Hello everyone!
Can anyone please help me with this tuning problem I have!? Ok, here is the thing. I bought this book where there are lots of jazz melodies. I found out it also brings a cd included so you can practice with accompainment.
The thing is that I can't get my flute to be in the same tune as the accompainment. Apparently I'm still a little bit too low.
I know that in order to go lower the head joint has to be pulled out, and if you want to go higher you have to push it in. I play my flute same as always can't push any further in ('cuz it can't anymore) to make it go higher to match with the accompainment. What can I do?? Is there another way I can tune it in??? Please help me!
I have an Armstrong 104, and I know it's still a begginers flute but it has been reliable to me, but I can´t believe I can't tune it in! It should!
Do you have a tuner? Have you checked your flute against that? If you can play in tune and be pulled out a bit with the tuner, but are having the current problem with the CD... well, it sounds like they sped up the recording on the CD a bit, which will make it too sharp to tune to.
If you are consistently flat against the tuner... first check your cork using the end of your tuning rod. It might have slipped out of place. It could also be an embouchure issue that is making you play so flat.
I'm thinking it's the CD though...
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I don't have a tuner to use but my flute teacher mentioned something about using the cork, but that I had to be very careful.I'll go to classes next week and she will show me how to.
I checked it but it seem fine to me. You are probably right. Maybe it is the cd....although I'm thinking it´s weird....
Also try rolling your flute out. Many students tend to have their flute rolled in because it makes the higher notes "easier" (I use inverted commas because even though it might take less effort to get the notes, they come out weak and badly out of tune). Keeping the flute rolled out will bring the pitch up.
I had the same problem back in the day with my Gemeinhardt. Now I have upgraded to a flute that is tuned to A442, but then, you must roll out and use a lot of air to support the sound. The use of more air does not mean play louder.
I have a 301 Miyazawa, which is a professional model. My roomate suggests a Yahama 285s with a C foot. She says that a B foots usually have bad tuning, and a few years ago this flute went for ~$450. If you are considering buying a new flute and you are not a beginner, do not buy from music stores! They are usually 200% more in price.
Well my flute teacher said it is now time to upgrade. She suggested an open holed flute. So I'm thinking about open hole and also a C foot. Tried to look for the Yamaha 285s but didn't find it. So you are suggesting to buy it from an independent dealer? that's going to be a hard one since I'm outside the US and here there aren't any places that sell flutes, so I'm thinking about finding the right one but then, how am I going to be able to test it and see if it supplies my needs ???? Si it's going to be a hard one.
E- (I emailed a detailed reply) Many of my students play this exact flute, Armstrong 104, as rental instruments for their beginning band classes. Overall, the scale is quite reliable. I'll suggest adjusting the amount of the blow hole you're covering with your lower lip. Uncovering raises the pitch, causing most players to then need to pull the headjoint a bit. This will make the tone (very temporarily) a little more difficult to control, but this will pass. Ultimately, more volume and much improved intonation will evolve. Ask your teacher for recommendations about a new instrument, and then play as many as possible before commiting $$$$. Muramatsu, Miyazawa, Yamaha, Trevor James, and many more make nice, reasonably priced intermediate instruments. And that advice about never buying a flute from a music store is bunk! (I work for a quite good one.) Somebody must've gotten burned in the past. Just do your homework first. Good luck!!!!
E- (I emailed a detailed reply) Many of my students play this exact flute, Armstrong 104, as rental instruments for their beginning band classes. Overall, the scale is quite reliable. I'll suggest adjusting the amount of the blow hole you're covering with your lower lip. Uncovering raises the pitch, causing most players to then need to pull the headjoint a bit. This will make the tone (very temporarily) a little more difficult to control, but this will pass. Ultimately, more volume and much improved intonation will evolve. Ask your teacher for recommendations about a new instrument, and then play as many as possible before commiting $$$$. Muramatsu, Miyazawa, Yamaha, Trevor James, and many more make nice, reasonably priced intermediate instruments. And that advice about never buying a flute from a music store is bunk! (I work for a quite good one.) Somebody must've gotten burned in the past. Just do your homework first. Good luck!!!!
I wouldn't call Muramatsu or Miyazawa flutes intermedant. These are professional flutes and their price tag reflects this.
As for where to buy a flute, since it is an intermediant flute the best thing to do would be to try out flutes @ say a music store and then buy it online or from a dealer. Since the flutes that you are considering are not made by hand, each flute with the same model will sound the same. A dealer will most likely not be what you want. If you were interested in a professional flute, I would try out eachflute since they are hand made.
Muramatsu EX and Miyazawa Lyric series are priced similarly to many intermediate flutes, but play much better. It's also been my experience that, while different machine-made flutes of the same model number will sound and perform similarly, they are not, in fact all the same. There are
Sorry, impatient fingers lol! I'll finish... there are GREAT-playing examples and lesser-performing flutes within each model number. Or maybe I simply have an overly-sensitve ear and fingers as well as highly-discriminating students. An important consideration is service. Buying a new instrument is not the same sort of endeavor as buying a clock-radio or a new pair of shoes. You know... after your purchase, you're simply out the door, never to deal with that salesperson again, in all likelyhood. One would hope relationships could be better-cultivated between young instrumentalists and competent local music retailers and especially REPAIR TECHNICIANS who work in these shops. If you've an urgent repair--late accident or leak or whatever--and an important playig occasion tomorrow, how great is it to have a fine repair tech friend in your local shop? Many students have learned the hard way that, well, "the internet doesn't exactly provide great service.". Maybe I'm spoiled to a terrific, music-educator-staffed, student-oriented, Christian, non-ripping-off, retail environment, and I'm aware everyone out there's not so scrupulous, but I have faith still that good local merchants can be of great benefit to young players.
I agree that service is a really important thing. The dealer who sold me my flute is also a tech so that is a plus. I must say though I would NEVER and I mean NEVER suggest taking a professional instrument to a music dealer or local shop unless they had someone there that specilized exclusivly in that instrument. Most of the repair shop techs know how to fix many instruments and do not have the skills to work on professional instruments.
???? Si it's going to be a hard one.