Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

You are likely to need to work on your chops to get them back into shape. If you have not played much in 10 years, much of the endurance and some of the finer points of the embouchure are likely to have faded. That said, the most important thing is just to start playing and get back into the daily p...

Most flutemakers call it a High-E facilitator. It's a disc inserted into the G key that makes it easier to play a High-E (E3). It's a cheaper alternative to a split-E mechanism. See the FAQ or search the board for High-E for a more lengthy discussion of the pros and cons.

I know what you mean about the gold-plated lip plates on student and intermediate flutes - they are just bling and nothing more. They add no sound improvement. However, the pro flute and headjoint makers are starting to offer headjoints with lots of options. This past summer I tried a number of diff...

Definitely keep your current flute and keep it in working order. I have a handmade Muramatsu, but I also have an Armstrong Model 80 as a backup. You never know when you might need it (in case your main flute is in the shop for maintenance or repairs).

i dont consider auditions good situations regardless of result, and thats just why. 4 auditions, and 4 rejections... its impossible for me to think of them as being good, even if i dont get in. if they reject me again, obviously i suck. .... its kinda rediculous anyway, im paying for my education, ...

You might want to think of playing the flute in the third (and fourth) octave as being very similar to an athlete training for the pole vault. It takes time to build up the muscles to make the tallest vaults. Just think of it as a progression and repetition. Athletes do lots of different strength bu...

Room acoustics also affect what you hear. When I play in a very small room or if I stand very close to a wall, I can hear more air in my sound. When I play in a larger room and stay away from walls, I don't hear it as much. The "airy" sound is made up of a lot of very high frequencies that easily re...

is there any way to clean a headjoint? i thought of like, listerine - is that safe? its solid silver except the keys, are plated. what can i use to get the smell gone? its really quite gross when i smell my headjoint.... i havent cleaned it (besides polish cloth) since i got it over a year ago.... ...

Fluteguy18: If your oboe friend is having trouble getting down to A440/442, perhaps it is a reed issue. Most oboists make their own reeds, but if the reed is too short, that would cause the oboe to be too sharp. Oboe reeds are typically about 70mm in length, but that might need to be adjusted to com...

I have to agree with the previous responses. Everyone is different, so there is no "right" answer except what plays best for you. About 9 years ago, I was making the same comparisons. I tried Powell, Muramatsu, and a few others. When I went out trying flutes, I had in my mind that I wanted a Powell,...

Looks good! Lots of good information and advice.

For internet flute dealers I'd suggest adding J.L. Smith:
http://www.flutesmith.com/

Fluttiegurl - Well, as the saying goes, you can't argue with success. If the tape works for you, that's great.

Success with plastic wrap depends upon the brand. It needs to be one of the "extra clingy" brands. I used a generic that came from Sam's Club and it definitely stays put.

You can use a small piece of celephane tape in the place of rice paper in a pinch. I definitely would avoid using any type of tape as a substitute. At best, the tape could leave a gummy residue and at worst it could pull off the lacquer finish when you remove it. It's best to use real dimo, but if ...

You might find these articles useful too...
http://www.jennifercluff.com/articles.htm

It sounds like you might be having difficulty focusing your air stream. The second octave requires you to make a slightly smaller opening with your lips and to blow the air stream a bit faster (not harder, faster). Do you have a teacher? If not, it would help to have someone who can show you by exam...