One thing really neat about being a flute player is that you can find opportunities to play in all sorts of venues with all sorts of different people. In this article I will tell you a few secrets that you need, as a flute player, to play with other instruments.
Whether you are a member of a band, orchestra, or you are just wanting to play music with a couple of friends, learning to play with other instruments is a very important skill to learn.
It can be a little tricky at times depending on which instruments you are playing with. The flute definitely works and sounds better with some instruments more than others.
You actually have to blend your sound!
Some of my favorite instruments to play my flute with are guitar, piano, harpsichord, harp, organ, and all sorts of percussion instruments. I have also performed with a full string orchestra, in a band, and in smaller woodwind ensembles.
The first step to learn how to play with other instruments is to ask yourself, “Am I soloing or am I trying to blend in and add to the overall sound?”.
If you are soloing, your main job is to make sure you are on tune, play your very best, and project your sound. It is the conductor/ orchestra’s job to make sure that they sound good in the background and are following your solo.
However, if you are trying to blend in and be a member of a band or orchestra, then there are a few things you need to know and be aware of.
Tuning when you are playing in a group is vital to help the entire group sound good. One out-of-tune instrument can affect the overall sound the of group so much! So make sure you are in tune and listening while you play to match your ensemble.
This might seem a little obvious, but when you are trying to be a part of the group and are supposed to blend in to add to the overall sound, you actually have to blend your sound with the other instruments. For instance, the high notes on the flute tend to be louder than the notes inside the staff. So it is important to match the dynamic level of the other instruments so you are not sticking out.
There is actually so much to this topic! But this should get you started on the right path as you learn to play with other instruments.
