There is a wide variety of music written for both the alto (or alto) flute solo and for the instrument as part of an ensemble. This flute is an important part of the recorder quartet and recorder orchestra and is often seen as the facto flute size among flute players.
Steps
Step 1. Remind yourself and everyone who plays next to you that you are playing a totally different instrument than the descant recorder (soprano)
You will only get confused if you try to compare the two.
Step 2. Choose a flute
There are alto recorders for any budget, whether they are made of plastic or wood. A wooden flute will have a more pleasant tone. But it will cost a little more money. If you are just starting out, it is best to buy a plastic one, in case you don't like that flute later on. An additional fact when buying is that a plastic flute will continue to be useful until when it is better (it is very good to practice), while a cheaper wooden flute will not be. It is always better to buy the one that best suits your comfort, but a good plastic flute will be a better option than a cheap wooden one.
Step 3. Assemble the flute
The alto flute can be constantly disassembled in any case, unlike the descant (soprano) flute. This flute has three parts: the head (where it blows), the body (which contains most of the finger holes), and the foot. Make sure the foot is tilted slightly to the right, this way when his toes cover the holes, his little finger will be able to rest on the last hole.
Step 4. Hold the flute
Your thumb should cover the hole on the other side of the body, and your three middle fingers should cover the holes above. Your pinky should be free. The thumb of your right hand should balance the flute and the rest of the fingers should cover the other holes.
Step 5. Play the note Mi
Place your index finger and thumb over their respective holes and blow. This is the note Mi. Try to get someone to play that note on the piano. If it sounds louder than the piano, you are blowing too hard and if it slows down, then you are blowing too soft.
Step 6. Learn to use your language well
Before playing any note, pronounce a doo sound, so that your tongue touches the roof of the mouth. This produces a clearer note.
Step 7. Play the note Re
Play the note Mi, then put your middle finger on the hole as well. Again, you can check if you are blowing the exact amount of air by testing the note on the piano.
Step 8. Play the note Do
Play the note D, at that time put your ring finger over your hole as well. You can check to see if you are blowing the exact amount of air by testing the note on the piano, but you should start to become familiar with how much air you need to blow to play the note in pitch.
Step 9. Play the note A
Play the note C, then put your index and middle finger of your right hand over the holes. You should have 5 holes (and the bottom hole) covered.
Step 10. Play the G note
Play the note A, then add your ring finger. This note requires less air pressure than the previous notes. Make sure you don't blow too hard.
Step 11. Play the note F
Play the G note, then add your little finger to the foot. This note requires even less air pressure than the G note, make sure you don't blow too hard. This is the lowest note on the alto recorder.
Step 12. Play the high F note
Play the note D, then remove the index. Switching from the note Mi to F (as is common) takes some getting used to, and it is very difficult to play it fluently. You must practice. Learn another finger combination to play the E note later so that you can get used to it, but if possible, always try to use the finger combination for the E already mentioned. The high F note is also known as Fa '.
Step 13. Play the note B flat (Bb)
You might be wondering why the Yes note was previously passed up. It is because the Bb makes up the scale of the F major note, and therefore you must learn to play that note before the B (since the alto recorder is an F-note flute). It is even more difficult since it is a "forked note", which means that you must remove the middle finger, but the index and ring finger must be over their respective holes. In this way, play a low F and remove the middle finger from your right hand.
Step 14. Now you can play a F major scale
You just have to play the notes Fa, Sol, La, Bb, Do, Re, Mi, Fa 'and start again.
Step 15. Play the high G note
Play high F, then remove your thumb from the hole below. It will take practice to make sure the flute is properly balanced and has a nice tone. Try playing against the piano to check the pitch. The high G note is known as Sol '.
Step 16. Play the sustainable high F note (F #)
Play the high G note and put your index finger in its respective hole, remember to keep your thumb out of your hole. A common vibration is from the note F # to the G, and on the flute, it is very easy. You just have to release your index finger quickly from its hole and put it back, without manipulating the tongue from time to time. The high F # note is known as Fa '#.
Step 17. Play the note Yes
Play a G note and remove your index finger from your right hand. You can vibrate between the notes Do and Si in the easiest way, you just have to raise and lower your middle and ring fingers quickly without manipulating your tongue.
Step 18. Now you can play a G major scale
You just have to play the notes Sol, A, Si, Do, Re, Mi, F '# and start over.
Step 19. Play the note E flat (Eb)
Play a Mi note and place the middle finger of your right hand and the index finger of your right hand.
Step 20. Now you can play a G minor scale
Play the notes G, A, Bb, C, B, E, F #’, G’ increased and G’, F’, Eb, B, C, B, A, G lowered.
Step 21. Play the high notes
To get to the high notes, you must employ a technique called thumb hole pinching. All you have to do is slide the tip of your thumb into the hole in the thumb. Practice moving your thumb that way, between pinching and not pinching, because you will have to do it multiple times.
Step 22. Play the note A high
Play an A note, but instead of covering the hole with your thumb, pinch it, as explained above. It should sound an octave higher than the lowest A note. Practice this movement between the notes A and A alto (A’). Remember to move your tongue every so often. Check the movement of your tuning on the piano.
Step 23. Play the high G sharp note
Play a G note but remove your thumb and index finger from his left hand. This note is very difficult, but necessary for the following scales.
Step 24. Now you can play an A note in an A minor scale
Play the notes A, Si, Do, Re, Mi, Fa` #, La` rise, then La`, Sol`, Fa`, Mi, Re, Do, Si, La fall.
Step 25. Play the note C #
Play an A note and remove your ring finger from your left hand. Next, you notice that there are two holes under the ring finger of his right hand. Cover each one with the other fingers of your right hand. This will take practice. Try switching from C # to D. Check your pitch on the piano.
Step 26. Now you can play an A major scale
Tap A, Si, Do #, Re, Mi, Fa # `, Sol #` and start over.
Step 27. Play the high Bb note
Play the note A alto, remove the middle finger from your right hand and put your ring finger from your right hand. Remember not to place the little finger of your right hand as you regularly do on the note Bb.
Step 28. Now you can play a Bb major scale
Play Bb, Do, Re, Eb, Fa`, Sol`, A` and start over.