practise, practise, practise...

LawBreaker · Post by **LawBreaker** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:44 pm

i have a quite big problem nowadays, i havent played flute for about 5 days, actually i havent been playing planned since i was dropped off by my teacher*which rather dissapointed me*anyway.. so sometimes i feel like playing and then feel like just leaving it there.. the thing is i dont know what to do anymore! i mean i wont be able to get flute lesson for a long while, but in meanwhile i dont know what to study or what to do to improve myself!

so would anyone advise me to make my planned program for flute study? and what to study?

Please help.. Your suggestions will be very valuable!

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:59 pm

Well, you should continue with your tone and technique studies, of course, as well as any music you were working on. Depending on your level, different etude books may be useful for technique, as well as scales and arpeggios, and hopefully your teacher had you working out of De La Sonorite or the Wye tone book (or some equivalent). If you have any solo pieces you were working on with your teacher, finish those up, or stop by a music store and find something (at an appropriate level) that interests you to start working up.

LawBreaker · Post by **LawBreaker** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:07 pm

i do study my tones, well actually thats the only thing I do I think, and also with scales and arpeggious... No my teacher didnt choose those books youtold to me.. Im on intermediate level, or maybe a bit upper, i was suppose to enter Grade 5 examination. My teacher was teaching me technuquies from the book called "Altes", but he quit it very long ago, and since im not with my teacher anymore, i dont know what to do, whether continue to Altes or not.. I was studying to Sicilienne Op. 78 from Faure and Dance Of The Blessed Spirits by Gluck while I was trying to get ready for grade 5 examinations..

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:49 pm

I agree with the recommendation of De La Sonorite, and would add two more Moyse gems: 24 Petites Etudes Melodiques (24 small melodic exercises) and Tone Development Through Interpretation. The latter is especially wonderful for those moments when you just want to play something beautiful, but which is easy enough to allow you to focus on the quality of your sound (different colours, dynamic ranges, articulation, etc.).

I've been playing the flute for [cough] years and still yank these things out often because it's not like practising at all (even though it actually is if done correctly).

Another nice book to have along the same vein is the well-known Cavally collection of 24 Short Concert Pieces for flute. Things like this are very handy if you wind up in a limbo situation as you appear to be at the moment.

SK

Flute_star3 · Post by **Flute_star3** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:00 pm

I also have a practicing question. I am just starting college and not finding the usual hour to two hours I used to dedicate to practicing. And although I am practicing everyday my tone is slipping. My question is this, since my muscles are not where they were a few weeks ago is it better to practice a shorter time and work up to a longer time, or is it better to just play for as long as I have time for and hope my lip muscles beef up?

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:31 pm

There's really no point in practicing if you're not getting anything out of it, so if your lips are giving out and you're losing control of the sound, you might as well stop. However, it usually takes quite a while for the muscles need for embouchure formation to deteriorate to that point, so it's unusual that you would have so much trouble after just a couple of weeks of decreased (but not completely ceased) practicing. I would suggest practicing for as long as possible each day, but if you start to notice your tone going downhill, you might consider playing a few simple tone exercises to warm down, and move on for the day. Since it's your embouchure that seems to be the problem, focus mostly on tone for a week or two and try to improve that. You might consider playing some piccolo if you know how and have access to one, as it can force you to focus your airstream, which in turn can help your flute sound.

Are you a music major, or just continuing to play while majoring in something else?

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:01 pm

In addition to flutepicc's advice, I want to give you a word of caution. When I was in high school, the first chair saxophonist was having the same problem. Over the period of a couple of months or so, she had lost complete control of her embouchure on the left side of her face.

She went to the doctor, and it turned out that she had developed a very deep ear infection. Instead of causing pain, it pressed against the nerves that controlled the left side of her face. It caused complete paralysis for a few months, but after a steady regimen of antibiotics, she regained complete control.

So, while this condition is not common, it is still something to think about. You very well could just be either over doing it, or not doing enough, or doing something different that is detrimental to your tone. But dont rule out possible medical aspects if this doesnt improve relatively soon.

