I find it really easy to play loudly on my flute but not so easy to play quieter. Has anyone got any advice for me? Thanks

We're probably about he same level. I find that playing softly has all to do with breath control - you want the air going through just as fast, but less of it, which means really good diaphragm support. And watch out for tuning!

I'm ready to be corrected by a better fluter!

nick

Thanks for replying...I have tried the diaphragm exercises where you put a book on your stomach and try to raise it with just your breathing...that helps a little. Rolling the flute (for practise and warm up purposes only) helps to find how much breathe/air is going through and 'singing' the pitch of the note as you play is supposed to help..but it must be done on your own as it sounds quite silly!:-)

Think I might have answered my own question ...but more experienced flute players might have something else up their sleeve!:-)

This isn't necessarily best pratice, but it might give you a few ideas and increased flexibility. Experiment with where you position the head joint when you assemble your flute. This is a bit like rolling it towards you, but obviously not quite the same, as you still need to adjust the position of your jaw for different octaves / volumes and so on.

I always had the opposite problem, I was a very very quiet flautist. Then I found that positioning my head join so the hole tilted away from me meant I had to play louder to hit the right harmonic, and reduced the tendancy to overblow or switch into the next harmonic up when playing loudly.

Still not an expert speaking here... perhaps wait round and see what our resident teachers have to recommend.

Check the Galway masterclasses on Youtube:

embouchure

Good Tone

etc.