FEATURED QUESTIONS
So on Day 6 of learning how to play the flute, I was finally able to hit a low B and I'm starting to sound sort of passable. However, I have developed a great respect for the muscle tone of my flute-playing friends...It's seriously hard to hold the thing steady while changing fingerings! FWIW, clarinet's way easier. - Elisabeth
Stability is a huge issue when you start playing the flute. Try bringing the thumb more behind the tubing rather than under. That way the thumb is pushing away from you which conversely brings the headjoint closer to your chin (as it pivots on the inside of your left index finger). The instrument is much more likely to "roll" on you when the thumb operates in a lifting motion. BTW, give it some more time and you may want to switch to the flute permanently!
Stability is a huge issue when you start playing the flute. Try bringing the thumb more behind the tubing rather than under. That way the thumb is pushing away from you which conversely brings the headjoint closer to your chin (as it pivots on the inside of your left index finger). The instrument is much more likely to "roll" on you when the thumb operates in a lifting motion. BTW, give it some more time and you may want to switch to the flute permanently!
Every time I need to play for a chair test at school I get so nervous. I'm beginning to think I'll always sit at the end of my section. Are there any tricks I can try to get over this problem? - Caroline
Well, Caroline, that's a great question! I've actually been thinking about that topic lately as I just returned from judging high school players at a regional flute day. It seems to me that one of the reasons we get nervous in the first place is because we care about what others think of our playing. For example, I can think of numerous times when I was trying to please the judging panel. Some times I was successful, but other times not. One of my most memorable experiences in a competition was when I approached the performance with no expectations. It did not matter how things went. I was prepared for both outcomes. Perhaps if you remove some of the pressure from the performance you'll play closer to your potential. There are also numerous books that address the subject. Just google the topic of performance anxiety. If you'd like the names of some of my favorite books, feel free to contact me privately. The big thing to remember, Caroline, is that you are not alone. This is something that all professionals deal with regardless of whether it's music or sports or business. The idea is that it's possible to convert this nervous energy into a positive energy so that it does not interfere with, but instead enhance your performance.
Well, Caroline, that's a great question! I've actually been thinking about that topic lately as I just returned from judging high school players at a regional flute day. It seems to me that one of the reasons we get nervous in the first place is because we care about what others think of our playing. For example, I can think of numerous times when I was trying to please the judging panel. Some times I was successful, but other times not. One of my most memorable experiences in a competition was when I approached the performance with no expectations. It did not matter how things went. I was prepared for both outcomes. Perhaps if you remove some of the pressure from the performance you'll play closer to your potential. There are also numerous books that address the subject. Just google the topic of performance anxiety. If you'd like the names of some of my favorite books, feel free to contact me privately. The big thing to remember, Caroline, is that you are not alone. This is something that all professionals deal with regardless of whether it's music or sports or business. The idea is that it's possible to convert this nervous energy into a positive energy so that it does not interfere with, but instead enhance your performance.
Hi Heather,
My name is Kathy and I have a small studio of around 15 high school and middle school students in the San Antonio area. I'm trying to find a way to get my students interested and excited about contemporary music. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Kathy!
What do you think about modern music? I find that an enthusiastic attitude can make a big difference. Also, I don't know if you have an opportunity to perform for your students like during a studio recital, but you should play some of these pieces. Certainly contemporary music is not all written with multiphonics and extended techniques. One piece that comes to mind is Charles DeLaney's "...and the strange, unknown flowers." It's a 5-minute unaccompanied piece, very accessible. Also, I like many of Katherine Hoover's pieces. If they see that you have a love for the repertoire, then they are likely to want to jump in as well. Many of my students love Ian Clarke's music, so that's yet another direction to go. You could get your students his CD as a reward for completing an etude book or scale sequence. One other idea would be to take a group of your students to the Texas Flute Festival in May. I'm sure they will hear a variety of repertoire. I love going to regional flute fairs and the students seem to have their eyes opened during these events.
