Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

Solfeggio is the Do-Re-Me-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do. ie. in the key of C. Do = C. It is traditionally a singing exercise but is great for ear training and developing good intonation. It always helps me to take the time to sing the melody using the solfege sylables. I like to play the harmony on the keyboard wh...

After rereading the origianl post, I also suggest focusing on relaxing the back of the head and neck while playing long tones.

I think you are well on your way to conquering your problem. When I find my hands getting tense I play long tones and make sure I take very deep breaths and make sure I completely empty my lungs. It usually only takes a few minutes for my hands and wrists to realax. Also, I stand up to do this.

The best exercise I have found for intonation is singing melodies in solfeggio. (recommed moveable Do). On playing in the upper registers, I have been experiencing the same problem you have discribed. I didn't play for over twenty years, and really only played the silver flute for about two years wa...

For both topics in this thread nobody mentions emptying the lungs of stale air. Whenever I get the chance I completly empty the air out of my lungs. It gets the stale air out and replenishes the lungs with fresh air and oxygen. This both relaxes and strengthens.

My first question is what have you been doing for the last three years? It sounds to me like you have a hand injury that is not healed properly. I can only suggest you see a doctor and get an xray or something. I'm just now realizing this post was made back in October. I'm wondering if it just went ...

When playing most doward melodic movement, especially large jumps, it is easier to stay 'in-toon' when you can avoid over playing ( or over blowing ) the lower notes. Try Do-Me-So-Do upward arppegio and scale back down D0-Ti-La -So-Fa etc. -Do while backing off a little on each note. It feels like a...

Jaded and Phineas you have a very interesting discussion going on but it has drifted away from the orignal question reguarding study or etude works. Most study peices are written as compositional studies designed to explore the compositional capacities of the instrument as well as its technical capa...

I'm concerned with the idea of " I don't have a teacher; I don't know what to do." It is way too easy to put way too much on our teachers. May I suggest taking this opertunity to improvise and go off on your own a bit. Poke around and read through stuff and find some music that interests you on your...

All I can add to all this is, if you want to drive a race car you have to get into a race car. Have to learn how to handle high performance. I always tell people to get the best instrument you can afford. ps. fluttie I also enjoyed my neon. And was very surprised to find out professsional drivers us...

There was a famous (older) trombone player when asked this question responded, " Stand when your young and then sit when your old." I can still laugh at this response.