How to Play the Flute

(Music playing) Flute Embouchure: Before we open the case let us learn how to play a note. First, put your lips together as though you are making an “M” make a small opening as possible in the center of your lips. Now, blow through the tiny hole, blow your lips apart, and do not spread them. Take a pen and draw a dot on the back of your wrist, hold your wrist three inches away from your mouth and practice blowing directly on the dot through that tiny hole. What you are learning is called Embouchure that is the way you position your mouth to play an instrument. Pick up just the headjoint that is this part. Remove the plastic tenon cover. This is the lip plate and this is the Embouchure hole, place the bottom edge of the embouchure hole in the middle of your bottom lip, like this. Keep the headjoint parallel to the floor. Now, as you practice on your wrist, blow through your lips across the top of the whole not down into it until you make a clear note. (Demo) If this is done correctly, the air will create a condensation pattern that looks like an upside down ice cream cone. (Demo) Okay, once you play the note, take the flute head away from your mouth for three seconds then try it again. (Demo) Do this five times in a row, if you miss one do it again until you can do it five times in a row. (Demo) Flute Assembly: Let us put the flute together. This is the body of the flute. When you are putting your flute together you should hold it by the receiver that is this part. Insert the tenon of the headjoint into the receiver of the body joint and gently twist back and forth until it stops. Line up the embouchure hole with the keys. Now, remove the tenon cover from the bodyjoint, gently press down the two end keys on the footjoint with your thumb. Now, the bodyjoint tenon goes into the footjoint like this. Line up the key post with the middle of the body keys and be sure to keep your left hand on the headjoint receiver and away from the keys. Your flute is now assembled and ready for playing. Flute Finger Placement: Now that the flute is assembled, let us look at where your fingers go with your left hand. Left thumb goes on the B key that is this key. The left index finger goes on the C key, the second key. Left middle finger goes on the A key, the fourth key. Left ring finger goes on the G key, the fifth key. The right index finger goes on the F key, the eight key. Right middle finger goes on the E key, the ninth key. Right ring finger goes on the D key, the tenth key. Right pinkie goes on the E flat key, the 11th key. Now, let us play a G, press the left hand keys down then add just your right pinkie on the E flat key. Blow the embouchure hole like we practiced before. Remember to keep the flute parallel to the floor when you play. (Demo) Flute Care and Maintenance: Always clean the flute when you are finish playing. This is the tuning and cleaning rod. To clean your flute, take a clean dry linkfree cloth and insert one corner into the hole at the end of the rod. Pull the cloth two inches through and wrap the rest around the rod. Clean each joint individually by inserting the rod and twisting like this. Gently wipe the outside of the flute with a clean dry cloth but be careful with the keys as you do this. Here is some helpful hands: Do not eat or drink while playing, water is okay. Have fun and happy playing.