Fun facts about the flute 

Still deciding on an instrument to play next year? Here are some Pros and Cons about playing the Flute...

PROS – Small, easy to carry when in it's case. Relatively inexpensive to rent. Flutists also usually get the melody parts in band.

CONS – This *can* be a difficult instrument to start on in beginning band because of the following reasons: some students have trouble playing this instrument well due to facial characteristics (lip size, teardrop top lip, etc.).  Some students find the flute challenging to hold, especially for students with small hands. (However, ANYONE who practices the correct way and works hard can play ANY instrument!) Since the flute has many small parts it is very easily damaged, especially if dropped. Many students play flute, so there can be much more competition to get into advanced groups, honor bands, youth orchestras, etc. in the future. 

Videos to follow in your first week of practice in 4th grade band:

1. Posture and breathing
2. Opening the case and naming the parts
3. How to make a sound! - do this every day until you really get the hang of it!
4. Another video to help with sound development
5. How to tongue your notes Don't skip this step!
6. How do I put my flute together the correct way?
7. Holding the flute and hand/finger position
8. How do I keep my flute from dropping out of my hands?

Every time you are finishing practicing, be sure to clean your flute! Here is how to use your cleaning rod & cloth: Cleaning the inside of your flute