The flute is a member of the woodwind family of instruments. This instrument has several different variations but the one that will be covered here is the modern version which is the side blown or transverse flute and is held horizontally with the key positions held out to the side.

Before starting to learn how to play it is advisable to obtain the advice of an instructor or professional as to whether or not the flute is the best choice. Also attending an introductory class where individuals are allowed to try out different instrument so see which one will work best.

Once the decision is made that the flute is the preferred instrument then one must be procured that can be used to learn with. First choice is to see if your school offers the use of instruments to beginners. If this is not the case then one must be rented or bought. Renting is the preferred method until the student is certain that it is the instrument for them.

Now begins the road to learning the flute. This instrument is difficult for some to learn but with plenty of practice and diligence mastery of this instrument can be achieved.

Obtain a flute. Borrow, rent or buy a flute. Borrowing or renting a flute for the first few weeks or months is advisable to inure that it is in fact the correct instrument for the person involved. Learn the parts of the flute.

1. The head joint contains the tone hole and lip plate.
2. The middle joint has the barrel(where the head joint is inserted and most of the keys.
3. The foot joint is attached to the middle joint and contains the rest of the keys.

1. The first priority in putting a flute together is to not touch the keys. If you hold onto the keys while assembling the flute you can bend them as destroy the flute.
2. Grasp the middle joint of the flute in one hand holding it by the barrel where the brand logo is located.
3. Pick up the head joint in the other hand and insert it into the middle joint until about 1/4 inch of the unplated section remains visible. Twist the head joint untill the tone hole is lined up with keys.
4. Continue to hold the middle joint as you have it and pick up the foot joint with the same hand you used for the head piece.
5. Grasp the foot joint with the two large keys against your palm and your thumb held up and away from the piece.
6. Slide the foot joint onto the middle piece and twist to align the post nearest the edge with the middle of the last key on the middle joint.
7. When disassembling the flute just revers the order remembering that if you hold a section wrongly you can bend or damage the keys.

To begin playing the flute a person must learn how to make a sound.

1. Remove the head joint from the case.
2. Using just the head joint place the tone hole over your lips and center it both vertically and horizontally.
3. Make a hole with your lips like you are trying to whistle. Match its size to the tone hole of the flute.
4. Roll the head piece away from you until it is horizontal to you lips in about the same position as you would hold the mouth of a bottle you were trying to make a sound with by blowing.
5. Blow gently across the hole varying the position of the flute and the strength of your blowing until you get a sound.

1. Next the fingerings for the different notes must be learned before an music can be played. A basic fingering chart is shown below.

1. Once the notes have been learned a beginners book containing scales and easy music scores should be obtained.

1. Practice the scales.

1. Once the scales have been mastered then some of the music can be used to gain skill in playing.

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