For younger children who are just starting to learn an instrument, it is generally recommended that they practice for shorter periods of time, such as 10-15 minutes per day. As they become more comfortable with the instrument and develop their skills, they can gradually increase their practice time to 20-30 minutes per day. However, if the child is very young, they may not be able to concentrate for this long, so some teachers suggest practice sessions which are twice the child’s age, so a 4-year-old would play for 8 minutes, or a 10-year-old for 20 minutes. Practice sessions can also be split up and spread throughout the day to avoid fatigue. Older children who are more experienced, can generally handle longer practice sessions, such as 30-60 minutes per day. However, it’s important to remember that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to music practice. Children need to focus when they play and take a break if they are tired. I say to my young students “little and often”. I’d much prefer they do 5-10 minutes six days a week, rather than play for one hour the day before their lesson! #musicpractice #flutepractice #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute
It’s a lot more fun to learn the notes on a large floor staff than on a piece of paper. I use washi tape or painter’s tape to make temporary lines on the floor or if you are outdoors, you can use chalk lines. Some of the games my students enjoy include: 🎉 Simon Says – use the traditional Simon Says game e.g. “Simon Says step on B” 🎉 Note Race – divide students into teams, give each player a large circle (cardboard or foam) with a note name– teams race each other to be the first team to place all their notes on the staff in the correct places. 🎉 Toss A Note – use bean bags, students take turns to toss a bag onto the staff then have to name the note it landed on (or whether it’s a line or space etc.) I love using games when teaching theory to my students. There are many more fun games with printable templates in my two books “Fun & Games for Music Lessons” and “MORE Fun & Games for Music Lessons.” (link to website in bio) 🩷💚 #theyoungfluteplayer #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute #musicgames #musictheory
It’s a lot more fun to learn the notes on a large floor staff than on a piece of paper. I use washi tape or painter’s tape to make temporary lines on the floor or if you are outdoors, you can use chalk lines. Some of the games my students enjoy include: ✅ Simon Says – use the traditional Simon Says game e.g. “Simon Says step on B” ✅ Note Race – divide students into teams, give each player a large circle (cardboard or foam) with a note name– teams race each other to be the first team to place all their notes on the staff in the correct places. ✅ Toss A Note – use bean bags, students take turns to toss a bag onto the staff then have to name the note it landed on (or whether it’s a line or space etc.) I love using games when teaching theory to my students. There are many more fun games with printable templates in my two books “Fun & Games for Music Lessons” and “MORE Fun & Games for Music Lessons.” (link to website in bio) 🩷💚 #theyoungfluteplayer #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute #musicgames #musictheory
Over many years, probably the most common fingering problem I see in beginner flute players is “flying pinky”, that is, the right-hand little finger up in the air when it should be on its key. This happens especially after students lift this finger to play middle D and then forget to put it back down for the next note. Teaching correct fingerings to young flute players is relatively straight forward but over time students can get fingerings muddled or forget to depress one of the keys for a note. Furthermore, when students learn in groups, it is more likely that incorrect fingerings will creep in! A quick and fun fix for “flying pinky” is to play a simple “FREEZE” game. The student plays a piece or a scale but when you call out “FREEZE”, they need to stop immediately, and freeze like a statue. Check if their fingering for the note is correct, if so they continue playing, if not, help them work out the correct fingering. For my first-year students, I have written a few short exercises with lots of “D” notes in the music, to help reinforce that their pinky needs to go back on the key after they have played D. Another great way to check your student knows the correct fingering for a note is to play Forget-Me-Not Fingerings. Hope you find this helpful! #theyoungfluteplayer #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute #flutefingering
Not only is correct posture important for comfort while playing, it also significantly affects sound production. The flute should be balanced with the chin, the lower part of the left index finger, and the right thumb. The fingers and wrists should be relaxed, shoulders relaxed, elbows pointing downwards (on an angle) not out like wings! When commencing play, bring the flute up to the mouth, not the head down to the flute. Check also the music stand is adjusted to a comfortable height so that the music is at eye level. Enjoy playing with a relaxed body! #theyoungfluteplayer #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute
