Any flautist Christorians?

[Strewth]

I recently started playing the flute, and was wondering if anyone else on the boards did!

I need to find somebody who will sympathise when I moan about how hard the high octave is.

 

[A-Stump]

I (think) Altissmo plays a woodwind, probably a flute. I know she talks a lot about musical theory or something.

 

[The Hunter]

I highly doubt you'll find any Christorians here, but I know a lot of people here can play at least one instrument. Has to be a few who can play flute.

I, however, am a tromboner. At least that's what they called us trombone players in middle school band...

 

[Strewth]

I've really only just started, but I'm picking it up fairly quickly. Learning to read music is proving rather daunting, as is trying to do so many things at once!
What age were you when you started learning the trombone? Do you still play much these days? I used to sing in a ska band with a five-piece horn section, I used to be astounded at how they could hold so much breath.

 

[Fialovy]

I do! I have played it since I was 11 years old so about 10 years on and off. I was also in a flute choir. I also learned how to play ocarina. I know the flute well enough to play pretty much anything, though the faster stuff I usually need a little practice to get the muscle memory down.

The high octave isn't too bad, for me it's more the lower octaves.

 

[Strewth]

I do! I have played it since I was 11 years old so about 10 years on and off. I was also in a flute choir. I also learned how to play ocarina. I know the flute well enough to play pretty much anything, though the faster stuff I usually need a little practice to get the muscle memory down.

The high octave isn't too bad, for me it's more the lower octaves.

I'm extremely jealous. I think it's such a beautiful instrument, I really wish I'd started learning sooner. I struggle to keep a sustained clear note in the high octave, but I'm hoping that it will become easier with practice.
I can play a few very simple things, mainly vocal parts of soft rock songs. If you need someone to play you Annie's Song by John Denver, I'm your man.
What made you decide to learn the flute?

 

[Fialovy]

Honestly, peer pressure did it. A lot of girls at school were learning the flute and I wanted to learn it too. I have no idea how many still play it. I honestly play it on and off, but I have a good memory so I can pick it up and play at any time.

I love to play video game music and stuff. It's so fun to learn and show off to friends. I would upload videos of me playing, but I don't really have good sound equipment and bad sound equipment can totally kill your video performance.

 

[Strewth]

Honestly, peer pressure did it. A lot of girls at school were learning the flute and I wanted to learn it too. I have no idea how many still play it. I honestly play it on and off, but I have a good memory so I can pick it up and play at any time.

I love to play video game music and stuff. It's so fun to learn and show off to friends. I would upload videos of me playing, but I don't really have good sound equipment and bad sound equipment can totally kill your video performance.

I know what you mean. I tried to record a video of me playing on my phone and it sounded dreadful. The clearest thing you could hear was my in breaths.
I'd love to be able to play some video game music, some of the pieces from the Final Fantasy games are beautiful. A little beyond my skills at the moment, but it gives me the incentive to practice.

 

[Vodka's My BFF]

I've played the flute since I was 12. I played it in concert band and piccolo in marching band. My junior and senior years, I switched to bari sax for concert and jazz bands. I feel ya on the pains of getting high octaves and having it sound decent. Don't worry, mate, it just takes time and practice. You'll kick it's ass eventually.

 

[The Hunter]

I've really only just started, but I'm picking it up fairly quickly. Learning to read music is proving rather daunting, as is trying to do so many things at once!
What age were you when you started learning the trombone? Do you still play much these days? I used to sing in a ska band with a five-piece horn section, I used to be astounded at how they could hold so much breath.

Reading music for me was a breeze. I find it a little harder to do with string instruments, but with brass, no problem. I was 11 when I started playing and got the hang of it pretty quickly. I wanted my own horn, but we didn't exactly have the kind of money to buy me a trombone for my leisurely enjoyment, so I just borrowed one from the school until I quit band. Breathing while playing was a little difficult at first, but again, I just sort of kept doing it enough for me to adapt.

 

[littlebiscuits]

My Dad is a professional Jazz flutist with several popular records. I'm hesitant to give out his name though. He taught me to play and we do still play together, but it was never really my thing.

Also my Dad looks like Ron Burgundy.

 

[Fialovy]

I've really only just started, but I'm picking it up fairly quickly. Learning to read music is proving rather daunting, as is trying to do so many things at once!
What age were you when you started learning the trombone? Do you still play much these days? I used to sing in a ska band with a five-piece horn section, I used to be astounded at how they could hold so much breath.

Reading music for me was a breeze. I find it a little harder to do with string instruments, but with brass, no problem. I was 11 when I started playing and got the hang of it pretty quickly. I wanted my own horn, but we didn't exactly have the kind of money to buy me a trombone for my leisurely enjoyment, so I just borrowed one from the school until I quit band. Breathing while playing was a little difficult at first, but again, I just sort of kept doing it enough for me to adapt.

Yeah, see, my teacher refused to teach me sheet music initially because she used some japanese method, it was not until I completed the first level book that she taught me. So yeah, when I started band and stuff at school, I was really, really, really lost because I could play, I just was illiterate. Nowadays, I can read AND play by ear in case the sheet music for said video game song isn't available which is handy so I'm kind of glad for that.

I will say that breathing and conserving enough air before you get a rest or something can be a bit tricky if you haven't played for a while. Fortunately, I was taught some breathing exercises that can keep your diaphragm in shape. If I have some sort of performance coming up and I'm out of practice, I'll do them.

 

[Strewth]

Would you recommend doing some diaphragm exercises as a beginner, to try and expand on my air capacity?

 

[Fialovy]

Would you recommend doing some diaphragm exercises as a beginner, to try and expand on my air capacity?

Absolutely, I started doing those as a beginner. You can probably look up breathing exercises or I can link some to you if you'd like.

 

[Silver]

I (think) Altissmo plays a woodwind, probably a flute. I know she talks a lot about musical theory or something.

Despite the username referring to the high register on woodwind instruments, I actually don't. I'm a trumpeter/pianist. Easy mistake to make, though.

 

[Strewth]

Would you recommend doing some diaphragm exercises as a beginner, to try and expand on my air capacity?

Absolutely, I started doing those as a beginner. You can probably look up breathing exercises or I can link some to you if you'd like.

If you could link me, that would be great, the Internet is vast and filled with false prophets.