Do you want to be the next Lizzo? You may be wondering how to learn flute online and if it’s even a good idea.
Like many younger players, I’ve learned a bit of flute online. Now, I teach others exclusively online, so keep reading to learn how you can learn flute over the internet.
But first, this post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy to learn more.
Why Learn Flute Online
Learning how to play the flute online can be a great option. I did a lot of my initial studies with online resources. Nowadays, there are even more tools you can use to learn the flute online.
Here are some of the best reasons to consider studying flute online.
More Convenient
People today are busier than ever. You may not have time to drive halfway across town to a teacher’s house or studio. If you learn flute online, that won’t be a problem.
Instead, you can break out your computer or tablet to go over the lesson materials or attend a live lesson. You can do so from anywhere as long as you have a good internet signal.
If you travel a lot, you can even learn the flute on your trips. Just make sure you don’t practice too early or too late when you’re staying in hotel rooms.
More Flexible
You also don’t have to worry as much about when you learn flute when you study online. If you can’t practice at your usual time one day, you could practice earlier or later.
And if you enroll in a flute course or asynchronous lessons, you’ll have even more flexibility. You don’t have to commit to a particular day and time to meet with a teacher.
That can be super nice if you occasionally have really busy periods at work. Or if you need some extra lessons one month, you can make those happen. You don’t have to spend more time driving to a teacher.
More Options
When learning flute in person, the primary option is through live private lessons. Some teachers also offer small group classes, but private study is much more common.
However, you have more choices regarding how to learn flute online. Plenty of teachers offer live private lessons over the web. But you can also find group classes and pre-recorded lessons and courses.
I have a growing library of pre-recorded lessons you can buy and watch as needed. You’ll also get the chance to receive feedback on your playing for each lesson you purchase.
More Teachers
Studying flute in person limits your options regarding teachers. But if you’re open to learning flute online, the world is your oyster. You can find a teacher on the other side of town or the other side of the world.
Whether you live in a small town or otherwise can’t find many teachers locally, you may want to turn to the internet. For live lessons, you’ll still want to think about the time zone based on when you want to take lessons.
But if you go with pre-recorded lessons, the time zone of the teacher won’t matter at all. You could learn from someone in a completely different country. That means you can learn from the best teacher for you.
More Affordable
All of the other benefits of learning flute online come together to make the process a bit more affordable. Of course, you can save money on gas and car maintenance by not driving to lessons.
You can also look for a teacher who matches your style but who maybe charges a bit less. Or you can find a teacher who’s willing to work with you every other week so that you can save money.
Group classes and pre-recorded lessons also tend to be more affordable than live private lessons. So if you’re on a tight budget but want to learn flute, learn it online.
How to Learn Flute Online
Now that you know what you may want to study online, you’re probably wondering how to learn flute online. Here are my biggest tips for students who want to use the internet to improve their flute playing.
Start With Free Resources
The nice thing about the internet is that many online flute teachers offer some free resources to help you out. I have this blog, for example, and it has hundreds of posts related to the flute and music.
You can also find a lot of flute teachers on YouTube. That way, you can watch videos related to the flute and flute playing. Free resources can be a great way to teach you the basics.
Not only can you make sure the flute is right for you, but you can also determine if a teacher is a good fit. You can get an idea of their style from their free content. Then, when you’re ready to pay, you’ll know who to work with.
Consider Your Playing Level
Another thing to keep in mind is how much experience you have with music and the flute. If you’re an absolute beginner, you can learn some things, but it may help to get a teacher in person, at least for a few months.
However, if you’re motivated, you can learn flute online as a beginner. You may want to commit to regular live lessons. That way, you’ll have something to practice for each week.
Otherwise, you can enroll in a course or pre-recorded lessons. You can work through the material at your own pace. And if you know your level, you can make sure to enroll in a program that matches your skills.
Think About Your Learning Style
When deciding how to learn flute online, I’d also recommend figuring out how you learn best. Some people do very well on their own and can learn a lot from courses and recorded lessons.
Others may do their best learning in individual live lessons. And others still might succeed in an online group setting. No one learning style is right, so determine what works for you.
You may be able to try out a few types of flute lessons. Then, you can see what you enjoy the most and what format gives you the best results.
Experiment With Different Materials
I briefly mentioned this, but don’t be afraid to try both live and recorded lessons to see which you prefer. You might think live lessons will be best, but maybe you’ll enjoy recordings more because you can learn at your own pace.
