5 Tips for Self-Taught Flutists

[@JustAnotherFlutist]

Hi friends! Huge kudos to my self-taught peeps out there! You rock!

[@chance5073]

This will be my 3rd year of being a self taught flutist! I played trumpet for years and years. This last year, I was a college freshman going to music school for trumpet and the flute teacher basically caught me being able to play the flute and we started lessons and I ended up auditioning and being our wind ensemble's principle flute as well as changing my major from trumpet to flute. Such an amazing instrument. Keep it up!

[@adellem1800]

THANK YOu for making this I've had such difficulty teaching myself the scales lately

[@erickcruz9608]

This video is very helpful! I've been a self-taught flute player for over 10 years now and trying to figure stuff out on your own is very difficult when you don't have the money or resources to get a private tutor. Even though I had switched my focus towards the oboe family when I was in high school, which I'm also self- taught in, I still love the flute and now I get to play both in my university's music program. These tips will be very helpful for years to come!

[@stevenhughes3298]

JustAnotherFlutist It's been two years since I've self taught flute. lol I've bet some of my peers, who've been playing flute since middle school, that were in the top band at my high school in auditions 😂😂😂 I used to play saxophone

[@chance5073]

LittleDove cole I'm not her but I think I can help since I just switched from closed to open this summer. Consistent and careful practice. Always mindful of the holes. And what I did, which may be odd, is I put plugs in all of them and on every different day of practice I only took one out depending on the day. So like one day I would do my left ring finger, another I would take out only the left middle finger, etc. take it slow with one hole and work your way to all 😊

[@jessica3.14]

I started playing flute in 5th grade when I was 10 and my band director didn't know how to play or pretty much anything else because he only knows brass and so I taught myself for a few months and surprisingly, I was a natural and I practiced nonstop and I loved it. After 6 months, we had a chair test and I got first and my band director was surprised at my talent and I began teaching all the other 8 flutes and if a new student came and was assigned a flute, I taught them. Now I'm a few weeks from turning 16 and almost 6 years later, I play the piccolo too and I am the only one in the flute section because the other flute player is our drum major. I thank you for your videos because they have helped me to learn even more.

[@kiaraeijo]

R R Wow that's awesome! I was Self-taught too. I pretty much taught myself ( I took some lessons on and off when I was in high school) until I started my undergrad. I think it's a good thing being self-taught because that means that you don't always have to rely on a teacher spoon feed you the knowledge😃

[@cherryflavored460]

R R wow so cool you are goals

[@panicatmychemicalpiltsdisc9338]

Jessica Ham My 6th grade band teacher continuously teaches us the wrong notes. So now, I am attempting to teach myself.

[@woofwinkle1467]

You are so inspiring!! I hope I can have enough self discipline to become better ^^

[@Karenonflute]

Joanna, I've always thought you were wonderful, but now I think you are even more wonderful. You are the first flute teacher that I've ever heard that doesn't disparage people who try to learn the flute on their own!!

[@juliansandoval8022]

Her accent sucks but she is quite good playing flute

[@robertwhitaker3839]

@@juliansandoval8022 who has an accent?

[@zxKAOS1]

Thanks for the video! 0:58 Alternate vs, real fingerings 6:02 Memorize all scales & arpeggios! 7:43 Listen to recordings 9:30 Watch videos! 10:54 Practice smart! For the last one, it took me 2 months to make a tone (on and off, mostly "off"). I can make a faint tone on Db, C, and B. However, can't do A nor G (my phone app doesn't even register a sound for the last 2!). I've been making sure I practice just 15 minutes a day. Definitely want to avoid cases where I 'accidentally' end up putting it off for days at a time!.

[@DebbieGermany]

Hi! Not being able to get these notes to sound is probably not your fault. It is probably the result of a slight misadjustment of something in the mechanisms in the flute. You need to have someone who can play the flute to check out your flute to see if they can get the sound on those notes. If they also cannot get the sound, take it to a music shop and have it repaired. If you don’t know anyone who plays, just take it to a music shop to have it checked and repaired. You will be so happy you did. There are certain things you can’t do just by practicing more! Good luck to you!

