Thursday, August 30, 2007

Flutes??

Jay has decided to be in band this year. And yup, you guessed it, he wants to play the flute. I know nothing about instruments. We can rent one for about 30-40 bucks a month. My brother-in-law works at a pawn shop and he told me tonight they have several flutes starting at $35. Someone we talked to tonight at the high school mentioned Yamaha and Emerson. Ok fine. Now how am I supposed to know open hole, closed hole, what I should look for....I have no clue!

We were given a list of four places to rent a flute from. So I guess I'll call around and find out what I need to look for. Better yet, I'll email the band teacher tomorrow and find out exactly what he wants Jay to use. There's an idea!

I'd still like any input anyone can give me. I have until next weekend to get him one, whether bought or rented. Any ideas? Anyone?

7 comments:

imabug said...

see if you can meet with the band teacher and have him/her show you the correct style and size flute to get. It'll be important to get the right size instrument, otherwise Jay will have problems playing it properly.

Sunnie (Kaytee) said...

Excellent idea. Thank you! I will call or email him tomorrow to find out what Jay's been practicing with so far. Thanks! :)

JanetLee said...

Band is awesome. My son was in band from middle school through high school. It gives them a ready made group of friends and it is good discipline and it's fun.

I would rent a flute until he has been in band a while - my son changed instruments a few times before he settled on clarinet for middle school band and marching band in high school, then did guitar in jazz band.

Sunnie (Kaytee) said...

JanetLee, he was put in band/music. And I hate to say this about one of my children, but that boy cannot carry a note to save his life. So I'm fine with band. I just wish I was given more of a warning. LOL Renting is most likely what I'll do. I'd already assumed that if he doesn't drop out of band, which isn't an option, he'd change instruments. Thanks for your advice. :)

Saphyre Rose said...

imabug is absolutely right, you should speak to the band instructor.
I played a French Horn for 8 years in school. I was in the marching band and the concert and symphony bands.
I remember marching in the bicentennial parade on July 4th 1976 wearing a wool band uniform, leather boots and a high bear hat. My mom thought I looked adorable, I thought I was going to pass out in the heat!
Do politicians have any idea while they are droning on and on that there are band members getting heat exhaustion?

While there are several ways to get a flute, I would suggest if you cannot afford to buy a new one, get one from the pawn store.
The flute does not have reeds, it makes music from wind blowing across the mouthpiece.
Once your band teacher tells you the type you need, get one from the pawn store, as your child progresses in the instrument, then he can branch out.

I had a horn for the band, but I had another for the concert and symphony band. Which I did not need until high school.

I wish you luck and I am glad to see some children are still willing to learn music.

Sonia said...

I played the flute in middle school. I'm not sure what to "look" for. I know, brand new, mine was over $200 and this was like um.....20 somethin years ago.

Darren G. Miller said...

I taught band for 14 years, including 6 in the Moncks Corner area. I recommend Chuck Levin's Washington Music, which can be found easily through a quick Google search. They have the best prices and quick shipping. If there's anything I can do, let me know. I'm more than happy to give advice of anything band related.