Flute
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The flute and piccolo are played by passing air across a blowhole which contributes to their characteristic breathy sound.  Notes are produced by using a series of levers and stops to open and shut holes along the length of the flute.

There are several sizes including the Alto flute (in G) whose mellow tone produces an atmospheric quality popular in jazz and film music and the Bass flute which has a haunting ethereal sound.

The flute and piccolo share similar fingerings but the piccolo's range extends one octave above that of the flute and is the highest instrument of the orchestra.

A difficult instrument requiring technical expertise to express individual style, the flutes airy, wispy quality is difficult to use with electronic music although it was used effectively by Jethro Tull, Herbie Mann and Roland Kirk who popularised the 'grunt flute' which is basically singing into the flute as you are playing.

Whilst its popularity still remains mainly with Jazz and Classical music, the flute family are particularly suited to acoustic folk music where intricate melodies can be incorporated into a simple song effectively.

Flute Humour

Two musicians are walking down the street and one says to the other, "Who was that piccolo I saw you with last night?"
The other replies, "That was no piccolo. That was my fife!" A: A bad oboist can kill you.

Q: What's the definition of a minor second?
A: Two flutists playing in unison.

Q: What is perfect pitch on a flute?
A: When it misses the rim of the toilet as you throw it in.

Flute Lessons

• 20 Minute Music - Flute - Flute Beginner Course 1. Course Resources:. Course Directions. Your Practice Log. Your Goal Sheet. Your Song List. Notes Chart....
  
  
• Mad for Trad traditional irish tutorials for flute, tin whistle, pipes and a wide variety of instruments using video, text, photos & music notation.
  
  
• Mars Music interactive music lessons for Flute, Recorder, Guitar and Keyboard Free online using flash animations, sound and video.
  
  
• Some Ins and Outs of Breathing
  
  
• Sound Creations - a Virtual Flute Lesson which includes the basics, how to make a tone, holding the flute properly, playing a scale, the upper octave, learning the chromatic scale and a flute fingering diagram.
  
  
• Working with an Accompanist - Accompanying Guidelines for Performers

Flute Links

• Alexander Technique - helps instrumentalists perform with less stress and likelihood of injury
  
  
• Alexander Center - Technique for Musicians articles by flutist Alexander Murray.
  
  
• British Flute Society BFS
  
  
• Free-Scores - free music scores
  
  
• GBFA - Greater Boston Flute Association has a huge list of links to flute organisations, resources and a host of flute related sites.
  
  
• Hands On! - free performance health newsletter for flutists available at Lunn Flutes handmade flute makers.
  
  
• London Orchestrations, 45 Norman Avenue, Sanderstead, Surrey, CR2 0QH - Tel: 020-8660-6819
  
  
• National Flute Association UK
  
  
• National Association of Musical Instrument Repairers UK Secretary: David Hinton, Tel: 01582-762657
  
  
• Pay the Piper - helpful advice on every aspect of learning and playing musical instruments
  
  
• Printable Staff Paper Page - Free downloads of printed staff paper
  
  
• Sounds from the Vaults Virtual Instruments Enter the vault and click on the images to display musical instrument artifacts, then follow the instructions to play them (uses Shockwave for playing).
  
  
• The Woodwind Fingering Guide
  
  
• Windplayer magazine

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