For little hands, the flute can be cumbersome to hold and often a large amount of lesson time is taken up helping posture and hand position – not to mention resting. Every year I am met with enthusiastic faces who feel disappointed when they discover their hands don’t quite reach the keys.
Parents and carers sometimes express concern about the outlay of buying an instrument when they’re not sure if their child is interested enough or able to make the commitment to practice. Is their child able to take care of such a precious instrument?
Here’s the solution:
The fife.
Lightweight, cheap to buy, virtually indestructible and can be washed in hot soapy water!
Tried and tested, this little gem of an instrument allows players to develop the lip shape, air control, balance and hand position with the minimum of outlay. Its technique is almost identical to the flute in the early stages and so players transfer easily when they are ready.
Gwen Kelso 