![]() Pitch and tone color/quality are noticeably affected if first finger is left down.į# middle fingering is always flat, use end finger next to pinky. Middle range D and Eb/D#: first finger up, always, no exceptions ever. (But high F# cannot be played with Thumb Bb key depreesed.) (Especially watch D1s and Eb1s, different all three octaves.)īb fingerings: please teach all three options, but students should be very comfortable with both Thumb 1&4, and thumb Bb key. Other troubling things for students: Fingerings!ĭifferent high range fingerings sometimes they try to play 2nd octave fingerings in the third octave. Bring a video camera to your flute sectional, it’s amazing what happens when they can see what they do! (Mirrors in practice rooms and at home, too.) Pitch problems can usually be improved by a combination of ALL of the above concepts. If flutes just blow softer they will always be flat.) Aperture size control (soft dynamics = smaller opening in lips.Fast air stream (The “mph” image seems to make a big difference with many kids).Breathing & posture (Sit tall on edge of chair, breath to your belly button, practice standing up at home.).Hand Position (ALWAYS a challenge, give them plenty of room, if possible don’t share music stands.). ![]() The following are all helpful hints for working with flute players of all ages: They will learn to play slightly sideways and will still get a beautiful tone Rampal did! Not all flute players can play out of the center of their lips due to the physical structure of the mouth, such as the “tear drop” lips. ![]() ![]() If they can’t get a sound at all it’s usually due to either the positioning of the flute under the lip (usually too high) or sideways so the air stream is not hitting the “perfect place” to create the sound. In two short lessons about a week apart, students can be encouraged to play and improvise their own little tunes, most of them quite successfully! Common Problems Seen in Flutes I want to avoid the “whoo” players who also want to breath between every pitch! I also start teaching slurs right away – there really is no reason to wait, and it reinforces good breathing techniques. Right away (after the first few sounds are made on the headjoint) I teach basic articulation, using the “too” approach. Then the following pitch order is usually F and F#, Eb all middle range. I start with the following lower octave pitches: B, Bb, A, G, then middle range D. Second and third lessons: This is when you teach them correct alignment of the parts of the flute, teach the best position with minor adjustments for the size of hands and length of fingers. Long tone contests in a group setting are effective, students need to be able to hold a steady, secure pitch on the head-joint before assembly of the instrument. My students play a variety of sounds on the head-joint (closed, open, glissando-like sounds, etc.) and according to their ability, I provide a fun (and challenging) rhythm only play sheet to play on just the head-joint. Focus on teaching students how to breathe properly the first few weeks flute players need to breathe properly to be successful. First lessonĪlways begin with only the head-joint. Students who are very small physically will benefit from the curved head-joint flute, and students who have larger hands may be best served starting with an open hole instrument, such as the Yamaha YF元61(H) or 461(H). I do not endorse the “pad saver” fuzzy swabs kept inside the flute as they simply retain moisture inside the instrument when the case is closed. (I use a men’s hanky!) Make sure they fold the cloth over the tip of the cleaning rod. Please make sure that each student flute has a cleaning rod and soft 100% cotton cloth for swabbing the flute, and encourage students to ALWAYS clean their instrument after playing. Some makes of flutes do better with upper-level instruments and tend not to have great “first flutes”, but the Yamaha and Gemeinhardt are consistently good instruments, and repair people find they have fewer problems. My suggested “best brands” are Yamaha and Gemeinhardt, but also Armstrong, and Pearl will do well. For most beginners, a good equality closed hole instrument will be best.
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