Buying a flute, advice from The Balanced Scale
Step Up / Intermediate Flute
Your biggest consideration in the purchase of a new/used flute is your budget. One might expect to spend between $1500.00 and $5000.00 for a step up / intermediate flute. While there are some cost savings associated with buying a used flute, there is also a certain amount of risk involved. A used flute will most likely need to be adjusted and balanced for your personal touch.
Some brand names to look for
Generally brand name instruments are your best choice: Altus 1007, Yamaha 500, Pearl Quantz, Sankyo, Muramatsu EX, GX and AD, Powell Signature, and Miyazawa 401 to name a few.
Features of a Step Up/Intermediate Flute:
Body tube
The body tube may be made of brass with silver plating, nickel silver or varying grades of silver. You also have the option of choosing the “wall” thickness of the body tube. The different materials and construction provide different tonal characteristics.
Toneholes
Toneholes may be “drawn” and “rolled” from the body tube, or they can be soldered on. There is much debate as to the difference in sound between the two.
Keys
“Y” keys and pointed, or French keys, are available as options on some step up flutes. “Y” keys connect to the key mechanism or arm at the rear of the key cup, focusing finger pressure on the back of the pad.
The pointed or French arms connect to the key mechanism at the center of the key cup, focusing the finger pressure directly on the center of the pad. Other key features may include split E mechanism, inline/offset G, and “Gizmo” key for low B.
The key on the left is pointed (french),abd the key on the right is a Y key; notice where they connect to the cup.
Key regulation
Regulation of the key mechanism on entry/student/intermediate model flutes is accomplished through the use of adjustment screws. Some screws are visible from the front view and others are set behind the keys.
Some stepup/intermediate flutes have Plateau (closed) style keys, however, the French (open) keys are used by the majority of professional players because they force proper technique and the open holes make it easier to produce tonal nuances.
Case
Finally, a sturdy case that fits the contour of the flute is essential to ensure that your new companion remains safe and snug. Always store your swab and wiping cloth in an external “case cover”. This will ensure extra lint and moisture will not accumulate in and on your flute. Case covers are often padded for that “extra” level of security just in “case”.
I hope this was helpfull, if you have any questions, comments, queries or would like to suggest something please contribute below.
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A marriage of music and mechanics
The flute is a member of the woodwind family and is played by blowing air across the mouth of the instrument instead of using a reed, which makes it rather distinct from most other woodwind instruments.
It appears that the flute has been around for thousands of years and predates many of the instruments most are familiar with today. In fact, there have been flutes found that have been dated to be as old as 30,000 years. There have been many flutes found that have been made out of the bones of animals or out of different kinds of wood.
To change the sounds that the flute makes, the musician covers the different holes in the body, either with the pad of their fingers or by pressing the keys. The different combinations of open and closed holes in the flute create different pitches and sounds.
The air that the musician puts into the flute can also determine the different pitches. By changing the amount of air the musician blows into the flute, they can create different pitches without needing to worry about opening or closing the holes in the flute.
Changing how loud a flute can be requires a change in the size of the flute. More specifically, the flute would need to have larger holes, a larger resonator and/or more air. It is possibly for these reasons that the flute has been adapted and changed so much throughout history.
Today, there are a few different kinds of flutes. Some flutes are with keys, some are with keys, some are open-ended and others are closed-ended and are referred to as fipple flutes. There are flutes that make deeper, richer sounds and are typically larger flutes. Then, there are flutes that make lighter, higher sounds and are often smaller flutes. Others are a medium sound, meaning that they are not too deep either.
Flutes are not the most difficult instrument to play, but it takes a certain level of discipline and practice in order to gain proper control of how much air is blown into the flute. It also takes a lot of practice to be able to play, which is true with all instruments.
Many will choose to play the flute because they are attracted to the instrument’s angel-like sound. The flute has a delicate sound that many enjoy listening to and it is often used by people who are looking for something relaxing to listen to.
The flute is quite possibly one of the oldest musical instruments out there and it could be that the flute is so familiar that most find it comforting. It has been developed and used all over the world and has taken many forms due to the different materials available, as well as the different sounds different people were looking for.
Other than some recent additions of keys on some types of flutes, most flutes are simple and basic. Overall, this beautiful instrument has never really needed any major changes to its design, probably because there is no way to make the sound any more perfect than it already is.
