I am going to do my grade 4 at christams and i canplay some of the high notes but they sound very airy. (high Eb-A)

Is there any exercises that help me get these notes sounding as good as my other notes??

Ceri

There are plenty of teachers who can give you far better advise on this than I can, but a few general hints:

1) Make sure your flute is really warm. (I have been known to leave mine on a radiator for a few minutes in the height of winter before even starting to play) There is no hope of hitting them well if your flute is cold.

2) Remember to blow right across the hole, tilting your flute backwards might help a bit, or try aiming your breath at the back of the hole more.

3) Hold the flute really horizontal, kills your arms, but works wonders for your tone!

4)Think high, this often cures 'can't hit them at all syndrome', so it might help with airy notes too.

5) Try cleaning you flute out. (Also can work sudden miraculous wonders)

6) Upgrade flute (this isn't necessarily a viable option I realise, but when push comes to shove: a silver headed flute is easier to play than a standard student model)


As for exercises, my teacher was a strong advocate of long note practise (play each note for as long as possible, concerntrating on tone and dinamic changes, so start quiet, build up, and end quiet) octave leaps (horrible things, start on, say Eb1, slur to Eb2, slur to Eb3 and back down again) and top end chromatic loops (eg play Eb, E, F, F#, F, E, Eb, is quick, slurred sucession)

Finally, I strongly recommend you do these, at least for the first time, when there is no-one else in the house, and preferably when you neighbours are out. They generally do not sound anything near decent on the first attempt!

Good luck.

QUOTE

Finally, I strongly recommend you do these, at least for the first time, when there is no-one else in the house, and preferably when you neighbours are out. They generally do not sound anything near decent on the first attempt! Â

Umm the neighbours think that me practising my flute is bettre than the dog over the back of the fence which keeps barking! Lol

Thanks for the advice- I'll have a go tomarrow.

Ceri

For good upper register the embouchure needs to be excellent. The faster the air goes across the hole the higher the frequency of sound. Imagine you are blowing in a downwards diagonal direction, controlling the direction of airstream from the bottom lip. Firm the diaphragm - the notes will split without maximum support - and lift your eyebrows like you're surprised or have sat on a hot spike! For good fingering practise each pair of semitones SLOWLY then gradually increase the speed. Good luck - let me know how you get on! Baggy x

QUOTE (tamsin @ Sep 15 2004, 05:31 PM)

1) Make sure your flute is really warm. (I have been known to leave mine on a radiator for a few minutes in the height of winter before even starting to play) There is no hope of hitting them well if your flute is cold.

Ooo yes...i realise that my flute actually only works in warm conditions...

no wonder i couldnt play whn my flute was really cold! O_o

Another thing I remembered the other day (when my pp top notes refused to come out full stop) was that turning the head of the flute slightly towards you can help quite a bit too. Although it does make ff's tricky as its easier to overblow notes.

Thanks for your advice. It worked after a bit of practice i could actually play my high notes 90% of the time.

...But, then i visited the orthodontist (sp?) and she decided to add something to my brace and now i am back to square 1!

oh well.

Ceri

QUOTE (Bagpuss @ Sep 15 2004, 09:37 PM)

- and lift your eyebrows like you're surprised or have sat on a hot spike!

LOL, I'll try that one too!

thanx for the stuff u ve put on here its helped me out

:-) my flute sounds great now when i m playin the top notes

i used 2 sound really airy
thanx