Thursday, October 15, 2009

Improve your Flute Tone


How to Improve Your Tone on the Flute


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Are you flummoxed with your flute tone? Is it bright or airy? Look no further. Here are a few steps you can take to improve your tone.

Steps


  1. Sit up straight. In fact, it's easiest to play with a good tone while standing. Make sure your back is straight up and down when you are sitting and don't slouch!
  2. Hold your flute up. You've probably been told this at least a thousand times, but it can affect your tone if you hold the flute too low. You should hold it about 20 degrees below parallel. When you hold it any lower you collapse your stomach area and cannot take a proper breath or support the tone. If you hold it any higher you will create tension in your right arm. (Sorry marching flautists.)
  3. Balance the flute. This is related, but not the same thing as correct posture. There are four points of balance when holding up a flute: the chin, left thumb, right thumb, and right pinky. The lip plate should rest in the hollow between your lip and chin, and you should feel a gentle pressure on the gums of your lower teeth. Your flute should rest just above the lowest knuckle of your left pointer finger, above where the finger meets the hand. The flute should rest on the tip of the right thumb, underneath or slightly behind the flute, between the F and E keys. Your right pinky finger should then land naturally on the E flat key.[1] Once in this position it should feel very natural, and the flute should "float", allowing you to produce a resonant sound.
  4. Breathe correctly. Take a deep breath with your belly, not your upper torso, before playing. You should see your belly physically expand.
  5. Listen to your tone. You can probably fix things yourself. Just think about sounding resonant and full. Imagine that you are vibrating the whole length of your flute.
  6. Remember to support the air stream. In-tune notes always sound better, mainly in ensemble settings.
  7. Shape your lips. Making the hole in your lips smaller can produce a better tone. The air stream is more direct and you do not use as much air. On the other hand, make sure not to make the hole too small, or you can cut off the airflow and get an airy or forced sound.
  8. Know that better tones on certain notes will come with time and familiarity. As you become more familiar with lower and higher notes on the flute, your tone will improve on them as well. Don't just assume that time will solve everything however. It takes practice too!
  9. Use vibrato on longer notes. Vibrato is a technique in which the player pitch bends very fast. Act like you are whispering "ha, ha, ha" and try to play a note.[2] It might sound unnatural at first, so practice until it is natural and even. Vibrato is a good technique that will create interest on longer notes and mask tuning inconsistencies as well. The speed of the vibrato depends upon the effect a flautist is trying to achieve; a faster vibrato often portrays a more intense feeling, while a slower vibrato is more soothing.
  10. Have your flute serviced regularly. A flute that works better has a better tone. Period. If your tuning cork is messed up, a key is leaking, the rods are misaligned, or your flute is ailing in any other way, that will negatively affect your tone. To some extent you can fix things yourself--sticky keys or loose screws--but for most things have your flute checked at a music store.
  11. Get a better flute. The quality of the metal (whether nickel, silver, or even gold) and the craftsmanship that went into making a flute drastically affect its tone. If you have a beginner's flute consider buying a new one. Professional and intermediate flutes are crafted more precisely, and it is easier to get a good tone on many notes. Some features to consider:
    • Open hole keys: These allow the air to go through when uncovered, and this leads to a fuller, more resonant tone. The open holes also create less air resistance, so it is easier to play notes. This is highly recommended, but it will take some adjustment once you switch because you will have to cover the holes completely with your fingers. Start out with plugs in the keys that are hardest to reach, so you can play normally, and work at playing without the plugs while you practice.
    • Inline G key: This is a matter of personal preference and wont really affect the tone. An inline G key just means that one key will be a bit harder to reach (see the image to the right). If you have small hands or are used to playing with an offset G key, it is fine to stick with that. The main reason an inline G key is preferred is for the pleasing look of the keys.
    • B foot: You can purchase a foot joint with a few extra keys that enables you to play one chromatic step lower than usual (a B). This is a good idea because you will probably come across the note in advanced flute literature.
    • Gizmo key: This key will almost always be included in a B foot and makes it easier to play high C or C# (5+ ledger lines).[3]
    • Split E Mechanism: A split E mechanism divides the action of the upper and lower G keys. Normally the G keys close together; in a split E mechanism, that is still true, but the lower G can close when the third octave E natural is played. This provides ideal tone hole venting for the high E and can improve tuning and tone for a flutist.[4]
    • Metal quality: Most beginning flutes are nickel or silver plated nickel. Pure silver (sterling silver) is the next quality up. If you are purchasing an intermediate flute, a pure silver headjoint or full flute is ideal. Next, there is the option of rose gold which can run about the cost of a nice car, and there are even platinum or titanium flutes!• The most important part of the flute is the head joint, so if you cannot afford the body and foot joint, make sure to update the head joint's metal quality at the least.• Watch out for gold plated lip plates. They don't affect tone at all and are just for looks.[5] However a better quality riser, the short "chimney" that attaches the lip plate to the head joint, does improve tone.