[@OscarRaphael-i4e]

You are a great teacher I am 75 years old and I don’t even know music I bought a flute and is struggling to make a sound with it my right hand is very stiff and c and low c is the most difficult thing to make, but just listening to you I can make it once in a while you give me hope that one day I will be able to play the c and low c the I will be able to play the scale and then learn all the different scales, I am like a baby learning to crawl ,

[@turdusrufiventris7841]

@@OscarRaphael-i4e low c is so difficult!

[@kaylagaye3736]

Hi! I’m 14 years old and I am teaching my self since I kinda dont wanna trouble my parent’s money. Well I just started playing the flute on *January 23* : of course as a beginner at first its hard for me to place my lips right onto embouchure and so on. *January 24* : still not used to it on blowing but managed to play a few notes and there I played marry had a little lamb. and keep practicing *January 25* : getting used of blowing and the sounds that I made is improving *January 26* i didnt get to practice *January 27* : this is when I decided to go to the next page of the suzuki flute book 1 and there I saw twinkle twinkle but I cant play it since I still dont know how to play high registers on flute so I watched many videos but nothing seems to help and that is also when I realized that my lip posture is wrong all the time. I mean it produce clear sound but still its not the proper way so I also search for how to have a proper lip posture on flute and I cannot also do it. Then I found your video and try sharing my problems to you...I dont want to lose hope from playing the flute just because I cant do this and that. I don’t also want to waste my money out of nothing. And yes a forteen-year-old girl bought an expensive flute because I really love music. Please, I want you to help me keep motivated.

[@aie869]

Update pleaseee? 🤍

[@carolwang8295]

Ginger ᜇᜒᜌᜒᜈ᜔ I don’t know if I can help, but my fifth grade band teacher always told me to imagine a grain of rice was in between my lips, and then blow. You put your lips on the edge of the hole in the embouchure. I hope that helped. Regardless, I believe in you! Keep on learning!

[@addyrenne7199]

aww hey girl i’ve played my flute for a couple years and i’ve picked up a lot not only from my band directors but from the 12th and 11th grader flutes if you still need help and tips i can give you my snap if you like all you gotta do is reply so i know i’m not putting my snap here for a 40 year old to pick up ya know😂💗

[@kaylagaye3736]

I didn’t know that some of you replied. Thanks for your replies and help and I actually can do some high notes on the flute and managed to play some music. But apparently, after I lose improvement, I just focused on playing the violin. Actually I’m a violin student for a year that time. And also thanks for my friend that also plays the flute help me out. Playing the flute became my hobby now. As for the offer, I would like to know your snap ☺️

[@addyrenne7199]

@@kaylagaye3736 it’s addyrenne2 💗

[@wilkey02i4]

Dumped trombone and low brass after spending a huge portion of my life playing it. Currently teaching myself the alto saxophone and flute. I have to say, the flute is amazing to play. I've always loved the sound. Thanks for the reminder to practice in small portions. As of lately I've been wanting to burn through stuff fast because it does feel slow, but now, I do believe I will go back to my scales.

[@argon805]

thank you. I'm not exactly self taught, but after 45 years of not playing seriously, its good to get some refresher tips. and that thumb port, what a great idea, I think I'll get one. I have an open hole flute and you really do need stability to play that one well.

[@Ice_Karma]

Linguist here... some trivia, for the next to nothing it's worth: While your parents initially provide much of your language input, the accent you end up with as an adult is largely determined not by your family group but by your _peer group,_ at a point in your mid-to-late teenage years. This is why, when someone older moves from, say, the US to the UK, they don't generally end up picking up the accent of their new location, but, before that age, even though their parents' accent doesn't change, their peer group's does, and so they end up with their new location's accent. =3

[@terrycabeen]

This is so, so phenomenal. Thank you. I practiced another instrument all through school, finally sold it in my late 20s, bought a flute on a whim in my 30s, and like 8 years later am FINALLY setting my mind to learning the instrument. This is superb. Thank you so much!

[@jessicadayla]

For the chunking and rotating across time, its worth remembering that even if you only remember hitting 50% recollection the second time you go through something (say with the 4 scales a day), you'll remember significantly more the second time around. Its a loss vs retention thing, along with the the fact that repeating something reinforces what you know and helps you build on it. The third time around, it might be 75% recollection, but you're reinforcing it, and not grinding like its vanilla WoW.

