My dad collects recorders, and when cleaning out his stuff he found an old recorder-ish flute that he never learned to play and didn't want anymore, so he gave it to me.
I know next to nothing about flutes, other than I see trad musicians playing wooden keyless ones. Well, this one is wooden and keyless but it is very small, about 12 inches, so it's not your standard flute for trad playing.
Now, I have no idea what key it is in and I can't even make a sound on it yet. How difficult would it be to play Irish music on this thing, particularly in a session with other instruments? Would it make a good beginning instrument to transition to a standard flute later on, or would it be better to start with a standard flute if I really wanted to get into flute playing?
He also gave me a C whistle and I have a concertina that I've barely learned to play yet, so I've no shortage of instruments to learn if this flute isn't a good one for trad.
Thanks, that's kind of what I thought. The whistle he gave me is a nice Clarke along with a book and cassette, so I think I'll be learning the whistle. I've kinda been wanting to learn whistle for the portability.
I second the above - how many holes does that flute-recorder have? Are there double holes like on that image? Any holeing other than 6 single holes is definitively no irish flute fingering, which is counterproductive if you want to move to the standard D flute.
Flute Question
Flute Question
My dad collects recorders, and when cleaning out his stuff he found an old recorder-ish flute that he never learned to play and didn't want anymore, so he gave it to me.
I know next to nothing about flutes, other than I see trad musicians playing wooden keyless ones. Well, this one is wooden and keyless but it is very small, about 12 inches, so it's not your standard flute for trad playing.
It appears to be one of these:
http://www.musik-produktiv.co.uk/mollenhauer-picco-8105.aspx
Now, I have no idea what key it is in and I can't even make a sound on it yet. How difficult would it be to play Irish music on this thing, particularly in a session with other instruments? Would it make a good beginning instrument to transition to a standard flute later on, or would it be better to start with a standard flute if I really wanted to get into flute playing?
He also gave me a C whistle and I have a concertina that I've barely learned to play yet, so I've no shortage of instruments to learn if this flute isn't a good one for trad.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Marklar
Re: Flute Question
Definitely start on whistle, or a standard flute. If I'm not mistaken thats some form of piccolo.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by tnoumarap
Re: Flute Question
Yep, I second the above. Enjoy that instrument your Dad gave you, and play it around the house- but get a cheap whistle for trad. $10 ought to do it.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Flute Question
Thanks, that's kind of what I thought. The whistle he gave me is a nice Clarke along with a book and cassette, so I think I'll be learning the whistle. I've kinda been wanting to learn whistle for the portability.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Marklar
Re: Flute Question
I second the above - how many holes does that flute-recorder have? Are there double holes like on that image? Any holeing other than 6 single holes is definitively no irish flute fingering, which is counterproductive if you want to move to the standard D flute.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by TMB
Re: Flute Question
It has double holes, exactly like a recorder. I've started playing around with the whistle instead. Thanks.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Marklar