My 11 years old daughter plays the whistle. Some weeks she is motivated others not. For the most part her ability to pick up tunes is good, and her sense for the music (cadence, rhythm, accent etc) is sickeningly good. I play fiddle around the house a lot so her exposure to Irish music is pretty high. Her school district does not offer music lessons until the 6th grade, so she has been playing her whistle with me, for about the last year, and taking some lessons as well. She is interested in playing flute when the time comes at school. I am predicting the school system will require her to play a standard metal keyed flute. I am not too worried about this because she is entitled to do with her life as she wishes. However, I DO want to keep her interested in Irish music, and to encourage her to keep up with it, based on her simple raw advantage of being a well exposed child. (to be selfish I enjoy playing with her too) I am considering getting her an inexpensive session flute, to have around the house, so for when she feels the need to try out her new chops on Irish music she will be doing it with a suitable instrument. Any suggestions as to what type of flute? I am thinking Tony Dixon ABS type model.
Thanks Elanor you got me looking over some of Matt Molloy's YouTube clips.
Check out the fiddle player who was once of a tender age. (Kevin Burke ~ 1977) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3oO6I56Guc
Hikes, since posing this question that has come into my decision making process as well. Maybe it is a good idea to hold off a bit until she has found her way around the silver flute before rushing into an Irish flute. I do welcome ideas though for a smaller flute, if I know what to look for I could recognize a good deal when/if it presented itself.
Elanor, I was in exactly the same situation as your daughter. I was learning to play the whistle, but I always wanted to play the flute, so I started learning the flute at school as soon as I could (5th grade in my district). I played in the school band for a couple years, but soon I just stuck to Irish music with my silver flute. I have a wooden flute now, but I don't think learning to play on a silver flute was any kind of a hindrance--actually, it probably helped, since my hands were definitely not big enough to handle the stretch on a wooden flute.
SMW, do you have suggestions as to what features then her first flute should (n't)have? It seems with silver flutes there is an endless list of options. I want her to have ease of play #1, then quality of tone and price need to be balanced. No point in getting a kid an instrument far in excess of ability, at the same time, she hears enough music, that a better sound will please her and inspire her.
Always one to tip the scales ~ there are wooden fifes.
They are good for smaller hands. I play a rosewood Sweetheart in G. The sweetheart "A" is smaller still & 'easy' to play in the D key. http://www.sweetheartflute.com/folkfifes.html
As an experienced player of both types of flutes, I would like to suggest that you let her get proficient on the silver flute and play whistle on the side. The whistle will keep her from getting confused about the differences in fingering, and she will develop better technique if she learns on a Boehm, IMO.
Another consideration is that her hands are still growing, and the reach on a wooden instrument is a bit tougher, along with the fact that smaller fingers have difficulty covering the tone holes. In short, I see no advantage in her learning wooden flute now, and to be truthful, if she can play in the Irish style on a Boehm, it may be better not to move to wooden flute at all.
Don't forget - Casey Burns' flutes have a "small handed" model available. I'm sure that means a small-handed adult, not child, but it's an option to consider.
swisspiper & Elanor a good silver flute would be a good decision. I began playing Irish with 3 whistles.
The D, of course, received the most use. The other 2 are C & Bb. I later got an 'A' Shaw. It always amazes me just how often the A gets played.* Then of course I have the sweetheart G. Now I am not suggesting that anyone try to start off by playing different keys. Focus is important. Still sometimes the bug bites. At that point the 'A' would be an excellent choice ~ in my humble opinion.
*It is now an S.Z.B.E. I loaned the Shaw to a piper so he could tweak it a bit. He never gave it back.
Her interest is in flute, therefore she shall receive one for playing in band. (Silver type) naturally an Irish traditional instrument whistle or whatever, is unlikely to be welcomed by her elementary band teacher. I appreciate the numerous responses from experience flute players/whistle players, it sounds like I should be doing right by her, in letting her play the silver flute unencumbored (sp?) she will have her whistle on standby to have fun with, as before. Fun is a key factor, I sure don't want to turn a pleasure for her into a chore.
I wound up buying her a Tony Dixon Fife (D), for her to practice embouchure, and allowing her to keep her fingering the same as with her whistle, she can use this until flute lessons start. One thing caught me quite by surprise, VOLUME. She has had it less than 24 hours, and has set to teaching herself, and I had no idea the increase in decibel level I was in for. I am happy for her though, she is totally pleased with it.
Children and Flutes
Children and Flutes
My 11 years old daughter plays the whistle. Some weeks she is motivated others not. For the most part her ability to pick up tunes is good, and her sense for the music (cadence, rhythm, accent etc) is sickeningly good. I play fiddle around the house a lot so her exposure to Irish music is pretty high. Her school district does not offer music lessons until the 6th grade, so she has been playing her whistle with me, for about the last year, and taking some lessons as well. She is interested in playing flute when the time comes at school. I am predicting the school system will require her to play a standard metal keyed flute. I am not too worried about this because she is entitled to do with her life as she wishes. However, I DO want to keep her interested in Irish music, and to encourage her to keep up with it, based on her simple raw advantage of being a well exposed child. (to be selfish I enjoy playing with her too) I am considering getting her an inexpensive session flute, to have around the house, so for when she feels the need to try out her new chops on Irish music she will be doing it with a suitable instrument. Any suggestions as to what type of flute? I am thinking Tony Dixon ABS type model.