[@jessicadayla]

As I butcher my words completely like I've never Englished before >_>

[@jennguyen4549]

Even though I wasn't self taught everything she said was very very helpful

[@charlottesmom]

Self taught starting today! So far know B, A, G, D, E, F loving it! Your videos are great. 😊

[@stem-paclebaiyannaliszkac.5011]

hiii i just wanna ask i how your progression is doing

[@charlottesmom]

@@stem-paclebaiyannaliszkac.5011 Wow, sorry I never saw this reply, didn't do so great after a few months, life got in the way but I've started up again with both flute and Violin! 👍🏻

[@summerwang929]

I am self-teaching myself for 3 days. I did that two years ago for a month now I am resuming it.

[@cl-optix]

great tips. I'm self taught flute, Bb clarinet and alto sax. I've applied these to all three.

[@bettythompson1509]

I decided to play flute last December 2016 when I was 80 yrs. My daughter and granddaughter both play flute. So I took a piece of music and wrote 2 extra parts . What fun, I love your videos, they are very helpful.

[@normaiglesias3990]

What you say about bite size pieces and rotating through them is consistent with teaching strategies I use as a middle school math teacher, and what many experts say is the most effective way to learn. Thanks for your videos and insight. I find them extremely valuable.

[@w00dchurch]

Very helpful! I have been taking flute lessons for a year. My teacher is taking a break from giving lessons for a while. I have been thinking about continuing without a teacher. After watching your video, I feel better about trying it. Your tips are great, as usual. I suppose "self-taught" is not completely true, since there are so many talented flutists out there (like you) who are willing to share some of what they know free of charge. Thank you! I will try to "pay it forward"!

[@CK-wd4ez]

Could you make a bootcamp series for self- taught flutists for tone, projection, technique?

[@Xingqiwu387]

I love these videos from JustAnotherFlutist! She offers so many valuable tips for ALL instruments, not just the flute. Brilliant! Thank you :)

[@Mikeshawtoday]

Hi Joanna - thank you. I've had many flute teachers over the years as an adult learner- so that's really self taught. Problem always was teachers not understanding that adult learners are different than kids whose moms are paying for their lessons. Adults need to know why they are practicing a particular thing, and they need to see progress or the potential for progress in a particular practice. Your teaching is respectful of that and this makes you are really good teacher. Thank you! The bite-sized pieces seem to be working for me!

[@Hannah-fh9sm]

Very encouraging. Have played classical guitar for 40+ years, including several teachers and playing in masterclasses. Studied the flute in the mid 90’s intensely with a symphony player for a year, but quit. My playing sucked but was my first exposure to a wind instrument and wanted to expand my sense of phrasing. Wish I’d kept it up but now decided to start again. Like your comments about learning all scales, since guitar solos are mostly all in C or sharped keys and flute music is the opposite. Getting back into my Rubank, Moyse, and Wye books. I’ll be happy relearning scales and playing through easy etudes for now. Thanks again.

[@danielsong2652]

I’m waiting for my flute to come from flute center of New York and I’m watching every single video of flute stuff

[@reybarreto7979]

Loved your tip of rotating bite-sized pieces of material, moving on to a different bite-sized piece with each session for a cycle of 4 days, then repeating the cycle every 4 days until everything is fully memorized; and your tip of just focusing on memorizing something one month, then polishing it the next month, instead of trying to master everything all at once. You seem to really understand how the brain works. Your concepts are in agreement with the accelerated learning techniques endorsed by authors such as Brian Tracy. I am 61 years old and am only just beginning to learn how to play the flute. Yes, I got off to a late start, but I have a secret weapon: I am disciplined and highly motivated, and it was encouraging to hear you praising those qualities at the beginning of your video when you applauded self-taught flutists. I too am following the "self-taught" path in that I never took formal lessons, but I am not really alone - so long as there are teachers like you compassionately sharing your knowledge and giving helpful, practical tips on KZbin, I feel I have a fighting chance to really learn this beautiful instrument. On behalf of "self-taught" flutists everywhere, I want to thank you. We need more people like you.

[@junenovae]

What helps a lot is seeing you teaching your mum cause you give tips and she struggles with the same stuff. It s very helpfull

[@sharongygi1601]

Thank you. I loved this. I had group lessons in high school, but otherwise I am self taught. Unbelievably, my folks purchased a professional hand made HAYNES flute as recommended by my band teacher. I have played it for over 60 years and still play in bands and community or school musical pit orchestras. Most of what I do comes from transferring what I learned in voice as a voice major to my flute, but that doesn’t help in articulation. Trying to loosen up my embouchure is really difficult. Believe it or not, at 77 years old, I still feel like I am improving. I have found that I am likely to practice my flute more often if I keep it out on a stand where I can see it. Thanks again for your videos.

