Just wondering what grade people are on for the flute, and how long did it take you to get to that grade?

I'm on grade 4 and I've been playing for 4 years.

I've just passed Grade 3 - it took me about five years

I've only been playing a year and have passed grade 5 with distinction!
However, I do/have play(ed) the piano, saxophone and trumpet as well, so I have lots of musical knowledge already!

I'm doing grade 5 and have been playing 6 months now.

after playing for, erm, hang on, six years, I will be taking Grade 8, probably at Christmas.

Yay, flute forum at last!!

Grade 6, five years

QUOTE (MBC_Tiger @ Jul 5 2004, 06:38 PM)

I'm doing grade 5 and have been playing 6 months now.

Gosh, do you play any other instruments? And also how long do you practise for each day? Oh, and what do you practise each day?

I haven't taken any exams yet but I'm playing around and about grade 3 pieces and I've been playing since about October time. I already play the piano which I teach and I'm hoping to try for the diploma in piano performance, maybe in the next year/18months.

QUOTE

Gosh, do you play any other instruments? And also how long do you practise for each day? Oh, and what do you practise each day?

I practice anything from 1/2 hour to 3 hours a day, going through scales, then pieces, then fun pieces, then scales again.I love it! I play the piano but only at grade 3-5 standard (it varies, strangely) and I sing at Grade 7/8 standard.

Your singing must have been a great help with your breath control for the flute. Breathing (or should I say breathing in the right places) is one of my areas! I didn't realise breathing could be so complicated until I started playing the flute. If I play something slowly, to get the fingering and articulation, I run out of breath and if I play faster I have enough breath but not so much control over my fingering and articulation! If I tongue a note, I can probably tongue it for about say 30 seconds - but I can only play a slurred note for about 8 seconds. It drives me crazy. Do you start your practise off with long notes?

I start my practice off with long notes but breathing, despite singing, was really hard for me at first. I think flute helps my voice more than the other way.Since I started playing flute, I have more vibrato in my voice, more breath control, even higher range (which is difficult to increase now, since I'm at top C, only a couple more notes to go!)

When you started playing what did you find hard about breathing. Did you run out of breath? Or did you find taking a breath quickly, difficult? I'm surprised your singing didn't help you - but what a bonus that it's helping the other way round!

I'm post grade eight, I've been playing nearly thirteen years now (where's it gone??)

As for the breathing, I used to find long notes difficult when I first started, but I soon got over it!

QUOTE

When you started playing what did you find hard about breathing. Did you run out of breath? Or did you find taking a breath quickly, difficult? I'm surprised your singing didn't help you - but what a bonus that it's helping the other way round!

I found it hard to keep the breath going.I ran out quite quickly and would get dizzy.not anymore though!

QUOTE (MBC_Tiger @ Jul 9 2004, 04:41 PM)

[QUOTE] I found it hard to keep the breath going.I ran out quite quickly and would get dizzy.not anymore though!

I used to get dizzy when I first started the flute too!

Im also post grade 8, started playing flute aged 10 and took the exam aged 19. A year on Im still playing but not doing diploma as flute is my secondary study.

I'm post grade 8 too. Started playing at 9, took grade 8 at 18 and am still playing at 40, when I can fit it in with piano practice.

I haven't taken any exams yet, but I'm about grade 7-8 standard when it comes to scales. But then again, I suck at every thing else when it comes to playing the flute.

I have only played the flute about six months(a year if you count that I started on the piccolo first, but I would regard the piccolo as an seperate instrument), and I'm not playing for a teacher, well I'm going to start for a teacher next term.

Anyway, the flute is just my second instrument after the tuba(grade 8 standard, haven't taken any grade yet, but I'm working towards it as my first grade ever! Why does my teacher take so long getting the pieces? I live in Sweden by the way, and grade exams aren't that popular around here, you see).

The tuba/flute combo suprsingly makes an excellent combination, but the tuba/piccolo makes an even better combination!

erm, 3 years going to sit grade 5 theory and practical next year

theory , grade 4 now, started erm in March i think

Ive just sat my grade 8! I took 7 years to get there!

Ive just found out I'm officially grade 7! Got the results yesterday. Yay!

Hi Little Anna

Congrats on your grade 7.

yeah well done anna!!

Thank you very much! I had to wait 4 weeks for the results. I thought i was gonna explode with nerves waiting lol!

I'm just starting Grade 7 piano and it's taken me 5 years

I will be taking my actual grade 8 exam in december. I've been learning for 8 years now

Congrats LittleAnna!

I'm 15 and have been playing the flute for almost 5 years and I'm working for grade 8...when I'll actually take it tho remains to be seen

Wow, how do loads of people manage to get up to grade 5 in a matter of months??? It took me just under three years! Oh well...

Well done littleanna with ure grade 7 results *claps*

QUOTE (flawed but flautless @ Aug 14 2004, 08:45 PM)

Wow, how do loads of people manage to get up to grade 5 in a matter of months??? It took me just under three years! Oh well...

Three years? It'll probably take me at least six! You're doing really well fbf...

doing my grd7 in December~ been playiung for about 3 years

i ve played bout 3 years n i m at grade 6