# Posted on March 27th 2008 by ElanorFiddles
Re: Children and Flutes
A Doug Tipple flute should suffice, not too expensive for a first flute, nice and robust, easy to sell on when you need to upgrade, or a handy spare.
# Posted on March 27th 2008 by Dave_
Re: Children and Flutes
Would be great if she could just hear an Irish flute player in person.
Here is some info if you have time;
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/begin.html
http://woodenflute.com/
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/olwell.htm
# Posted on March 27th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Children and Flutes
I agree Muse. SHe is definitely coming to a tender age where other adults will be far more interesting to her than myself.
# Posted on March 27th 2008 by ElanorFiddles
Re: Children and Flutes
Thanks Elanor you got me looking over some of Matt Molloy's YouTube clips.
Check out the fiddle player who was once of a tender age. (Kevin Burke ~ 1977)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3oO6I56Guc
# Posted on March 27th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Children and Flutes
I think the tipple flute is kind of too big for a child. I can barely cover the holes myself.
You know, you CAN play Irish music on the silver flute.
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by sbhikes
Re: Children and Flutes
Hikes, since posing this question that has come into my decision making process as well. Maybe it is a good idea to hold off a bit until she has found her way around the silver flute before rushing into an Irish flute. I do welcome ideas though for a smaller flute, if I know what to look for I could recognize a good deal when/if it presented itself.
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by ElanorFiddles
Re: Children and Flutes
Elanor, I was in exactly the same situation as your daughter. I was learning to play the whistle, but I always wanted to play the flute, so I started learning the flute at school as soon as I could (5th grade in my district). I played in the school band for a couple years, but soon I just stuck to Irish music with my silver flute. I have a wooden flute now, but I don't think learning to play on a silver flute was any kind of a hindrance--actually, it probably helped, since my hands were definitely not big enough to handle the stretch on a wooden flute.
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by smw
Re: Children and Flutes
SMW, do you have suggestions as to what features then her first flute should (n't)have? It seems with silver flutes there is an endless list of options. I want her to have ease of play #1, then quality of tone and price need to be balanced. No point in getting a kid an instrument far in excess of ability, at the same time, she hears enough music, that a better sound will please her and inspire her.
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by ElanorFiddles
Re: Children and Flutes
Always one to tip the scales ~ there are wooden fifes.
They are good for smaller hands. I play a rosewood Sweetheart in G. The sweetheart "A" is smaller still & 'easy' to play in the D key.
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/folkfifes.html
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Children and Flutes
Muse - how difficult is it to move from a flute to a fife and vice- verce?
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by swisspiper
Re: Children and Flutes
If it need not be in D then why not a smaller Tipple ?
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by david_h
Re: Children and Flutes
As an experienced player of both types of flutes, I would like to suggest that you let her get proficient on the silver flute and play whistle on the side. The whistle will keep her from getting confused about the differences in fingering, and she will develop better technique if she learns on a Boehm, IMO.
Another consideration is that her hands are still growing, and the reach on a wooden instrument is a bit tougher, along with the fact that smaller fingers have difficulty covering the tone holes. In short, I see no advantage in her learning wooden flute now, and to be truthful, if she can play in the Irish style on a Boehm, it may be better not to move to wooden flute at all.
# Posted on March 28th 2008 by Ailin
Re: Children and Flutes
Don't forget - Casey Burns' flutes have a "small handed" model available. I'm sure that means a small-handed adult, not child, but it's an option to consider.
# Posted on March 29th 2008 by justwhistle
Children and Flutes & fifes
swisspiper & Elanor a good silver flute would be a good decision. I began playing Irish with 3 whistles.
The D, of course, received the most use. The other 2 are C & Bb. I later got an 'A' Shaw. It always amazes me just how often the A gets played.* Then of course I have the sweetheart G. Now I am not suggesting that anyone try to start off by playing different keys. Focus is important. Still sometimes the bug bites. At that point the 'A' would be an excellent choice ~ in my humble opinion.
*It is now an S.Z.B.E. I loaned the Shaw to a piper so he could tweak it a bit. He never gave it back.
# Posted on March 29th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Children and Flutes
Her interest is in flute, therefore she shall receive one for playing in band. (Silver type) naturally an Irish traditional instrument whistle or whatever, is unlikely to be welcomed by her elementary band teacher. I appreciate the numerous responses from experience flute players/whistle players, it sounds like I should be doing right by her, in letting her play the silver flute unencumbored (sp?) she will have her whistle on standby to have fun with, as before. Fun is a key factor, I sure don't want to turn a pleasure for her into a chore.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by ElanorFiddles
Re: Children and Flutes
I wound up buying her a Tony Dixon Fife (D), for her to practice embouchure, and allowing her to keep her fingering the same as with her whistle, she can use this until flute lessons start. One thing caught me quite by surprise, VOLUME. She has had it less than 24 hours, and has set to teaching herself, and I had no idea the increase in decibel level I was in for. I am happy for her though, she is totally pleased with it.
# Posted on April 3rd 2008 by ElanorFiddles