[@lancejordan2561]

My first flute teacher taught me to learn the basic scales (major, minor) by learning the intervals of the scales by ear. This made quick work of turning the basic scales into muscle memory. This becomes just a matter of what base note your starting on C, C#, D etc. This method then makes learning other scales into quick work. For improvisational musical forms like jazz, this is essential.

[@WanderingUkes]

In about 6th grade I found an old flute in the attic. I could play it pretty much right away. I played Lady of Spain by ear that day. I told my mom I was going be in the band when I started 7th grade. They put me in beginning band but it wasn't long and my band director moved me to advanced band skipping intermediate band altogether. Wow. The music seemed so hard at first but I practiced alot and it wasn't long before I got the hang if it. I have probably taken maybe 6 flute lessons in my life. I am in a challenging community band and have been in it for 30 years. Sometimes I play first chair also play piccolo. Having a great time. Always learning and enjoy listening to your tips. Thank you.

[@mosheflorans3301]

I am a self taught guitarist and flutist. Ive been playing dlute for many years now and have played in many professional settings. I thought of and incorporated every one of your tips into my own playing. I agree with every one of them. Thank you for not knocking the ambitious amoung us and for helping us out.

[@rusurveillancetaskforce]

Analytical psychology 101: Not all people's brains are designed to learn by sleeping on something newly learned or practised. It depends on your cognitive function stack and particularly whether you introvert or extravert your sensing function. Most musicians tend to extravert their senses so in return their intuition is introverted, which is the function that makes sleeping on information possible. However there are still musicians that introvert their senses so in turn they extravert their intuition. This way of information processing is actually more common in humans overall! But not being a musician so all is fine and dandy statistically yet. If you happen to introvert your senses, you do better by just mindlessly practise over and over and over and over something. There's little use to sleeping on something, you have to bash it into your head until you perfect it. JustAnotherFlutist also pointed out beating the scales inside your brain. This is more of an approach for Extraverted Intuition x Introverted Sensing brains.

[@alpenjon]

Uhm, my major in psychology tells me sleep is essential for cognitive and behavioral learning and long term retention. It doesn't seem plausible that this would depend on character traits. I have never heard of your claims. Do you mind providing some papers on the subject?

[@gardeniainbloom812]

OMG I'm a self-taught recorder player and thrilled I stumbled across this video. You have answered several questions I've had for years and have received over complicated answers to in the past. THANK YOU. You're great.

[@robstevens9590]

Thanks for this post. I taught myself to play flute and alto-sax in the days long before internet existed. The present abundance of on-line info makes things much easier for those who are serious about learning.

[@suzibikerbabe8073]

Another alt fingering for B-flat is simply to move the middle finger of your left hand over one key to the left. You end with the first finger and middle finger on keys right next to each other. As a self taught player I came up with this because with the left hand positioned like this I can remove my right hand completely to turn a page or flip a sheet ... when the last note on the page is a B-flat, of course. :)

[@defearian]

I know this video is really old but it was super helpful to me right now. The tip on watching others play and you finding that your thumb was too short, was especially helpful, my right hand was so tense but with that little accessory everything is better even my left hand was affected. Thanks

[@michaelar2188]

My first instrument is the oboe and I had to teach myself how to play the flute in the 7th grade (only a year after I started on the oboe) for marching. I was so scared to be that one person who couldn't even make a noise on the flute during band, that I overcompensated and ended up being able to play harder stuff than most of the flutists at my school. You're videos were and are such a good guide for me. Thank you so much

[@Lily-ib5sv]

I took beginning flute in my last year of middle school and entered a concert and marching band state champion highschool with only the basic Bb scale down. I started 4th flute (lol not last) in their bottom band. I learned all my notes and rhythms myself. The following year, I made 2nd chair in the bottom band. I beat out two girls for the spot to go into their Wind Ensemble. I practiced playing in tune and with larger dynamics. After practicing and practicing, I made 2nd chair in their top band. All done in 3 years compared to others with 6 or 7 years of experience. There were definitely tears, but I'm extremely proud that I made it this far in such a short amount of time. I'm a Junior this year and I'm getting my ap diploma this year as well. I wish all of you luck on your journey.

