Moyse Daily Exercises

[nika]

I wonder how many of you practice Moyse's Daiy Exercises...
They are obligatory on my conservatory and we even have "Moyse exams"

[fluteguy18]

I would play technical studies (similar to the Moyse) every day through my music degree. But I left music as a full time pursuit when I graduated with my music degree two weeks ago. I may get back into music as a full time thing someday and in some capacity, but not for a while.

So at the moment... I don't even get my instrument out every day! I used to play about 10 hours a day though (once it was all said and done after practicing and rehearsals).

[lianeandflute]

ME!!! actually… i used to.

i didn't play them how he said to though. i played everything in the book on 1 tonic note a day. e.g. monday on C (major and minor keys), tuesday C#, etc. it would take 30 mins to an hour depending on how i practiced (properly with different articulations, dynamics and variety of speeds, or just for speed). i liked this because it meant i was playing a variety of technical work every day and focusing on just two key signatures. playing them how you are supposed to was too stressful at the time because i didn't know them all yet and it is quite exhausting when you have so much to do and don't feel comfortable yet. i did experiment with both methods. i had planned to start doing them as laid out in the book after learning everything in there by 1 tonic note to a point where i felt really confidant about them.

i really felt like i was starting to get really flexible in tone and embouchure and fingers… and then i started at the sydney con and my teacher there makes me play the moyse scales & arpeggios exercises and i feel like i'm going backwards actually… they aren't the same as actual scales (they're just supposed to be an accompaniment to the daily exercises) and it takes like an hour to do one line (which is what you're supposed to do per day) and i'm exhausted and feel like i haven't achieved anything at the end. then i have other things like tone and studies and so many pieces to learn i can't spend the time i want on actual scales and i feel gross all the time. nothing feels better than at least a good solid half an hour or scales!

when i am on break i'm going to go back to the daily exercises because i think they are just great!

[Zevang]

They are obligatory on my conservatory and we even have "Moyse exams"

Really good for you and your flute playing. They teach us not only flute playing, but also to have discipline. In fact, any daily exercises set, from any author, would give good results in the area.
Moyse is the most effective (IMHO) and should be practiced really seriously.

[Bo]

They are good exercises. Maybe the world "compulsory" makes you think of them as something unpleasant, but they are really good.

[Bo]

By the way, what are the letters before every exercise?

[lianeandflute]

he explains at the beginning of the book! He made a chart type thing for 26 a day cycle and divided the letters up into groups of 4. So you do 4 letters a day. it's a lot of work actually. i prefer doing everything in the book on 1 tonic a day.

the order is:

1) ABCD
2) ABCD
3) EFGH
4) ABCD
5) IJKL
6) ABCD
7) MNOP
ABCD
9) EFGH
10) ABCD
11) QRST
12) ABCD
13) UVXY
14) ABCD
15) ABCD
16) EFGH
17) ABCD
18) IJKL
19) ABCD
20) MNOP
21) ABCD
22) EFGH
23) ABCD
24) QRST
25) ABCD
26) UVXY

[Bo]

Thank you! The introduction is missing in my book.... It just starts with the first exercise. That is very clear now!

[Zevang]

The point here is to use your muscles. If you use a device like that you probably will ruin your muscle conditioning.

[Bo]

Is it helpful to wear something that holds your stomach in while exercising? I do a variety of exercise videos and they always say to suck your stomach in while doing exercises and it'll help flatten it. What if I wear something girdle-like while exercising, will that help too?

Actually they advise here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragmatic_breathing) "to loosen tight-fitting pants/belts/skirts, as these can interfere with the body's ability to intake air". And diaphragmatic breathing is usually recommended.