The turn of the 20th century saw an unfortunate period of attempts to assimilate most Native American peoples into mainstream America. The Indians were faced with incredibly harsh assimilation rules and there was further relocation as treaties and reservations were illegally modified. Simple survival as a people and as individuals became forefront in the activities of Native Americans, especially during the 1930s and 1940s. As a result, many cultural aspects were forbidden or prohibited and their practice went “underground.”
Beginning in the late 1940s, as assimilation rules began to disappear, the flute tradition was among the cultural aspects that began to resurface. Native flute players increased and gained some prominence. Belo Cozad (Kiowa), Dan Red Buffalo (Lakota), Dick Foolbull (Lakota), George Watchetaker (Comanche), Abel Big Bow (Kiowa), Woodrow Haney (Seminole), and Doc Tate Nevaquaya (Comanche), among others, reacquainted both natives and non-natives alike with the native flute. Non-natives, such as Dr. Richard Payne, Thurlow Lieurance and Vernon McNeal also played a significant role the revitalization of the flute tradition.
The 1970s marked the beginning of the period when flute makers shifted from primarily making flutes for their own use to primarily making flutes in quantity for use by others. Many began deriving, at least partially, their livelihood from their work.
The renaissance of the native flute was still in its infancy and only a relatively few makers emerged during the 1970s. Some learned their craft from relatives in previous generations. Hawk Littlejohn (who actually began making flutes in the 1950s), and Tim Spotted Wolf learned from their Grandfathers, while Sonny Nevaquaya learned from his father, Doc Tate. Others met Dr. Payne and discovered his wealth of knowledge, including Dr. Oliver Jones and Michael Graham Allen. Many turned to historic flutes for their inspiration including Raven Charles King and Arnold Richardson. And there were a number that taught themselves, including Carl Running Deer, Zacciah Blackburn and Lew Paxton Price. The early 1980s added a few more makers including Lakota George Estes and Ken Light.
The 1980s saw the emergence of two influences that had a dramatic impact on flute making. The first was R. Carlos Nakai, who has become perhaps the most prominent player in modern times. He not only influenced countless people to take up the instrument as players, but also quite a number of people to make them. His impact became most apparent in the early 1990s. The second was the release of a dozen books by Lew Paxton Price, covering every facet of constructing native flutes. They have become the foremost reference on the subject and many contemporary makers consider his books an important influence in their work.
This period also saw the introduction of numerous innovations in the crafting of native flutes. Power tools began to supplement hand tools to in some cases improve precision work and reduce crafting time. Makers began using more than cedars, cane and bamboo. Flutes were made in a wide variety of softwoods and hardwoods as well as domestic and foreign exotic woods. Plastic and metal tubes also found their way into flute making.
A significant modification to emerge at this time was the carving of the flue into the block directly, thus creating a style that needed no nest/roost. This has become a standard feature on what is now referred to as the “Plains” flute, or what should perhaps be called the “Contemporary Plains” flute.
Other innovations included the use of Western music tunings, such as pentatonic minor, diatonic and chromatic major. This led to the introduction of over two octaves of keys that flutes were tuned to. Multiple tone chamber flutes (usually referred to as drones or dual-chambered) began appearing as well as double bass designs (those of Michael Allen) that required additional mouthpiece fixtures.
As the 20th century drew to a close, flute makers offering their flutes to the public numbered over one hundred. There is indeed a receptive market. Professional and amateur players now number in the upper hundreds, flute circles have sprung up nation-wide and internationally, web-clubs and list servers abound on the internet, and hospitals and other service centers are recognizing the benefits of flute music.
Flute making, as well as flute playing, has crossed all cultural bounds and has ensured the flute tradition will survive well into the 21 century.
Zadjik Productions. âModern Times History.â Native American Flutes. 27 Aug. 2009 [http://www.zadjik.com/flutes/].
Performance by Flutist Marco Granados and Bass Player Roberto Koch in Caracas, Venezuela. July 2006 at the “Teatro Teresa Carreño, Sala Rivas”. Last day of the national meeting of flute players in Venezuela, organized by Fesnojiv, the Foundation for Youth Orchestras of Venezuela.
I am trying to find a composer that wrote flute music and is from the United States and has a biography. I am doing some research.