[@theoverunderthinker]

"When so you the alternate fingering for the F#?" when you learned saxophone first! ;)

[@elisecurran9497]

Or clarinet!

[@troyrowe7670]

Thanks for the advice. As someone who has picked up many instruments, I started out on the clarinet from school, this advice applies to allot of other instruments. Especially the scales. I remember in school, the teacher made us play scales galore. But that also helped. Especially in learning many alternate fingerings. Again as a clarinetist, alternate fingerings are so helpful. Especially in playing pieces that go from having no keys pressed down, to all keys pressed down. Or when you have to play notes where the fingerings require keys that are pressed with the same fingers, to being able to switch from one finger to another, which allows you to play notes quicker and easier. Alternate fingerings are made for the ease of the player. And those are a blessing for the player

[@akeemadams7211]

I play violin and i literally learned how to correct my left hand mistakes by staring. Yes staring at the greats is the answer.

[@chrisjenseniii462]

The reason we work on scales and arpeggios is because virtually all music is made up of whole& half steps or skips, the minor third, major perfect 4th, tritone perfect fifth, etc. The more you learn to recognize these different intervals and steps by doing boring exercises, the easier it becomes to read actual music. And the easier it is to read, the less time you spend learning it which allows more time to create nuances, which is the difference between music that sounds like it has purpose, a passion, something that creates an emotional response vs. say a computer generating static tones.

[@mleemarie9]

Thank you so much for this... I have played alto sax for 30 years and was always told oh yeah the flute has pretty much the same fingering as sax so it's easy to learn! So I bought a flute and "taught" myself and was horrified when I learned actual fingerings, especially F# yikes... trying to reteach myself but now I don't feel so bad thanks!

[@honeycombfromheaven]

I'm a pianist who transitioned into music production and scoring, I love it but it can get tedious at times! So I decided to teach myself flute on a whim, just to regain that love of learning new music. I just found your channel and it's really helpful and fun! You're doing great work here.

[@alfredrimorin2083]

I'm a self taught flutist. This video is very helpful. I have Rubank elementary method book, which I discovered from one of your videos and it was helpful.

[@loveablebubbaloo]

AL Rimorin I bought the Rubank and Trevor Wye books and absolutely love them.

[@hannahmorgan7213]

Yeah, use all the Rubanks they're AMAZING

[@Bene_Singularis]

Your last advice about how to learn "better" is actually very true and probably one of the best advice one can get for learning anything. It greatly facilitate keeping a disciplined constant progress and motivation. It lets people enjoy more what they do and improves the skills faster, for a longer time. Thank you for sharing this.

[@noshititskrae]

I'm a self taught violinist (considering taking up flute as well) and most these tips were helpful for me too. They're good for any musician I think

[@ronaldeng3454]

Thanks for the tips. Helps tremendously for self taught players who are seniors. #5 is helpful for other instrument practice as well.

[@213SYO]

Thanks for the great tips! I’m self taught and agree with everything you suggested. Especially about tone. I literally have listened and still listen to Hubert Laws and Dave Valentin for hours on end lol

[@Flinkmo]

Thank you for this video.Once a professional flutist, after hearing me play, correctly named the famous flutists whose influence he heard. That woke me up a bit. I had one teacher in my 47 years (so far) playing, a Phillipino. Two lessons. Primary teaching: "Learn to play one note."He must have had some Zen in him. Having practiced his teaching I have come to suspect that there is great wisdom and benefit in it for one who practices it. A surprising discovery is that I have a trainable level of my being that allows me to play the next note I feel I need, continuously, throughout the piece. I don't mean from memory, like memorized from a score, but in improvisation where you find out where you are going just before you get there.

[@sdemills]

Thank you for your excellent tips. I used to play in a youth orchestra in my late teens but had to give the flute back to my school when I went to university. Now I'm in my 60s my wife got me a flute for Christmas and I'm determined to re-learn and become good at it. The book I'm working from never even mentioned the kind of alternative fingering that you were talking about and yet that's so useful - thank you for making me very aware of them - off to do more research now. Will look out for more pearls of wisdom from your channel.

[@scottquirky]

OMG I am so glad you mentioned Sharon Bezaly because I rarely meet someone who knows about her! Her tone is out of this world!

