{"id":2055,"date":"2022-12-16T19:39:17","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T19:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dadstuffsite.com\/?p=2055"},"modified":"2023-08-28T11:38:48","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T11:38:48","slug":"parents-survival-guide-to-the-flute-basic-care-terms-and-how-to-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dadstuffsite.com\/parents-survival-guide-to-the-flute-basic-care-terms-and-how-to-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Parent’s Survival Guide to the Flute: Basic Care, Terms, and How to Help"},"content":{"rendered":"
A couple weeks ago your child decided they want to join band. You filled out the paperwork, signed up for the class, and their flute has finally come in. Your kid is super excited to start, but you\u2019re starting to feel the pangs of anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You want your child to succeed and have fun, and you\u2019ll do anything you can to help. Except you know nothing about the flute. Chances are you know little about band and are worried you\u2019re going to do more harm than good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fear not, this guide is here for you! As a college music professor, a former band director, and a dad of two boys myself, I can give you all the flute basics you need to know as a parent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m going to explain basic flute terminology, playing fundamentals, and things to pay attention to so you can help your child do their best. By the end of this article, you\u2019ll have some lingo to use when talking to your kid and their teacher about the flute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re still deciding whether to buy or rent a flute, check out Renting vs Buying a Beginner Instrument<\/a>. It will give you everything you need to know to help you make the right decision.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first days are going to be a test of patience your child. They will want to open that sucker up and jump right in. Don\u2019t let them! In fact, don\u2019t let them touch it yet (you can open it and look at it longingly, but no touching). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Until your child gets instruction from the band director or private lesson teacher, they\u2019re not ready to put it together. In fact, they\u2019re more likely to do accidental damage. There are a lot of small moving parts, and grabbing it the wrong way can move a pad out of alignment. The last thing you want to do is have to make a repair before you\u2019ve even started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start by explaining the different parts of the flute. This way you know what should be included in the case, what the pieces are called, and what they\u2019re for. <\/p>\n\n\n The first part we\u2019re going to look at is called the head joint<\/strong>. This is the part your child is going to blow across (not into. You create sound on a flute by blowing across the top, kind of like what you do on a beer bottle). <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three parts to the head joint: the lip plate<\/strong>, the embouchure hole<\/strong> (pronounced AHM-bo-shure. Sometimes called a tone hole<\/strong>.), and the crown<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n The main thing to know here is to not mess with crown. The crown screws to a cork inside the end of the head joint. It\u2019s positioned in a specific spot that will help tuning later. This should already be set correctly, so don\u2019t mess with it. In fact, as long as it\u2019s set correctly (17.3 mm from the middle of the embouchure hole to be precise), you will likely never have to mess with it. <\/p>\n\n\n The next part of the flute is called the body<\/strong>. This is the longest part with all the key<\/strong>s. One side will have no keys and has the brand name engraved on it. This end connects with the head joint. The other end connects to the foot joint. <\/p>\n\n\n This leads to the last part of the flute, the foot joint<\/strong>. The end with all the buttons connects to the body of the flute. <\/p>\n\n\n Some other accessories that come with the flute include a case and a cleaning rod. One side of the rod will have a long hole, and the other side should have a couple tick marks. <\/p>\n\n\n The purpose of those markings is to check the placement of the cork connected to the crown. Simply insert the rod (the part opposite the long hole) into the head joint until it touches the cork. If you look into the embouchure hole, you should see a line from on the cleaning rod exactly in the middle of the embouchure hole. <\/p>\n\n\n If the line is off center for some reason, don\u2019t try to fix it yourself. Let your flute teacher or band director know. It\u2019s a simple enough adjustment that doesn\u2019t need any extra tools, but leave it to someone who knows what they\u2019re doing to make the adjustment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frustrated trying to get your kids to practice? Check out Getting Your Child to Practice Music: 20 Tips for Motivation<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n While you\u2019re not likely to ever play your child\u2019s flute (unless you\u2019re just super curious), there is a good chance you might need to help put it together or take it apart, especially in the beginning. Here are the steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find that the head joint or foot joint are a bit tight to get on, don\u2019t grip it and force it together. The piece might be slightly dinged up and need a repair, or there might be some grime on the tenons that are making it tight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you go and grab some WD-40 to try to fix this, stop. You don\u2019t want to put any sort of lubricants to get this to fit. Start by using a tarnish cloth to wipe away any grime. If that doesn\u2019t work, put a little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and wipe down the areas of contact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If that still doesn\u2019t fix it, contact the music store and have them either fix it or give you another flute. Trying to fix it yourself could cause more harm than good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To