With the myriad of instruments to pick from, how do you pick the right one for your child? Each instrument will have different ensemble types and roles in those ensembles, as well as different physical and age components. There are also financial and personality considerations to take into account.
Let’s look at these aspects of choosing the flute to help you decide if this is the right instrument for your child and get started with flute lessons in Houston for kids!

What Type Of Instrument Is The Flute?

The flute is one of the oldest known musical instruments in the world, the first of which were made of bones and ivory. It is an important part of the woodwind family, a group of instruments which create sound by blowing air through them, and include other instruments such as the clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. Sound is created on the flute by blowing across a tone hole and pressing down various combinations of fingerings to produce different notes. There are many factors on how to select the best flute for beginner flute players.

Is There An Age Requirement To Play The Flute?

Students typically start the flute around ages 6-9, although it is possible to begin at a younger age with a Houston flute teacher. The typical C flute is made of three pieces, the headjoint, body joint, and footjoint. For smaller flutists there is a curved headjoint available to lessen the reach and therefore improve the comfortability of the instrument, and they can switch to the straight headjoint when they are ready. A good instrument to precede the flute is the recorder, as there is less difficulty in initially producing a sound on the recorder, and the student can begin to learn note fingerings which easily transfer over to the flute.

What Types Of Ensembles Do Flutes Play In?

The flute is a higher pitched instrument, and often receives the melody in ensemble pieces. The common role of an instrument in ensembles is important to consider, as other instruments will play different roles, such as that of bass or percussion instruments which frequently play more supporting roles. If you think your child would like playing melodies and being frequently featured in ensembles then the flute is a great option!
Flutes are part of many different ensemble types, which is great as the student can participate in a variety of musical genres! Many students start out in school concert bands, and from there may branch out into orchestras and jazz bands. The flute is also often a featured instrument in choral and Latin music.

Benefits Of Selecting The Flute

One benefit of the flute is that it is compact and easy to carry! If your child does not want to lug around a large case to school, the flute can be a great option!
Another benefit to choosing the flute is the price point, as there are a number of affordable options available to get the student started that won’t break the bank. Further, maintenance is not incredibly difficult for the flute as long as the student is careful, and only minor adjustments and professional cleaning would be necessary through the years. Flutists also do not have to periodically replace strings or reeds which is a bonus.
Selecting an instrument such as the flute is a great way for a student to socialize and be part of a musical community! Creating music in ensembles with other students helps to develop communication and collaboration skills, and is a terrific way to make friends! This is something to consider as some other instruments such as the piano are more solitary, so you want to think about what your child wants to achieve from playing their instrument.
The flute is an amazingly beautiful instrument which can offer many benefits to your child’s musical experience! If this sounds like a good fit for your child, contact us for more information on how to get started with flute lessons in Houston! At Lessons In Your Home, our instructors are thoroughly vetted, professional, and passionate about music. Our teachers will come right to your home for every lesson, plus we offer virtual music lessons, too. Our online music lessons are taught by local music teachers who plan their lessons to suit your child. Contact us today to learn more.
By Jennifer Ridout