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Beginner flute sounds

Posted by FluteFail on 9/5/2024, 5:54 pm

Help! What I know isn't working.

What do you do when your flute beginners just aren't getting it (making a consistent sound on the headjoint) and there is a language barrier with most of the class?

Re: Beginner flute sounds

Posted by Really old dude on 9/13/2024, 5:59 pm, in reply to "Beginner flute sounds"

The things I do and have worked for 'decades' is, 1. teach them to 'spit rice', 2. use a small mirror on the stand, and 3. 'clean up after themselves. Also small flat coffee creamer stirrers get the idea across of how small the opening needs to be. and yes get a 'numa pro' can't spell it but it works.

Re: Beginner flute sounds

Posted by V.C. on 9/7/2024, 12:39 pm, in reply to "Beginner flute sounds"

Place the headjoint on their face for them every day until they can make a clear sound. Project pictures of flute embouchures. Put those same pictures on handouts and hand them out. Put a mirror on every stand so they can imitate the flute face pictures. It clicks for every young flute player at different times. Celebrate ANY sound right now!

Re: Beginner flute sounds

Posted by DesertJazz on 9/6/2024, 3:36 pm, in reply to "Beginner flute sounds"

Get a few Pneumo Pros. They are the absolute best thing for helping flute players get initial sounds and late help refine air stream control for range issues.

Re: Beginner flute sounds

Posted by Respectfully on 9/6/2024, 1:40 pm, in reply to "Beginner flute sounds"

I once had a Concert Band rehearsal at UNT with one of the associate conductors who was here from Japan at the time. He was stumbling over his words and having trouble expressing himself properly.

Maestro Corporon, who was observing, told him "Stop worrying about the words. Speak in Japanese if you have to. Just show them how you want them to play." He didn't attempt to speak another word of English that day, and the performance improved dramatically. He sang, he demonstrated, and the ensemble responded.

Your kids aren't to that level of musicianship yet. But the fact is the same - verbal communication is the LEAST effective form of communication. Demonstrate. Repeat. Show them what and how to do what you want. Don't explain, SHOW. Or, as they say in writing, "show, don't tell."

If you absolutely have to, use Google Translate on your phone. But music is said to be a universal language for a reason. Just teach.

Additionally, brush up on your ESL/ELL trainings. What we do in music classes every day is the same thing as ESL/ELL. We're teaching another whole new language to kids. The principles behind ESL/ELL instruction apply equally well to us.

Re: Beginner flute sounds

Posted by Big Shot Bob on 9/6/2024, 12:56 pm, in reply to "Beginner flute sounds"

Are you able to demonstrate? If not, that’s fine but find someone in your area that can demonstrate. There may be teachers at your campus that played flute in high school that could help. Another option is to show videos on YouTube that they can watch and more importantly hear what they are to sound like. Spend lots of time with the headjoint but remember the trick is balancing the whole flute together. Man I wish I could be more helpful. Where are you located?

Re: Beginner flute sounds

Posted by Pretzel Guy on 9/6/2024, 11:43 am, in reply to "Beginner flute sounds"

If you are not doing closed headjoint start with it closed, right palm covers the open side of the head joint. This is easier to make a sound on than open.

I have a big picture of flute embouchure that I use from Band Directors Talk Shop that I blow up on the board and use as a model. (https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/flute-embouchure/)

Kids look in their mirror and match their face with the one of the board.

I'd also invest in some pneumo pros to use if you don't have any.

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