Hi! I have finally decided to try and bring some order into my practicing. I have decided to spend 40 minutes per day on technical stuff like scales and 20 minutes on my pieces. Is this a good balance? Anyone know of some good warm up and technical exercises? How much practice do you do a day? How do you make it productive? Any tips would be welcome.

Nicki

PS - If it helps at all I am around Grade 7 standard and have been playing for about 7 years.

well, I normally start with scales and then play one of my pieces, then an easy relaxing piece, then the next piece, easy piece etc. I find I can't really concentrate long enough to play all my pieces one after the other without a break (this obviously has to change when exam time nears)!!! I'd definately start with scales, and always play each scale twice: staccato and legato and then the arpeggio. It's a good way to warm up your flute and fingers and do something useful at the same time! the balance of technical stuff and pieces depends on how good you are at them. you should do more of the stuff you're having trouble with. also - don't practise too much at once! take a short break now and then (emphasis on short - I normally end up taking longer breaks than I mean to )!
hope this helps!

Play lots of long notes to practice breath control.

there's a book that i have...umm i'll go find it ! hang on

ok.. trevor wye 'practice books for the flute'

they have excersises for tone, technique, articulation etc..

theres a book for each of them or you can get them in one big ringbinder type book

i've had it since i started flute and am now grade 4 and find them really useful..

hope this helps!

xx
T

A useful books is The Flute Players Companion, but I would say book 2 that I use is more your standard Nicki...

Dr Downing Music publish a useful little book called Flute Tone-Ups. It concentrates on long notes but in a fun way. It might be rather basic for someone on Grade 7, though.

QUOTE

A useful books is The Flute Players Companion, but I would say book 2 that I use is more your standard Nicki...

I have the Flute Players Companion Book 2!

Thanks for all replies

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Dec 21 2004, 04:51 PM)

QUOTE A useful books is The Flute Players Companion, but I would say book 2 that I use is more your standard Nicki... I have the Flute Players Companion Book 2! Thanks for all replies

Oh... well then... I'm out of ideas!

how's your practice going these days nicki?