Video



Tips


  • For advice specific to your unique embouchure and playing consult with a private flute teacher.
  • Band directors will tell you that crossed legs negatively affect tone. This is not true for flute players (as long as you are sitting up straight). However, it does look very unprofessional in an ensemble setting.


Warnings


  • Don't use vibrato if you are trying to tune; you should use a straight tone then or risk tuning incorrectly. Also vibrato may not be appropriate for some styles of music.
  • Some flautists have allergic reactions to the metal in their lip plate. The silver, nickel, or gold might turn your chin ashy. If you have this problem you can put a piece of tape on the lip plate.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations



  1. ↑ http://www.jennifercluff.com/posture.htm


  2. ↑ http://www.flutesonline.com/faq.htm

  3. ↑ http://en.allexperts.com/q/Flute-2059/inline-offset-G.htm

  4. ↑ http://www.flutesonline.com/faq.htm

  5. ↑ http://www.flutesonline.com/faq.htm



Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Tone on the Flute. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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http://www.wikihow.com/Special:Republish/Play-the-Flute


How to Play the Flute


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

The flute is a great instrument, and many people enjoy playing it. While this short guide will assist you with the basics, actual instruction is the best way to learn.

Steps


  1. Buy or rent a flute from a music store. When first starting to play an instrument, you should consider renting to be certain that you enjoy it enough to purchase. Also beginners should get a closed-hole student flute. Expensive, professional, open-holed flutes are for more experienced and careful players.
  2. Consider paying a good private lesson flute teacher for lessons. Ask your band director or a music shop employee about it towards the beginning of the school year. This resource will be very useful as you learn to play.
  3. Assemble the flute. Insert the open end of the head joint into the wider end of the body (usually closest to the printed brand name of the instrument). Align the embrouchure hole with the first key on the body. Take the foot joint from the case and connect it to the other end of the body. Align the main rod of the foot joint with the last key of the body. Adjust the alignment if needed.
  4. Practice on a bottle to learn how to blow into a flute. Glass or plastic works equally well. Blow across the opening to produce a sound. An easy way to learn the flute embrouchure is by making an mmmm sound, and then a p sound while pursing your lips. However, when playing the flute, you should be making more of a too sound. You should also be blowing slightly downward in order to make a note. The less liquid in the bottle the lower the pitch and the more liquid the higher the pitch. This blowing technique is the proper way to ease notes from a flute.
  5. Try to produce a sound from your flute. Try with the head joint only, at first. Place the lip plate just below your lower lip, purse your lips, take a deep breath, and blow as if you were saying "tooo". It will not happen straight away so be patient. Try moving your embouchure hole around. Practice in front of a mirror and look at the shape of your lips. Your embouchure should be about the size of a drinking straw and shaped like a circle or teardrop.Here's a neat way to work on producing sound:
    1. Press your lips together. Roll the lips inward, so that there is no pink showing.
    2. Kiss your flute--place the embouchure hole completely against your pressed lips, so that you can feel the full circle around your mouth.
    3. Roll the flute away from your lips approximately 90 degrees, so that the embouchure hole is now level with the ceiling.
    4. Pretend to spit out a watermelon seed! This may assist you in finding a good embouchure shape. If you achieve a sound using this method, try adding a stream of air after your initial "spit".

