flute help. expressing and tone

dior · Post by **dior** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:42 am

hi i've played flute for almost 7years. my seniors comment that i've a clear and pure tone, maybe the credit goes to the Miyazawa flute which i'm currently using. but i've a very serious problem now, i can't express music well. especially when i'm asked to play very sentimental solos, all i did were following the dynamics written on the score and add vibrato on the longer notes. i thought i had been expressive enough but i was wrong. am i being too careful with my playing? i've been listening to band recordings almost everyday but it doesnt help me in any way. what should i do?

recently i've also been asked what kind of tone i want. actually i've no idea of it. sometimes i'm satisfied with my own tone; sometimes i'm not. i want a bright tone that is very "rooted". but i don't have it myself.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:49 pm

The best way to learn various ways of expression is to listen to recordings of great performers. They don't need to be on flute, but band recordings probably won't do it. As for tone, you should be able to alter your tone to fit the mood of the music by using various tone colors. Check out the Wye book on tone. He has several exercises dedicated to helping you practice using different colors.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:37 pm

Good Advice.

Another thing you can do, is to take a tape recorder (a good one), or use the recording software on your computer, and hook up a microphone to it (this software is standard to every Microsoft computer, so PM if you dont know where it is). Then, go to the opposite side of the room of the microphone, and record yourself.

Listen back to the recordings, and make notes about what you would like to hear different (I.E. vibrato, tone color, dynamics, breath placement, tempo etc.). Then go back, fix it, and record again.

I use this method in my lessons with my professor. It has been helpful on levels I couldnt imagine. things that I thought I was doing, I was either overdoing, or not doing at all. It really helps..

So, give that a try, with the advice that flutepicc has given, and anything else people have to offer, and let us know how it works out!

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:32 am

Try changing the airstream direction as you play. The color will change accordingly. (Don't cover the embouchure hole!) Also, how much of your airstream is going into your flute? Sounds like a silly question, but many players have a reasonably attractive tone, yet little "meat" to it, or difficulty changing color. Sometimes, blowing 'down' is more helpful tan blowing 'across' the tone hole.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:11 pm

Yes, dont cover the embouchure hole, however, dont take it literally, and not have your lip covering it at all. For most people, it is appropriate to cover the back edge of the hole, and leave around 2/3 of the hole uncovered. So, a little coverage is okay, but dont back off of the hole entirely to the point that it is difficult to play.

flute.and.picc.are.love · Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:49 pm

Everyone has given you very good technical advice, but I think part of musicality is your own personal reaction to the music. Listen to the pieces that you're playing and just feel the music. Perhaps listen to a recording and just think about how you feel the music should sound, the tone of the piece. Try not to think so much about it and just play it how you feel it.

nashvilleflute · Post by **nashvilleflute** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:21 pm

flutepicc06 is right - listen to as many recordings as you can. That's great that you're doing the dynamics and vibrato. Are you able to control your speed and depth and intensity of vibrato? These are all tools of expressing oneself. Are you putting weight on harmonically important notes in the pieces you're playing? Record yourself and see just how much you are doing... Just thoughts...

dior · Post by **dior** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:15 am

i think the most difficult skill to learn is expressing. or maybe it's not even a skill. i've heard many recordings and i do feel a thing for each of them. but when i play it myself, i don't know how to express it... feel myself like a robot.

i do practise overtones/harmonics.. but every note sounded thin. grrrrrr

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:47 am

Perhaps the thinness is because you practice overtones and harmonics. Those are intended to help you learn to select one pitch from the harmonic series, while a full, rich flute tone consists of multiple pitches from the harmonic series. If you practice them too much, you could inadvertently be limiting yourself.

nomusicnolife · Post by **nomusicnolife** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 3:36 pm

this may sound corny...but hear me out

sounds to me like your playing notes on the page and not music (to quote Mr. Holland)

dont play with your mouth or air or hands...play with your heart...make each note mean everything to you and expose your soul for everyone to hear, dont be so careful, if you play a mistake, play it confidently

hope this helps

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:22 pm

nomusicnolife wrote:this may sound corny...but hear me out

sounds to me like your playing notes on the page and not music (to quote Mr. Holland)

dont play with your mouth or air or hands...play with your heart...make each note mean everything to you and expose your soul for everyone to hear, dont be so careful, if you play a mistake, play it confidently

hope this helps

Playing confidently and letting yourself show through in your playing is always a good idea, but probably won't help tone (unless you're afraid to be heard and are constricting your sound) or your expression too much. These things improve with experimentation and experience, and you must work toward achieving a full, rich sound and expressivity through exercises directed towards those facets of playing.