take a flute apart, simply follow the same steps in reverse. Remember to always use a twisting motion. NEVER just pull the pieces apart or push them together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The tenons of the flute have the slightest taper and repeated pulling will, over time, slightly stretch the metal. This will eventually cause the joint to loosen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If any of the pieces are too tight (and possibly stuck \u2013 the foot joint is the most likely culprit), place your thumb on the Eb key of the foot joint, and try to twist. Don\u2019t try to muscle it out if it doesn\u2019t come apart, and never go and get your tools. Yes, you can technically get it apart with some pliers, but you will forever ruin that instrument. Just take it to the music store and get their repair person to take it apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To prevent tight joints, make sure your child is wiping down the joints every time they finish playing. It doesn\u2019t take much grime to make the joint too tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related:<\/strong> What is a Metronome and Which One is Best? (Pros and Cons)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Embouchure<\/strong> \u2013 The lips and surrounding muscles that create the shape necessary for playing the instrument. Flutists shape their embouchure by first saying \u201cem\u201d and then \u201cpooh.\u201d They don\u2019t actually say the word \u201cpooh\u201d but blow a stream of air through their lips while creating that shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aperture<\/strong> \u2013 The small oval-shaped mouth opening that happens when the flutist blows through their lips. The aperture directs the air across the embouchure hole of the head joint to create sound. <\/p>\n\n\n Vapor trail<\/strong> \u2013 The visible moisture from the air the flutist blows as it briefly condenses on the metal of the lip plate. <\/p>\n\n\n Open hole flute<\/strong> \u2013 A flute that has holes in the keys, typical for intermediate or advanced-level flutes. The flutist must cover the holes completely with the pads of their fingers in order to play notes. Not covering them completely will prevent the note from sounding correctly. <\/p>\n\n\n Closed hole flute<\/strong> \u2013 A flute with full metal keys (no holes in the middle), typical for beginner flutes. Since beginners are still learning the basics of hand position, having to also cover holes can unnecessarily complicate the beginner stages. Taking away this variable helps a beginner have success more quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child has an open hole flute, it\u2019s common to have plugs for the key holes. They\u2019re usually made of cork or some sort of synthetic material. Personally, I like the synthetic ones as they tend to not pop out as often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Offset G<\/strong> \u2013 When the position of the G key (played by the ring finger of the left hand) is moved to one side, common with beginner flutes. This makes the key easier to reach, especially for little hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Inline G<\/strong> \u2013 When the position of the G key is in a straight line with the other keys. As your child advances to an intermediate stage (and as their hands grow), they will probably change to an inline-G flute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related: <\/em><\/strong>9 Reasons Your Child Should Practice with a Metronome<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning, your child is going to learn how to use their air and how to create a basic sound. Creating a good embouchure is key to success. The goal is for them to create good habits from the start because it is much more difficult to correct them later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t be surprised if you hear your child just playing on their head joint when they\u2019re just starting out. This is a good thing, albeit slightly annoying. No good teacher will have them just jump into playing the entire flute, so if your child is not playing on just their head joint in the beginning, check that aren\u2019t just being lazy and skipping this step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is common for beginner flute players to feel lightheaded at first. They\u2019re using a lot of air, but unlike other wind instruments, there is little to no resistance. This means they\u2019re going to take in a more oxygen in a short period of time than they\u2019re used to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child is feeling lightheaded, let them take a break. You don\u2019t need them to pass out or fall over. Frequent short breaks in the beginning are fine. After about a minute or two, they should recover and be ready for more practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After about a week or so, your child\u2019s body with get accustomed to using so much air and the lightheaded feeling will go away completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are so many fundamentals to playing any instrument \u2013 such as breathing, holding the instrument, articulation, fingerings, reading music, etc. \u2013 and they must be learned separately first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning, you should hear your child play a lot of slow, long notes. This helps them to create a good sound and breathing habits. In fact, they should be spending more time developing a good sound than playing notes. As a director, I\u2019m more likely to overlook a wrong note that sounds good than all the right notes that don\u2019t sound good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also hear a lot of scales in the beginning. Yes, boring for you as a parent, but necessary to establish good fundamentals for your child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They should also be practicing with a metronome. A metronome is a device that creates an audible click at regular intervals. It is measured in beats per minute (BPM). (insert link to metronome article)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most kids don\u2019t like practicing with a metronome. It forces them to be honest with their tempo. However, it is a much more efficient