Articulation problems

[coda22]

Hello all,
I'd really value some advice. I've been playing flute for just over a year (having previously played as a teenager). I'm really struggling with articulation, and my teacher has got me completely confused. When playing staccato, do you chop the end of the note off with your tongue (making a tut movement), or do you do a normal tuh, and use your breath to shorten the note? I just can't get mine short enough.

Also, I'm trying to play a piece called Rumba by Paul Harris (from the 76 graded studies for flute book), and my teacher says my playing sounds a bit flat and lifeless. Any suggestions about how to pep things up?

Many thanks
Coda22

[Tarandros]

Hello all,
I'd really value some advice. I've been playing flute for just over a year (having previously played as a teenager). I'm really struggling with articulation, and my teacher has got me completely confused. When playing staccato, do you chop the end of the note off with your tongue (making a tut movement), or do you do a normal tuh, and use your breath to shorten the note? I just can't get mine short enough.

Also, I'm trying to play a piece called Rumba by Paul Harris (from the 76 graded studies for flute book), and my teacher says my playing sounds a bit flat and lifeless. Any suggestions about how to pep things up?

Many thanks
Coda22

I'd say both - I think that's what I do anyway, i.e. you do the 'tut'. which is a sharp 't' unlike the milder 'd' in softer articulations and then the tongue snaps back against the upper palate and as soon as your tongue hits your upper palate at the end of the 'tut', you cut off the air supply from your lips. Kind regards, T.

[fluteguy18]

I never use "tut" for staccato. I occasionally might use it if you are wanting a harsh clipped effect. Staccato just means to be detached, short, light, etc. I always do my staccato with little puffs of air when tonguing. It takes a lot of energy to play this way. It needs a lot of use of the abdominal muscles.

That's my opinion at least. Tut just makes it too harsh for the effect that most people are looking for.

Good exercises for doing it with your air: play scales, using "ha" for each note, really starting the note with your air (which is being supported by your abdominal muscles). Make the "ha" as short as possible, and try to make the scales as fast as possible. It should have a tongued effect, but be all: ha ha ha ha ha etc.

[MathWizard]

I wouldn't suggest doing a 'tut' because it may hinder you in doing some articulations that follow that note. For example, even slow eighth notes that are staccato may be difficult to do if you use the 'tut' method for each.

What I would suggest doing is using the 'tuh' and cutting off the end with your throat, and if the articulation is fast enough, use double tonguing.

Its all really a personal preference and if you find that you are having a problem with the 'tut' method, it may be time to try something new.

[c_otter]

I find a large portion of articulation is air flow. A combination of tongue and air flow define the attack. The ending of a note is defined by airflow.

For accented notes, I find I use roughly 50% airflow/50% tongue.

Also, the airflow is controled by my abdomen, not throat, with some movement in my midsection.

For short notes, think of an explosive breath, such as you might use to spit rice grains or water melon seeds.

[Tarandros]

I.

That's my opinion at least. Tut just makes it too harsh for the effect that most people are looking for.
.

I agree - the closest approximation to the way I do it is 'tuh', not 'tut'. But if the passage is slow enough not to need double tonguing, then I'll cut the end of the 'tuh' off with the tongue against the upper palate. Regards, T.

[coda22]

Thanks for the advice, folks. I suspect the main problem is that I don't have the diaphragm control yet. Oh, well, guess it's back to practising again. The suggestions of playing scales using just the diaphragm with no tonguing sounds very useful.

Thanks.
Coda22