low B when practicing technique

[auletes83]

I've noticed that none of the standard books of finger exercises (Trevor Wye, Geoffrey Gilbert, Taffanel & Gaubert, Reichert, etc...) go down to low b. Do any of you think it's important to include low B when you practice these exercises if you have a b foot on your flute like I do? Are there any technique books that do go this low? I realize that this note hardly ever appears in the standard orchestral/solo repertoire, but I kind of feel guilty when I don't include low b, as cumbersome as it is. Pray enlighten me as to your opinions, fellow flautists.

[ick27]

I include low B in my scales and exercises.. If you want to get better at playing low B, you need to practice playing it. (sounds obvious put that way) Similarly, to get good at the high notes, you should include them in your exercises as well. You don't have to play every scale and exercise the full range of the instrument every time, but you should aspire to practice "cumbersome" things a little bit daily.

[MeLizzard]

Some of the Trevor Wye materials, including the Daily Exercises book (awesome value!!!), include the low b and even up to fourth-octave D. The low b is featured in several good pieces of flute literature, mostly contemporary. I like Moments by Muczynski. Nice contemporary sonata with SEVERAL low Bs, including a nasty passage with sixteenth-note low Bs and C#s ( ) . Oddly enough, I've most frequently encountered it while playing (what are supposed to be) violin and cello duets or piano trios with my husband. The violin can play to G below middle C, so some creativity, plus agility with low c and b, is required.

[auletes83]

Well, I found an exercise book that consistently goes down to low B: it's Julius Baker's _Daily Exercises for the Flute_. Apparently he thinks that note just as important as the rest. Also, he doesn't actually notate it in the exercises, but he says in the foreword that a dedicated student should take all the exercises up to 4th octave E or even higher. Oy vey!