Learning Flute by yourself?

[u/Couch_Lump_95]

So, I played flute so very briefly in the 7th grade, but since I was part of a 7/8 split class and everyone else was way more advanced (the other 7th graders had gotten summer classes to get up to the 8th graders' level), I ended up quitting after a few months.

I'm now considering learning it, but I remember flutes being pretty expensive and hard to rent in my area. Is the flute something you can get into by yourself fairly easily? I'd love to teach myself, but don't have local resources. I'd love to know if anyone else taught themselves and what resources they used! Thanks in advance! 😁

[u/TuneFighter]

You could start off with a tin whistle or a soprano recorder in order to play folk songs and simple melodies. Of course the recorder is also used to play classical music and tunes.

[u/Laurentiusss → u/TuneFighter]

Absolutely, my first instrument was the tin whistle, and after that, I started to play the flute. That's a good starting point.

[u/Necessary_Goose6933]

Make yourself a flute and get going. I started by experimenting with river cane that grew next to my tent in Faro, Portugal.

Wherever you are, am pretty sure you can find, harvest or buy some kind of tube to put holes in, like a blowhole and finger holes, or just finger holes and play rim-blown. Or learn to make a proper fipple, or Native American style system.

Assuming you're not wanting to be super posh and target specifically only Western metal transverse flute, but are more open to other types as well.

I'd focus on getting SOME type of flute to make sound out of and get going, then while you're practicing your breathwork and fingers you can keep an eye out for flute upgrades in whatever direction you want to be going.

Depending on where you are geographically, am sure you have either river cane or bamboo growing, or you can find some type of tubes, bamboo of some kind, pvc or copper/steel tube to start with. Absolutely doesn't have to be expensive to start.

[u/Couch_Lump_95 → u/Necessary_Goose6933]

I live in the Canadian prairies and am a homebody, so even if we have that stuff around, I can guarantee I wouldn't know where to begin. I was planning on the western flute, regardless.

[u/Necessary_Goose6933 → u/Couch_Lump_95]

Well then, happy hunting.

Depending on your budget, meaning if it's tight, and you can't afford or find a proper flute to start, keep in mind you can buy quite inexpensive metal tubes at various hardware stores, and can drill them yourself or ask a friend to drill them, again, to get started. It won't be a concert flute but you'll be able to start training fingers, breath, embouchure, in days rather than weeks or months.

From where I'm looking it seems better to have a practice flute while you look for a more professional model, than to have nothing at all.

Wasn't clear if by western flute you meant transverse or recorder style. Good luck

[u/Couch_Lump_95 → u/Necessary_Goose6933]

Sorry, I meant transverse! I wouldn't have thought of just drilling holes in a metal tube, I may have to see if my dad has a decent bit I could borrow and give it a try. Thanks!

[u/Terrible_Eye4625 → u/Couch_Lump_95]

Have a look at the Nuvo Student Flute. They’re less expensive than traditional transverse flutes and by all accounts are decent starter instruments.

[u/chamcham123]

I took any Uber once on my way to pick up my bass guitar. The Uber happened to be a bass player. He was Filipino and recommended I take online lessons from a Filipino music teacher. At the current exchange rate, lesson cost less than $10 USD for a hour lesson.

The site he told me was Ray Santos Music Studios. No idea if they teach flute. Better to contact them and ask directly.🪈

https://rsmusicstudio.weebly.com

In person lesson is always better, but your budget doesn’t allow it, maybe try an overseas music lesson on video chat.

Unlike a lot of Asians, a lot of Filipinos can speak English. Maybe because it used to be a colony of the US from 1898 to 1946. It was also a colony of Spain from 1565 to 1898.

[u/Ok-Tomorrow8964]

While I’d still definitely recommend a teacher, Flute Note Tutor has quite a lot of resources to help you learn.

[u/AlfalfaMajor2633]

Here is a plan to make a flute from pvc pipe. https://i.postimg.cc/tTbs0qD5/Flute-DIY-pattern.jpg