These are my 5 real life essentials for getting started and finding your flow as an adult learner
Whether you are looking for yourself, or someone you care for, there are many routes to starting a musical journey. Read on to discover how much you already have in place. I also offer my honest advice as an experienced player and teacher for finding your first flute and avoiding oft made and sometimes costly mistakes.
No.1 Patience
Many adult learners start with a favourite player, piece of music or style in mind. It's important to remember that famous players and other experienced musicians have dedicated a huge amount of time to honing their craft. It may take a wee while for you to start making the sound you want to hear. Early steps in flute playing are all about exploring and developing the strengths you need to drive the instrument and like so many other disciplines, its study takes time. Learning to play is essentially learning how to power and control the instrument so be patient as you work to develop yourself as a player.
No.2 A sense of humour
Be prepared for wrong notes and curve balls. Allow yourself to make mistakes without feeling frustrated, it's perfectly normal and also proof that you're not a robot. There's a lot of new information to handle in the beginning so it's really important to stay relaxed and give yourself a chance to take everything in. Adults aren't always comfortable in their mechanical brain, we're so used to operating on instinct and can easily forget that we learned to walk by falling over. Music is no different. Embrace the journey.
No.3 15mins a day
You will need to find time to practice but this can be grown organically. Start with 15mins a day to get into a regular routine that will naturally gather momentum as you progress. Short sessions practiced frequently will help you progress more quickly than one big session a week.
Start training that 15mins into your day with a mindful breathing exercise. Take the time to place your attention on your breath cycle, to relax your body, strengthen your focus and energise your mind. Playing the flute is, after all, breath therapy in action.
Adding this into your day is a great way to try ring-fencing regular practice time into your existing routines. It's a good habit to develop and will also allow you to start feeling the benefits of mindful breathing while strengthening your breath technique in preparation for powering the instrument.
No.4 A playable flute
A responsive and playable instrument is the next thing you will need. There are a few different routes to finding a flute and this shortlist is intended to help you navigate the waters.
Start developing key skills with a Yamaha Fife. This is a lovely little low cost entry option at around £15, offering a good foundation for easy transition to the full orchestral flute when ready. No bigger than a recorder but with a much softer sound and easy on the budget.
Inherited/Gifted instruments. Just like a car that's been parked up for a wee while, things will seize, perish and degrade so get the instrument checked and serviced to avoid false feedback and frustration. Look for musical instrument technicians in your area. A local player or music shop will help put you in touch with someone if the internet cannot.
Buying 2nd hand. A good place to start is with local teachers and/or instrument technicians. Any instruments they have for sale will be serviced, playable and sold at honest prices. You may also be able to organise instrument hire at surprisingly reasonable prices from professionals such as these. Avoid buying from Facebook Market place and take care with eBay purchases. The last thing you need is a flute with problems and unless the seller can demonstrate that the instrument plays, you're buying blind.
Brand new. Choose a reputable maker such as Yamaha who offer a full range of excellent flutes to suit the beginner. These student flutes will take you further than you could ever imagine with prices starting around £600. Check out what Yamaha has to offer here. Your local music shop may be able to demonstrate a range of flutes at this entry level and using the Yamaha as a benchmark of excellence for build quality, playability and reliability will help you navigate the selection.
Avoid being upsold an expensive instrument that you don't need. If you can and want to spend thousands of pounds on a flute that's lovely but don't do it because 'they told me it would give me a leg up'. Ask yourself this, would wearing Usain Bolt's training shoes make you run faster? Or, would you want to do the school run in a Formula One car? If you're going to spend a lot of money on a flute I'd recommend learning to play with a good student model from a reputable maker first. This will allow you to make a personally informed choice later on, at the much higher price point.
Seek advice. Talk to a flautist or instrument repair technician. They will be able to advise you on the right flute for your budget and help you avoid wasting money. In the meantime, an open necked bottle such as the kind that may once have held beer will make an excellent substitute for the head joint. Once you've mastered finding the note by blowing over the open neck, add it to your 15mins, transforming the naked exhale of your breath exercise into controlled sound. This will give you a good reference of how to 'sound' the head joint when you begin to work with the instrument.
No.5 Encouragement & Support
Private music lessons are nested in encouragement and support. Working with an experienced player will accelerate your progress and keep the energy positive. Meet with local teachers before you commit, many will have their own style so take advantage of free consultations to get a sense of how you might work together. Music teachers are by their nature open, friendly and happy to help and will often provide long distance support if you are unable to attend lessons in person.
The key to mastering the flute is discipline. Making the time to do daily practice with a relaxed attitude is key. Remember, the flute is powered by you, so patience, a sense of humour and 15mins a day are your key starting points. Beyond that, reach out to the local community of players for help finding the right instrument for you and if you can, work with a teacher for faster results.
It all starts with a breath. Find your flute voice. Flow.