[@lois2911]

I would say that you could open each targeted section with what you practiced the day before to refreshify before actually starting the new set of scales for that day because it would serve more like building blocks. Of course, one would focus more time on that day's targeted scales. I am a newbie----only 25 hrs. accumulated practice time.👍😎

[@MrChuck365]

This is very good stuff for any level of playing. Refreshment often adds new insights for all of us. Someone may have already mentioned the value of "Perfect Practice". I saw it on a saxophone blog. The contributor said that practice does not make perfect, but perfect practice does make perfect. We often get into too much of a hurry to play at speed and wind up just adding imperfect muscle memory. So it is better not to increase practice speed before attaining perfect play at a slower slower speed.

[@dwork9978]

Almost five years into being a self taught player. Started with a Taffanel Book but switched to Trevor Wye upon your advice. Since I am focusing on jazz and blues I also practice blues scales which really work wonders when learning new music. Thanks a lot for your posts and don't forget us lowly self taught fluters!

[@FD2003Abc]

Thank you! I really felt alone out here as a self-taught flautist. My path was a little stranger than some. I played Trumpet from childhood through college (I still have my beautiful old F. Besson and will restart playing her when I retire and have my house in the mountains in a few years (yes I am old enough to retire soon). I was watching the movie "L.A. Story" in San Luis Obisbo with my gf when they played the Enya song "Exile." I was so entranced by the song I decided to buy a flute (although there is significant clarinet part in it as well). I bought the flute for a C-note or so and cross applied my Trumpet knowledge. I already knew scales of all sorts and how to read music. Somewhere along the way I discovered Chris Banks and the group "Traffic." What I ended up with is the sort of "ability" to intuit the key (trumpets are Bb, flutes C) and I found I could create counter-melodies with hard rock as well as Mannheim Steamroller or Enya and Irish ballads. So I can riff and fake and kill overtones (it took me a while to understand the key change for the fingering in the overtone levels) but can't really play the damn thing. I can sight read with trumpet but can't riff for a damn. I can riff with the flute but ant sight read. I am getting close to that retirement age so I want to learn to play the flute properly -- I want to play both my trumpet and flute in some sort of old person's "Chicago" or perhaps mariachi. Any suggestions anyone has to how to progress would be helpful. Thank YOU beautiful (in heart and body) J-A-F! I feel rescued! I will do all you say but you can imagine how frustrating it is to color inside the lines. I know I have to if I am to improve - I have plateaued.

[@19BlackStrider]

I'm about to self-study the flute. Your videos are awesome, will be using them as resource. Thank you so much!

[@isaackeller9418]

I started learning flute self-taught for quite some time, then I got a teacher.. who can't really play the flute. So I've learned plenty of music theory, improvisation, and piano from my music teacher. Flute embouchure, tone, and stuff like that have all been mostly self taught, so this video was very helpful thanks 😁. I also suggest looking for Mozart's flute concerto in G on KZbin, so many of the good flutist have full recordings of it up on KZbin, and it makes for a good comparison of there tone.

[@kiaraeijo]

Isaac Keller Also, the Bach Sonatas

[@ssimms8995]

I hope that I can become like this. It is my dream before completing high school. I am a new 11th grader. I know music takes time though. I have been in the music game for about 10 years

[@ssimms8995]

I am going to be self taught. I have been classically taught the piano and violin for years. I began self teaching myself the cello awhile ago. I received my aunt teacher's flute, and I am going to get it refurbished and ready to play tomorrow. I hope to be able to play well

[@poink9]

Thank you for the tips! I’m not entirely self taught as I played the flute in my high school band and had some fairly decent guidance. However, now, decades later, I’ve started seriously playing (I wasn’t that committed or focused as a kid) and I’m finding your guidance and comments very helpful. We live on one of the outer islands of Hawaii, semi-rural, and I would like to get in person lessons but so far nothing is available. Keep up the good work!

[@desireebarhorst-weller1767]

I'm not a self-thaught flutist, as I already attend to lessons for 7 years. But I just started with piano and violin with the help of KZbin and books. Mainly, because I don't have money for lessons (flute lessons are expensive enough), but also because there is no teacher in my town. Even though, your video is very helpful. Keep it going!

[@Hexmeta]

Ive always dreamed to pursue flute, but I only play clarinet before in elementary for like a yr, 15 yrs later and finally have the time and money to pursue it got my first flute a bit ago, been watching many of your videos and I have learned so much, thank you so much!!!!!

