If bottom C & C# are hard to get then...................

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:16 pm

I have experimented with the slapping trick, and don't honestly believe it works as it is supposed to. Some very talented players obviously d/id/o, as I have heard it from some authorities too, but flutists are notorious for some of the strange ideas they have about the instrument. If you believe it will work, it probably will....But does that necessarily mean that it's the slapping that's helping? No....like many other things it could just as easily be chalked up to psychology (humans are very susceptible to the power of suggestion). Let's just say that it may be worth trying, and if it seems to help, then do it, but if it doesn't help, then don't do it. There's some potential risk for longterm damage to the pads in the G keys if you slap excessively frequently or roughly, but if you realize this and are willing to pay for any necessary repairs, then there's really no harm in slapping the G key if you believe it helps. It doesn't really matter what you get up to as long as you get the results you want, without doing anything that risks injuring yourself.

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:21 am

How can you "slap" a key with a curved finger? I have been taught that the fingers should be curved when playing the flute, not flat (which is necessary to slap).

I have heard several authorities tell others NOT to slap down the keys. (Most recently, Jonathan Snowden at a master class.) Luckily, this is one habit I never learned. I just wanted to save others from learning a gimmick that just isn't necessary.

Another reason not to do it is it usually makes a sound that can be heard by the audience and any recording devices. It's also not very professional, IMHO.

If you start doing this, it will take a lot more effort to stop when a future teacher or an adjudicator points it out. Why even start?

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:04 am

For me, I tried the 'slap' technique, and it did nothing for me. Instead, I realized that it was an issue [for me at least] of adequate support [leading up to and the attack itself] and air speed immediately after. So, I found that if I give a particular boost of support, I can make rather clean and precise lower register attacks.

piccolo1991 · Post by **piccolo1991** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:09 am

[quote="atoriphile"]How can you "slap" a key with a curved finger? I have been taught that the fingers should be curved when playing the flute, not flat (which is necessary to slap).

Do you play any 20th century music??? Key slaps and key clicks are very common. This is not that outlandish...please feel free not to do it. But, I know in playing the Berio Sequenze I had to do key slaps...also in Density 21.5 you are required to slap the key and tongue at the same time to make a percussive effect. And, yes, I curve my fingers when I play. But when doing key slaps in 20th century music I hit that sucker however I can to get the effect carried out to the audience.

You do not have to take my advice, however I will give it and am tired of being attacked by you. I have a degree in flute performance and am only giving advice that I have heard from many sources....and read in flute books/magazines. Just was trying to give some options. It may not work for everyone...it may just be in a lot of peoples heads that it helps...but if it helps, why not? Some of my students benifit from it, others don't...I do not force it on anyone, just putting the idea out there. Thought that was what a message board was for.

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:30 am

piccolo1991 wrote:Do you play any 20th century music??? Key slaps and key clicks are very common. This is not that outlandish...please feel free not to do it. But, I know in playing the Berio Sequenze I had to do key slaps...also in Density 21.5 you are required to slap the key and tongue at the same time to make a percussive effect. And, yes, I curve my fingers when I play. But when doing key slaps in 20th century music I hit that sucker however I can to get the effect carried out to the audience.

You do not have to take my advice, however I will give it and am tired of being attacked by you. I have a degree in flute performance and am only giving advice that I have heard from many sources....and read in flute books/magazines. Just was trying to give some options. It may not work for everyone...it may just be in a lot of peoples heads that it helps...but if it helps, why not? Some of my students benifit from it, others don't...I do not force it on anyone, just putting the idea out there. Thought that was what a message board was for.

Yes, but those are written in. That would be my advice for those instances, too. We agree there. Where we disagree is to slap down the keys when it isn't written in the part.

Who is attacking? I am just stating my (and my teachers' and other flute experts') view on the subject. That is what this message board is for, to get all sides of an issue.

I welcome all opinions on this board as long as I have the right to disagree and state my side if I so desire. And that is what I did. You have the same right to disagree with me. That's the beauty of an open forum like this.

I'm sorry you felt my post was an attack, which it most certainly was not!

piccolo1991 · Post by **piccolo1991** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:41 am

Yes, probably just a misunderstanding. Just as you said, I just want to put out options for people. Doesn't mean that my way (that I learned from teachers) is better then your way (that you have learned from your teachers). I just want to give people all the information possible to help them make their own judgments.

Anne · Post by **Anne** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:46 pm

I tried the rubber band trick and it worked. I put paper towel strips under the bands, and put them over all three keys on the footjoint. I can even get low B now as well.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:58 pm

Anne wrote:I tried the rubber band trick and it worked. I put paper towel strips under the bands, and put them over all three keys on the footjoint. I can even get low B now as well.

As we mentioned higher up, it's best not to do this except in an extreme emergency. I'm sure it does work, given that in the course of padding, key clamps are employed to set a small impression in the pad so the tonehole can seal more easily, but the root of the problem is that the pads aren't sealing well on their own. Putting a deeper impression in the pads will mean that it takes longer for a seal to form along the rim of the tonehole, which will slow response. If you can't get low B without rubberbanding the instrument, it's probably time for your flute to visit a flute tech. Odds are there are some minute (or not-so-minute) leaks that need to be fixed.

Anne · Post by **Anne** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:40 pm

There wasn't a visible impession on the pads before. I had new pads put on some time ago and the flute wasn't played much until recently. I see your point though about how making a deeper impression would cause a slower response. I'll keep that in mind if I have a problem in the future.