Flute 101: how to put it together, where your fingers go, how to clean it, & all that jazz...

[ryanstriker9]

Whats are your best suggestions for lubricant to keep the flute easy to put together? For clarinet I use cork grease and I heard that hot breath works... I was just wondering if you have any other tricks. My ww tech teacher seemed to not cover that part...

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@ryanstriker9 Well, flutists generally don't use grease to make the flute fit more easily together. In fact, we usually bring it in to the shop to have it refitted! If the repair shop is nice, they might even do it for free! ;D You actually want to make sure the joints are DRY before you try to fit it together (especially if it's a tight fit) because moisture will just make it harder to fit and take part (the moisture will create a sort of "suction" effect!). Hope this helps! :)

[ryanstriker9]

@JustAnotherFlutist Ahhhh okay. This helps a lot. Thank you very much for helpful information and hasty reply. I actually used part of the knowledge I learned here on my test today for the flute. Since I'm replying I may as well ask for a couple tips on breathe support. For some reason I get super lightheaded playing flute very easily. Is this just a general beginner problem? Any tips? And I'm a music major so don't worry about any vocabulary. THANKS AGAIN though. And funny video :)

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@ryanstriker9 Oooh, right, breathing on the flute can be an issue especially if you're so used to breathing on the clarinet. The clarinet uses a lot less air than, I believe, most woodwind instruments. Make sure that for flute, you are breathing DEEPLY (like Darth Vader deeply, haha), not shallow breaths that we would normally take to talk. That way, when you expel the air, you're not expelling air from what I call the "reserve stockpile" in your lungs. [continued in next comment]

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@ryanstriker9 Expelling air from the "reserve stockpile" in your lungs is probably what's making you lightheaded (see my previous comment). Check out my video on "How to Blow into the Flute". You can try the exercise there where you breathe deeply and then blow a continuous stream of air on your finger (aim the airstream diagonally downwards, as if you're playing the flute). That way, you can concentrate on the breathing part w/o worrying about the fingers at the moment. :)

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@ryanstriker9 I hope my thoughts help! How did you do on your flute test? :)

[alex48201]

My Headjoint is really hard to take off.

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@alex48201 You can go to your local music repair shop and get them to adjust it. Shouldn't cost too much, and it shouldn't take too long. :)

[fleetcmd]

I was in the music shop today and they were showing me a few instruments. It wasn't easy to hold my laugh when the guy did the "refined telescope" thing :)

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@fleetcmd Ahahaha, that's awesome!!! :D There's SO many other things that flutists do that crack me up, but nobody else really thinks it's funny. Even I do a lot of funny-looking things, and I think it's hilarious from a non-flutist's point of view! But maybe I'm just a weirdo? Haha!

[fleetcmd]

Watching your videos I really feel like I want to try the flute. I think I will have one by next summer :)

[strain121]

00:59 lmao

[MsKaylaSweet9]

"You be opening upside down". xDDD

[ryanmikalson]

Do a video on sound production on the flute, for newbies. Cause we all know how simple that topic is!

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@ryanmikalson Already on the video to-do list!! ;D

[Serenetxl]

Oh god.

You've made me LOL-ed so many times, even if i'm not a flutist. xD

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@Serenetxl Meehee... :]

[dannyrambo1]

can you make a tutorials on how to make vibrato on flute :)

[dannyrambo1]

im very very!! obsessed with shiny polished flute lol... and thanks for making this vids... also can you do a tutorial on how to play titanic on flute? i cannot find any on youtube at all... you might be the first :)

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@dannyrambo1 Haha, I know the Titanic tune, but I've never taken the time to figure it out. I'll see what I can come up with. And yep, vibrato is already on the video to-do list. :)

[ryanmikalson]

This is highly entertaining!!! Also, PG-16 for that one section. FAR TOO MUCH Joyce!

[JustAnotherFlutist]

@ryanmikalson ;D