Help..help..help
I am so frustrated.. I just turned in my rental for the purchase of a new Gemenhardt Conservatory series Open Hole flute. It came with plastic covers on the holes and plays beautifully.
Recently, I took out the covers to play it open hole and am having a really hard time..The lower notes and second register sound much better than with the covers on, but the third regisster is killing me..can barely get a sound out of it and I have to work so hard to get it! Any advice?
I can put the plastic covers back on but it doesn't sound nearly as good...are there better hole covers than just the plastic ones that came with it?
also,,did I make a big mistake.? I love this flute...it was a great price (less than 700 new) and has a beautiful mellow sound..much better than the student model I had previously
any suggestions would help
(also although I am an adult, I have small, thin fingers..could this be the problem?) am I just not right for an open hole model?
There really shouldn't be much of any difference in sound with the "covers" in. Are they actually covers, or are they plugs that go right in the holes?
No, plugs are generally what you use to cover the holes while you're learning with your open-hole flute. Nothing wrong with using them.. as I said, the plugs shouldn't make any difference in your sound. What they will do is help you when you're just learning.. I think someone else said take one out at a time so you're not overwhelmed. Don't worry if it takes awhile.. some people even keep one or two of the plugs in all the time, due to finger length or whatever. But having the plugs in won't affect your sound.. what will affect your sound is if you are having trouble with your fingers covering the holes, and therefore affecting individual notes. Just try removing only one at a time.
The best thing you can do is practice with one out, then two, and so on, but if you really want to get frazzled, then practice with them all out at first. That's what I did, but now, even after just two weeks, it didn't phase me anymore. It's defineltely worth it.
I know the Gemeinhardt plugs are kind of large (stick up kinda high), and I don't think I could actually play a flute with them without going nuts . Your repairman should be able to provide some little corks that fit more inside the holes, if you're looking for something less blatant. I've found most students perform best by removing one or two plugs per week, in the following order, until all are removed: right-hand middle finger, right-hand first finger, left-hand middle finger, and then messing with the ring fingers of either hand one at a time in whichever order you prefer. If your flute's G key is inline, this may make removing the left-hand ring finger plug more challenging, because hand position must be just-right. You could even leave this one indefinitely if your fingers are short. When working on the right-hand ring finger, be sure your hand position is really good (slightly arched fingers). If the finger angle is too flat toward the keys, the last hole may leak a little when you're trying to play low C and B. Good luck!!
Last edited by MeLizzard on Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:49 am, edited 2 times in total.
There is really no use for playing with the plugs in. You should just get used to having all the plugs out, if you don't do it now when are you going to do it? Look in the mirror and see if you're covering all the holes COMPLETELY. also if you're stressed out then you will likely not get a good tone. just relax and try and get used to them.
The taking-one-out-at-atime-and-getting-used-to-it suggestion is the best. The 1st one you should take out should be the one for your index finger on your right hand. The 2nd one should be the middle finger on your left hand. The 3rd should be your middle finger on your right hand. The 4th should be your ring finger on your left hand. The 5th should be your ring finger on your right hand.
This is just a suggestion.. it's what logically works best, but I can't tell you that it will be 100% foolproof because i don't know what your flute or hands are like.
Also, I'm giving that suggestion assuming that you have an offset G key... you might want to switch (4) and (5) if you G is inline.
. Your repairman should be able to provide some little corks that fit more inside the holes, if you're looking for something less blatant. I've found most students perform best by removing one or two plugs per week, in the following order, until all are removed: right-hand middle finger, right-hand first finger, left-hand middle finger, and then messing with the ring fingers of either hand one at a time in whichever order you prefer. If your flute's G key is inline, this may make removing the left-hand ring finger plug more challenging, because hand position must be just-right. You could even leave this one indefinitely if your fingers are short. When working on the right-hand ring finger, be sure your hand position is really good (slightly arched fingers). If the finger angle is too flat toward the keys, the last hole may leak a little when you're trying to play low C and B. Good luck!!