The problem: E natural to A natural are disgustingly sharp and anything higher is airy. But Sectional Leader makes them come out soft and sweet. How do you do it??
High Octave Problems
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
-
FltnPicc_David
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:10 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Contact:
High Octave Problems
When I was in 8th grade we were given this piece called "Toy Symphony" for Christmas and it went to the 3rd octave G. I had NEVER seen it and I freaked out. Now in HS we do Jurassic Park and I have the F# and higher to the 4th C.
The problem: E natural to A natural are disgustingly sharp and anything higher is airy. But Sectional Leader makes them come out soft and sweet. How do you do it??
The problem: E natural to A natural are disgustingly sharp and anything higher is airy. But Sectional Leader makes them come out soft and sweet. How do you do it??
-
FltnPicc_David
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:10 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Contact:
Do you practice tone regularly? It's an element of technique which is sometimes overlooked. The Trevor Wye tone practice book is even available with a cd for reference. Systematic attention to this range, spreading the (presumed) good quality of your lower registers' tone into the highest register, will, over time, yield smoother, easier tone production and improved intonation. 
There are specific exersizes you could try. Aside from those, keep in mind that you need to stay as relaxed as possible (do NOT involve your eyebrows or your throat!!!) and that you need to use a lot of air. You'll need to aim your airstream fairly high - practice spitting rice so that it hits a wall at face level to get a feel for this.
The Trevor Wye book is great for tone. If you can't buy it right now or need to get those notes out before it arrives, you can try the following:
- Play your very best note (often B). Play it for as long as you can as often as you need to get a really good sound. Then, go up chromatically in two-note pairs (B to C, C to C#, etc.). Always hold the second note for quite some time. Repeat each pair as often as you need to in order to get a good tone on both.
- Play the same exersize, but always return to the referance note (B to C, B to C#, B to D, etc.).
- Practice your overtones. Finger a low C and then overblow to get the middle C. See how many different notes you can get. You can also do this on the low C#, the low D, etc.
- Practice your octave slurs. C through A can be played in two octaves without moving any fingers. Practice go between these octaves, remembering to play with a good tone and correct intonation.
- Play a simple song in a comfortable octave/key - something like the melody from "Morning Mood" or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Play is with the best sound possible. Now play it up an octave with the same great sound. If that's too hard, take it up step-by-step. This requires a lot of mental transposing, but that's good for you anyway :p
The Trevor Wye book is great for tone. If you can't buy it right now or need to get those notes out before it arrives, you can try the following:
- Play your very best note (often B). Play it for as long as you can as often as you need to get a really good sound. Then, go up chromatically in two-note pairs (B to C, C to C#, etc.). Always hold the second note for quite some time. Repeat each pair as often as you need to in order to get a good tone on both.
- Play the same exersize, but always return to the referance note (B to C, B to C#, B to D, etc.).
- Practice your overtones. Finger a low C and then overblow to get the middle C. See how many different notes you can get. You can also do this on the low C#, the low D, etc.
- Practice your octave slurs. C through A can be played in two octaves without moving any fingers. Practice go between these octaves, remembering to play with a good tone and correct intonation.
- Play a simple song in a comfortable octave/key - something like the melody from "Morning Mood" or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Play is with the best sound possible. Now play it up an octave with the same great sound. If that's too hard, take it up step-by-step. This requires a lot of mental transposing, but that's good for you anyway :p
-
Amateur_Flautist
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:45 pm
I am too lazy to read Stargle's post, so I might repeat something already said. Sorry if I do.
I can get a decent tone on those notes, but I'm not sure exactly how I do it. Here's what you might try: totally loosen up in embouchure and hands(tension can really affect tone and pitch; don't try to strangle your flute
); get a good tone on a middle range note, and work your way up chromatically while keeping everything the same except the speed of the air; don't overblow (this can really make you go sharp or even play a wrong note), but of course don't back off to the point of getting almost no sound or dropping an octave (yes, it can be hard to find a good happy medium); open the back of your mouth like you're yawning while you play; do lip slurs on lower octaves with a nice steady tone, and then do finger slurs up to your high notes with the same idea in mind.
I can get a decent tone on those notes, but I'm not sure exactly how I do it. Here's what you might try: totally loosen up in embouchure and hands(tension can really affect tone and pitch; don't try to strangle your flute
); get a good tone on a middle range note, and work your way up chromatically while keeping everything the same except the speed of the air; don't overblow (this can really make you go sharp or even play a wrong note), but of course don't back off to the point of getting almost no sound or dropping an octave (yes, it can be hard to find a good happy medium); open the back of your mouth like you're yawning while you play; do lip slurs on lower octaves with a nice steady tone, and then do finger slurs up to your high notes with the same idea in mind.What's life without music?