LESSON TWO

Tuning Your Flute

The easiest and most accurate way to tune your flute is by using an electronic tuner. An electronic tuner allows you to see whether the note you are playing is sharp (too high) or flat (too low). There are several types of electronic tuners but most are relatively inexpensive and simple to operate. Use a chromatic tuner with a built in microphone to pick up your flute.

The pitch of the flute can be altered by either pushing the headjoint further onto the body or pulling it back a bit. Before you begin tuning make sure the headjoint is not pushed fully onto the body, or you may have no room to move if your flute is out of tune.

Start by playing the note G. you can make it higher by pushing the headjoint gently a little further into the middle joint, or lower by pulling the head joint gently outward from the middle joint.

Be careful to move the headjoint only a small amount at a time, or you may put the instrument out of tune in the opposite direction, i.e., you may make the note sound too sharp instead of too flat. Once you have moved the head joint, play the note again and check against the tuner. Repeat this process until your G note is in tune.

If your G note is too sharp, you will have to move the head joint in the opposite direction – pulling it back out from the middle joint a small amount and then checking your note against the tuner. Once again, repeat the process if necessary until your G note is in tune.

If you have trouble hearing the differences in pitch and matching them evenly, don’t worry, this is common and tuning will become easier as your lips and facial muscles develop and you get a better sense of the sounds of notes in general. Many people have to get their teacher to help them tune their instrument for the first few months they are learning.

However, it is important to practice tuning each day, as you will often be required to tune to other instruments when playing with other musicians. Next time you go to hear a band, orchestra or any musical group, notice how the musicians spend a short time tuning their instruments carefully before they begin to play.

How to Read Music

These five lines are called the staff or stave.

The Treble Clef

This symbol is called a treble clef. There is a treble clef at the beginning of every line of guitar music.

The Treble Staff

A staff with a treble clef written on it is called a treble staff.

Music Notes

There are only seven letters used for notes in music. They are: A B C D E F G

These notes are known as the musical alphabet.
Flute music notes are written in the spaces and on the lines of the treble staff.

Note and Rest Values

Bar lines are drawn across the staff, which divides the music into sections called Bars or Measures. A double bar line signifies the end of an important section of music, while a final bar line is written at the end of a piece.

The Four Four Time Signature

These two numbers are called the four four time signature.

They are placed after the treble clef.

The * time signature tells you there are four beats in each bar.

There are four quarter notes in one bar of music in * time.

The Half Note

This music note is called a half note. It has a value of two beats.
There are two half notes in one bar of * time.

The Note G

This note is a G note.

It is written on the second line of the staff.

This is the note you learned to play in Lesson 1.

Keeping Time

Before you begin playing exercises, count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 several times to get a feel for the rhythm. As you play, count mentally as you play and tap your foot to help you keep time. Count 1 2 for the first half note in each bar and 3 4 for the second half note. To be sure you develop a good sense of time right from the beginning, it is recommended that you always practice with a metronome or drum machine.

Breath Marks (:)

Take a quick, deep breath from your diaphragm every time you see this mark :. Be careful not to lose your timing when you breathe. Counting as you play should help you become more confident with this. Breathing technique is discussed in detail in Lesson 5.

Chord Symbols

If you look at the following example you will notice a line of letters and symbols above the staff (Cm, G7, Cm, etc). These are chord symbols which indicate the harmony to be played by accompanying instruments such as keyboard or guitar.

1

The big numbers 1 and 3 tell you to play the note. The small numbers 2 and 4 tell you to sustain it until the next note. Notice that there are four beats in each bar.

The Half Rest

Small counting numbers are used under rests.

2

This example uses half notes along with half rests.

The Quarter Note

This music note is called a quarter note. It lasts for one beat.
There are four quarter notes in one bar of * time.

3

This example uses half notes along with half rests.

The Quarter Rest

This symbol is a quarter rest.

It indicates one beat of silence.

Do not play any note. Remember that small counting numbers are placed under rests.

4

Remember to count silently to keep time regardless of whether you are playing a note or a rest.

The Note A

The note A is written in the second space of the staff.

5

This example uses the note A along with the note G. Listen carefully to the notes as you play them and try to produce a strong, even tone. Pay attention to the breath marks and get in the habit of breathing each time you see one.