An Introduction to the FluteBy: Luisa M. Cartagena

The Neanderthal Flute

The oldest instrument documented to this day is this Neanderthal bone flute found by a Slovenian scientist in 1998.

•It dates back to 50,000 B.C.

•It is made out of the thigh bone of a cave bear

•Holes were carved on the flute to create different pitches.

Exotic Flutes from Asia and South America

These are other types of ancient flutes. Most of these were used in traditional ceremonies and are still being used in folkloric performances to this day.

Why is the flute a woodwind instrument?

•Made in the Renaissance era

•This is the ancestor of the flute that we see being played nowadays.

•This flute was firstly made out of wood.

•The German flute (shown at the left) was used for chamber concerts and performances.

Flute in Chamber Music

•Chamber music was played by small groups of instrumentalists in a relatively small chamber or room.

•Chamber music performances were for religious affairs or for royalty

•The warm and subtle sound of flute suited this kind of music.

•Composers that wrote flute music for this kind of setting were J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi and G.P. Telemann.

Theobald Boehm

•Was born in 1794 in Munich and died in 1881.

•He was a talented goldsmith and skilled at the mechanical arts

•He eventually created a key system that would improve the mechanism of the flute.

•Proved that a silver flute would produce a bigger sound with the least amount of effort.

The Modern Flute

•The flute is played in a variety of concerts, sporting events, weddings, and religious ceremonies

•The flute is now made of not only of silver, but also other metals like gold and platinum

•The flutes that are most common are the concert flute and the piccolo

•These are played in orchestras, symphonic bands and marching bands, due to their very high pitch

How to play the flute: Assembly

Follow these steps to start assembling the flute:

1. Insert the tuning rod of the head joint into the top of the body joint. The embouchure whole on the lip plate should line up with the first key of the body joint.

2. Insert the tenon of the body joint into the foot joint.

3. Finally, the keys of the food joint should be placed wherever is comfortable for your pinky to sit on the first key of the foot joint.

Production of Sound

•Keeping your head straight and looking forward-not down, blow downwards on the flute. There should be an angle on your air direction

•Your lips should be relaxed and the air flow should be slow and calm.

•Practice with the head joint only for the first couple of weeks.

Check out this website for a quick tutorial on how to create an embouchure:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6r6LtlwViM&feature=related

Posture and Positioning of the Flute

•The flute should be placed to the right, with your left arm going across your body placing the index, middle and ring fingers on the first fingered keys at the top of the flute.

•The right arm should come from behind the flute, placing the index, middle and ring fingers on the last three keys of the body joint.

•Stand up straight with shoulders back and relaxed. Maintain a good posture while practicing or playing.

This was a brief introduction of the flute. Please visit my website www.luisacartagena.com/weebly if you

have any questions or concerns.

Thank you!