TONE

Tone must have clarity of presence, whether it has many colors or one, whether it is small or large. A focused center in the sound will guarantee the presence. 

 

My opinion is that all notes on the flute are built on the lowest register. All other notes are harmonics of the fundamental, using a change of air intensity or alternate fingerings to lock in the higher notes. Learn to play higher notes with more depth and create a more consistent sound throughout the full range of the instrument.

 

Find Your Voice:

The Marriage Of You and Your Flute

 

Learn the intricacies of every note: How is a note similar to others and how is it unique? Learn by playing notes in their barest form, no vibrato. Then create your own vocabulary of sounds by adding vibrato, various harmonic overtones and varied levels of intensity and focus.

 

Assess Your Tonal Limitations:

Then Expand Your Horizons

 

Create a large focus on every note. Once mastered, learn to manipulate the size of the focus while maintaining intensity for proper projection. Keep depth in the sound... even In the softness passages.

 

TONGUING

Articulation is the first call to the listener. It can instantly create moods such as intrigue, shock, sparkle, and even fear. The flute masters with whom I studied all sounded very different. But they all had clear, distinct and expressive articulation. 

 

The tongue defines the release of the air, which has been defined by the spin of the air, which has been defined by the oral cavity and the breath support, which has been defined by proper inhalation. Although each step must occur very quickly in a specific order, they are inherently dependent on each other to optimally work.

 

VIBRATO

Vibrato must have a purpose other than to solely create beauty of sound. It should reflect the intended energy of a note, not dictate it. In order to help support the rise and fall of a phrase, it must be flexible in speed and amplitude. Shape the vibrato; don’t let it dictate your sound.

 

One usually has a natural tendency to play vibrato fast or slow. Therfore, one should focus practicing the speed that is less natural.

 

INTONATION

Take the responsibility of playing in tune, whether playing solo or in an ensemble. Flutes are one of the easiest instruments to adjust pitch.

 

First, learn to play in tune with yourself. Practice tuning intervals with a drone. Singing and playing at the same time can heighten the ear's awareness of intervallic intonation.

 

Adjust the pitch of a note according to its function within the chord that is played. 

 

FLEXIBILITY

Flute playing is very similar to singing. The use of vowel shapes in the oral cavity can add flexibility and vocal-like expression. A savvy metamorphosis between two vowels can smoothly carry the sound through an interval, no matter how large.

 

STANCE

Pose For Optimum Relaxation And Flexibility

Ground yourself by imagining that your feet have roots going into the ground. Study the most ergonomic way to utilize your body through the study of Alexander Technique, Body Mapping and the human anatomy.

 

Face the Audience and Dance!

When standing or sitting, the body's trunk is angled to the right while the head faces the audience. Create three points of an "open" triangle with the embouchure, right hand and right elbow. Knees should be bent so that the spine is lengthened and the back muscles are free. This also frees you to move forward and back by shifting weight from one leg to the other. Never completely straighten the legs. 

 

Converse with Your Audience!

Look at the audience from time to time, Keep the flute and head up as if you are talking directly to the audience, because you are... musically!