Beginner Flute Instruction
What you'll learn
- By the end of this course you should be able to play several songs by ear on the flute
- You’ll have a better idea of the range and dynamics of the family of flutes
- You’ll know how and where to buy your first flute
- You’ll know how to care for your flute and when to take it in for maintenance
- You’ll get a survey of flute stands, cases, bags and makers
- You’ll learn how to hold your flute, where to put your hands and fingers
- You’ll learn the proper posture for getting the best sound
- You’ll learn to play 11 beginner songs by ear
- You’ll play these songs as a duet with me playing harmony
- You’ll learn how to practice and what beginner books to buy
- You’ll have an idea as to whether you should take private lessons
- You’ll get other suggestion on what to do next
Requirements
- The desire to learn flute
- The commitment to buy or rent a flute
- A least a few hours a week to practice, practice, practice
Description
Are you or someone you love interested in learning to play the flute?
Whether you play other instruments, or have never played any instrument, this course is designed to help you get started playing the flute.
If you’re a band director, or instrumental music teacher and have a student who wants to add flute but you don’t know how to teach them, this course can help you give them a good foundation in flute instruction.
We’ll cover:
- The types of flutes and the sounds they make
- Choosing an instrument to purchase
- Caring for your flute
- Getting started making music
- Beginner songs by ear
- How to practice & progress
This course is taught through video lectures where I take you step by step through each topic. I will demonstrate techniques then ask you to try them. I will give pointers on what you’re hearing from your flute. We’ll even play duets where you play the melody and I play harmony.
You don’t need to read music to learn how to play flute in this course. I will teach you where to place your fingers to play notes. Then we will put notes together to play beginner songs by ear.
Come and join me. You'll love playing the flute!
Who this course is for:
- Students who have never played an instrument, age 10 and up:
- + Don’t know how to read music
- + Like the sound of the flute and think they want to learn to play
- Young and old musicians who want to add an instrument to their repertoire:
- + New, accomplished, or seasoned musicians that want to learn the flute
- + Whether you just want to add an instrument, or are looking to change your main instrument
- Band directors and other instrument teachers who want help teaching their flute students:
- + Music teachers whose main instrument is not the flute
- + Music teachers who want help teaching their beginner flute students
- Parents of a child that wants to learn to play the flute:
- + You have an economical choice that is comprehensive enough for a strong start
- + Parents can participate in lessons with students in the privacy of your home
- Homeschoolers that want to learn to play the flute:
- + Help meet music education requirements
- + Your children can learn at their own pace with your help
Instructor
- 4.7 Instructor Rating
- 327 Reviews
- 1,086 Students
- 5 Courses
Dr. Angela Kinney McBrearty was appointed assistant professor of flute at Houghton College in 2008 where she also teaches classes in Instrumental Methods and Secondary Methods. As a performer, Dr. McBrearty plays in the AMA flute trio and the innovative Roan Trio which performs using multimedia and dance as part of the program. She also holds the position of instructor of flute at 171 Cedar Arts center in Corning, NY where she maintains a large flute studio from elementary age up through adults. Dr. McBrearty began the Crystal City Flute Choir in 2009.
Prior to joining the faculty at Houghton College, Dr. McBrearty was assistant professor of flute and music education at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. In this position, she served as supervisor of student teachers as well as taught classes in instrumental music education, flute choir, and curriculum development to graduate students. While at Mansfield, Dr. McBrearty began the Flutissimo flute event for high school students. This event was a masterclass and flute choir performance for the students in attendance. Dr. McBrearty was also adjunct professor of winds at Alfred University. Previously she was an instrumental music teacher in Roscoe, NY and in Newfield, NY where she taught high school band and choir.
Dr. McBrearty received her DMA in music education from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Her dissertation addressed flute pedagogy as it pertains to the beginner flute. Previously, she earned her MM in flute performance from Binghamton University and an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Houghton College. Flute teachers have included Bonita Boyd, Anne Harrow, Georgetta Maiolo, and Lois Wilt. She has also performed for Thomas Nyfenger.
As a performer, Dr. McBrearty served as principal flute with the Williamsport Symphony orchestra and has performed with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. She is also founder/conductor of the Crystal City Flute Choir which frequently performs in the Central New York region.
Dr. McBrearty has given workshops on flute technique and instrumental education at music education conferences in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Clinics have included the music learning theory, teaching improvisation in baroque flute solos, beginner flute technique, and building a flute choir in the high school. She also presented at the National Flute Association conference in Dallas Texas presenting on flute technique through the use of etudes. Articles published have appeared in Flute Talk and PMEA News.