My name is Kathy and I have a small studio of around 15 high school and middle school students in the San Antonio area. I'm trying to find a way to get my students interested and excited about contemporary music. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Kathy!
What do you think about modern music? I find that an enthusiastic attitude can make a big difference. Also, I don't know if you have an opportunity to perform for your students like during a studio recital, but you should play some of these pieces. Certainly contemporary music is not all written with multiphonics and extended techniques. One piece that comes to mind is Charles DeLaney's "...and the strange, unknown flowers." It's a 5-minute unaccompanied piece, very accessible. Also, I like many of Katherine Hoover's pieces. If they see that you have a love for the repertoire, then they are likely to want to jump in as well. Many of my students love Ian Clarke's music, so that's yet another direction to go. You could get your students his CD as a reward for completing an etude book or scale sequence. One other idea would be to take a group of your students to the Texas Flute Festival in May. I'm sure they will hear a variety of repertoire. I love going to regional flute fairs and the students seem to have their eyes opened during these events.
It has been years since I've played the flute, but I'd like to get back into it. When I did play, my parents were renting an instrument which was returned to the music store. I've been saving money for a flute. Could you give me some advice on how to purchase a new instrument? - Myranna
Hi Myranna!
I'm glad that you are ready to get back into flute playing. What an exciting time for you! We would have to talk more before I could give you detailed advice for your situation and area. For starters though, think about the flute you played in school. Was it open-holed or closed? Did it have an in-line G or an off-set G? Could it play a low B? Then consider what your goals are at the moment. Are you thinking about grad school or do you just want to play in your community? Now take a look at your budget and decide what sort of price range you are willing to spend.
I'm a big fan of trying flutes out in person. Do some research in your area and find out which music stores sell flutes. Then take some time, even set up an appointment to try an assortment of instruments. Be sure to test the full range of the flute. Bring some music along to play. How does the instrument respond to dynamics? How does it sound? Perhaps even bring a friend or family member along to listen to your tone. What about articulation? Does the flute seem to respond to your tongue stroke and project clear articulation in all registers? These are some points to consider. If the music store is too far away, ask your nearest university flute professor. Maybe they are hosting a flute day or there will be a flute festival in your area soon. Feel free to send me an email if you'd like to talk in more detail about brands, etc.
Hi Myranna!
I'm glad that you are ready to get back into flute playing. What an exciting time for you! We would have to talk more before I could give you detailed advice for your situation and area. For starters though, think about the flute you played in school. Was it open-holed or closed? Did it have an in-line G or an off-set G? Could it play a low B? Then consider what your goals are at the moment. Are you thinking about grad school or do you just want to play in your community? Now take a look at your budget and decide what sort of price range you are willing to spend.
I'm a big fan of trying flutes out in person. Do some research in your area and find out which music stores sell flutes. Then take some time, even set up an appointment to try an assortment of instruments. Be sure to test the full range of the flute. Bring some music along to play. How does the instrument respond to dynamics? How does it sound? Perhaps even bring a friend or family member along to listen to your tone. What about articulation? Does the flute seem to respond to your tongue stroke and project clear articulation in all registers? These are some points to consider. If the music store is too far away, ask your nearest university flute professor. Maybe they are hosting a flute day or there will be a flute festival in your area soon. Feel free to send me an email if you'd like to talk in more detail about brands, etc.
Every time I get above a certain note, my lips start to buzz like a brass player. It's pretty embarrassing, so I usually don't play in the high register. Scale tests are coming up at school and I'm dreading that 3 octave chromatic scale. Please help! ~Madison
Dear Katie,
My first question would be - Do you play piccolo in the marching band? The reason why I ask is because the piccolo embouchure is slightly smaller than the flute. Perhaps your lips are just too close together or your embouchure is fatigued. I think it's probably tightness in the embouchure. When we play notes above the staff it's common to get tense. Some people dislike the shrillness of these notes. Others panic because they can't remember the fingerings. Approach this register with relaxation and plenty of fast air. The speed and direction of the air stream is key. Since the air is moving quickly, the direction is more out and across the blowing edge of the lip plate rather than down into the flute. Try approaching these high notes through the octave at first and focus on air rather than tightness of the lips. If you have a private teacher, this would be a good topic to develop. Best of luck on that chair test!