It’s also helpful to experiment with different written materials. You may have a flute method book already. But if you find it’s a little boring or that it moves too fast or too slow, try another method book.
With each of my pre-recorded lessons, you’ll receive a set of exercises written just for that lesson. I added this feature to give you extra value. As a composer and arranger, I believe it’s super important for educational materials to be written by an expert in the instrument.
Don’t Forget Your Budget
You’ll also want to think about the financial aspect of learning the flute online. I started with free resources, and you can too. But you’ll eventually hit a point where you need to pay for something.
If you want online live lessons, prepare to spend at least $100 per month. You may need to spend more depending on the credentials, experience, and location of the teacher you choose.
Online courses and pre-recorded lessons are often more affordable. But you’ll still need to spend some money on each course you take. Set a realistic budget to help you decide how to learn flute online.
Get the Right Gear
If you want to make the most of your flute studies, you’ll need some equipment and gear. Obviously, you’ll need a flute, and ideally, it should be from a reputable flute brand.
I’d also recommend the following:
- Metronome and tuner
- Cleaning cloth
- iPad (or other tablet)
You’ll need a metronome and tuner to help you play in tempo and in tune with yourself and others. A cleaning cloth is vital for keeping your flute in good condition. And you can use a tablet to attend live lessons or watch videos.
You can also use an iPad to read any digital sheet music that you purchase or that comes with your lessons. That way, you don’t have to constantly print out new music you want to learn.
Set Aside a Learning Space
Next, you’ll need a good space you can use when learning the flute online. Ideally, you’d have a private space that’s for you and no one else. But if you have a family, you may need to work with what you have.
At the very least, you should have a quiet space that you can use without any distractions. Consider if you can close the door or at least ask others to leave the room.
You can use this space to attend live lessons and classes or to watch pre-recorded videos. If you take asynchronous lessons, you can also film your videos to send to your teacher.
Finally, you’ll want to have plenty of room to actually play your flute. I’d recommend at least a few feet in all directions. That way, you won’t have to worry about bumping your flute when playing.
Make a Practice Schedule
Just like if you were to learn flute in person, you should set aside time to practice your flute each day. If you’re a beginner, you don’t need more than 15 to 20 minutes daily.
As you advance, you can add more practice time to your schedule. But don’t worry about practicing for hours. If anything, practicing that much too soon can lead to injuries.
The most important thing is that your schedule is consistent. You can stick to the same time each day or switch it up based on your work schedule or personal life.
Keep At It
One of the most important things is to not quit too soon. I’ve had a few private students who only took lessons for a couple of months. That’s a good start, but it’s not enough time to see significant progress.
You’ll be a beginner for a while, and you probably won’t get the best sound for at least a year. That’s totally normal, and you should embrace the learning process!
If you’re serious about learning the flute online, give it at least three or six months to a year. After that, you can quit if you really don’t like it. But you can’t expect to sound like Lizzo or Sir James Galway a month after you start.
Live vs. Pre-Recorded Online Flute Lessons
Another thing to consider regarding how to learn flute online is whether you’ll take more traditional live lessons. If those don’t work for you, you also have access to pre-recorded lessons and courses.
Consider how the two formats compare and which is right for you.
Live Online Flute Lessons
Live online flute lessons are the most similar to standard in-person lessons. You’ll meet with your teacher at the same day and time, usually weekly. In your lesson, you’ll play any assignments from last week.
Your teacher will give you feedback right on the spot. They can also answer any questions and help you with your playing. Now, it can be hard to correct things like posture over video.
But if you need a bit more guidance, live lessons are the way to go. You’ll pay either monthly or per lesson. Depending on your teacher’s policies, you may be able to reschedule lessons when you have to cancel.
Pros
- One-on-one instruction
- Ability to get feedback right away
- More direction
Cons
- Requires commitment to a particular day and time
- Can be a bit more expensive
- No extra instruction between lessons
Pre-Recorded Online Flute Lessons
As of this writing, I exclusively offer pre-recorded online flute lessons. In each lesson, I cover a specific topic in a short video. You can rewatch the video, pause it, rewind it, or do whatever you need.
When you buy a lesson, you’ll also have lifetime access to the video. And at least in my studio, you’ll get unique exercises written to accompany each lesson. You can use those exercises to reinforce the concept.
If you want more guidance and feedback, you can request it as well. I’ll then respond with advice based on your recording. The nice thing for both of us is that we don’t have to coordinate schedules.
