

*Note, if the child is very young (3, 4, 5 yrs.) there is a real possibility that the student needs even a smaller flute. This young student needs a curved-head flute. If the arm angle is MORE than 90 degrees, the child is reaching too far and it will be too difficult for them to play a straight flute. If the angle of the right arm with the elbow being the point is LESS than 90 degrees, the child can use a straight flute. The elbow is bent at a possible 90 degrees, more or less. Look closely at the angle of their right arm. Have the student then place their right hand index finger on the measurement 16″. Next pull the tape measure or yard stick to the right of the student (as if it were to be the flute). Take a yard stick or a measuring tape and place the 0 end under the exact middle of the lips. Without having both a straight flute and a curved flute in your possession to try, how can this be determined? There is a great way to decide if a student needs a curved-head flute or not. There is a great way to decide if a student needs a curved-head flute or not. A curved-head flute in great condition plays just as well as a straight one. The lip plate is the exact same size as on a straight head. They are actually still playing on a full-size flute as far as fingers go. Until these kids grow enough this type of flute offers the best of both worlds. Learning on a flute that is too big would be a big mistake, so we are sizing her very carefully.įor younger learners the curved head flute is the best option because of arm length. This young girl is 8 years old very petite. We were lucky enough to be able to meet since they were in my area on vacation. They are going to be learning online from me. I recently had a nice dad email me over the choice of flutes for his young daughter. Please watch the video below and read the article included. Thank you for your time.How to Know Which Size of Flute You Should Use Also found YouTube of Frank Wess’ Bass Flute I hope you listen to these to see what I mean and hopefully these wonderful instruments can get a comeback. So I guess, my question to you is why did Rudall & Carte stop making this wonderful flutes. I could never get to liking either curved head joints. I tried the curved head but didn’t like it either (like the bass candy cane head). I play the alto flute straight and find it very comfortable and the sound is wonderful. Personally, I play in a flute choir and I love the sound of the bass flute but don’t like the candy cane look or the feel.

In my researching, it appears that these flutes were made by Rudall & Carte a long time ago. One of these artists is Geni Skendo Bass Flute I was wondering why bass flutes aren’t made this way anymore. Hi, I noticed a bass flute (you have diagram picture of it on this site) and I’ve seen it played by artists on you-tube. Sweet Dreams – O Beloved – Beautiful Love Song – Best Alto Flute & Harp Music Instrumental Solo This concert for alto flute and harp gives an indication of that sound. Twentieth-century composers loved its melancholic sounds and it was used in pieces such as Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Holst’s The Planets, as well as by many avant-garde musicians. At this point, the flute is getting too long to use the standard fingering, so the mechanism had to be altered to bring the keys within reach.

The alto flute is pitched in G, a 4th below the concert flute. It has really vanished from the modern orchestra. Verdi used them in Aida, but, by that time, the flute d’amour was so rare, they had to be specially made. 9, Tchaikovsky in The Nutcracker, and in modern flute choirs.Ĭontinuing down, we have the flûte d’amour, pitched a minor third below the concert flute. The third flute, called that because it’s pitched a minor third above the concert flute and was used by Mozart in Abduction from the Seraglio, by Beethoven in Symphony No. In his Thunderstorm movement, the piccolo provides a sharp driving sound, particularly around 02:15. Modern orchestral flutes by Rudall, Carte & Co.: (a) bass in C (b) alto in G (c) concert in C (d) treble in G (e) piccolo in C
