What Should I Bring to my Flute Lessons?
Many people just starting in music lessons can get intimidated by the process. What should I expect? What should I bring? What will my teacher expect of me?
A good teacher will always give you guidance at your very first lesson on what to bring with you and should have a “goals” conversation pretty early on, however sometimes in the midst of the chaos, those things can sort of get lost in translation. So, I’m here to tell you what you should plan to bring to your lessons from day 1 and how you should use those items.
Your flute, of course
First and foremost, make sure that your flute is in good condition. You should plan to bring your flute and all related accessories to your lesson. Be sure to bring your cleaning cloth and rod with you. If you’ve never played before, your teacher will likely want to show you the best way to take care of your flute during that first lesson. If you’ve played before but not in a long time, get your flute out and double check that it’s in good working condition. If not, you may want to consider taking it in for a COA or overhaul for maintenance BEFORE you start lessons. Some places will have loaner instruments they can give you for the time being. I personally keep loaner instruments on hand so that my students can take theirs in without worrying too much about it.
A clean notebook and working pencil
You’ll want to take notes! While my students do use the Practice Space app for their lesson notes and practice logs, it’s good to bring in a notebook even still. I don’t load everything we discussed into the assignments or notes, so you’ll want to make sure you are able to write things down during and after your lesson. Lots of teachers don’t take notes for you, so this is a must must must.
Water
Bring a water bottle to every lesson. Especially with flute, your mouth can get dry quickly, particularly in the first few lessons. You’ll want to combat that by bringing water and staying hydrated throughout the entire lesson. Trust me - not only will it help with your playing, but drinking water also helps you stay focused during the time you’re with your teacher.
Music you’ve been working on
Now, you may or may not use this music at all, but your instructor will likely want you to play something you’re familiar with on that first day. You’ll spend a lot of your hour talking about your goals and expectations, so having a small piece prepared (like an etude or a piece you’re working on in band) will be a great tool for your new teacher to see where you’re at and where they should start focusing their attention. If you don’t have anything, that’s okay too! If you’re just starting out with flute for the first time, you’re not expected to have anything prepared.
Sometimes the teacher will let you know what book to purchase ahead of time - I don’t usually do this until a few lessons in, especially for more advanced students, because I don’t know what we’ll be working towards until much later. That said, if they recommend an etude book, for instance, then it may be good to prepare a short etude from that book before beginning lessons.
A fidget toy
Now, this one may be controversial, but there may be some down time where you’re just chatting in your lessons, or when you might get frustrated or tired and need to take a break. I keep a whole array of fidget toys in my studio for this reason. When I see my students are reaching their edge, I tell them “flute down” and they know they can go grab a fidget toy and just chat for a minute while they get back to equilibrium. Some teachers may not feel like this is appropriate, so be sure to ask your teacher about that sort of etiquette before you do this, but in my studio, these types of things are always welcome.
Key Takeaways
What you bring to lessons somewhat depends on your level of playing and your teacher
Always bring your flute and cleaning supplies
Always bring a pencil and a notebook
Always bring a bottle of water
Always bring your music
If your teacher allows, bring a fidget toy or something else that helps calm any anxiety you might feel
