Teaching headjoint-only & "Right Hand on the Barrel"
Hi Flute Teachers,
A highschool student asked a question yesterday (see next blog entry down) about a 12 yr. old who had played two years and still had very few flute skills.
I answered the question with all kinds of rhythm book titles, and beginner book titles and some general advice.
However, in the effort to give good hands-on advice, I made a quick video of what PHYSICAL skills can be taught to a band-flutist who needs remedial work. It includes headjoint-only work, and the very useful "Right Hand on the Barrel". The latter topic will appear in a future video as well, and originally comes from flute teacher Patricia George, who often offers teaching breakthroughs.
Sorry about the clicking and clipping sound track during the flute playing---will have to fix that in future videos.
Also, you'll want a copy of the pdf document mentioned in the video:
Mary Byrne's handout on "Teaching the First Flute Lesson".
Please have a look at my 7 min. video for novice teachers teaching novice band students. I emphasize that the purpose of the video is to give greater skills to the novice teacher; skills that I've learned from 15 years of teaching. If you don't feel comfortable with teaching these things, of course, consult with your own private teacher. I suggest that all highschool flutists who are asked to teach do so only under the guidance of a highly experienced professional flute teacher.
Oh, and *please do* leave your comments below as to whether or not this info. was useful, to help me add to the knowledge bank in the upcoming videos. :>)
Thanks, Jen
Jen's other videos on flute skills:
Flute assembly to avoid repairs.
Cleaning & Marking the flute
A highschool student asked a question yesterday (see next blog entry down) about a 12 yr. old who had played two years and still had very few flute skills.
I answered the question with all kinds of rhythm book titles, and beginner book titles and some general advice.
However, in the effort to give good hands-on advice, I made a quick video of what PHYSICAL skills can be taught to a band-flutist who needs remedial work. It includes headjoint-only work, and the very useful "Right Hand on the Barrel". The latter topic will appear in a future video as well, and originally comes from flute teacher Patricia George, who often offers teaching breakthroughs.
Sorry about the clicking and clipping sound track during the flute playing---will have to fix that in future videos.
Also, you'll want a copy of the pdf document mentioned in the video:
Mary Byrne's handout on "Teaching the First Flute Lesson".
Please have a look at my 7 min. video for novice teachers teaching novice band students. I emphasize that the purpose of the video is to give greater skills to the novice teacher; skills that I've learned from 15 years of teaching. If you don't feel comfortable with teaching these things, of course, consult with your own private teacher. I suggest that all highschool flutists who are asked to teach do so only under the guidance of a highly experienced professional flute teacher.
Oh, and *please do* leave your comments below as to whether or not this info. was useful, to help me add to the knowledge bank in the upcoming videos. :>)
Thanks, Jen
Jen's other videos on flute skills:
Flute assembly to avoid repairs.
Cleaning & Marking the flute
posted by jen at 6:29 PM
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Comments (10)
Hi. Thank you for sharing this! I don`t have any experience teaching yet, but I hope I will get some students within the next couple of years.
I just wanted to let you know that your tips are really helpful and inspiring :D
kind regards from Norway
simon
Thanks so much Simon!!!
There's a great teaching book called "The Illustrated Flute Player" by Soldan & Mellersh. I highly recommend it!! It has zillions of drawings and pictures of the body language needed to play flute well.
Best,
Jen :>)
Wow! Very interesting! I always thought it was neat that you could do so much (even play 'Mary Had a Little Lamb') on just the headjoint. What a breath of fresh air for kids who are struggling in band!
This video/commentary was very helpful and interesting! I have seen that Mary Byrne sheet before, and I love how lcear it is! It takes the lesson slowly, and rewards the student with a feeling of accomplishment after each step.
Thank you!
Sheila
Hi, I'm a band flautist. Would you mind if you upload the video on some where like sendspace.com? For some reason youtube doesn't work for me now /:
I've watched your other videos before so I would like to thank you for all the tips you've given me! (:
- Mindy :D
Hi again. I`ve actually used that book in one of my bachelor degree assignments. I really enjoyed the illustrations:D
Do you use the illustrations to emphisise your teaching to your students?
simon
Hi again Simon.
Do I use illustrations???
Yes, I draw the same dozen flute diagrams in my student's notebooks and in pencil on their music over and over again. They're like "reminder cartoons".
For most physical demonstrations, I physically, actually perform the skill, because a demo is worth a thousand words/pictures.
For a good book full of illustrations that teachers and the self-teaching can use, I highly recommend "The Illustrated Fluteplayer" by Soldan & Mellersh.
It's a breakthrough of a book.
There are also some diagrams in the following books that are great:
Nyfenger: Music and the Flute
Wilkinson: The Physical Flute
Debost: The Simple Flute
Kujala: Flutist's Progress.
Can you be more specific in your question?
Thanks,
Jen
That answered my question. I will check out the other books you mentioned as well :D
Thanks,
simon
You are a Godsend! I LOVED your video! I taught back in high school and now 20 years (ahem) later, I am trying again...after a few kids, teaching public school, etc!
THank you, thank you, thank you for this and all you do!!
I pledge to be more fun!
PS I am using Rubank because that is what I learned on. Do you have any other suggestions? My student is 10 and total beginner/novice!
Well yes, use Rubank if you think it works; but about 25 new books have come out that are tons and tons better and more inspiring and more fun!!
An inexpensive list of books is here:
http://www.jennifercluff.com/cheap.htm and I would also check the adult-beginner books for flutists at: http://www.jennifercluff.com/adultinfo.htm
If it were me and a grade 10 beginner:
I would use Karen Smithson's "Play the Flute" volumes 1-5 if the student was serious about fast progress.
Or if the student is just playing "for fun", and doesn't yet read music, I'd use:
Trevor Wye's Beginner book vol. 1
Louke-George "Flute Basics 101" from Fluteworld
or any of the beginner books that come with playalong CD listed on my blog and at:
http://www.jennifercluff.com/beginn.htm
Best,
Jen
P.S. A literal TON of beginner flute books recommended in a previous blog post here:
http://www.jennifercluff.com/blog/2006/12/question-about-teaching-12-yr-old.html
Best,
Jen