Private lessons · Flute
Flute lessons in Miami
Air across a hole makes the note. Here is the instrument, and how a flautist's scales grow from one octave to three.
- FamilyWoodwind; edge-blown aerophone
- RangeAbout three octaves from middle C
- Key systemBoehm, designed 1832–1847
The basics
- The flute is an edge-blown aerophone: a stream of air directed across a hole makes the air at the hole vibrate. Opening and closing holes changes the pitch.
- The standard Western concert flute, pitched in C, spans about three octaves from middle C (a half step lower with a B foot).
- Historically flutes were made of reed, bamboo, wood and other organic materials; most modern flutes are metal, mainly silver and nickel.
- Paleolithic bone and ivory flutes from southwestern Germany are roughly 43,000 to 35,000 years old. The Divje Babe flute, about 43,000 years old, is disputed as the oldest.
- Theobald Boehm developed the tone-hole, key and fingering design between 1832 and 1847; most Western concert flutes follow it.
- The piccolo sounds an octave above the concert flute; the alto flute is a fourth below it, and the bass flute an octave below.
- A flute player is called a flautist or flutist.
How technique develops
A map of the stages, taken from published exam-board requirements (named below). It is a map of what each stage can look like, not Green Hat's own method; your teacher adapts the path to you.
Make the sound
Everything starts with the edge tone: air directed across the embouchure hole. Fingers open and close holes to change pitch.
One octave, simple keys
ABRSM flute Grade 1 asks for F and G major and E minor scales and arpeggios, one octave, tongued or slurred.
Two octaves and sevenths
By Grade 5 scales cover two octaves in many keys, with chromatic scales, dominant sevenths and a diminished seventh.
Three octaves and extended range
Grade 8 asks for scales and arpeggios up to three octaves, extended-range scales, scales in thirds and whole-tone scales, in legato-tongued, staccato or slurred articulation.
In these exam requirements everything is played from memory.
Sources
Facts come from the sources below; check them if you need exact details.