way to practice, and will help them to have a much greater sense of pulse. It doesn\u2019t matter if they don\u2019t like it. Get over it and get good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is, you\u2019re not your child\u2019s teacher. That being said, there are a couple things to look out for in the earliest stages of playing. A good foundation will make things much easier as they advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For starters, your child should be either standing or sitting on the edge of a chair. When playing seated, their bottom should be on the front edge of the chair and feet flat on the floor. When sitting or standing, the back should be straight but not rigid. Your child shouldn\u2019t be sticking out their chest like they\u2019re at boot camp. They should look tall and comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n Don\u2019t let your child practice while sitting on the floor, their bed, or with their legs crossed. Music should on a stand, never on the floor (so they don\u2019t have to look down).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, the flute should be parallel to the ground or at a slight angle down. <\/p>\n\n\n The flute is held in four places: inside the largest knuckle of the left hand, the thumb of the right hand, the pinky of the right hand, and the embouchure. The opposing forces of the embouchure, left, and right hands hold the flute in place. <\/p>\n\n\n Both thumbs should lie somewhere between the pointer and middle fingers<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the right thumb rests on the flute and helps hold the instrument, the left thumb does not. The left thumb should float just off the key. A lot of beginners want to use their left thumb to also hold the instrument. They do this by accidentally pressing the thumb key, or by moving the fingers together and holding the body of the flute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also watch for flat fingers. Fingers should be relaxed and slightly curved, never flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is really territory for your child\u2019s teacher, so I\u2019m just going to touch on some embouchure basics. A common beginner mistake is making a \u201csmiling embouchure.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Flutists should have a somewhat pouty face when they play. The corners of their mouth will actually go down a little and shouldn\u2019t go up. The aperture should look more like an oval than a circle.<\/p>\n\n\n The edge of the embouchure hole should just touch the near the line where the lip meets skin. It should not be any lower. In fact, you should only see the lip above the edge of the embouchure hole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning, your child should only need to practice around 15 minutes a day. They don\u2019t have a lot to work on, but they do need to practice frequently. It is better to practice every day for 15 minutes than once a week for 2 hours. They are more likely to create the necessary good habits with frequent repetition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that playing the flute should be fun and not a chore. You\u2019re teaching your child discipline. Teach it to them gradually over time and let them be done if they get all the work finished in a short time (as long as they\u2019re doing it well!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some simple things your child should be doing every day. Anything beyond this should be handled by an instrument repair specialist. (Whatever you do, never pull out your tools to try to fix the flute yourself.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n First, the cleaning rod should ideally be made of wood or plastic. Some rental companies will include a metal one. It isn\u2019t too bad, but metal-on-metal can cause scratches and dents if not handled correctly. And since a child is doing the handling, I like to take away some variables and just use plastic or wood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t have one, you can pick one up on Amazon<\/a> for under $10, and it should last basically forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second part to the swab is the cloth. This may or may not come with your child\u2019s rental. Luckily, they\u2019re cheap too (in fact, the link above includes a cloth with the rod). You can also use some fabric you already have. A lint-free cloth the size of a small handkerchief made from silk, linen, cotton, or microfiber will work fine. Just make sure it\u2019s not too chunky. You don\u2019t want it to have a tight fit inside your flute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Swab the flute only after it has been disassembled. Place the parts in the case and swab one piece at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are going to be a couple things you will need to buy up front, and a couple things that will be nice to have but can wait. Here\u2019s a list of things to expect up front:<\/p>\n\n\n\nFirst Days with the Instrument<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Parts of the Flute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to Put Together and Take Apart a Flute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Basic Flute Terminology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What to Expect When They Begin Learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Playing on the Head Joint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Should my child feel lightheaded?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Expect your child to practice fundamentals, not just tunes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What To Look for When Your Child is Practicing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Posture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Flute\/Hand Position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Embouchure and Aperture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How long should my child practice?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Basic Flute Maintenance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to Swab Your Flute<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Other Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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