Alto Flute

Alto Flute

The Vento 800 Series Model 8302 Alto Flute is a great alto flute! We use fine brass alloy for the body and give it a silky smooth silver plating. This Vento alto flute offers a roller on the double thumb key and uses only the finest handmade pads. This ma

Learning and instrument is very rewarding. If you are keen to try an instrument, what ought to you go for?

What you need to do is gather all the selective information you need to make an informed decision and then give an instrument a go.

The selective information which could help you determine is:

1. What is the instrument?

2. History of the instrument

3. How do you play the instrument?

4. What sound does the instrument make? Do you like this sound?

5. Types of music the instrument plays.

6. Portability.

7. How you are going to learn – instruct yourself or find a teacher

8. Are you prepared to practise?

This article will run through the selective information using the flute as an example.

1. What is the Flute?

The flute is a popular, versatile, affordable, long-slender-pipelike, woodwind instrument, without a reed. There are dissimilar sizes of flutes with the more mutual ones being, from little to huge ~ the piccolo, concert flute, alto flute and bass flute. The concert flute is the flute we learn on and is 67cm long and weighs 400 – 600g depending on what it is made of. Materials include silver and other metals. Superstar James Galway is known as the “Man With The Golden Flute” as his flute is made of solid gold. Some student flutes have a curved head joint which makes it more comfortable for the younger players.

2. History

The flute dates back to the Ice Age more than 20,000 years ago, in the form of a simple carved bone with three holes employed for bird calls. They developed over the years from the early recorder like end-blown style to the more powerful transverse or sideways style dating back 3,000 years. Transverse flutes invented from a 4 – 8 hole scheme to the three sectioned flute with 15 holes and 23 keys, revolutionized in 1847 by Theobald Boehm, a flute playing metal worker. Flutes were made of respective materials over the years including bronze, ivory, wood and even glass and porcelain (which were great until dropped!) and metal.

3. How do you play the flute?

The flute is played by blowing all over a hole on the side near one end. Different notes are made by covering the holes along the sides with the fingers or keys.

4. What sound does the flute produce?

The word flute comes from the Latin verb flare which means to flow. So when the air flows down the instrument, a clear bellbird like sound with expressive colour is formulated ranging over three octaves from low C (middle C on piano) upwards. Some flutes have a particular B foot end piece, in which case the lowest note played is B under middle C.

5. Types of music the flute plays

You may play so a heap of dissimilar styles of music on the flute ranging from classical, jazz, musical theatre and more. Hence you may receive pleasure from making friends by joining a musical group or two. These may include chamber groups, flute choirs (using the respective sizes of flutes), orchestras, big bands, jazz ensembles. You may likewise take delight in playing duets with one other person on any instrument or soloing in the ease of your own home playing your favourite styles, perhaps to a backing track on a CD or computer.

6. Portability

The flute is very portable and may be taken everywhere. Just imagine sitting on top of a mountain on a sunny day, looking out at the splendid scenery and playing your favourite melodies to nature. Wow! Try doing this with a double bass.

7. How are you going to learn – yourself or with a teacher?

~ yourself: You may instruct yourself by purchasing a tutor book or online

~ teacher: Find yourself a teacher who will commend a book to learn from.

A first lesson may go something like this:

1. Breathing exercises, to become conscious of proper breathing techniques. Some students think the tummy goes in when you breathe in, but it goes out. Think of a balloon getting larger as air goes into it. As you breath in air goes into the lungs, making them exaggerate and accordingly moving the tummy out. It is indispensable to get the breathing right in order to create a good sound.

2. Sounds from the head piece alone.

3. Putting the flute together.

4. Standing or sitting posture.

5. Getting sounds from the flute: Depending on the student there may be time to learn the fingering of the notes B A G and play them. One may undertake long and short sounds.

8. Are you prepared to practise?

You will have to be in good training to play a wind instrument like the flute just like you need to be to be any good at sport. Your real work is the each and everyday training sessions done by you and your teacher is the coach.

So, in conclusion, find out as much data on any instrument of interest, like the example with the flute. Do you like the size, shape, sound and styles of music the instrument plays? Then, try one.

Alto Flute Photo

Alto Flute Picture

Alto Flute Picture

Alto Flute Image