[@ChristopherMessinger]

This video, was very, very useful! I am now taking weekly classes with an instructor, but I muddled through the beginnings on my own through sheer determination. One 45 min class a week though still leaves a lot of time to be self-taught. I got inspired to play flute because of video games and movie soundtracks, but now I'm dipping in to classical pieces by Mozart and Faure. I'm also discovering the joy of etudes! The resources presented in this video are solid!

[@dinonuggy08]

Currently a freshman in Highschool. My main instrument is Alto Sax and I've know my BD since 8th grade so I was comfortable with my BD. I asked for a Flute and she let me borrow one so I can learn. The Woodwind captain is a flutist and taught me how to do my embroture and fingerings while my friends help me now and again when they notice my posture/embroture is wrong. Other then that I am self taught

[@NoOne-dj1ou]

The most important thing I've found for learning any instrument is to make sure that practice is enjoyable. Yes, scales are very helpful, but if you don't dedicate at least a few minutes of your practice sessions specifically to having fun, you'll start to lose motivation and practice less frequently. Once you have something to look forward to in your practice it gets easier to play the scales beforehand.

[@therealmattmendoza]

I learned in jr high and high school band without private lessons and I kind of defaulted to the Bb key alternate and I never understood why the rest of my bandmates used what I thought was a klunkier Bb fingering.

[@zo3490]

i play the trumpet but found my moms old flute about a year ago and have been practicing on it ever since

[@sleepingbeauty5926]

I played clarinet when I was 8 up to 13 then self taught piano, I know play glockenspiel and tin whistle and I’m getting a piccolo soon and am soooo excited!!!!!

[@jessicawong08]

My story as a self-taught flutist: So first, I missed my chance of joining band in grade 5 (last year) so I decided to self teach myself the flute. I actually watched a lot of your videos before I bought my first flute so I thought I was super prepared (lol). I continued self teaching myself all the way until end of last month-ish, when I got accepted into my schools band, so now I'm in band learning Christmas songs for the Christmas concert, but I continue to watch your videos to help me be a better flutist. (Lol I still consider myself self-taught because the band conducter didn't re-teach me everything. She just introduced me and then bam, continuing on with whatever they were doing, just with a new member) lol was that too long?

[@Kaiandherfloof]

I taught myself the basics of flute and then worked my way up to teaching myself the chromatic scale and now I play it by memory everyday in class when I’m warming up and my director wants me to do honor band.

[@jeremiasiraheta5471]

I am selftought and I used ur channel help so much and I play flute for one year before join.a band and when I joined a band to audition I made honers band( top band) and got principle chair , thanks u so mich

[@LaurelN1]

Thank you for this video. I’m back in the saddles of flute playing again after not really playing for 20 years. So much naturally comes back but as an adult I don’t have the luxury of being in a school band. As a young student the flute players in our band were all pretty much self taught because the band director was a brass guy and just made sure we were able to play along with the band. Now I’m excited to be playing again for my own enjoyment and these videos are a valuable part of my learning experience.

[@eliseisreading3589]

I picked up my flute yesterday for the first time in 9 years. I used to play in high school, not well though lol. It made me kind of sad that I haven’t played it in years, and having not the best teachers put me off from practicing or keeping it up. Only today did I learn from a 10 min video that the head joint position has been wrong... which always used to make it so difficult to produce sound. While I know I’m not going to go deep deep into practicing, I’m actually excited to relearn & improve. I’d seriously love to relearn how to play Pirates of the Caribbean again 😂, and just fun stuff! Thanks so much for sharing this video! It was so helpful 😊.

[@alpenjon]

This is gold! Thanks!

[@thadyndupont9609]

I just realized that in three months, I will have been subscribed to you for two years. And I only subscribed to you cause I had gotten my first flute and had no idea what I was doing with it. Thanks so much for helping me self teach myself over the past (almost) two years

[@raph009]

Scales... Scales and technical exercises... I used to spit on them because I was convinced I could push through everything by just learning the songs I liked, even at ridiculous levels. Fortunately, I've learned to appreciate them a lot more and do exercises daily. I feel like I've improved so much by just doing this for a few days already!

