What do George Washington and Leonardo Da Vinci have in common? Well, apart from being legendary names in history, both men played the flute!
Coincidence? Maybe not.
Here are a few compelling reasons you should learn to play the flute.
1. Numerous Health Benefits
Being a wind instrument, playing the flute skillfully requires an extensive degree of breathing exercises. In the process, this will teach the player how to properly regulate their breathing which they will adopt even when they aren’t playing the instrument.
Promoting good posture is another benefit, which is in turn essential for proper and healthy breathing.
Though small in size, this instrument requires a lot of power to play. You, therefore, not only need powerful lungs but strengthened core muscles as well.
By working your lungs and diaphragm, playing the flute is bound to give you a good deal of respiratory workout, making your core a lot firmer.
2. You Can Transition Easily
It would be difficult for an utter beginner to jump straight to playing a more complicated wind instrument such as the saxophone or clarinet. Difficult, not impossible.
However, a flute player would be able to transition to other wind instruments with relative ease. It is even advisable for one to learn the basics of wind instruments on a flute for intermediate players before transitioning to more advanced instruments.
The idea of transitioning from a flute isn’t just about other wind instruments. Even a vocalist could find flute lessons to be very helpful.
How?
Well, did you know that flutists breathe in the exact same way that vocalists do?
Both flutists and vocalists require the same type of air support to produce good sound. And not just that. There are numerous other facts of flute playing that closely mirror how vocalists train their voices.
3. It’s A Musically Versatile Instrument
Many people dismiss the flute as merely being a simple instrument played in schools, but with the proper playing skills, you’d be surprised at how impressive an instrument the flute could be.
The flute can easily blend with many other instruments and is often included in almost all kinds of ensembles.
As such, this is the kind of instrument that can open diverse worlds of opportunities, all based on how far you intend to take your flute-playing skills.
From orchestral and jazz music all the way to folk and rock music, modern flutists are pushing the limits to show that flutes aren’t just reserved for the opera.
4. It Is Portable and Low-Maintenance
Unlike several other wind instruments, the flute doesn’t have any reeds. As such, there are no sensitive components that will have you fussing over temperature and humidity affecting the pitch of your instrument.
Just as well, traveling with the flute is a breeze. It is a small and relatively lightweight item meaning you can always have it on you to play wherever and whenever you want.
Of course, you cannot talk about the weight of a flute without considering that how heavy a particular flute is will depend on the type of flute in question.
A silver soprano flute weighs the least, at just over a pound, while a bass flute weighs the most at just under five pounds.
Nevertheless, portability is still not an issue, even with the heavier bass flute. Simply assemble it and blow away.
5. Wide Variety of Options
Are you looking for a beginner, intermediate or professional instrument?
Flutes come in a wide variety of options, and the advantage here is that any flutist out there could choose the precise flute that suits their playability and intonation.
One variation is in the type of flute whereby the player can choose to use a Concert flute, Soprano flute, Alto flute, Bass flute, Contrabass flute or the Piccolo.
Next up there is the type of material that’s used to construct the flute. Whether you choose silver, platinum, gold, or wood will depend on your desired tone and projection.
Would you prefer Inline G keys or offset G keys? What about the head? Some flutes have a curved head, while others have a standard straight head.
Yes, there are numerous variations when it comes to flute. All this may be daunting for a novice flutist.
Just remember that all these options aren’t meant to confuse you. Instead, they are intended to provide the ultimate playing experience for all players.
Conclusion
The flute is among the earliest instruments, and many cultures around the world have their unique variation of this humble instrument.
So go ahead and get yourself one. In the process of learning to play, you just might find out why so many civilizations have held onto this instrument for over 35,000 years now.