Oh, and make sure that it isnt allergies. Often, allergies affect our hearing without affecting anything else [pressure and chemical changes in the atmosphere etc. etc.] in our system, so your tone could possibly be fine, but your hearing is slightly askew. I myself can attest to this happening [when I get allergies, usually my ears act up, and my hearing is sub-par for a few weeks to a month].

Flute_star3 · Post by **Flute_star3** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:21 pm

[There's really no point in practicing if you're not getting anything out of it, so if your lips are giving out and you're losing control of the sound, you might as well stop. /]

I've always wondered about that! I thought I was just being lazy if I stopped in a situation like that.

[I would suggest practicing for as long as possible each day, but if you start to notice your tone going downhill, you might consider playing a few simple tone exercises to warm down, and move on for the day./]

Yeah, I've noticed when I do some of my more vigorous pieces my tone drops. At that point I guess its time to call is a day.

Wow fluteguy, I never would have thought of that. I will keep that in mind.

Thank you so much for your advise!

I will eventually be a music major, but since I am a running start student I am only taking a music theory 101 for now, its a lot of fun!

Flute_star3 · Post by **Flute_star3** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:27 pm

Okay, new question. I've recently started double tonguing, my teacher and I have found that when I practice double tonguing on scales it emphasis's the unevenness of my fingers. I have more trouble hearing the difference in the preciseness of my fingers when I'm not double tongued, but I know it happens then too. Do you have any tips for more precise and even playing fingers? Thanks.

vandoren · Post by **vandoren** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:57 am

sidekicker wrote:I agree with the recommendation of De La Sonorite, and would add two more Moyse gems: 24 Petites Etudes Melodiques (24 small melodic exercises) and Tone Development Through Interpretation. The latter is especially wonderful for those moments when you just want to play something beautiful, but which is easy enough to allow you to focus on the quality of your sound (different colours, dynamic ranges, articulation, etc.).

I've been playing the flute for [cough] years and still yank these things out often because it's not like practising at all (even though it actually is if done correctly).

Another nice book to have along the same vein is the well-known Cavally collection of 24 Short Concert Pieces for flute. Things like this are very handy if you wind up in a limbo situation as you appear to be at the moment.

SK

Why do you have the Scottish St Andrew's flag as an avatar ?

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:55 am

vandoren wrote:Why do you have the Scottish St Andrew's flag as an avatar ?

I've answered your question in a private message.

SK

nasxxx · Post by **nasxxx** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:16 am

have to admit wondered the same thing as well when I noticed your Oklahoma location.

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:52 pm

I'm a proud Scottish-American. There aren't that many ways to show that here in the U.S., especially the part in which I live.

SK

nasxxx · Post by **nasxxx** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:10 pm

There is nothing wrong with that at all sidekicker, I was just trying to put two and two together (your location and Scottish flag relationship). Its good to hear about everyones background / different flute playing in various countries hints and tips from fellow forum members.

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Back on topic when ever I go away with the GF I do take the flute and practice in her kitchen, becuase of the larger room and space not alot of objects close by to nulify the sound, it does sound completly different ALOT BETTER. Whist playing in my bedroom here i'm kinda fighting to achieve a decent tone, which probably helps when I play in her kitchen to which I find it easier to listen to supose is just the way sound travels and bounces of things.

Do practice with scales, and songs I know, take couple of books + printed off sheet music of my faverate songs to play.
THe strange bit comes when you go 3-4 days not playing the Flute in the small bedroom at first it actually sounds better to the ear but as I continue playing it soon gets back down to my normal tone espect this is just my ears adjusting to being without the flute for a short time, if that makes sense to anyone.

Muckdogzen · Post by **Muckdogzen** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:43 pm

I'm concerned with the idea of " I don't have a teacher; I don't know what to do." It is way too easy to put way too much on our teachers. May I suggest taking this opertunity to improvise and go off on your own a bit. Poke around and read through stuff and find some music that interests you on your own. Try writing a few melodies. You have a lifetime of music to experience. Be Bold.