A first of its kind in South East Asia, the Flute Festival – Singapore brings together some of the best flutists from around the world. This four day event features renowned flutists from Sweden, Bulgaria, USA and Singapore.
The Flute Studio Singapore, established in 1992 promotes the art of flute playing through activities such as concerts and performances, flute sales, compact disk recordings lessons and master classes. Now in an attempt to bring flute music to a larger audience, the first Singapore flute festival has been organized.
The Festival will be held from the 11th to the 14th of June 2009, at the Young Musicians’ Society Auditorium. Situated at 54 Waterloo Street, the auditorium seats 200, so tickets are limited. Prices range from SGD 10 to SGD 150.
The musicians featured in the concert are Tsai Wen Shih (Singapore), Goh Tiong Eng (Singapore), Karen Undritz (Switzerland), Lee Ho-Fan (USA), Anders Norell (Sweden), Quadro Flauto Piccolo (Singapore), Huang Yu-Hsin, Harpist (Taiwan), Low Shao Suan and Low Shao Ying, Pianists (Singapore) with The Flute Ensemble (Singapore).
Included in the festival are a flute competition, concerts, recitals for flute and piano, flute and harp and a flute quartet. The 4-day event will also feature workshops on band foundation and sectional training while also giving attendees a chance of participating in master classes on flute technique and interpretation. There will also be an exhibition of Altus, Azumi and Evida flute at the festival.
Also await the Flute Festivals 2010 which includes the Flute Ensemble and Chamber Music Competition. Artists invited for this are William Bennet (UK) and Kazushi Saito (Japan) with flute ensembles from Japan and Taiwan.
So come and be transported to a world that will bring you four days of sheer musical pleasure.
A Singapore luxury hotel, such as the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore will provide you with great accommodation while attending The Flute Festival – Singapore 2009.
How music can help people to get rid of their stress?
Music can do wonder and alleviate bodily pains as well as mental stress. You can feel the comfort while listening to the beautiful and soothing music. Music has a great power to heal and the charm of music itself is so soothing that people who are stressed out can get rid of all their pains by listening to some light music. Even when you are tired, you can listen to some light music to get rid of your tiredness.
Example from Bible: From the ancient times we all know how music played its role to alleviate the pains of people. For example the Bible, David played his harp in order to alleviate the pains of King Saul. Some of the best recommendations from the doctors are the following:
Play music and sing songs: Play the music and sing along with it. It works like magic in the worst of time. Even if you can’t play any instrument, you can listen to music and sing softly with it. It also works while you are stressed out.
Heartbeat of the unborn infant: Another vital thing that rejuvenates a person instantly is the heart beat of the baby who is still inside the mother’s womb. It is so pleasant to hear the heartbeat that even people suffering from worst mental disease can be rejuvenated by it.
Psychological response: According to popular research, music produces in the physiological response system and many psychological patients revived their senses after listening to the music. Music pertaining to loud drum beats was extremely soothing. So were the flute music in place of soothing Mediterranean and Celtic Music.
Biological synchronization: Whenever the proper sounds were experienced by the listener, amazing right/left brain hemisphere synchronization occurred. Thus it has been observed that the entire human energetic system is extremely influenced by sounds, the physical body and energy stores react specifically to some specific tones and frequencies.
Deep breathing; music during dental procedure: Another important stress control devise is deep breathing. In this method, the production of serotonin in the body accelerates. Music also relieves the pain which was caused during dental procedures.
Reduce heart rate and increase body temperature: Sometimes we can hear the music while we are working. This is also extremely beneficial since it helps to promote higher temperature of the body and also to reduce the heart rate.
I am in Junior Miss and need suggestions of songs and websites to find free flute music. I need help on picking a good song for junior miss that a junior in high school would be able to play.
Chinese Tratitional flute Music and Dance “Yi Zhou”
The Shakuhachi plays an authentic Japanese music. Learn more about the music played by a Shakuhachi in thisfree video music lesson from a master of the Japanese Shakuhachi flute. Expert: David Zasloff Bio: David Zasloff has been called “one of the great performers of our time.” He is a master of Japanese shakuhachi flute. He played shakuhachi flute on the million-selling Linkin Park CD, Meteora.” Filmmaker: Nili Nathan