FLUTE SPA With TIPS OF THE DAY Flute Alignment Flute Alignment - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

FLUTE SPA

With TIPS OF THE DAY

Flute Alignment

Flute Alignment

• Center of the embouchure hole with the

center of the D, E, F keys. Check this by looking down the flute from the footjoint end.

• Adjust footjoint so when you slide your right

pinky over, it closes the fingering for low C.

• Pull out ¼ inch checking to be sure that C1 and

C2, C#1 and C#2, D1 and D1 are in tune.

Setting the Hand - Right

• Right Hand
• Make a fist
• The hand rotates around the middle finger.
• Place the right hand middle finger on the E key and

then set the other fingers before bringing the right hand thumb to the backside of the tube.

• The fingers move from the 3rd knuckle back from the

nail.

• The knuckles should be the same height as the keys.

Setting the Hand - Left

• Left hand
• Make a fist
• Place middle finger on the A key.
• Position other fingers
• Turn flute over letting the flute rest on your finger tips.
• Bring the left knuckle to the flute
• Drop the thumb into position. The crease in the left

thumb will be at the bottom of the key. The thumb is played straight and pointed to the ceiling.

Tip

• Rather than thinking “Hold the flute,”
• Think “Balance the flute.”

FLUTE MAT

Flute Mat, Part 2

Your Feet: Homage to Pahud

• Stand 30 inches back from music stand
• Place left foot at 12:00 and right foot at 3:00
• The zipper in your pants will be 45 degrees to

right from the music stand

• Place your nose on the G# key (not paddle)
• Bring flute 6 inches away from your face
• Turn your head to the left
• Rotate the flute into your chin
• The end of the flute should be in front of your

nose.

Tip

• Hang your arms as well as your jaw.
• The head balances on the spine.
• Nod your head several times before you play.

HARMONICS

• Right hand on the barrel
• Slur G1 to G2 and overblow to D3
• 6 Vibrato cycles per note
• Hang the arms
• Repeat on Ab, A, Bb, B, C, C#

Tip

Every time you pick up your flute, play some harmonics to remind yourself how your flute

• verblows.

Left Hand G Scale

• Right hand on the barrel, Slur
• G2, A2, B2, C3
• And then overblow G1, A1, B1, C2
• To play D3, E3, F#3, G

Tip

Learning to play the left hand G scale will help your sound. Plug it into your practice session every three to five minutes. This is called “Random Practicing.” In a week, you will be amazed at your sound.

A Different Way to Think of Top Octave Fingerings

• The left fingers spell B, A, G
• The right fingers spell F, E, D
• When jumping an octave, think which finger

(s) move.

Balance of Trills

• In ¾, trill two counts, rest one count (chunking)

F2 to G2 E2 to A2 D2 to B2 Remember: the motion comes from the third knuckle back from the nail. Repeat until your fingers feel free and light.

Tip

• As you are playing each eighth-note in the

Octave Variations, think about creating a perfect attack and release. Remember the tongue releases the air.

• Thi, thi, thi.
• Key, key, key.

Tip

• The more harmonic work you do, the better

your embouchure will be. You want strength as well as flexibility.

• Build a memory of where your lips are for

each note you play.

Chunking

• Chunk by inch.
• Decide whether you are going to play

down/up or forward flow.

• Ideas that begin on the beat are usually

down/up

• Ideas that begin off the beat are usually

forward flow.

• Eventually you will combine the down/up

gesture with one long forward flow.

Tip

• When “Blooming the Tone,” always use
• vibrato. Playing with measured or counted

vibrato helps you learn to subdivide and makes your fingers articulate.

• Do not let the vibrato stop when you change
• notes. The vibrato should be a separate entity

from finger movement.

This presentation will be available at www.fabulousflute.com sometime very soon after the convention. Comments/questions: georgeflute@hotmail.com editor@flutetalkmagazine.com