[@lovecochoco]

thank you so much Joanna for this helpful video! as a self taught flutist, you were definitely one of people who inspired me to start. keep making these videos

[@satinbarbi]

Thank you for all the great advice. I was self taught and plan on soon relearning as much as I can at age 57 after 36 years away from playing. I am just waiting on getting the flute I purchased very used back from the repair shop. Your videos played a large part in inspiring me to give it a try.

[@paulsonap6]

I'm actually a recorder player but am finding your tips on practicing and learning repertoire incredibly helpful. I also love to hear your stories about life as a professional musician. As an amateur, I've always felt that professionals are gods and godesses-----I still think that, but it's nice to know that they're actually human after all! Thanks so much for your videos!

[@Lilley-writes]

Ok so i saw someone else doing this: posting their daily progress so i will try and do so too! 25th Decmeber: Some notes were a bit airy but I could play B, A, G, C, F, and E, i really struggled with D! 26th December: Im still really struggling with D and higher e and F sharp but I can now play the lower e, b flat, the lower f sharp and I think thats about it. But I feel a lot less dizzy when playing and my notes are a lot clearer!

[@dirtywashedupsparkle]

Thanks so much for these vids, just discovered them yesterday. I had lessons the first four years and stopped a year or so when I moved to Australia from HK but have since been self-taught and played by ear for church. These tips are all very important. I'm intrigued by the practice method you mentioned, will try it and see how well it's retained for those scales I haven't tried before.

[@jarofjam3967]

Omg I love Jasmine Choi, it’s because of her I realized how flat my lower octave was because I could hear the clarity of her lower octave and now my lower octave is so great

[@sianarubio4360]

i'm a self taught armature violinist but i'm trying to watch videos of different types of musical instruments to get to know music better and i am really learning more than i woulda just watching violin vids. thanks :)

[@ssimms8995]

Mellow panda I am also a violinist. I am a self taught cellist too.

[@bellesanon5623]

I started playing officially today, I make sound and learning all those thingys on my own. I played it twice in Highschool (literally two band rehearsals a barely did do anything).

[@josieannette6096]

Hey there! I’m on the fence. I love the sound of flute and have always loved it, but I was pressured into playing trumpet. I’m self-taught on the trumpet, and I’m thinking about learning flute this summer! Not as a main interest, but for fun.

[@austinshiver559]

Just discovered 2 things I love. 1)I discovered My future step-up/intermediate flute, the Trevor James Virtuoso V3 (got it on trial), and 2) I just discovered the Carion Wind Quintet 😍.

[@braxenb2242]

Soon im gonna be a half self taught flutist because im still gonna definitely have lessons

[@Sam-rc1yz]

I picked up a flute and an essential elements book last June, and I think I've gotten pretty good. But it could help that I already knew how to play Tuba.

[@lunerprodutions2953]

I have just started the flute and your channel is very helpful

[@ewtam24]

Great tips! I really love the 5th tip! There are so many applications to other ways of learning! Mind blown! 🤯

[@verina_crochet_garden]

I see the poro plushy, I like it. I am a beginner, and starting to self teach playing flute.

[@timothyderricott3043]

I liked the video the first 30 seconds in. I'm a self taught flautist, and I love your vids. I learn so many new things in every video. Thank you so much!

[@pmh1nic]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! That was very helpful.

[@lois2911]

I have recently stared at the embouchures, apertures, and placement of lips on plates as well as the angle of the mouthpieces.😊😊😊😊

[@monali5494]

Thanks so much for sharing these tips!

[@lawrencemcconnell8962]

It seems to me that there are 2 ways of practicing: (1) Play a piece over and over (in bite sized chunks) until you can play it (almost) perfectly, (2) play a piece until it just starts to be familiar and then move on. in (2) sight reading skills are sought, (1) gives you 2-3 pieces to play for performance. My goal has always been (2) FWIW.

[@maiagregory3881]

I’m learning a song with notes I don’t know, wish me luck

[@keithfoester7326]

11:58 you are so right about this. you're basically explaining muscle memory. in simple terms. i'm new to your channel and really like the things you say. :)

[@jimmymurphy7789]

How nice of you to do this for us - Thank You ! 😃

[@ryderfitzgerald1654]

I’m in a middle school band and have self taught myself Alto Sax, Flute, and Trumpet.

[@yuitwong527]

I am a self-taught flutist, it's nice to see your videos! Thank you!

[@yukkikatsuki3341]

my teacher for the first three years of band was completely useless so I had to self teach and then teach my section the second year while still teaching myself