When I play in the middle register, from E upwards, I seem to hear the note an octave lower, almost as an echo... hard to explain... almost, but not really, like a very minor version of that awful honky noise you get if you play D2 with the LH first finger down... is this just something which will get better with practice?? any tips on techniques to help get a purer tone? or am I just being fussy?

I realise it's hard to diagnose when you can't hear me play *g* but I just wondered if you teacher type people knew any obvious practice tips to try?

Sarah

It sounds like you are not quite correctly positioning your embouchure and so the sound is splitting. Maybe practice some long tones and doing octave exercises from the bottom to middle registers. Definitely ask your teacher when you see her, good luck

The middle register, especially E, F and F# are the hardest to play really nicely, my flute teacher says! My middle register isn't all it could be either, so you're definitely not alone! My flute teacher advised me to play a chromatic scale from C2 upwards and make sure to blow kind of more steeply (oh dear, this is what happens when you have flute lessons in German "steil blasen"), and purse your lips more! Just experiment basically, play that chromatic scale really slowly and concentrate on each tone till it sounds nice! It does get better with a LOT of practise (I'm not there yet... )
Good luck!

Yes, I have to agree with that, E2 especially, it is hard to get a nice tone. At the moment, I am doing tone exercises by Moyse, I think (from De La Senorité), and they are really helping me.

QUOTE (july @ May 6 2005, 02:55 PM)

The middle register, especially E, F and F# are the hardest to play really nicely, my flute teacher says!

Glad it isn't just me! I will try that...

Nicki, it's not splitting as such - the lower note is not really a note, it's almost like an echo behind the sound (I have no idea how to explain it!) - I need to record myself playing some really long notes in the middle register, especially those bottom few and see if what I can hear when I am playing is actually audible or if it's just something I can hear. I guess it can't be tooooooooooooooooooooo awful from the remarks in my exam sheet, but it's just annoying me because I know the sound I want to be making!

Like you said, Charlotte, it's practice... I'm just not very patient! I also just worry slightly that I'm doing something drastically wrong, that I've forgotten something because it's so long since I had a lesson, and that's why I can't "make it work" - because I'm trying the wrong way. Oh well. I'll keep practising. I need to make a list for Suzanne!

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ May 6 2005, 05:30 PM)

I also just worry slightly that I'm doing something drastically wrong, that I've forgotten something because it's so long since I had a lesson, and that's why I can't "make it work" - because I'm trying the wrong way.

What a good thing that you have a lesson coming up, then! Do tell if your teacher has some kind of wonderful remedy!

Sarah, sorry if this is stating the obvious, but are you sure that your right-hand little finger is on when you play E etc? That makes a noticeable difference to the lower notes in the 2nd octave.

Yes, record yourself, and also ask your teacher when you see her. I hope you get it sorted

QUOTE (july @ May 7 2005, 09:49 AM)

Do tell if your teacher has some kind of wonderful remedy!

LOL! I will - I expect the remedy will be "practice, dear!"

Yep, I have got my RH little finger down - good thing to check though. Don't apologise for stating the obvious - one day you'll do that and you'll make someone's week by telling them something everyone else assumed they must know already.

I did try and do some recording yesterday but the recorder was playing up. Will try, maybe later although I hurt my middle finger today - trapped it in a door - so I have a feeling it may hurt to play....