  6. Learn how to hold the flute. Hold the flute with the your mouth on the lip plate and the remainder of the instrument pointing to the right. Your left hand should be nearest the mouthpiece and should be facing towards you from the other side of the flute. Your left thumb should rest on a key. Your right hand should be further down on the flute to the right and should be facing away from you. There is no key for your right thumb. Balance your flute with your thumbs.
  7. Have proper posture while playing. Sit or stand up straight and hold the flute a little below parallel. Your arms should feel relaxed, but they may ache after extended playing. Crossing your legs will often affect your tone if you allow you posture to collapse as well. Instead bend a little in the knees to not overstretch them. Keep your head up to allow the air passing through the air channel.
  8. Consult a fingering chart. Many instruction books will have one. The fingering chart will guide you through each note. Try any alternate fingerings. When playing the flute it should not sound like your just blowing or whistling--it should be a full, steady tone.
  9. Warm up before playing. Octave slurs (slurring from the octave below to the octave above and vice versa) are good for flutes. Play a chromatic scale to make sure your flute is functioning properly.
  10. Tune before you play, but after you warm up. Tune to a concert A.[1] If the tuner says you are sharp (moves to the right), pull out the head joint. If you are flat (tuner will move to the left), push in the head joint. Try tuning to the low and high A. Take into account that cold temperatures will cause an instrument to go flat, and warm temperatures will cause it to be sharp. This is especially important if you are playing in an ensemble.
  11. Buy a beginners book. If you have a band director or a flute teacher they will be able to recommend one. Use your book and try to play some easy music.
  12. Learn how to read sheet music. Most beginners books will start out with the note names on the notes in the staff. However you will have to learn how to read music if you do not know how already.
  13. Become familiar with playing your major, minor, and chromatic scales. These should be printed in your flute book. Music is usually made up of patterns which consist of scales so if you are familiar with your scales you will be better equipped to play the music. Also practice the arpeggios, thirds, fourths, etc. for this purpose.
  14. Clean your flute thoroughly after playing. Use a swab or a cloth strung through your tuning rod to remove spit from the inside of your flute. Occasionally polish it with a cloth.
  15. Take your flute apart and put it away in the case. Twist off the head joint, body, and foot joint gently and put them in the case. Latch the case closed and put it in a safe place, preferably where it will stay at a steady room temperature.


Video


This video shows the basics of flute playing.

Tips


  • Learning to play the flute takes a while. Be patient, keep practicing, and get the assistance of a good teacher. Soon you'll be making music.
  • Blow into your flute at a slightly higher angle with smaller embouchure hole and faster air to produce higher notes. Play lower notes with a slightly lower angle and larger embouchure hole.
  • Try rolling the head joint either way to get a better tone.
  • When learning a piece for the first time, go through the piece without playing and finger instead. Pay attention to STARS --style, tempo, articulation, rhythms, and signatures (key/time). Also watch out for accidentals!
  • If your flute is consistently out of tune there may be something wrong with it's tuning cork. Notice that there is a line around one end of your tuning rod. Twist off the head joint and stick that end into it. When that end is resting against the top of the head joint the line should be exactly in the middle of the embouchure hole. If it is not ask your flute teacher to adjust your tuning cork for you.
  • When first obtaining a flute you should get a closed hole flute. Open-holed flutes are more difficult to learn on but can produce more effects when properly played. It is MUCH easier however to learn on a closed-hole (or beginner) flute.


Warnings


  • Be careful that your fingers do not come very far off the keys while playing. If you try to play faster music this will become a hindrance.
  • Don't let your right arm droop while playing flute. This eventually causes the rest of your body to collapse and will negatively affect your tone.
  • Do not grab your flute by the keys. Always lift it up by parts free of any mechanized parts. This will save you from expensive repairs. Do not roll a flute in your lap while sitting either.
  • Don't drink sugary drinks or eat while playing the flute. Rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking before you play the flute. It is very expensive to remove gum or candy from a flute.
  • If you are playing in a warmer area your pitch will tend to go sharp, flat in a colder area. Don't count on this too much (always warm up sufficiently), but if you're playing outside in the cold it's a good idea to push in more than usual.
  • There are many different brands that sell flutes, but you must be careful to buy the right one! Some good brands are Gemeinhardt, Armstrong, Trevor James, Jupiter, Pearl, and Yamaha. Be wary of other brands, they may break quickly or have a dull tone to them.


Things You'll Need


  • Flute
  • Fingering chart/music book
  • Tuning rod
  • Swab or soft cloth
  • Silver polishing cloth
  • Music stand (optional)
  • Private lesson teacher (optional)
  • Tuner (optional)
  • Metronome (optional)
  • Flute stand (optional)
  • DEDICATION!!!


