Practicing long tones, how many beats and speed?

Basics of Flute Playing, Tone Production and Fingerings, Using Metronomes, Scales, Tone, Studies, etc.

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sinebar
Posts: 183
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:20 am

Practicing long tones, how many beats and speed?

Post by sinebar »

I have a daily routine of playing chromatic scales to improve my high and low note tone. I have often wondered how many beats should I play each note in the scale and at what tempo. Also how many times should I repete each note. If someone could answer this that would a great help.

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comtessedebergerac
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Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:34 am
Location: Montreal

Re: Practicing long tones, how many beats and speed?

Post by comtessedebergerac »

sinebar wrote:I have a daily routine of playing chromatic scales to improve my high and low note tone. I have often wondered how many beats should I play each note in the scale and at what tempo. Also how many times should I repete each note. If someone could answer this that would a great help.
since you're working on tone, there is absolutely no need for speed here...practicing long tones helps to develop flexibility of embouchure which is so important in controlling intonation, timbre and dynamics...if you work too fast, there is no real work done on these elements.

In my personal opinion chromatic scales doesn't seem to be very relevant with tone improvement. I think intervals (like in the Moyse "de la Sonorité" book) would be better to improve your overall tone...

Work slowly (one beat per second or less) and listen carefully to the quality of your sound...you should try to gain a good control over intonation (playing each note in tune) color of the tone (play with a brilliant to a dark tone) and dynamics (from piano to forte).

Be persistent and patient, control takes time to develop...
music is beauty, and beauty needs patience...

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Leelee
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:22 am
Location: Maryland

Re: Practicing long tones, how many beats and speed?

Post by Leelee »

comtessedebergerac wrote:
sinebar wrote: In my personal opinion chromatic scales doesn't seem to be very relevant with tone improvement. I think intervals (like in the Moyse "de la Sonorité" book) would be better to improve your overall tone...
I am brand new to the forum and I appreciate this advice for myself. I will look into purchasing it. Thanks!

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