Whether your student is sitting or standing, make sure their music stand is adjusted so the music is at eye level. Often the music stand is too low, so the student must lean down to read the music, not the best for playing with good posture. In this picture, the student would benefit from having her stand a little higher for optimal position of her music. When I started teaching online during the pandemic, I realized I hadn’t been checking how my students had their home practice space arranged! In our lessons, we can adjust the stand height, but also remember to check what students are using at home (some even put the music on the kitchen table, again not ideal for good flute posture). Investing in an inexpensive, height-adjustable music stand can really make a difference! #theyoungfluteplayer #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute #lyricalflute
Playing duets with your students in lessons is an incredibly versatile teaching tool: ✅ Beginners – remember how exciting it was to play your first duet? Even if the student only knows one note, you can play a harmony part and give them the thrill of playing with another instrument. Duets are also really useful to help beginner students keep in time with the beat. ✅ Intermediate - time to talk about tuning! Duets are a great way to help students listen to their playing and keep in tune with another instrument. ✅ Advanced - duets are a perfect way to end a lesson, not only are they fun to play, they are also a great way to practise sight reading. ✅ Adult students – the social side of music is one of its greatest benefits, encourage your adult students to find another person to play duets with or to join a community ensemble. 🎶 Enjoy your duet playing! #fluteduets #theyoungfluteplayer #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute
For younger children who are just starting to learn an instrument, it is generally recommended that they practice for shorter periods of time, such as 10-15 minutes per day. As they become more comfortable with the instrument and develop their skills, they can gradually increase their practice time to 20-30 minutes per day. However, if the child is very young, they may not be able to concentrate for this long, so some teachers suggest practice sessions which are twice the child’s age, so a 4-year-old would play for 8 minutes, or a 10-year-old for 20 minutes. Practice sessions can also be split up and spread throughout the day to avoid fatigue. Older children who are more experienced, can generally handle longer practice sessions, such as 30-60 minutes per day. However, it’s important to remember that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to music practice. Children need to focus when they play and take a break if they are tired. I say to my young students “little and often”. I’d much prefer they do 5-10 minutes six days a week, rather than play for one hour the day before their lesson! #musicpractice #flutepractice #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute
What’s wrong with this this thumb position? It’s too far forward – the right thumb needs to be under or even behind the flute for two reasons. Firstly, to help support and stabilize the flute and secondly so the right-hand fingers can move freely. In this photo, the lower part of thumb is contacting the flute, instead of the upper part. Not only does this impede fully free movement of the right-hand fingers, it also means the flute is not balanced, and is much more likely to roll or slip when notes with few fingers, such as C or C#, are played. You’ll also notice that the right-hand fingers are bunched up over the thumb. If the student moves their thumb back, it will also be easier for the right-hand fingers to sit above their keys. TEACHER TALK is my new weekly post on some aspect of teaching, especially beginner flute! #fluteteacher #fluteteachingtips #beginnerflute #flutesuccess #learnflute #flutemethod #flöte #flauta #fluteeducator #playflute
. 🌸The "hanging buddy" 🌸I found this little trick, very handy when students start trying to support the flute with their left shoulder (especially when playing C or C# for the first time)… The "hanging buddy" keeps the shoulder away from the flute! 🙃 🌸Sneak peek ... one of the reasons why in Toot and Hoot Flute Method books the introduction of the note C is delayed, is to allow the student more time to develop a stable feeling in the posture, before playing a tricky fingering like C or C# 🌸If you try this with your students, let me know how it works for them 🥰 In this photo is my older daughter few years back, who lately does theatre and acting mostly, but still likes to pick up the flute once in a while ;) #fluteteacher #fluteteachingmethod #flutemethod #flutemethodbooks #methodbooks #flutebook #flutebeginners #flutebeginnersbook #musiceducation #flutelove #flutestudent #teachingflute #flutestudio #flutelessons #flutelessonssingapore #fluteteachersingapore #tootandhootflutemethod #teachingresources #fluteteachingresources #FluteTips #fluteteachingtips #funlearning #allthingsflute #fluteschool #flute #littleflutist #flutesofinstagram
Which B flat fingering do I teach my beginner students first, and why? Read my article to find out, then let me know what you think! Link in bio and comment #fluteteacher #fluteblog #teachbflat #flutefingerings #beginnerflute #learnflute #theyoungfluteplayer #flutemethod #playflute #fluteteachingtips
One of my fave practice techniques. Playing this beautiful Gaubert melody while singing the harmony forces me to carry my air all the way through the phrases, and then when I remove the singing I can hear exactly where my legato is flawed and where I would like the shape of the phrase to be clearer. • • • #practice #flute #practiceroomvideos #flutetechnique #practicetechniques #flutetips #fluteteachingtips #music #gaubert #haynesflutes