Perhaps you played at school and stopped. Perhaps you've been stuck at the same grade for years, or you play in an orchestra or band and want to sound the way you hear it in your head. Perhaps you have always wanted to learn and now have the time. All of these are good reasons to start, and adults make excellent students: you know why you're there, you listen well, and you can understand why something works rather than just copying it.

Is it too late to learn, or come back to, the flute at 40, 50 or 60?

No. Breath, embouchure and finger technique respond to good teaching at any age, and adults often progress faster than children because they practise with purpose. The things that matter are a decent instrument, regular efficient practice (20 mins a day is far better than 3 hours once every 5 days!), and someone to catch the habits you can't feel or hear yourself.

I haven't played for twenty years and my embouchure feels gone. Is that normal?

Completely normal, and not as bad as it feels. Fingerings and reading come back within weeks because muscle memory is durable; what needs rebuilding is the embouchure muscles, breath capacity and the coordination between them. With regular short practice most returners are back near their old level in months, not years, and many pass it, because they finally understand what they're doing.

Why does my flute sound airy, thin or weak, and can lessons fix it?

Almost always, yes, and often quickly. Airy or thin tone usually comes from air aimed past the edge of the embouchure hole, an aperture that's too wide, or tension in the jaw, throat or shoulders that stops the air flowing. These are things you can't see in yourself. I hear and see them within a lesson, and the fix is usually smaller than you expect.

I play in an amateur orchestra. Can lessons help with that specifically?

Yes. Orchestral and band players get a section principal's ear: intonation against the section, blend, rhythm and entries, dynamics that carry, and how to prepare a part efficiently in the time you have. Bring the part you're working on and we'll use it.

How do lessons work for adults?

Your goals set the agenda; exams and diplomas are available if they motivate you and never compulsory. Every lesson follows the same three moves: hear your playing, simplify and embody your technique, find your sound. I explain as much as I demonstrate, because adults progress fastest when they understand what the breath and embouchure are doing and can spot it themselves between lessons. I fully understand how difficult it can be to practice enough when life has many demands on our time, so we look into how to make practice as efficient as possible, and how setting small daily goals can be a great way to maximise what time we have.

Where, how often, and what does it cost?

- Lessons at my home in Folkestone [CT19]: £70 per hour

- Blüthner Piano Centre, Baker Street, London: £80 per hour

- Online, anywhere: £60 per hour.

Lesson frequency is totally up to you, and depends on your goals. Most people have either weekly or fortnightly lessons, which allows enough time to work on what’s been discussed in lessons, but keeps a good rhythm to your development.

What students say

"Not being a professional but having played the flute since young, and not having had lessons for many a decade, lessons with Harry W have proved to be a delight. He is challenging, encouraging, detailed, generous, good humoured and very patient! Harry has taught me to play, to perform, to enjoy and to find a new, richer and larger sound from my old flute. I had thought I needed a new one, but no I needed to be taught well." – adult learner

More questions

Do I have to take exams? Only if you want to.

Do I need a new flute? Probably not. Most returners need a service, not a new instrument, and a good teacher will tell you honestly when the flute really is the limit.