Klarinet Archive - Posting 000177.txt from 2004/10

From: Elgenubi@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Flutophones
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 12:55:22 -0400

Flutophones.
We've talked about them before, I know. They're great little things. In the
United States they are available from any of the usual music store
distributors. Their list price is under $4, so cost is almost no issue. Made by Trophy
(or Hohner, there must not be any patent anymore), they come in black with
white trim or white with red trim. (The black ones do not have a darker
sound!!) :) They look like toys and kids like them. Their fingering is more
straightforward than recorders, and they are easier to hold. Tonettes are also
available, made by Gibson (!). I think the Flutophones (made by Trophy,
anyway) sound clearer and are more in tune. I bet Song Flutes are out there
somewhere, too.

Question: one of you, a year or so ago, talked about using them in your
teaching and you had a lot of ideas, which I want to reread. I can't find the
reference. Was it you, Annie? Can someone point me to this?

I've taught before, but never music until last year. I visited a friend's
second grade once a week and taught flutophone. It was wonderful. We've also
talked here about music education for young kids. I think flutophone is just
right for that age (about 7 years). Some kids can handle the tongue and finger
coordination; some can't. But they learn that music is within their reach,
and the principals of these little toys lead directly to the 'real' woodwinds.
My class pretty much got Jingle Bells, Row, Row Your Boat, and a slightly
edited Frere Jaques (all doable with left hand only). (I did struggle to get the
kids to remember that the left hand went on top!)

Wayne Thompson

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