embouchure hole or tone hole<\/strong> on the head joint. A flutist makes sound by blowing a stream of air across the embouchure hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe air stream fluctuates very quickly between flowing into the embouchure hole and away from the embouchure hole. This fast oscillation produces a vibration which makes the sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sound comes out the end of the flute and any open holes. Pitch is determined by opening and closing holes<\/strong> on the flute.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe body of the flute doesn\u2019t produce sound, it provides the pitch range and amplifies and colors the sound. The tone is determined by the player\u2019s embouchure and air speed, and is influenced by the design and material of the flute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Why is the flute held to the side?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMost of the other woodwind instruments (oboe, clarinet, saxophone) are played vertically because the air needs to move in a downward direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The air is either moving in between two reeds<\/strong>, causing them to vibrate, or between a mouthpiece and a single reed<\/strong>, causing the reed to vibrate against the mouthpiece..<\/p>\n\n\n\nBecause the air needs to be blown across a hole on the flute, the flute needs to be angled sideways. Otherwise, the air would simply go into the hole without any vibration made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A vertical flute head joint now exists but it\u2019s rare. It\u2019s made for those who may have trouble holding the flute in the traditional manner. The head joint is shaped somewhat like a question mark and fits into the body of any C flute. The tone may be somewhat different due to this curvature of the vertical head joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around the world, there are different types of flutes which are played vertically – these are known as end-blown flutes. These include the Native American flute, the Egyptian nay, the Bulgarian kaval and the Japanese shakuhachi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
End-blown flutes don\u2019t have keys, they only have holes to change pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Advantages of blowing the flute sideways<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBecause it\u2019s played to the side with an embouchure hole, the transverse flute is much more flexible <\/strong>dynamically and expressively.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf the flute were played straight, it would need to make sound like a recorder, using a mouthpiece which blows air through a tiny duct (windway), moving the air stream to an edge. There wouldn\u2019t be much variety of volume or tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The transverse flute has a wider dynamic range<\/strong>, meaning it can play much softer and much louder<\/strong> than a recorder. This is because the player is able to make minute adjustments to their embouchure (how they shape their mouth to play) so that they can produce very loud and very soft sounds with control<\/strong> and good intonation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTransverse flutes are frequently used in larger ensembles<\/strong> because they are able to project the sound better<\/strong>, especially now that they\u2019re made of metal<\/strong> instead of wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe transverse flute is also able to vary tone colors for more musical expression<\/strong>. In addition, it is easier to adjust intonation<\/strong> on a transverse flute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>What side do you play the flute on?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe player positions the flute on their right<\/strong>. The left hand is placed closest to the player’s head, and the right hand is further down on the flute. The flute should be held parallel to the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s important that the player not twist their body to play the flute. Remain facing forward<\/strong> and move the arms to the proper position. Keep the head straight<\/strong> and shoulders relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>How do you balance the flute?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe flute is balanced at four points: the left-hand index finger, the right thumb, the right pinky on the Eb key, and the chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the instrument is balanced correctly, the player doesn\u2019t have to use any other part of their fingers or hands to help hold the instrument. This frees up the fingers to do their job – playing the notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>What if you\u2019re left-handed?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAll of the woodwind instruments are built with right-handed players<\/strong> in mind. This means the right hand holds the majority of the weight of the instrument and the keys are placed for right-hand position. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile you might occasionally see a specially made left-handed woodwind instrument, this is definitely an exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once a left-handed player starts to become familiar with the woodwind instrument, the right-hand setup feels normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Transverse flute vs the recorder<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile the two instruments are both a type of flute, sound is produced differently on each of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned earlier, on the flute, the player blows a stream of air across a hole in the head joint. The air oscillates above and below the far edge of the hole, creating a vibration that produces the sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By adjusting their embouchure and pressure, the flute player can make a wide range of pitches respond clearly and in tune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The flute has holes and keys to produce the different pitches. The modern key system of the transverse flute makes virtuosic playing possible. Its range is about 3\u00bd to 4 octaves. Again, a flute player enjoys a wide range of dynamic levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the recorder, on the other hand, the player blows air into a mouthpiece. At the other end of the mouthpiece is a duct which directs the air across an edge, causing an oscillation of the air stream. The vibrations produce sound in this way. There isn\u2019t as much embouchure flexibility possible as there is with the flute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The soprano recorder has holes but no keys for different pitches. It\u2019s range is about 2 octaves. Dynamically, the recorder is limited, tending to sound soft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How the transverse flute replaced the recorder<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe recorder was very popular before the transverse flute came into use. During the Renaissance Period, many compositions were written for solo recorder, recorder as a part of an orchestra, and recorder consorts – small groups of recorders pitched from sopranino to bass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the recorder basically stopped developing during the early Baroque Period, just when the transverse flute was growing in popularity. As the transverse flute became better known, musicians could see its technical and expressive possibilities, so it quickly developed and became the more used instrument of the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The transverse flute became the preferred instrument in orchestral writing. Once the instrument developed to the point that it was made of metal, it had an even wider dynamic range that could be heard more easily in an orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n