Dear Katie,
My first question would be - Do you play piccolo in the marching band? The reason why I ask is because the piccolo embouchure is slightly smaller than the flute. Perhaps your lips are just too close together or your embouchure is fatigued. I think it's probably tightness in the embouchure. When we play notes above the staff it's common to get tense. Some people dislike the shrillness of these notes. Others panic because they can't remember the fingerings. Approach this register with relaxation and plenty of fast air. The speed and direction of the air stream is key. Since the air is moving quickly, the direction is more out and across the blowing edge of the lip plate rather than down into the flute. Try approaching these high notes through the octave at first and focus on air rather than tightness of the lips. If you have a private teacher, this would be a good topic to develop. Best of luck on that chair test!
I have been playing the flute for some time, but I struggle with pitch at the ends of phrases. Typically I go flat. It doesn't matter if I'm standing up or sitting down to practice. My band director said I need to support more. Do you have any suggestions? - Sarah
Dear Sarah,
What you're describing is a very common issue for flutists, so don't feel alone. First of all, watch yourself play in a mirror and see how much you are covering the lip plate. If the flute happens to slip toward you while you are playing, you may end up covering more of the opening with your lips than is necessary. This causes flatness. There are devices out there like the Thumbport which help with stability of holding the flute.
Secondly, don't decrease the air stream when you see a decrescendo. If you took a poll of flutists and asked how to make a note softer, many would say that you blow slower air. Any sort of connotation of slower or less air will contribute to the sagging pitch. In reality, you need to decrease the size of the aperture as you get softer and keep the air stream steady. I know this may seem counter-intuitive, but my teacher, Michel Debost used to say: "Imagine crescendos instead of decrescendos." It works! Keep the air moving all the way to the end of the note just like a string player's bow keeps moving.
_We have a 7th grade special needs student that is a little person. She
is the size of a very small toddler. She is currently playing piccolo
because that is the largest instrument her arms can reach. The previous
director tried the modified Yamaha flute rounded head joint and the
flute was still too long for her to reach all the way to the end. Hence
her playing Picc. However the air stream and support is not possible
due to her physical limitations. I am writing to see if you have any
ideas that we might try? she is am absolute delight and is not willing
to give up. I appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you. - Melissa (MO)
Dear Melissa,
Thanks for writing. While I have seen many things, I've never had a case as you describe. I know that there are instrument companies out there that modify instruments for special needs students. One such place that comes to mind is Oberloh Instrument in Seattle. Perhaps that could
be an option if funds are available. I'd check out their website for starters: www.oberloh.com. I'm glad that you are trying to help this special little girl. Best of luck to you!
Dear Melissa,
Thanks for writing. While I have seen many things, I've never had a case as you describe. I know that there are instrument companies out there that modify instruments for special needs students. One such place that comes to mind is Oberloh Instrument in Seattle. Perhaps that could
be an option if funds are available. I'd check out their website for starters: www.oberloh.com. I'm glad that you are trying to help this special little girl. Best of luck to you!
I got braces over the summer and am having trouble playing my flute. I'm sort of getting worried since school starts in about a month and I was first chair last year. Can you give me any suggestions? - Katie
Well, Katie, thank goodness you have some time to adjust! I don't know whether you have braces on both the upper and lower teeth, but it definitely will change the way you approach the flute and produce tone. Probably the best advice I can give you is keep an open mind, be patient with yourself and listen carefully to your tone. Experiment with placing the flute a bit higher or lower on your lip and see if that makes a difference. Also, place the lip plate firmly on your face, but be careful not to press too hard. You don't want the flute wobbling on your chin or the tone will be inconsistent.
