In this first article on FlutePractice.com we are going to discuss the very first steps of learning to play the flute. Obivously there are many resources and method books for learning to play the flute. Here we are going to try and focus on the secrets for getting started and how to learn to play easily and effortlessly.

So many method books focus around learning notes, learning fingerings, and other mundane technical aspects of flute playing. These are of course important but when you are starting out it is better to focus on building a solid foundation.

Learning to easily play a beautiful note on the flute

Begin by removing the mouthpiece from the flute itself. Set the rest of the flute aside. You first want to get a clean, pure sound out of just the mouthpiece alone. If you can't produce a good sound with just the mouthpiece then you are going to have the same problems producing a good tone with the entire flute.

Begin by taking in a relaxed breath of air. One of the best ways to learn this is to fake a yawn. Close your eyes and imagine a nice relaxing yawn as you breath in. You will feel your lungs expand in a relaxed manner. This is the feeling you want when taking in a breath and a yawn is our natural built in mechanism to increase oxygen in our body.

How to position and place your lips to blow a note on the flute

There are many different methods and in future articles we will explore more tricks and trips for positioning your lips to play a flute. But for beginners this is a good place to start.

• Take your lower lip and place it so that the edge of the hole (closest to you of course) lines up with where your lower lip changes color.
• Puker your lips slightly and blow lightly across the hole until you can make a sound.
• If you are having a hard time getting any sound, roll the mouthpiece up and down as you continuously blow across the hole.
• Experiment with how much pucker your lips, the angle you blow across the hole in the mouthpiece, and the amount of air you are using until you can generate a pure, clean sound.
• It is better to practice for a few minutes at a time many times a day. Often the results will come after you have stepped away for a little while and come back to the flute.

Keep practicing with the mouthpiece until you can pick it up and blow a note without fiddling around with  your lip placement. Once it becomes natural you will be able to add the rest of the flute and begin making music in no time.

- BEST OF LUCK!