in band class i noticed when we have a flute only part thats low, the flutes are super quiet even though the markings are MF were more playing P
Ive asked my band instructor but to tell the truth she doesnt know how to teach things
I need to kno how to play loud low notes for pieces like this
and i was wondering if quiet low notes are a general problem?
Help! Need Loud Low Notes
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BlondeFlutist17
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fluttiegurl
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This is typical with many flutists. Open the inside of your mouth without changing your embouchure. Keep the air focused and fast, and don't let air "escape" through the sides of your mouth. Practice starting on the middle register and working down without changing dynamics. Mentally check your mouth and embouchure position as you play each note. Make sure you are blowing enough air into the flute and not overblowing. These issues can also cause you to play quietly, and even out of tune. If the problem notes are C or B, you may have a leak on your footjoint. Make sure all of the holes are covered completely on open hole flutes as well. This would cause the notes to not speak.
Practice long tones in all registers daily for a good overall range.
Practice long tones in all registers daily for a good overall range.
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pandagirl11
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H. Blanchard
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Since we're on my favourite topic of low notes, i shall continue from here.
Low notes have been a big problem of mine since day one. I hold long notes for them everyday, and they're pretty loud now, except the tone sounds raw? I've tried experimenting different tones but I can't seem to copy the tone colour of the good players I know personally [i.e: my teacher]. Any tips on make the tone more wholesome? Will "smiling" really work? Right now, I'm doing more of a "frowning" technique. I have been taught the lips are supposed to be relaxed when playing low notes.
I'm playing a few solos which go down to low B [I can sound it out, but it's around pp only], so I really need help! Thanks =)
Low notes have been a big problem of mine since day one. I hold long notes for them everyday, and they're pretty loud now, except the tone sounds raw? I've tried experimenting different tones but I can't seem to copy the tone colour of the good players I know personally [i.e: my teacher]. Any tips on make the tone more wholesome? Will "smiling" really work? Right now, I'm doing more of a "frowning" technique. I have been taught the lips are supposed to be relaxed when playing low notes.
I'm playing a few solos which go down to low B [I can sound it out, but it's around pp only], so I really need help! Thanks =)
Loud low notes are a life long pursuit, but I think many flutists tend to go too far. Of course, it is important to be able to play loud in the low register and soft in the high register. If you want to get a good sound on the flute, it is important that you hear good flute playing. You should listen to reccordings and live flutists whose playing you admire to get a good "model sound" in your ears.
First, make sure your flute is not leaky. Any leaks will hamper sound production, but the effects are more noticable in the low register because so many keys are closed.
One of the factors which determines how loud your low notes are is the distance from your lips to the riser wall. A shorter distance gives a quiter sound and a longer distance gives a louder sound. So, one experiment you can try is rolling your flute out a little bit while blowing down at a steeper angle. To angle your airstream down you must use your lips and mouth. You must be sure not to bend your neck or tilt your head down. Also make sure that your lips are kept right in front of your teeth, not pursed forward. (Pursing your lips forward a little bit shortens the distance to the riser and can help high notes, but hurts low notes.)
I think every flutist with a well developed low register would agree that the key to acheiving powerful low notes is purity. Work to play low notes as strong as you can while keeping the sound pure (the opposite of buzzy) and free of overtones. It is a mistake to only practice buzzy low notes.
Many teachers reccommed "spreading" good tone from the middle register down to the low register (without vibrato at first) as Moyse taught, and I think this can be a good exercise, as long as you are very obsessive about keeping consistency of tone. I also like the "aquarium" exercise in the Trevor Wye tone book, which gives a nice melody that descends chromatically.
You will need to experiment a lot, but in the end, a simple lip and mouth position will produce the best sound on the flute. Squeezing too much (the smile embouchure) or relaxing too much (puffy cheeks) will never produce great results.
First, make sure your flute is not leaky. Any leaks will hamper sound production, but the effects are more noticable in the low register because so many keys are closed.
One of the factors which determines how loud your low notes are is the distance from your lips to the riser wall. A shorter distance gives a quiter sound and a longer distance gives a louder sound. So, one experiment you can try is rolling your flute out a little bit while blowing down at a steeper angle. To angle your airstream down you must use your lips and mouth. You must be sure not to bend your neck or tilt your head down. Also make sure that your lips are kept right in front of your teeth, not pursed forward. (Pursing your lips forward a little bit shortens the distance to the riser and can help high notes, but hurts low notes.)
I think every flutist with a well developed low register would agree that the key to acheiving powerful low notes is purity. Work to play low notes as strong as you can while keeping the sound pure (the opposite of buzzy) and free of overtones. It is a mistake to only practice buzzy low notes.
Many teachers reccommed "spreading" good tone from the middle register down to the low register (without vibrato at first) as Moyse taught, and I think this can be a good exercise, as long as you are very obsessive about keeping consistency of tone. I also like the "aquarium" exercise in the Trevor Wye tone book, which gives a nice melody that descends chromatically.
You will need to experiment a lot, but in the end, a simple lip and mouth position will produce the best sound on the flute. Squeezing too much (the smile embouchure) or relaxing too much (puffy cheeks) will never produce great results.