How to Guarantee You’ll Make Progress in Your Flute Playing

How to Guarantee You'll Make Progress in Your Flute Playing

Introduction

Okay, okay, I know the title is a little bit of clickbait, but there are legitimate ways to guarantee you’ll keep moving forward in your flute playing, and I’m here to share some of those secrets with you.

In the world of private lessons and band class, it’s pretty rare that we have the “how to get better” conversation. We’ll tell you to practice, practice, practice, but we don’t often do enough of the HOW, so I want to drive this part home. It’s not just about practice, practice, practice, but it’s also about HOW you practice, practice, practice. So, we are going to talk about setting goals, establishing consistency, technique focus, embracing feedback, pushing repertoire, engaging with others, and positivity.

1. Set Clear Goals

An easy way to kickstart your practice is to start by setting a couple of goals. That said, goal-setting isn’t as simple as just putting something into the cosmos. You have to use a methodology for good goal-setting.

Personally, I recommend the SMART method.

S - Specific - Instead of stating something like “I want to get better,” try something more specific like “I would like to increase the speed of my C major scale.”

M - Measurable - Make sure your goals are something you can actually measure, like speed or loudness using a metronome, decibel meter, etc. Or, something like “I would like to master the technique of measures 12-19 in my repertoire” is something you can measure and tell whether or not you’ve attained.

A - Attainable - Attainable meaning not “out of this world” - have to balance this around the amount of time you have and where your starting point is. If you’re just learning your major scales, you won’t want to set a goal to play all of them from memory by the end of your practice session.

R - Realistic - This goes hand-in-hand with “attainable” - they should be achievable, but a stretch.

T - Time-based - Make sure you have a time setting on this. A goal without a timeline is just a dream. So, let’s make it a goal. This could be in the time of this practice session, over a week, over a month, over a year, etc.

Short-term goals are actionable and achievable within a relatively brief timeframe, often motivating you with quick wins. They serve as stepping stones toward larger aspirations. Long-term goals, on the other hand, provide a broader vision and direction for your future, requiring patience and sustained effort. Balancing both types ensures that you remain focused on immediate tasks while steadily progressing toward your ultimate objectives. A clear strategy integrating short-term achievements with long-term ambitions can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful path.

Keep a practice journal and log your progress along the way. I also really enjoy recording my playing progress as I go along, checking in on myself weekly or monthly, and even periodically comparing recordings from 6 months or a year ago to make sure I’m progressing in my goals.

2. Establish a Consistent Practice Routine

Practice regularly and consistently. Establishing a clear and consistent practice routine will help you get far. Practicing inconsistently doesn’t help build muscle memory nearly as much as purposefully planning a routine.

I suggest using “habit stacking” - for instance, if you come home from work or school, what’s the first thing you do? You probably put your keys, backpack, purse, etc. down and take your shoes off, go get yourself a snack, and sit down. You have a habit stack. It’s an event that’s triggered by another event. So, where can we use that to create a practice routine? How about “when mom or dad starts cooking or orders dinner, I practice my flute” or “when the kids are sitting down to do homework, I practice my flute.” Stacking habits helps train your brain to automatically do things and can help build good habits.

If you’re a calendar person, you can also plan time in. I like to plan practice time into my day around the events I already have planned. If there’s a free 30 minutes, I’ll block it out for practice time.

Make sure you have a quiet, distraction-free, and clean area to practice, have all of your music ready and your stand/flute close by so you can jump right in without a ton of setup. This can help you stay more motivated and be more likely to practice during the times you’ve set aside.

3. Focus on Technique

Make sure you spend lots of time on scales, finger, technique, tone, and articulation. These things will transfer easily into your etudes and repertoire.

Incorporating foundational skills practice into your flute routine is essential for long-term development and mastery of the instrument. These foundational skills, such as tone production, breath control, and technical exercises, establish a solid base that supports more advanced playing. Regularly focusing on these elements enhances muscle memory, improves overall technique, and builds confidence. By prioritizing foundational skills, flutists ensure a more streamlined learning process, allowing for greater expression and creativity as they progress. Making time for this essential practice not only strengthens your playing but also fosters a deeper understanding of music as a whole.

Try starting with some long tones and scale exercises to warm up and to build muscle memory in your fingers. Be sure to focus on proper posture and hand positioning (standing straight up with ease and holding your hands in a natural, curved way) while you’re practicing.

4. Embrace Feedback

Feedback and constructive critisicm are a great way to build your skills - be it from your teacher or your peers, it’s important to continually ask for feedback and to take it in stride. Teachers and peers can hear things in your playing that you might not be able to, and may be able to offer advice based on their own personal experiences or experiences of other students.

Write it down! After lessons, write down the things you need to work on and keep a journal of how things are going as you progress. Record yourself or record your lessons and listen back in order to self-assess and continue moving forward.

Seek regular feedback from teachers and other flutists that you look up to. If you can’t afford or don’t have access to private lessons, consider trying an asynchronous lesson periodically with a teacher you like and trust, this way you have some bullet points to work on between them.

5. Expand Your Repertoire

Try anything and everything! Play baroque pieces, tango, 20th century compositions, and more. Play jazz, pop pieces, transpose, etc.

Exploring a variety of music styles is essential for any musician's development. Playing different genres broadens your understanding of rhythm, melody, and harmony, enriching your overall musicality. It enhances your adaptability, allowing you to collaborate with diverse groups and express a wider range of emotions. Engaging with various styles also keeps the learning process fresh and exciting, preventing creative stagnation. Additionally, it fosters a deeper appreciation for music as an art form, connecting you with a broader community of musicians and listeners. Embracing musical versatility ultimately elevates both your playing and listening experience.

So, play anything and everything you can get your hands on! Be curious and have fun!

6. Engage with the Flute Community

If there’s one thing that I would have done differently as a young flutists, it’s engaging with the greater flute community. You can learn so much from the flutists around you or those on social media. The world is so much more accessible with the internet being as connecting as it is.

Connect with local ensembles, workshops, and organizations if you can.

You can often find resources like this through the National Flute Association website or through local flute teachers or band directors that can help point you in the direction of the large flute community in your area.

7. Stay Positive and Patient

Maintaining positivity while improving on the flute is crucial for fostering growth and enjoyment. As you embark on your musical journey, remember that progress can often be gradual and may come with challenges. Celebrate small victories—each improved note, successful scale, or new piece mastered contributes to your overall advancement. Surround yourself with supportive peers, seek constructive feedback, and embrace the learning process, knowing that perseverance will lead to better skills over time. Keeping a positive mindset not only enhances your practice sessions but also deepens your connection to the music, making each step forward a rewarding experience.

Conclusion

Of course, nothing is guaranteed, however using these strategies will increase the likelihood of you continuing to progress at flute ten fold.

So, set clear goals, practice consistently, work on foundations and technique, embrace feedback, expand your repertoire, engage with the flute community, and stay positive. You’ve got this!