Making the most of your instrument

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So, you have chosen to play the flute, yet you feel as though you could get so much more out of it. Perhaps it has fallen to the bottom of your priority list, or you are struggling to find the motivation to play. Whatever the case, I would like to encourage you with a few ways to help you to make the most of your instrument.

Find your “why” again

I am sure that you put some thought into your decision to start playing the flute. Think back to that decision. Why did you decide on the flute? Who or what inspired you to give it a go? Going back to your “why” is a good place to start making the most of your instrument. One practical way that you could keep your reason for playing at the forefront of your mind is to create a visual reminder. This could be a picture of a famous flutist, a quote, or a goal you are striving for. Write it down and stick it near the place where you practice – possibly on your mirror or wall. Let it be ever present so that you remember why you are doing this in the first place.

Work with your personality

Your personality has a lot to do with how you practice and play. If you are a social butterfly, it may help you to practice with other people. If you enjoy getting very technical about your playing, watch some videos on technique. Connect your natural strengths with your playing to help increase the joy of playing.

Listen to wonderful flutists and flute pieces to get inspired

Though it may intimidate you to hear great musicians playing the flute so seemingly flawlessly and effortlessly, let them inspire you instead. Watch and listen to famous flutists – enjoy the music and be inspired by what is possible on the flute.

Make use of opportunities to play

Whether it’s playing at your local church, a wedding, or even just at a family gathering, grab hold of opportunities to play. It will build your confidence and help you to get used to performing, especially if this is one of your goals.

Play with others

I remember how much I would hate performing in front of others by myself but enjoyed playing with others much more. If you don’t know anyone who you could join up with, there are ways and means to find like-minded musicians. Online listings or communities, local music schools, music clubs, or even churches might be a good place to start looking for people who would be interested in playing with you.

Teach someone else

Teaching someone something often means that it helps you to grasp things better yourself. This doesn’t mean you have to quit your day job to become a flute teacher. Even just sharing a small amount of knowledge with someone who doesn’t know much about the flute can help you to build your confidence.

Take the pressure off and enjoy

Taking the pressure off your playing will help you to relax and can lead to better performance. Returning to the first point about knowing your “why” can help you crank up that enjoyment. My mother tells the story of how she was made to play mandatory piano examinations every year growing up. As a result, she hardly touches the piano today, it has become a white elephant of sorts in her home. The pressure that was placed on her year after year caused her not to enjoy playing just for the sake of it. Let that not be you! Own your goals, and your reasons for playing, remember why you like it. Even if you do have to pass certain examinations or tests, think beyond that. Find your joy in playing and let that carry you.

Use your imagination

Imagination is a powerful tool to use when playing any instrument. I remember the first time I decided to properly utilize it while playing the cello. I played my chosen piece and imagined a scene in my mind, trying to match the music with that scene. It certainly brought a different quality to my playing, if only short-lived (I kept forgetting to do it after that!) When you do this, you are creating something beautiful, essentially a work of musical art. If this is not an area of strength for you, i.e., it isn’t easy for you to imagine something, try and think of a simple scene, perhaps a forest or the ocean. Depending on the piece of course (a fast, choppy piece would not match up with a quiet, serene forest scene, for example). Whatever you decide, try and keep this image in your mind as you play. Imagine the piece as a soundtrack accompanying that image. It will certainly add another dimension to your playing, even if only to help you to enjoy it more.

Looking back now, I wish that I had known then what I know now and applied it. Instead of hiding in the shadows, practicing out of guilt or necessity, and letting examinations and recitals put a damper on my playing, I would have let my instrument sing and made use of all my resources and opportunities, seeing them as a chance to grow.

My sincere wish for you is that you really own your journey and make the most of this beautiful gift of music you’ve been given – no matter whether you are right at the beginning or a little further along the path. Happy flute playing!

Renate Yotti is a writer and language teacher with a soft spot for music. She loves creating beautiful music on her piano and used to play the cello as a teenager. Renate has co-authored a poetry collection with Tacham Deowm called Cross-Over (available on Amazon). You can also find her on Instagram as inspiredwritermama

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