Learn About Music Instruments

My Flute has been getting small black rings and is turning black in places where I don’t put my fingers to play, is it tarnishing? How do I get it off?

HI Jenn,

You can use Q-tips dipped in a little silver polish and get in those tiny spaces between the keys. Then use a clean Q-tip to wipe away any left over residue.

What you might consider doing, and what I have done in the past is take your flute in to the flute repair. Have the tech remove the keys and mechanism… which takes just about 5 minutes (honestly) and then have him dip it in a tarnish cleaning solution. Which will take less than 5 minutes to clean off every bit of tarnish. I teach flute and sometimes get used flutes for my students…. if the flute is very tarnished, this is what I do. The flute comes out beautifully clean with not a speck of tarnish. I follow with a silver polish and then replace the keys and mechanism.

You don’t have to take it in if you just want to work around the mechanism, but then, just use the silver polish and a soft clean cloth… like an old t-shirt… and work where ever you can get to. Just do not get the polish on the pads, which would deteriorate them… causing more problems. Why not call the repair shop and ask how much it would cost to (ONLY) dip the flute to remove the tarnish. Even though you can clean it, you will be so much happier to get it completely clean. )

Thanks for reading.

I’m arranging a duet for tuba and Flute and I’ve already got "Prince Ali" in it but I need some more suggestions. Things that sound fun to play and priceless on a tuba and flute.

The tuba side sounds kinda odd really because of the limited abilities of a tuba. Maybe I’m dissing a tuba without good reason. The key thing is your trying something new and writing. Even if you have to work twice as hard to overcome limitations of an instrument it’ll make you a better composer.

So the question is not whether folks want to hear those two instruments but rather would you like to listen to something I composed? Forget what instruments you choose to work in and concentrate on making it sound good. In the end that is all that counts. Does it sound good or not?

I’ve always wanted to buy a native american Flute, but it seems that the irish flute is closer to the regular flute.

What is the difference (besides the sound)? Are there the same amount of holes and fingerings?

Native American flutes don’t have keys like a c flute. Native American flutes are typically played vertically, like recorder, whereas Irish flutes are side-blown (or transverse) like the c flute. Some Irish flutes have a few keys while some don’t. Fingerings are going to differ. But the Irish flutes are really precursors to our modern C flutes, and have more in common with it. Especially the scale, and the ability to play chromatically. Whichever you choose, having knowledge of how to play c flute will help you to learn the other types a bit easier.
Check out these websites for more information
Irish Flute Information –
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/begin.html
Native American Flute Information –
http://www.native-languages.org/flutes.htm

I’ve been playing the flute for about three years, but i still get an airy sound when i play. How can i fix that?

If you have a good enough embouchure, it doesn’t matter how bad your pads are on your Flute, you’ll still get a good, rich sound. It also won’t be a problem with your tuning cork (the cork on the end of the mouthpiece), because when it’s bad you’re just out of tune or you might hear a buzzing sound, where the metal pieces of the tuning cork are vibrating because the pieces can’t be tight enough. By the way, don’t wash your flute. If the pads get wet, you’ll ruin them. You can rub it with a cotton ball with a cleaner on it, but don’t get near those pads.

An airy sound can be fixed by learning how to make a good tone. The easiest way to learn better tone is to do long tones and enharmonics. Get the tone book by Trevor Wye. It’s wonderful.

It’s hard to teach enharmonics without showing you, so I’ll teach long tones. Start with the A on the staff. Play it and really listen to yourself. Adjust how wide open your mouth and lips are and adjust the angle at which you’re blowing until you really like the sound that’s comming out. Then slur down to A flat. You should use half your air on the A, then half on the A flat. Then play the A flat and slur down to a G. Do this all the way down to Middle C. When you’re done with that, start at A and go up to the top of your range in the same way. Do this while you’re warming up EVERY TIME YOU PLAY. Every time I skip this in warm ups, I don’t play as well. I can skip everything else but this.

I’ve been playing the flute for 6 and a half years, and it’s time for an upgrade. Please help me find out what the best way to go is. Thanks!
I’ve been playing the flute for 6 and a half years and it’s time for an upgrade. I know I want an open holed Flute, with a B foot.

I have a Yamaha 471 (the Allegro model) it is just as you described.(B foot, open holed, and its one of Yamaha’s intermediate models) It even has a gold lip plate.

What qualification do I need to become a flute teacher? Where and how do I get these qualifications?

First you have to get a qualified Flute. Okay, just kidding. Reminds me of a joke: How do you catch a unique rabbit? (You ‘neak up on it!) But seriously, check the public school website for the state in which you plan to teach. That will tell you what the licensing requirements are for that state, and it can put you in touch with someone who can help you understand it all.

I have a Yamaha YFL-221 student/standard Flute that has been used for 2 -3 years, but hasn’t been played within the last year. Can someone give me a reasonable price to sell it for? I bought is for about 560 dollars, if that makes any difference.

i would put it on ebay, it will sell for a good price. if that isnt going to work then bring it to a local school and ask if they are interested in buying it.

I have been learning Flute for about 3 years but for some reason I’ve never learned to tongue. It makes articulation really hard. Any answers?

1) Say Tee
2) Notice where your toungue starts (at the top of you teeth)
3) Thats flute tounging

Check it out xray style!
http://members.shaw.ca/ppguide/xray/xray01.htm

I was wondering how much a C Flute with closed holes costs. It doesn’t have to be the best quality, because I really just want to try it out. I already play the Trumpet, but want to play the Flute too. But I also don’t want it to be utter crap. Thanks!

A Yamaha YFL 221A costs around $595 here in Australia, . You can buy cheaper ones for about $290 but for a good middle-of-the range quality instrument, you have to pay that little bit extra. Check out the Web for your nearest music stores and compare prices. Also the phone book or ring a couple of music teachers and ask advice. Do your checking from all available sources , writing down info as you go and then buy the flute that you think is best for you……Hope this is of help to you!

I’m an intermediate flute player who’s trying to hit the high notes, but the problem is that I have braces, and no matter how I try, I can’t play the high notes smoothly. It comes out breathy and squeaky…Does anyone know how to get pass this problem?

I learned with braces on. I had a more difficult time than the other Flute players that were learning. The teacher kept saying that my sound wasn’t good because my lips were too tight and wasn’t getting as full of an air flow. There really isn’t a way to fix it. I tried everything that helped including the tape thing. Don’t use dental wax! it creates less room in your mouth and is more difficult to play. I actually had to keep my lips tighter, you will have an imprint of the braces on your lips when you are done playing but it doesn’t hurt. If the end wires are poking your cheeks ask your orthodontist if he can curl the wires in so it doesn’t hurt. My teacher said my sound was bad because of my really tight lips but it was just because i was simply learning how to play with braces. My sound is fine now and I am able to play just as well as the other flutists in my high school band. Just practice with your flute and keep the corners of your mouth tight. It feels strange and your cheeks will probably get tired after a while but that will get better as you practice more.