i personally thought I was good at the flute for my age but now I feel as if i STINK!!! You guys just say all these fancy talks and correcting me... I know there is a whole lot more to learn but man... how long have you guys played the flute for??? Decades??? Any new people who just started the flute or have been in for about a year??? I would love to chat with you or anyone who plays the flute... I've come here to learn!!! please help me!!!

Don't feel stupid. We correct you only because we don't want poor info to be distributed, and it's a learning opportunity for others as well. The fancy talk is just us giving things their proper names, as it's much clearer for us to do so than to vaguely describe what we're talking about (The footjoint is easier than "that piece that goes at the end of the flute). Some of us have played for years. I'm somewhere around 8 or 9 years into it, but others have been involved with the flute for decades. Also, consider that knowledge regarding the flute does not necessarily reflect on your skill level. Some people know next to nothing about the instrument, but can still play beautifully (and others who know tons, but can't play well), so the fact that you don't know everything on this board should not make you feel like you stink.

I agree with flutist06, it's always better to be corrected when you're wrong rather than go with bad imformation. and there are alot drummers and guitarist who play really good, but probably couldn't tell you the difference between flat and a sharp.

Um, Penny, guitarists have to play flats and sharps all the time too. They do read music. There are some percussionists who do not read music (namely amateurs/middle/high schoolers, etc.), but any serious percussion player can read music well, as they will have some experience on mallets, or tympani.

thanks... i guess that's true and if more info i have another board i wrote... thanks again!

music4god, some of us have been at this for awhile, don't feel intimidated, I have played for almost 34 yrs

I have played for 16 years. It's a learning experience and the longer you play and the more you learn about the flute and music the more you will discover exactly what it is you don't know. It's good that you are coming here with an open mind and want to learn.

It has been 19 years for me and hopefully another more 60 if I can still hold the flute when I am that old.
You will learn a lot even just by visiting this forum

wow... you guys are deticated!!! I can't believe it!!! I think it was the right thing to do signing up on this board... already I know more in like 10min.!!!

Um, Penny, guitarists have to play flats and sharps all the time too. They do read music. There are some percussionists who do not read music (namely amateurs/middle/high schoolers, etc.), but any serious percussion player can read music well, as they will have some experience on mallets, or tympani.

I know a lot of self taught guitarists who don't know how to read music. They end up playing everything by ear or sometimes guitar tabs.

i guess I agree with all you.... and penny, i i know lots of people to who have played be ear and don't know how to read music... im with you on that!!!

i have the same problem but just. but just i have a clarinet. i thought i was good at my age but when i went to band camp i came out being 3rd to last. and now there the clarinet people were good. just dont feel bad u will learn from these people and from your mistakes you will learn even more. i just cant remember the symbol names and all da notes. thats my problem and for me its hard to play HIGH notes. if you join a band camp u will learn a lot more of wat u thought u were capable of.( dont mind my slang writing) but eventually u will be very good and u will show other people with problems like yours, to get even better and memorize anything or even more of wat u can.

Id say im a newbie...i mean, i just started playing flute at the start of this year...which is about 6 months!

I used to play the recorder for 5 years then switched to the traverso a couple of years ago. About 6 months ago I started on the Boehm system with the goal to increase my flute repertoire (traverso is great for baroque music but less than perfect for later repertoire).

i played the flute for almost a year and a half....and i'm still not good though.hehe.