with holding the C flute comfortably/not awkwardly for periods of time. It helps to know that I'm not the only one.

When you are ready to make the transition to alto flute, you should know that while it is heavier and larger (longer) its not impossible for a woman to play well. I am only 5'2" and I play an alto with a straight head (my preference) with no difficulties other than making sure the musicians next to me give the alto flute ample room!.

There are curved heads available so that the arm stretch is minimized but for some, either the intonation of the curved head or the aesthetics make the curved head less appealing. For me, it was the aesthetics. After playing flute for many many years, it was truly easy to pick up an alto flute and make beautiful music with it. So concentrate first on mastering the C flute and then the alto will be a fairly easy transition. Something to work towards!

Thank you, goldenflute - that helps my long-range planning. It's good to have lots of goals - I just have to not become discouraged by how many of them there are! (starting with: hold the flute steady :0)

I find it much easier to play my alto than my C flute and I have been playing the C flute much longer. My enbochure is more relaxed and easier blowing than with the C flute. When I started playing flute again a couple of years ago, I would have gone right into the alto if there had been one I liked in town.

Rich

That's what I love about the forum - you get to hear from all points of view. I'm heartened to read that you find the alto easier. Thanks for posting!

Another thing about going right into the alto, the biggest pain for me is being handed music written for the C flute and having to transpose it for the alto. If I didn't already play the C flute, I would learn the scale with the notes you actually sound. Your staff would run from G-G 3 octaves, not c-c 3 octaves. That way you could just pick up the music and play it.

Thanks for the input, Chris. One more thing to think about!