I have an important audition in a couple of days. I need to play scales, a solo, and sightread. Everything sounds OK except for my chromatic scale, which is the full range (C to C).
The first problem is the high notes. My fingers just don't want to do them properly. They just jump around crap comes out. I didn't used to do this, it really just started happening. I think what caused it is my changing the way I breathe, which is problem # 2.
I've been taking a breathe at the top of the scale. I am able to play it properly (or at least close enough) if I go up, take a breathe, and come back down. However, I'm getting mixed advice about where to breathe. Apparently, not stopping at the top is supposed to be better than doing so, but my fingers just screw it all up if I don't.
I was wondering what advice people here have to give. Breathe at the top and risk the judges not liking it, or not breathing at the top and risk screwing up completely.
Chromatic Scale (High Register)
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
Hmm... I don't know about the breathing... I do my chromatic scale [ up and down,three octaves] in one breath usually.
I recommend taking a metronome to the scale. Do it slowly, then gradually increase the tempo.
But, one thing I have also learned, is that it is possible to overpractice. Sometimes, in preparation for important auditions we practice so much, and prepare so intensly that we over think things, and the stress causes us to mess up. So, if you have been preparing intensly [and can afford the time] I would take a gamble of taking a day off. Or, just warming up and running through your etude once. I know that several people have had success with this approach. For example: Back in the 1940s Doriot Dwyer took a week vacation shortly before her audition for the Boston Symphony. She had been vigorously preparing for months, and decided to unwind for a week at a resort in the desert [Arizona I think]. She didn't touch her flute for a week, then came back. She had her Boston Symphony audition a few weeks later, then became the first woman in the history of the Boston Symphony to win a Principal [first chair] position.
So, if this might be the case, then take a break. Unwind, and relax. But, if this isn't the problem, then attack the scale with your metronome, slowly speeding it up. Try to control your fingers rather than having them flapping around like birds trying to fly off except their feet are tied to the ground. Also work the scale in sections, and vary the rythm and use various articulations.
Good luck with your audition!
I recommend taking a metronome to the scale. Do it slowly, then gradually increase the tempo.
But, one thing I have also learned, is that it is possible to overpractice. Sometimes, in preparation for important auditions we practice so much, and prepare so intensly that we over think things, and the stress causes us to mess up. So, if you have been preparing intensly [and can afford the time] I would take a gamble of taking a day off. Or, just warming up and running through your etude once. I know that several people have had success with this approach. For example: Back in the 1940s Doriot Dwyer took a week vacation shortly before her audition for the Boston Symphony. She had been vigorously preparing for months, and decided to unwind for a week at a resort in the desert [Arizona I think]. She didn't touch her flute for a week, then came back. She had her Boston Symphony audition a few weeks later, then became the first woman in the history of the Boston Symphony to win a Principal [first chair] position.
So, if this might be the case, then take a break. Unwind, and relax. But, if this isn't the problem, then attack the scale with your metronome, slowly speeding it up. Try to control your fingers rather than having them flapping around like birds trying to fly off except their feet are tied to the ground. Also work the scale in sections, and vary the rythm and use various articulations.
Good luck with your audition!
try starting the chromatic scale at a different note but finishing on the usual note.
eg. if you are practicing chromatic starting on C try starting on C2 but come back all the way to C, this way you will be training your mind to take breaths at different points of the scale.
Then when you have developed enough support/air intake you should be able to play the scale in one breath.
hope this helps
eg. if you are practicing chromatic starting on C try starting on C2 but come back all the way to C, this way you will be training your mind to take breaths at different points of the scale.
Then when you have developed enough support/air intake you should be able to play the scale in one breath.
hope this helps
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etgohomeok
- Posts: 147
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:26 pm
Well, my chromatic score was OK, but I completely bombed the sight reading, which I didn't think was too bad. My solo score wasn't too good either. Funny how you do OK on the things you don't expect to and crappy on things you feel confident about.
What sucks is I made fifth chair. The first four are allowed to try out for All State. I would have rather made sixth or seventh (argh).
Anyways, at least I'm able to say "there's always next year" because I'm only a junior in high school this year.
PS: The solo was a cut of the Chaminade Concertino, in case anybody cares.
What sucks is I made fifth chair. The first four are allowed to try out for All State. I would have rather made sixth or seventh (argh).
Anyways, at least I'm able to say "there's always next year" because I'm only a junior in high school this year.
PS: The solo was a cut of the Chaminade Concertino, in case anybody cares.
