I've not been well for several months, and while I have played my flute a few times in church, once for a barn dance, and for teaching, I haven't actually practised in months

People have said that I sounds fine, but to me I can hear the difference.

I really want to start rebuilding my playing, but I have limited energy, flute is tiring to play when I'm not that well in the first place.

I'm trying to work out what would be the best use of maybe 2 or 3 ten minute practice sessions a day. I'll spend at least some time just playing and making friends with my flute again, but when I have the energy and concentration to really PRACTICE... what are the essentials, do you think?

I'm thinking scales and longtones would be a good start, but flute teachers and experienced flautists: opinions please! I need some help, the brain cells are not rubbing together well at the moment.

When I don't have time to practice I just do harmonics. I use long tones and work my way up to top Bb using bottom C fingering. Then I know that my lips are still toned up. That might be a useful way to start each session.

First off, Sarah, It's lovely to see you posting again, you've been missed I sincerely wish you the very best in your recovery, and hope that you get well soon

Secondly Alicia is right, practise long tones and harmonics to work your embouchure and strengthen it and as for technical exercises, well ........ work everything slowly for the time being, always work with a metronome at a speed your comfortable with and then start pushing up the speed one click at a time, log your speeds in a note book so that you can see your improvements, but above all, don't push yourself ..... your not in a race or a competition so if the metronome mark doesn't change for a few weeks, what does it matter ?!!

If you feel youself getting stressed out and tense, put the flute down and come back to it later when you're more relaxed, there is no rush.

Much love
Ange xx

Mmm, I think I agree. Also, maybe if for one of them you just play something you really enjoy playing. I don't know, I'm no expert. *hugs*

Welcome back sarah-flute. Glad to hear you are feeling up to flute playing again. You've been missed!

As the others have said, long tones/harmonics and playing something you enjoy is a good place to start.

Great to see you back, Sarah. Just play what you enjoy and your practice routines will soon be back. Enjoy

Haven't got much to add on practising flute, but I just wanted to say how nice it is to see you back - you've definitely been missed.

I'm a big fan of using long tones and scales to get my sax playing back up to scratch after a break.

Thanks for the thoughts and the welcome back, guys

Definitely welcome back: I don't know about anyone else but I was beginning to wonder where you'd got to! Whatever was wrong I hope it's now right (or at least on the road there).

As for the question, I think practice should be:

1) enjoy yourself as near 100% of the time as possible
2) make music at least 90% of the time
3) work on technique when you have to but when you do, work at it properly: Take that half bar, ornament or whatever it may be and worry it like a terrier until it gives up.
4) enjoy yourself (see 1)
5) don't exhaust or depress yourself.

As for WHAT you practice, see 1 & 2 and have fun!

think your practice points are excellent, Robodoc (Especially 1 and 5!)

I figured now I was finished with Uni til October, and have got rid of all my housemates, I ought to have the time, opportunity and energy for getting my fluting sorted out again. And then I got tonsillitis...

Anyway, as well as doing lots of technical stuff, to try and sort out what has slid, I've set myself the challenge of learning 1 new, pretty difficult piece. That way I've got something that requires proper practise, instead of sloppily going over pieces I learnt a year or three ago.

Best of luck with getting things together again. I know I'm finding it all quite disheartening.

I agree with everyone else. I've got the trevor wye compendium complete practise books thing and theres lots of good things just for daily keeping you in check like finger exercises, harmonics, sequences, tonguing practice and stuff. worth a buy if you need help structuring your practise. you might want to ask your teacher what the main areas for working out that would help.

hope that helps