Blue Ridge Overture

[Band_Geek]

Were playing this piece called Blue Ridge Overture. Its really easy, note wise. Since there is a piccolo part, I have to play Blue Ridge Overture on the piccolo. I have pretty good dynamic skills with the first and second octaves. But at crucial parts in the piece, we have to up to the third octave. Im having a really hard time playing in the third octave in mezzo piano and piano. Im not sure how well a piccolo sound is projected to the audience, but to me, it seems as if all you can hear is piccolo. Anybody have any tips on playing softly in the higher octaves?

[ElegantFlute]

Oh my gosh, I played this in high school! I was on piccolo then too. Has your band director told you to tone it down? If not, then you're probably not playing as loudly as you think you are. It's been a while since I've been on picc, but if you tighten your embouchre up a little, you can usually make it quieter while being up in the high high range. Or just take it down an octave. No one will really notice. But ask your band director first if you're playing too loud. Chances are, you're not.

[Band_Geek]

My band director hasnt told me that Im standing out in the really high parts. Today, we rehersed and my friend forgot her flute and picc. So I let her borrow my picc (yes I know how nasty that is). When she played, I could barely hear her, and I know she can play. So right now, I dont think Im standing out. I think if I were to take it down an octave, it wouldnt have that force written. Its a pretty good piece to play.

[Band_Geek]

Is there anybody out there that can find an online recording of this piece? Ive looked and I cant find anything.

[8VA]

1. Try raising your stand and play more into it.... Use the stand to block some of your sound from going out to the croud....This will work a littlebit, but it is no substitute for practice...!

2. You could try rolling your headjoint in more... If you use less of the embouchure hole, it will make your sound softer.... It will also make you flatter... so you will have to push the headjoint in.....

Gook Luck

[flutepicc06]

Rolling in will also constrict your sound. I doubt this is an issue as the original post is about 6 months old, but I really wouldn't suggest rolling in or out for dynamics, as doing so will almost certainly have an impact on tone quality as well. Also, due purely to where flutes are normally positioned in a wind group, playing into the stand almost certainly won't help a whole lot. You're not facing the audience (except perhaps the extreme end), and so playing into the stand is not putting a barrier between you and the audience to prevent some of the sound getting through as it is with a forward facing instrument like a trumpet. As already suggested, practice is the only way to learn these types of things, and you should not wait until the director tells you to to play musically. Every note should be blended with the rest of the ensemble, and balanced with other parts of the band.

[sakuramimato]

Auburn High School has a recording of Blue Ridge Saga [http://www.auburnschools.org/ahs_band/m ... ringen.ram].. Though not the same as the overture. ^^;