If the lower lip is sore, you can always use some wax on the rough edges of the metal to protect the inside of your lip. Find a note which is clear and practice slurring chromatically up and down one half step at a time. As you do this, keep your throat open and even check yourself with a tuner. Here is where the patience comes in, because this needs to be done slowly - like 60 to the quarter note. Listen carefully to your tone. Over time you should be able to sound clear and focused like you did before the braces and on those days when you become frustrated, remember that many folks your age have gone through the same process. Good luck and don't give up!!
Well, Katie, thank goodness you have some time to adjust! I don't know whether you have braces on both the upper and lower teeth, but it definitely will change the way you approach the flute and produce tone. Probably the best advice I can give you is keep an open mind, be patient with yourself and listen carefully to your tone. Experiment with placing the flute a bit higher or lower on your lip and see if that makes a difference. Also, place the lip plate firmly on your face, but be careful not to press too hard. You don't want the flute wobbling on your chin or the tone will be inconsistent.
If the lower lip is sore, you can always use some wax on the rough edges of the metal to protect the inside of your lip. Find a note which is clear and practice slurring chromatically up and down one half step at a time. As you do this, keep your throat open and even check yourself with a tuner. Here is where the patience comes in, because this needs to be done slowly - like 60 to the quarter note. Listen carefully to your tone. Over time you should be able to sound clear and focused like you did before the braces and on those days when you become frustrated, remember that many folks your age have gone through the same process. Good luck and don't give up!!
Could you give me some suggestions for practicing over the summer? Even though school is out, my parents want me to keep practicing and I don't know where to begin. These band pieces are getting old! Thanks - Tina
Tina, that's an excellent question! First of all, I applaud your parents for making the flute a priority over the summer. Depending on where you live, there may be summer music camps. Check with the local university and/or do a google search. Another good source for camp listings is the magazine Flute Talk. Their subscription rates are reasonable and each month there are articles related to the flute, so you'd find it a great resource year round, especially if you don't have a private teacher.
The summer is my favorite time to get back to basics. Try slurring between long tones and listen for a smooth exchange between notes. Every day you could change the distance between the notes (aka. the interval). If you are able, add some vibrato. Scales are an essential element of your technique. If you have not memorized all the scales in flat and sharp keys, now is the time! Stretch your comfort zone beyond the standard keys in band class. I find it interesting to vary my scale practice by integrating a variety of articulations and tempi. This is a good time to get creative!! Lastly, find some new music and challenge yourself. There are many places to find free downloadable music, but one of my favorites is www.flutetunes.com. This website has new music available each day for sight-reading and sometimes accompaniment tracks are included. You can even look back at archived music.
The bottom line, Tina is to have fun! If you are having a good time with your flute, after a while, your parents won't be asking you to practice.... it will happen on it's own. Good luck!
Tina, that's an excellent question! First of all, I applaud your parents for making the flute a priority over the summer. Depending on where you live, there may be summer music camps. Check with the local university and/or do a google search. Another good source for camp listings is the magazine Flute Talk. Their subscription rates are reasonable and each month there are articles related to the flute, so you'd find it a great resource year round, especially if you don't have a private teacher.
The summer is my favorite time to get back to basics. Try slurring between long tones and listen for a smooth exchange between notes. Every day you could change the distance between the notes (aka. the interval). If you are able, add some vibrato. Scales are an essential element of your technique. If you have not memorized all the scales in flat and sharp keys, now is the time! Stretch your comfort zone beyond the standard keys in band class. I find it interesting to vary my scale practice by integrating a variety of articulations and tempi. This is a good time to get creative!! Lastly, find some new music and challenge yourself. There are many places to find free downloadable music, but one of my favorites is www.flutetunes.com. This website has new music available each day for sight-reading and sometimes accompaniment tracks are included. You can even look back at archived music.
The bottom line, Tina is to have fun! If you are having a good time with your flute, after a while, your parents won't be asking you to practice.... it will happen on it's own. Good luck!