Marisa Curcio

Dr. Cape
Winds and Percussion
11/06/13
Lesson Plan - Flute

Dont touch it yet! Introduce the instrument - flute, woo!

Head joint, foot joint, embouchure hole, body
Start by saying oui, like youre French. Then, too.
Embouchure - how your mouth is set to play the instrument - all wind instruments have
one (and generally, theyre all different). Sets of teeth overtop of each other.
Allow them to use headjoint - should be centered on the lips, corners of the mouth
tight, but the lips loose. Should frame the embouchure hole.
Keep your tummy tight while playing in order to keep the air flowing and at a
relatively constant stream.
Show how to assemble it, and then show how to hold it - out to the right with the left
hand fingers facing you and the right hand fingers facing outward.
Put steps together - ask for embouchure first, then allow them to blow. Let them blow
without putting any fingers down first - should be vaguely a D.
Bb
C
D
(If they lose the pitch, air, embouchure, etc., have them return to Bb.)
Sing pitches for them, see if they can play it back:
Bb-C-D, D-C-Bb, Bb-D-C, C-D-Bb
The inside of the flute should be swabbed/cleaned frequently (like after each use), and the
pivot screws should be oiled once every four months. Other than that, a damp cloth and
the will to not dent it will take you a long way. Also, the cork is a finicky part of the
instrument - it should never be poked during cleaning or at any other time, so they should
take care not to mess with it.