7 Pros and Cons of Playing the Flute ...

By Olivia

7 Pros and Cons of Playing the Flute ...

There are many pros and cons of playing the flute. If you are looking for an instrument to pick up, the flute is definitely a good option, but there are also many other great instruments out there! Here is a list of some of the main pros and cons of playing the flute that I have noticed in my twelve years of playing!

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1

Pro: Versatile

Of all the pros and cons of playing the flute, one of the best pros is that the flute is a very versatile instrument. Flutists can play in almost any type of ensemble. This is not the case for every instrument, so this gives you opportunities not every instrument player has! Some of the different ensembles flutes are needed in are: concert band, orchestra, pit orchestra, jazz band, flute choir, etc. So if you are looking to have many different ensemble options, playing the flute is a great way to do this!

2

Con: There Are a Lot of Flute Players

One of the biggest cons of playing the flute is that there are A LOT of flute players out there. This makes it difficult to get into honors bands or districts, since you will be competing with many more players than, say, a bassoon player. But on the bright side, if you do get into a select band, then you will know you are a competent flutist!

3

Pro: Easy to Carry

When I was deciding what instrument I wanted to play, I made sure that I would not be struggling to carry it to and from practice. The flute is one of the smallest instruments, and the case is very light and small. You will get jealous looks from the trombone and tuba players if you decided to pick up the flute!

4

Con: Tuning is a Pain

All instruments need to be tuned before being played, especially in an ensemble. Because the flute is such a high-pitched instrument, it sounds ear-piercingly awful when a flute section is out of tune. So make sure you tune before playing, and remember that temperature will affect your tuning as well!

5

Pro: Can Easily Pick up Other Instruments

Another positive aspect of playing the flute is that if you decide you would like to learn another instrument, there are several that have very similar fingerings to the flute, which makes learning them very easy. For instance, many flute players that want to go the jazz route will learn alto saxophone, which is extremely similar to the flute (with the exception of the embouchure). Those who want to join a marching band will often pick up piccolo, which has the exact same fingerings as the flute!

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6

Con: Best Section You Never Heard

Sadly, while the flute is such a beautiful-sounding instrument, the flute section often goes relatively unheard in many large concert bands. Louder and more powerful instruments tend to drown out the flutes, but on the plus side, if you make a mistake the audience probably won't notice!

7

Pro: Relaxing

Due to the steady-breathing nature of playing the flute, you will find yourself quite relaxed when you play. Whenever I need to calm down after a stressful day, I pick up my flute and play a simple etude and immediately start to settle down. What's better than an instrument that doubles as a stress-reliever?!

Mastering an instrument is a costly and time-consuming task, so making sure you weigh the pros and cons of instruments you are considering is an important step when deciding to pick up an instrument! What other instruments do you enjoy playing?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

can't, my asthma gets in the way of those instruments. But I already play cello, guitar, and ukulele soooooooo

I have been playing the flute for almost 11 years now. When I learned how to play alto sax I was able to pick if up in just a couple of days. I also play piccolo. another con of playing flute would be that the flute takes more air than most instruments since only a percentage of the air that you breathe into the instrument actually goes into flute. when you first start playing it will cause you to get lightheaded easy.

I've been playing flute for 14 years now but sadly haven't had the chance to play lately

#6 In my band, usually the flutes are playing like a soli or the other instruments are playing long notes

Playing flute is pretty good, first I played Bamboo flute then the real one. I've been playing for 8 years through acquire knowledge.

It's helpful to have a mom that's a choir teacher and a dad that's a band teacher because you get a lot of great musical experience.

Flute is lovely!! I play banjo, guitar, and ukulele :)

I first picked up the violin when i was young. There's a piano at home and i've never had a lesson, so i've taught myself a few things with that :) I picked up the flute in high school, and can still play a few nice things now. 23 years old now and these instruments are still a part of me, even though i don't play all the time. It's amazing how much you remember!

i play clarinet but i absolutely adore the sound of a well played flute!

Another pro for the flute is that the section gets to play a lot of main themes in songs rather than instruments of the low brass, which gets to play a background tune.

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