I keep playing harmonics

joolz · Post by **joolz** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:25 pm

I have this awful problem with continually playing harmonics throughout my pieces. It's obviously unintentional and I'm really not sure how to go about correcting this other than "hearing" the note before I play it. It's frustrating because I have the correct fingerings but some of the notes come out all wrong. I'm not sure if it's because my embouchure is still getting back into it all (I'm back after 17 years and have been playing for about 5 months now) or if it's a genuine problem that I have that needs correcting.

Do others have this problem?

Joolz
Currently studying for 8th grade AMEB

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:02 pm

I would say it is an air focus issue. Try focusing your air a little more and watch yourself in a mirror. without actually seeing you, that is the best advice I can offer.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:55 am

Air focus is indeed the best advice we can give right now. It might be a problem of too little focus or too much. Just make sure that you are opened up, and your embouchure is flexible. Make sure you aren't overblowing the note by accident.

I would try doing "harmonic" excercizes. They will give you more control over your harmonics, and as a result should help you.

An example would be to start on low C, then with a metronome keep overblowing/focusing your air to hit the other notes.

The notes would be:

Low C [C1], middle C [C2], G [G2], High C [C3], High E [E3], High G [G3], High Bb [Bb3] , and Top C [C4].

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:40 am

Just in case, I would also have your flute checked for leaks. You never know!