Sources and Citations



  1. ↑ http://members.glis.net/kjt/tealflutestudio/Presentation.html



Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Play the Flute. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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http://www.wikihow.com/Special:Republish/Assemble-a-Flute


How to Assemble a Flute


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

The flute, being a woodwind instrument, is very delicate and easily damaged. As with any instrument, it's important to put it together correctly to avoid damaging any keys, pads, or rods. The task may seem a bit confusing at first, but in time, it will become an instinctual habit.

Steps


  1. Identify the parts of the flute. The long piece with the most keys is the body. The piece that you blow into is the head joint. The short piece that goes on the end is the foot joint. This is easy to remember, if you picture the flute as a strange, silver-colored animal.
  2. Attach the head joint to the body. Remove the body carefully from the case, by the ends, not the keys. Then, hold the body around the barrel (the smooth part on one end with no keys) and pick up the head joint with your other hand. Gently twist the two together, lining the hole in the head joint up with the rest of the keys.
  3. Attach the foot joint to the other end of the body. While holding the rest of the instrument in one hand by the barrel, use the other hand to remove the foot joint from the case. Hold it underhand, and gently put your thumb over the key. Gently guide the foot joint into place, and then grab it by the part that doesn't have any keys and twist it the rest of the way on. Line the rods on the foot joint up with middle of the keys on the body.
  4. Make slight adjustments. With the help of a professional at first, turn the head joint and foot joint slightly to fit your hands and the angle at which you play.
  5. Tune the flute. This can be done by ear or, at first, with the help of an electronic tuner. If the tuner indicates that you are sharp, pull the head joint out slightly. If it indicates that you are flat, push it in. Now you're done with assembly!
  6. Play your flute!
  7. When you're done playing, disassemble the flute. Repeat the first few steps in reverse order, still being careful not to damage the keys. Run a cloth or swab through the flute to clean it, polish it to remove any fingerprints, and then put it away.


Tips


  • Ask a band director, private instructor, or more experienced flute player for help if you need it.
  • If you ever find that a joint is stuck, do not pull. Gently twist or jiggle the joint until it comes off. If it wont come off ask a teacher or similar person who has experience with woodwinds to do it for you. To avoid joints sticking in the future clean those joints with a polishing cloth, and use a little valve oil, but not too much. If you're in a pinch nose grease will do just fine. (It's a little unorthodox, but not at all harmful for the flute.)


Warnings


  • Don't force the flute together if it isn't fitting correctly, as it may be damaged and forcing it will only make it worse.
  • Never hold the flute by the keys when putting it together. This can cause damage to both the keys and the rods that connect them. When in doubt don't touch the keys! If you absolutely need to make sure to press down the keys tightly while twisting, and do not use too much force.
  • Don't allow your flute to come into contact with water. The pads under the keys will swell up and fall off, and rust will occur in those tiny, hard-to-reach places. Pad replacements are not cheap! If your flute does get wet, clean off as much water as possible, and then leave then case open so the water can evaporate easily.
  • When polishing, be sure to only touch the metal surfaces. Excess abrasion to pads will cause damage.



Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Assemble a Flute. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Where to Start

The flute is a great instrument, and many people enjoy playing it. But where to start if someone wish to play the flute either by themselves or flute lessons.

Here, I will share my experiences on how i practice my flute and hope that this blog will help friends that plan to take flute as their musical instruments. I am not professional as I don't perform in orchestra but my playing is not bad and I took music education in university and hope to give ideas to help friends that want to play flutes. Sometimes I play flute in my favorite songs. There is no problem for me as I master almost all the skills. And the important things I learn all these all by myself. In my university, there are no lecturers major in flute instrument. So, all students which take flute as major instruments were likely have to be independent.

I still remembered when the first time I play the flute. In the ensemble class, we were gathered together to choose our major instruments for our next 4-year study. The name was arranged in order of alphabet, so my order was almost the last as my name is Susana. When my turn came, almost all instruments were taken by my other friends.


Music lecturer: Which instrument you want to take?
Susana: Can I take flute?

Music lecturer: Let’s test by this. If you can blow sound from this marker pen lid, then I let you take, how?

He gave the lid to me then I blew through the lid and it made sound. He was very happy.

Music lecturer: Wow, you are certainly born to be a flutist. OK, you will take flute as major instrument.

Of course, I was very happy because I got to choose flute as I wanted. Then my flute world started finally. I never play the flute before even touch it. I was very excited and looking forward to the next class.

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