Bb, B and C4 HELP!!!

[beelady]

Okay, I am planning on going back and taking lessons after a long, long, break. Until then I am practicing on my own and, I feel, an advanced player, have a good tone, read well, etc... except I do not like the way my high notes sound. I have a gizmo key which helps the speaking of C4. So that note is not so much of a problem. But Bb and B are more difficult to produce, and these high notes sound shrill and loud to me. Is this typical? Is it my headjoint/flute? I'm trying to work on a nice tonal quality with these high notes, but I'm starting to go deaf (just kidding, but almost!) when practicing the notes.

Any comments/advice to achieving a nice, easy, beautiful tone with these notes? Is it possible to be able to play these notes dynamically?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[pied_piper]

After a long break from playing, it take a while to get your chops back. Trying to play in the top octave when your lips are not in shape is sort of like trying to run a marathon when you haven't even been for a walk.

Give it some time. Work on long tones in the first two octaves and over the course of a few weeks keep expanding upward gradually. You'll get there and the high notes will get easier and stronger as you build back your embouchure.

[beelady]

Thank you Pied Piper,

It's already getting easier. Now to work on the tone of these high notes. I love challenges and now I'm having fun trying to work on mellowing them out so they sound just as rich and pure as the other notes. Not ear-piercingly high sounding.

[ExPhysKid]

Beelady - I don't know why gizmo keys aren't marketed this way, but they are also beneficial when used on A, Bb, and B in the 4th octave as well. As with the C, the gizmo key can help to slightly bring down the pitch of these notes, as well as "dampen" the harsh tone that can accompany them while the embouchure is still being strengthened. Try using the gizmo key on these notes as well and see if you can tell a difference.