The Flute Page

Care of the Instrument

• Always open with case on the floor .
• Assemble in the manner shown by your teacher to avoid damage
• The body of the flute is very fragile, take care not to damage it or bend the keys
• Swab the flute after each use, this will help the pads last longer
• DO NOT oil the keys unless instructed to do so by your teacher
• Flutes can be damaged by too much moisture, do not wash instrument
• Clean only in the manner described by your teacher
• To keep it working properly, it must be played each day
• Keep the connecting joints wiped off to maintain easy assembly
• Use only a polish cloth that is made for your particular model flute
• Do not use any kind of abrasive silver polish
• Do not try to repair your instrument without contacting your teacher or the music store

embouchure:

Center your lips on the hole by covering the hole with your lips and then rolling the hole out slightly. Some students will need to drop the position of the hole down very slightly at this point. Begin blowing by keeping the lips relaxed and flat. Hold lips together and blow air quickly through a small opening in the very center. Blow across the hole and slightly upward. If you don't get a clear "tooting" sound try turning the hole toward or away from your lips. For excessive overbite or underbite try adjusting the position of the lower jaw forward or backward to align the teeth. Strive for a centered and strong (diaphragm supported) air stream.

WWW Resources for Flute

Mark Shepard's Flute Page

National Flute Association

Flute Email lists

You may subscribe to the below list by following the procedures given. The words "Your Name" should be replaced with your legal name. This list will bring you daily correspondence about the flute and can be a valuable source of information.

The Flute listserv:

To subscribe send e-mail message to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In body of mail send: sub flute yourname

Anyone that tries to subscribe to these lists please let me know if they are still in operation.

Another Flute list:

Owner: Cara Camcastle Send a message to Cara Camcastle,
flute-m-request@unixg.ubc.ca asking to be added to the flute-m list.

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