playing high notes quietly?

[fluter99]

does anyone have any tips or exercises that help with playing high notes quietly? like in the opening of the 2nd movement of the hindemith sonata. i can play it with a good tone if i play it mf or f, but if i try to make it p like it's supposed to be, my tone gets stuffy and my connection between notes suffers.

any specific tips for this piece or broader hints would be appreciated.. thanks!

[flutistnotflautist]

Are you controlling the air with your diaphragm?

[flutepicc06]

Are you controlling the air with your diaphragm?

Hopefully not. The "diaphragm" (by which people usually mean the abdominal and intercostal muscles) should be used to adjust how much air is going in and out of the lungs, but should not be controlling the air once it leaves the lungs. The embouchure will control how focused the airstream is (as well as the pressure of the airstream) and where it is being directed, and that's where the control necessary to adjust dynamics and the other subtle components of playing comes from. To the OP, practice some matching exercises. Find a pitch where you can play at the dynamic you want without losing tone, and then move chromatically upward, trying to match the tone and volume of each note to the one previous. With some work, you'll be able to control the upper register just fine. Hopefully that helps, but keep in mind that dynamics are relative. Perhaps you would benefit from playing the upper end a bit bigger rather than trying to hold back the p-mp end of things.

[flutistnotflautist]

Of course I meant the abdominal and intercostal muscles. "Diaphragm" however is shorter and I am pretty sure the OP understood what I was referring to. Depending on what teachers someone has had, what kind of experience, and what kind of reading they've done, not everyone knows what you mean when you get all proper about it.
Where I was going with the question: I find that if I'm breathing correctly I have much better control over my high notes. With a focused embouchure and a good control over the amount and speed of the air (which I believe are much easier to control when breathing correctly) it's easier to get clear, fairly quiet high notes.
The previous poster has an excellent point in saying that dynamics are relative. Many times you don't actually have to play the upper register incredibly quietly to acheive a pianissimo feeling. Also, tone matching exercises are incredibly helpful.

[Phineas]

I have found the headjoint having alot to do with this also. Some headjoint are easier than others to play higher register notes at various dynamic ranges.

Also, I can control the volume of higher register notes better by adjusting the area in my mouth then adjusting the air coming out of my diaphram.
Just my .01 USD

Phineas

[Mark]

hmmm...
I like that .01 USD and think it will be a nice experiment for tonight's practice.


mark

[joolz]

I would say sticking out your chin and tightening your lips would most likely help. I know this is a very basic piece of advice but it's what I do.

Joolz

[flutepicc06]

I would say sticking out your chin and tightening your lips would most likely help. I know this is a very basic piece of advice but it's what I do.

Joolz

The basic effect that this is achieving is the same as rolling the flute out, which should not be a solution to dynamic problems, but rather a last ditch technique to adjust pitch if nothing else will quite work. When trying to play quietly, it's not unusual for flutists to go flat (as well as get softer), so rather than correcting this by rolling the flute out to bring pitch back up, correct it with your air by raising the air stream slightly. Not only is this a far more effective method (as it allows you to adjust pitch quite a bit at a moment's notice), but it will not affect tone negatively (as rolling will).

[MrBaz]

I would say sticking out your chin and tightening your lips would most likely help. I know this is a very basic piece of advice but it's what I do.

Joolz

The basic effect that this is achieving is the same as rolling the flute out, which should not be a solution to dynamic problems, but rather a last ditch technique to adjust pitch if nothing else will quite work. When trying to play quietly, it's not unusual for flutists to go flat (as well as get softer), so rather than correcting this by rolling the flute out to bring pitch back up, correct it with your air by raising the air stream slightly. Not only is this a far more effective method (as it allows you to adjust pitch quite a bit at a moment's notice), but it will not affect tone negatively (as rolling will).

I would have to agree mostly with this post. The number one error most flutists make when attempting to play quieter is reducing the amount of air. You don't want to do this. It will make the air stream 'unstable' I call it. You need to keep the air stream stable and retain a good tone. Rolling out can effect the air stream negatively, so the best thing to do is adjust the air stream using your embouchure.

There are several lessons you can practice for this (along with other techniques).
1) While blowing toward a wall (in close proximity, IE 1' or less) using the same embouchure you would play with; start writing out the alphabet. Write your name. Practice making the air stream travel straight up and straight down.
Another way to play with this is to lay a piece of paper on a large smooth table. Blow at the bottom of the paper closest to you. This will make the paper move forward. Attempt to continue following this paper blowing at the bottom while mostly only adjusting your air stream with your embouchure not your head.

2) Keep your 'core' centered and in control while you exhale. Get a short wooden dowel, or empty paper towel roll. Place either one on your stomach near your diaphragm and hold it up against the wall. Now breathe in and exhale in a steady manner while keeping the paper towel roll in place WITHOUT moving your body. Keep your core steady. This will help with keeping a strong, steady air stream throughout your entire exhale cycle.