How Can I Be a Better Flute Player?
Written by: Sarah Farkas
MY FAT QUESTION:
How can I be an extraordinary, concert ready, more skilled, professional sounding, flute player that is more advanced in correctly recognizing the flats and naturals in my music pieces quickly, as I play?
HISTORY OF THE FLUTE
ABOUT THE FLUTE:
The flute has 3 parts: The head joint, the body, and the foot joint.
The flute is used a lot as a solo instrument in orchestras, bands, and flute choirs.
The flute can sound high and penetrating, or low and spooky. I doesn't depend on the notes but it's how you blow and how big the hole in your mouth is the make a high or a low sound. The following flute notes are notes that can sound high or low with the same fingering (That I know):
- B flat
- B natural
- F
- G
- A flat
- A natural
- If you blow stronger, with a smaller hole in your mouth: you will get a higher noise. If you blow softer, with the hole in your mouth a little bit bigger: a low noise.
WHAT DO I KNOW?
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I know how to play all the notes except for a couple. I sometimes can make a professional
sound, If I am reminded to stay tuned, but I can't always.
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WHAT DO I WANT TO KNOW?
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I want to be able to recognize change in
flats and naturals quickly, and make a better sound.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW DO I FIND OUT?
FLUTE TIPS I LEARNED:
- If you sit up straighter and hold your
flute up high and straight, you will get
a better, tuned sound.
- If you pull out the mouth part of the
flute a little it will sound better.
- On the left side of my music, a
spot tells you whether the notes
are natural or flat.
(I just need to learn how to read the signs on the side better)
- Making the hole in your lips smaller will support a more
tuned sound.
- Record yourself-- I have learned over the years in band that you might not sound exactly how well you think you do. Only the people around you will notice more clearly. If I record myself, I will be able to hear what other people hear when I play.
WHAT ACTIONS AM I GOING TO TAKE:
- In band class I am going to hold my flute up higher and straighter.
- I am going to practice playing my naturals and flats and knowing when to play them.
- I am going to study the side of my music pieces, so I know exactly what kind of notes I am supposed to be playing.
- Practice more- I practice a decent amount, but I feel like I should be practicing more at home so I sound better in band and am more prepared to play what I need to play in my private lessons.
- Goal for home: practice my flute for at least 15 minutes on days I bring my flute home. When I practice, not only practice the songs in my book, but also sheet music we play in band, so I am ready for the band trip this month.
Flat vs. Natural
Night Journey- (Song from Band)
Close up flute
A QUESTION I STILL HAVE:
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When should I practice my flute at home?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER:
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I thought a good idea would be every other band day. Meaning each week on a b day or d day and some weekends.I believe that if I had a more thought out schedule, instead of just telling myself to try to practice that week, I would get more practice done and not forget.
I think that I need to commit more time to practicing my flute.
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I PROMISE....
-Hold my flute up straight and high
- Make a small hole in my mouth as I play
- Pull my mouth piece out a little bit each time I play
- And record myself every once i a while.
And I promise to use these skills in my concerts, in band class, and as I practice.