Fluteland.com Flute Message Board

So maybe we're playing with words - if we mean slightly different things by 'learnt' and 'natural' and possibly even 'vibrato' as well. I was looking on the web and this sums up my real issue; The vibrato is INSIDE the sound: 'French vibrato, says Peter Lloyd, is more of a shimmer --a presence--rath...

I don't think I was ever 'taught' vibrato - I was told to add warmth or intensity to the sound, which meant vibrato. For me the issue is really students getting tied up in a 'I have to do vibrato on his note' thing. Also, as the sound improves, the throat relaxes and the breath is more connected to ...

I don't like people putting a 'beat' in their sound, but yes, you do work on vibrato. It does not just pop out fully formed. Once someone's tone was strong and full enough then I'd get them to work on using diaphragm 'huffs' rhythmically (every crochet, every quaver, in triplets etc) in a very contr...

You need to learn F sharp scale and play it more often! I always did all scales with the cross fingering, and then often used the thumb B flat in pieces and playing. It's quite a hard discipline, but if you practice the cross fingering then you can do the thumb with no effort; the same is not true t...

you can learn to make an artificial wobbling in your sound (he says, giving away his postition on whether you should consciously learn vibrato or not). If you have an open throat and solid support then the vibrato comes out of your colouring of the sound, and the intensity of your playing... or it a...

When I was bothered about that sort of thing, I managed to get the whole lot, but they are such an awful sound, and it's not great for the rest of the day's practice. I don't even know if I can remember the fingering for anything above high D, apart from the E which was always easy. Does largely dep...

I thought someone might say that, but didn't want to make my first post long. By scales and arpeggios I mean normal up and down, as well as scales in 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths and octaves, as well as all the broken arps, dims 7ths, whole tone scales etc... If you practice these in all keys ...

All music is made of scales and arpeggios. Learn to love scales

T

there are exercises you can do with the diaphragm, but I wouldn't bother with them until you can flutter tongue all the way down to low C (a sure way to see if you are supporting properly. To do it your throat has to be fully relaxed and your breath right).

T

I see. It depends on your flute as much as on you. Different makes/bodies etc have slightly different reactions in the 4th octave. I have a yamaha body and handmade silver head and can get all the chromatic notes up to G, though I have very little use for them. I will very rarely use high Ds in impr...

purple is fun and makes you feel that you have really got the low register. Well done! don't force it though and work for a good variety of sound. then when you can do Aquarium tone, practice moving from one to the other.... the work is endless

T

open the throat and let your breath do it. Let the C sit on your belly. Don't get tense - totally ruins the whole thing. Use the tone exercises which go down a semi-tone at a time and, starting where you can make a good sound, work it down.

T

volume comes from wise use of breath, and can't be separated from the quality of the sound - you don't want a nasty forced sound. Listen to the old french players. Aim for good projection, rather than trying to compete with trombones.

Don't sweat vibrato - it is just the natural thing the sound does when you get it right. Work at making a good sound, then at being able to colour the good sound so you have several. Vibrato will come naturally as your breathing gets better.

T

What is your question? Whether we practice 4th octave notes - sure. I used to play all scales up to the high D every day, and then would often practice the d sharp, E, F and G in the relevant keys. The D is useful and you get in things like th Prok Sonata, but the other notes less so... and the tone...