Easy Practice Tips for Flute Students (and Parents!)

As a private flute teacher, I spend a lot of time asking students to practice at home, teaching them how to practice effectively at home, and encouraging them to create a practice routine. Flutists and flute teachers know that the best way to grow on our instruments is to give them daily, consistent attention. We know that by spending even 10 minutes a day on our instrument, we will reap the rewards later. This is what leads me and my students to so many important conversations about how and why we practice.

I love this GIF, but why isn't there a flute???

While it is my job to teach flute students how to practice at home, the success of my flute students is also influenced by their practice set-up at home. Believe it or not, practicing requires more than an instrument and sheet music. When parents and guardians ask me how they can help their flute student practice at home, I give them three easy tips for creative and effective flute practice.

1)    Creative, effective practicing requires a sturdy music stand. Not a chair or a shelf that seems to hold the sheet music up, a music stand.

I highly recommend that flutists purchase their own music stand for at-home practice so that they can stand or sit in balance while playing. Flutists need to be able to position the music stand at just the right height so that they aren’t having to move their head, neck, or entire bodies in uncomfortable positions to see their music. Not only will this prevent tension and possible injury, it will also help your flutist’s sound blossom. Beautiful, resonant sound happens when we can stand or sit in balance. Music stands allow us to bring our sheet music to us, instead of forcing us to move to the sheet music. Music stands are essential for flutists who wish to play with beautiful sound, creativity, and confidence. There are all kinds of music stands on the market. Here are the ones I recommend (not an ad, I promise!):

Folding Music Stand – Good for travel, music camp, and easy storage!

Manhasset Music Stand – Good quality & very sturdy

2)    Creative, effective practicing requires a quiet space.

Not so quiet that you can hear a pin drop, but certainly quiet enough that you can hear yourself think. Flutists can do their best practicing when they are in a space where they can stay focused. This means that practicing often happens in a place where flutists can be alone and uninterrupted. One of the hardest parts about practicing an instrument is that it can be a lonely experience especially if we hear more exciting things happening over in the next room. To support your flutist in their practice space, try to reduce unnecessary noise and

3)    Creative, effective practicing requires routine.

I love helping my students create practice routines in their lessons. We talk about how what specifically they’ll practice and in what order. We talk about how long they’ll practice. We even look at their weekly schedules and plan specific windows of time for them to practice in their daily lives. However, none of what we do in lessons works unless the flutist has support at home that holding them accountable to their routine. Flutists who practice creatively and effectively have family and friends who say, “You have practice time scheduled after dinner. After you do that, let’s hang out and watch a movie together!” or “Hey, I know you’re super tired today, but I also know you love playing the flute. Maybe you can try to practice at least five minutes just to keep your routine going” or “Hey I heard you practicing and you sound like you’re making progress! I’m so proud of you.” Routines are easier when we have support and accountability from the people in our lives. Encourage your flutist with positivity and gentle reminders to continue building their practice routine.

These three things can transform a flutist’s attitude about practicing from frustration and dread to enthusiasm and passion. Help spread the joy of music by creating the perfect practice set-up for your flutist that will inspire creativity.

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