Now, every teacher may do pre-recorded lessons differently. From what I’ve seen, not a lot offer feedback. Nor do they include unique exercises or sell lessons individually and for a one-time fee.
Pros
- More flexible than live lessons
- Lifetime access to the content
- Can learn what you need as you need it
Cons
- No live interaction with a teacher
- Not as much direction for beginners
- Requires more self-motivation
How to Choose an Online Teacher
When deciding how to learn flute online, you also have to consider who you’ll learn from. Now, you can learn from a few different teachers. But it helps to choose one as your primary instructor to avoid confusion.
Us teacher have all different teaching methods. So keep the following in mind before you enroll in lessons or a course.
Consider Their Experience
First, you’ll want to learn about the teacher’s experience. For one, you should consider their experience playing the flute. But not all good players make good teachers, so look at the player’s teaching.
Think about how long they’ve taught. More specifically, look into how long they’ve taught flute online. Learning from a newer teacher can be a great way to get started, and they may be the right fit for you.
Newer teachers may also offer lower rates, which can be good for your budget. But you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. That way, you can decide if you want to work with a newer teacher.
Review Their Free Materials
Any online flute teacher should be willing to give away a bit of information for free. Look at the teacher’s website to see if they have a blog, YouTube channel, or some other content.
You can use the free content to learn flute a bit. However, you’ll want to pay special attention to the instructor’s teaching style. If you find it hard to understand what they’re saying, you may want to look for a different teacher.
Video content can be especially helpful for discovering the teacher’s personality. That way, you can make sure you’ll mesh well, especially if you’ll work together in live lessons.
Look at Their Availability
Of course, you have to figure out if the teacher is even accepting new students. If so, go ahead and contact the teacher to set up a trial lesson. You’ll then want to consider the days and times they have free for lessons.
Consider if the schedule matches yours. But if their studio is full or their free slots don’t work for you, you have a decision to make. Some teachers may offer a wait list, so you can enroll when they have an opening.
If you don’t want to wait for a spot to open up, you’ll want to look into other teachers. That way, you can find someone who’s available to teach on a day and time that you can do.
Think About Their Lesson Structure
Another thing to keep in mind is whether the teacher offers live lessons, pre-recorded lessons, or something else. If you want more direction and guidance, you should seek out a teacher who teaches live.
But if you have more self-motivation, you can do just as well with pre-recorded lessons or courses. A nice compromise between those options is asynchronous lessons.
You’ll get the personalization of live private lessons. However, you’ll have more flexibility regarding when you practice and “study.” You can record yourself whenever you have time, and your schedule can change as necessary.
Set Up a Trial Lesson
When you’re ready to enroll, you should start with a trial lesson. This will give you and your teacher the chance to meet each other. You can then determine if you’re a good fit to keep working together.
Some teachers offer a free trial lesson, while others charge for them. Prepare to spend a bit of money for the time they’re teaching you. Then, you can officially join their studio, or you can look for a new teacher.
In the case of pre-recorded lessons, you can enroll in one lesson. If you like my style of teaching, you can enroll in more lessons over time.
Who Should Learn Flute Online?
I’d recommend online learning to teens and adults. Younger kids almost always need the direction of an in-person teacher.
Learning flute online will also be easier for players with a bit of experience. But if you’re self-disciplined, you can learn flute online as a beginner.
Who Shouldn’t Learn Flute Online?
As mentioned, younger kids shouldn’t learn flute online. With few exceptions, kids can’t focus as much as they need to for online lessons.
I also wouldn’t recommend online lessons to anyone who needs more hand holding. You can meet with a teacher in person to get the guidance that will help you succeed.
Can You Learn Flute Online for Free?
You can learn flute online for free. However, you’ll severely limit yourself if you only use free resources.
While many teachers give some information away for free, most will charge for their best materials. It helps to enroll in at least a few paid lessons to make more progress.
Can You Learn Flute Online as a Beginner?
You can learn flute online if you’re a beginner, and that’s how I got started. But if you don’t have the motivation to seek out materials and practice, you’ll hold yourself back.
An in-person teacher can offer more feedback. They can also more easily demonstrate concepts. And if you’re struggling with a note, an in-person teacher can test the flute to see if there’s a mechanical issue.
Final Thoughts
If you hesitate to commit to a particular day and time for lessons, you may want to know how to learn flute online. Lucky for you, there are tons of options out there these days.
You can even learn with sheet music, eBooks, and practice guides!
Leave a Reply