FLUTE: split-airstream instrument with
cylindrical bore; overtone series based on the octave.
FLUTE
FAMILY:
| C Piccolo |
G Alto Flute |
| Db Piccolo |
C Bass Flute |
| Eb Flute |
C Contrabass Flute |
| *C Flute/Concert Flute* |
C Double Contrabass Flute |
The C piccolo sounds an octave higher than the
written pitch. Its lowest note is a D.
The Db piccolo, used in older march music and
transcriptions, sounds a minor 9th higher than the
written pitch
The Eb flute sounds a minor 3rd higher
than the written pitch.
*The C flute (concert flute)--most common--sounds
where written.*
The G alto flute sounds a perfect 4th lower
than the written pitch.
The C bass flute sounds an octave lower than
the written pitch.
The final two flutes are not common. The
contrabass flute sounds two octaves lower than the written
pitch. The double contrabass flute sounds three octaves lower
than the written pitch.
WRITTEN RANGE:
FOREIGN TERMS:
| ABBREV. |
ENGLISH |
GERMAN |
FRENCH |
ITALIAN |
| Fl. |
Flute(s) |
Flöte |
Flûte(s) |
Flauto
Flauti |
| Pc. |
Piccolo |
Kleine Flöte |
Petite Flûte |
Flauto Piccolo
Ottavino |
DESIRABLE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES: Physical
attributes are not always reliable. Large lips may be a
disadvantage. Upper lip with a pronounced "dip" in the
center may be a disadvantage. An underbite may be a
disadvantage. A student who can produce a satisfactory tone
using only the head joint, following instruction in embouchure
formation, will likely have success.
OPEN HOLE v. CLOSED HOLE: While there may not be
total agreement on this subject, the primary advantage to the
French-model open-hole flute is alternate fingerings that allow the
half-hole technique. Alternate fingerings incorporating
half-holing may improve the response and intonation of some
notes. Closed-hole models are
recommended for most students, certainly for beginners. (Open-hole flutes typically come with hole plugs that
may later be removed after the player becomes more advanced.)
PARTS OF THE FLUTE: (1) head joint, (2) middle
joint (body), (3) foot joint.
HOLDING POSITION: (1) Turn the head slightly to
the left so the right arm can be in a comfortable position. (2)
The end of the instrument should be angled down slightly, with the
lips remaining parallel. (3) Contact points are: base of
the left index finger, right thumb, lower lip against the embouchure
plate, right-hand little finger on the Eb key. (4)
Left-hand fingers meet keys at an angle. (5) Right thumb should
be beneath the middle of the E & F keys. (6) Fingers should
always be curved (relaxed).
EMBOUCHURE: (1) First, hold the head joint with
the embouchure hole against the lips. Feel with the tongue that
the hole is centered. (2) Roll the joint forward until the
embouchure hole is parallel with the floor, with the lower lip
covering 1/4 to 1/3 of the hole. (3) Keeping the lower lip
relaxed, pull the corners of the mouth back slightly to firm the upper
lip. (4) Allow the center of the upper lip to relax so as to
produce an opening no more than 1/16th of an inch high and 1/2 inch
long. Preferably, the opening should be more of a diamond shape
than an oval.
TUNING WHILE PLAYING: (1) Roll the flute outward
to sharpen the pitch. (2) Roll the flute inward to flatten the
pitch.
AIR DIRECTION: (1) The lower register requires
that the airstream be directed more downward. (2) The middle
register requires that the airstream be directed more across the tone
hole. (3) The upper register requires that the airstream be
directed in a more upward direction.
THE FOLLOWING NOTES TEND TO BE SHARP:
THE FOLLOWING NOTES TEND TO BE FLAT:
BRANDS. Good student brands:
Emerson, Armstrong, Yamaha, Gemeinhardt. Avoid: Artley,
Bundy (re Miles Davis, ww repairman). Professional brands:
Muramatsu, Brannen-Cooper, Powell, Haynes, Yamaha, Prima Sankyo, Jack
Moore, Dana Sheridan.
HISTORICAL TIDBITS:
The flute is the oldest of all the band and orchestra
instruments, predating recorded history.
The Chinese probably contributed the first improvement
to the ancient flute, made of pottery or bone, by cutting a
"V" in the end of the tube.
Early flutes were blown from the end. It was not
until the 17th century that the transverse flute came into general
use.
Early flutes used no keys. The first key was
added c. 1677; a second was added in 1726.
In 1832, Theobald Boehm (1794-1881) (pron. beem)
invented a mechanism for opening and closing the holes of the flute.
In 1847, Boehm dramatically improved the
acoustics of the flute, and his design continues to be the foundation
of the modern flute design.
