What is Your Opinion on Male Flutists?

evil_fluteplayer · Post by **evil_fluteplayer** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:03 pm

Firstly, don''t be offended by
my question, I was only wondering what other people thought. And as for me, I
think guys playing the flute are fine. I have no idea why flute has become such
a feminine instrument.

dancingflutist3000 · Post by **dancingflutist3000** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 7:06 pm

Really how DID the flute become
such feminine instrument? How is it any more "girly" than the trombone or tuba?
I respect male flute playing for learning to play such a complex instrument and
for having the "courage" to play such a stereo typed instrument. At our school,
only two boys had the courage to play flute and they have long since quit.

taytay · Post by **taytay** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 8:00 pm

i love them i think that they
are the best guys cause obvesly they dont care what ppl think about them or they
wouldnt face the stero tyoe that come from being a male flautist

notootsieno · Post by **notootsieno** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:36 pm

Gosh, I used to be so immature
when it comes to guy flutists. Last year I was upset because a boy beat me at
all-county. I had this whole complex theory in my mind that girls were supposed
to be better at the flute than boys. Well, I'm over that now. And I agree,
it's admirable for a male to have the courage to play a "feminine"
instrument!

AG950Flute · Post by **AG950Flute** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:08 am

well....let's not forget who
some of the world's greatest flute players are and were... james galway
(previously held the principal position in berlin phil for a short period before
moving into his solo career) emmanuel pahud (soloist and principal in berlin
phil) julius baker jean-pierre rampal jeffrey khaner (principal phil orch) paul
renzi (principal sf symphony) joshua smith (principal cleveland orchestra) jack
wellbaum (piccolo cincinnati symphony from 1950-90) randy bowman (principal
cincinnati symphony) walfrid kujala (piccolo chicago symphony recently retired)
michael parloff (principal met opera orchestra) robert langevin (principal ny
phil) jim walker (movie recording king) just to name a few. granted there are
MANY talented female flutist as well. but men still hold a great many of the
world's most sought after principal flute positions!

Carpii · Post by **Carpii** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 5:42 pm

[quote] ---------------- On
10/21/2003 4:03:55 PM Firstly, don't be offended by my question, I was only
wondering what other people thought. And as for me, I think guys playing the
flute are fine. I have no idea why flute has become such a feminine instrument.
---------------- [/quote] Im a guy and recently taken up the flute. Im probably
a complete contrast to the even the usual male flautist; im a big fan of ultra
heavy metal music, and used to play percussion. I hadnt really considered it a
femenine instrument before, but youre right, I suppose it is. Maybe its because
its quite a dainty instrument, or maybe its just because females invariably look
better playing it than guys

)

krichards · Post by **krichards** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:15 pm

I agree with the theory about
the flute’s dainty appearance. I also think it has something to do with the
pitch and volume of the instrument. Guys generally tend to take up instruments
with a lower pitch and more volume. Maybe it has to do with testosterone! They
like to play “manly” instruments with a “loud, deep voices”. Some probably shy
away from the flute, not because they don’t like it, but for fear of being
labelled feminine for choosing it. Peer pressure is incredible at the time most
people take up their instrument, isn’t it? I remember when I started out (12),
we were in band class and the teacher was signing us up for an instrument based
on a show of hands. There was no question in my mind that I wanted to play the
flute, but when he asked who wanted to play the flute, no one else put up their
hand (guys or girls – go figure!). So, I didn’t put my hand up. The flute was
obviously not cool among that group. In the end, the teacher just assigned a few
of us to the flute. Secretly, I was delighted…but I didn’t let it show. It just
wouldn’t have been cool! [;)] Bring on the guys…gender balance in any situation
is always more fun and interesting!

dancingflutist3000 · Post by **dancingflutist3000** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:13 pm

I WISH I had guy flutists in my
band by the way. I'm surrounded by a bunch of girls and though that means
always having a chatty partner (which I couldn't live with out) it also means
giving me the urge to talk when I'm not supposed to and giggling when I mess
up. Also guys are cool, I like guys, LOL.

Goddess of Flute · Post by **Goddess of Flute** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:57 pm

My exboyfriend played flute. And
he wasnt afraid of the stereotype. He was actaully very good at it, thus giving
us alot to talk about. I learned quite a bit from that guy. [:)] I miss you
[:blackeye:]

ick27 · Post by **ick27** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 3:32 pm

I'm a flute playing male, and I
never had much of a problem with teasing in middle school or anything. It is
certainly true that there are far more young female flute players than male
ones, but this has trend has not overwhelmed the professional world yet. At the
last NFA high school soloist competition I went to, the contestants were half
male and half female. I'm sure there are still more professional male players
out there, and certainly most of the well known players are male. This
difference is not has huge as it used to be, and I think there really isn't any
bias against female musicans now. Hopefully people realize that your skill as a
musician really has very little to do with your gender. Who knows why more guys
don't pick flute in band.. maybe it has to do with having higher pitch than
other instruments. I certainly thought it was a cool instrument! -Bradford

dancingflutist3000 · Post by **dancingflutist3000** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:52 pm

It think it is true about the
higher pitch thing. I agree totally. Strong low instruments such as trombones,
tubas, and baritones are most guys first picks, but what does that say about
trumpets who rarely play low or alto saxophones? Mostly guys play those two
instruments in my band and that doesn't fit in to the low voice especially for
trumpets.

Irish_cat: · Post by **Irish_cat:** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 11:42 pm

Actually I am a male flutist I get treated as any other would, to be honest I'd think I be getting more attention for it and this time it's not just me being Irish XD

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 7:55 pm

Considering that the OP asked this question 13 years ago, I'm not sure they'll care anymore. Lol. But as for me, I'd have to say I'm pretty fabulous!

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 10:21 pm

I played sax through school and college, so I never experienced any negativity there. In college, I started flute and became more serious about it some years later. As an adult, it's interesting to observe the dynamics of being the only guy playing flute in a group where all the other flutists are female. In most cases, I have been welcomed and treated no differently than the women. However, there was one community group that I joined and it soon became obvious that the flute section leader did not want me there. I didn't stay in that group very long, and moved on to a better group that Iater found... They welcomed me and again, I was the only guy.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 10:21 pm

I played sax through school and college, so I never experienced any negativity there. In college, I started flute and became more serious about it some years later. As an adult, it's interesting to observe the dynamics of being the only guy playing flute in a group where all the other flutists are female. In most cases, I have been welcomed and treated no differently than the women. However, there was one community group that I joined and it soon became obvious that the flute section leader did not want me there. I didn't stay in that group very long, and moved on to a better group that I Iater found... They welcomed me and again, I was the only guy.

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