I`ve been playing since October of last year, taking up the flute for my midlife crisis. I`ve probably pushed myself more on fingerings and reading music, but I have some problems maitaining a consistant tone and with rhythms (if I know the song, I know the rhythms, if not I`m just playing the notes). I`m also learning a good bit of music theory, that why I spending a good bit of time on chords.

I`m not doing to bad for stopping piano lessons back in second grade.

you have been a real help and i thank you for that. i appolojize if i ask too many questions. but it has just been sooo long since i have asked any questions that i am just full of them right now.

I don`t mind...Sometimes I`m a bit too free giving and getting information for people, so feel free to tell me to shut up, if I deluge you with too much data.

you stopped piano lessons way back in the sixth grade?? wow. i probly would never tell you to stop giving me info. since i am still learning i accept any advice a person is willing to give. unless you are one of the annoying girls at my lunch table then that`s a different story. but any ways, don`t worry about (what was the word you used?) deluging me. was that right?

sorry i meant second grade not sixth. i know what it is like to know play songs that you know and then songs you don`t know. my biggest weakness is sightreading music i have never heard for i play by ear (my whole family is the same way) and it is sooo incredibly hard for me to sight read rhythms that i don`t know the music to.

what do you think the best way to improve sight reading is???

Providing my eyes aren`t tired (I work on a computer all day), I`ve gotten pretty good at quickly recognizing notes in the staff, and it is getting easier to read the ledger lines as I work with the high notes.

The two things I do is transposing the music by hand (you need to get a music notebook, trust me, if you get one and use it, it will become a great tool) and I`ve been doing exercises out of Rubank`s Elementary Method for Flute, in particular one of the high note studies.

Even though I have Finale Notepad software, which does the same thing, the hand work helps you to recognize the notes.

where would you get a music notebook??

Sorry they are called Manuscript Books. Any music store should have them, I picked mine up from a local Sam Ash, and you can order online from them here.

http://www.samash.com/catalog/search.asp?STRID=145236&Method=2&SortMethod=4&Word1=manuscript&CategoryID=0&BrandID=0&Search_Type=SEARCH&DepartmentID=0&DepartmentKeeper=&groupcode=nonetodaythanks&PAGENUM=0&pagesize=10

They also have the Rubank book for flutes, so do a search for `rubank` and `flute` and they give a listing.

thanks a bunch for all of your help. i`ll talk to my dad see if he can help me out with getting that when we go to the mall of america in a few days.

I use a 12 stave book, that has 12 lines, obviously. I don`t know any of the stores near the MOA, but I don`t see a MUSIC store listed on the site.

How`s "Once in Royal David`s City" going?

Sorry about a bit misinformation, my fingering is getting to be more instinct, than memory. Well prepping for the holidays meant I hadn`t picked up my flute till this evening, from thursday. The high G is the 3 middle fingers of the left hand AND the pinkie of the right.

so far high "G" is the highest note i know the fingering for. do you live near the MOA?? last time i was there i thought i saw a music store. maybe i was mistaken. but if i can`t find any thing there i can always go to the local mall around here and get it. they`re probly less expensive anyways. the other night a bunch of us from pep band went to a friend of ours house and she started making fun of band nerds, so we politely reminded her that she was quite outnumbered and could easily take her. she didin`t say any thing about band the rest of the night. the piece you gave me is going along great. thanks.

I`m trying to learn my version from a childrens Christmas book that I got last year, because it had Good King Wenceslas (my Mother-in Law`s favorite carol), that I barely learned how to play last year. I actually have it 99% memorized, and play it up an octive from where it was printed. I`m also doing Silver Bells for my Mother, as well as David`s City and The Holly and The Ivy, for myself.

I live in Central Ohio, but I`ve heard of the Mall of America, and I`m really good at researching things.

In high school I was the King Geek, because I was the weird one, but I never really let the others get to me. And I`m happy with my life, compared to the popular kids after 25 years.

small world. i live in northeastern ohio. but i have family i go visit in minnesota and every year for Christmas my dad takes my little brother and i to MOA. memorizing music is probly the easiest thing in the world for me. but that`s only because in marching band we don`t have music that we can just put on our arms and read while we march. we absolutely have to memorize all music during marching season. so it becomes a habit and u memorize every music u see or hear. most of the songs that you have mentioned, i have memorized throughout the years. i`m still working on the song you suggested i play. its coming along great. my mother won`t allow me to play any music for her. she says that me playing the flute is just as bad as going with out chocolate. (she is a major chocoholic like you wouldn`t believe.) it kind of stinks having her not believe in anything i do. but that`s the way i`ve grown up and i`ve learned that even though my mother may not believe in me many other people do. especially all well most of my teachers and the ones that i care about most. so no longer do i get upset when she says i can`t. now i do it just to prove to her that i can.