I have been taking lessons on the flute(ITM) for the past two months and progress has been very slow. I had been playing the whistle for a number of years before that.
My main difficulties include: gasping for breath, inconsistent tone and difficulty getting higher octave notes.
I would welcome advice on techniques or exercises that I could adopt in order to improve my embouchure, my blowing capacity, getting higher octave notes and general quality of play.
Also, any view on how long it might take me to reach a reasonable level of playing? I have the background in whistle and typically, I would spend 45 to 60 minutes practising each day?
I expect that many of you have taken this route, that you understand my difficulties and I hope to benefit from your experience.
Thanks
I'm nearly 3 years in, practice about an hour a day, sometimes more, and I'm only just now beginning to feel like I can play the odd tune or two at a session. It takes a while. My embouchure is still improving, and I'm constantly learning more about the instrument. I came from a background of fiddle.
Since you already play whistle, I suggest you start your practice this way: First, practice long sustained notes in the first octave. Start on G; it is the easiest note to get. Work down to D, then work your way back up. Srive to get the same quality of tone and volume on each note. Take your time.
Second, do the same process, but this time play the low note and then go up an octave on the same note. When you play the low note, drop your jaw a bit and exhale so that the air flow is warm. On the higher note, blow as you would blow out a candle, with the corners of your mouth tightened slightly. The air flow should be cool.
Finally, run through some of your favorite whistle tunes to keep the practice process fun and give yourself the chance to do something you are already adept at. This will help to keep you motivated.
Only after you have done this should you look at the clock to see how much time has passed. You see, the time you allot for practicing is not a concern,. Improvement and motivation is.
You say you're taking lessons? Shouldn't your instructor be the best place to work out these difficulties? If he/she can't help, maybe you need a new teacher! It's obvious to me, from your description above, that your embouchure is much too large. The best way to fix this is to work with someone who knows what they're doing. It DOES take time, however - good luck!
Don't use very much air - don't make yourself dizzy by breathing
too much. Being out of breath should never be a problem and
you have to make your phrases short enough so that you're not
gasping at the end of them. but not so short that you're taking in
too *much* air.
I agree that it's like blowing out a candle, but it is more intense than that. It is nothing like the whistle, except for fingerings.
I'll add: Your embouchure must be tight, and "about the size of a grain or rice lying on its side". Tuck the soft fleshy parts of your lips in, and form your embouchure with the taught, muscular parts of your lips.
It doesn't look like anyone has suggested playing in front of a mirror yet, so I will. Play in front of a mirror.
As an exercise, challenge yourself to play one continuous note for as long as you can (ideally using the progression in Ailin's reply).
That can be kinda boring, tho', so in addition to that, also challenge yourself to play as long into a tune as you can -- in front of a mirror. Eventually you will be able to play an entire 'A' or 'B' part, with repeat, on only one big breath. By the time you achieve this you will likely have tightened your embouchure and begun playing with an ever-decreasing volume of air.
There are a few other tricks, but once you get the hang of these, you'll probably be able to make up a few new ones on your own.
Surf the web for videos of flute players that have great embouchure. There is one with Mike Rafferty playing the Lilting Banshee that shows his great embouchure. Ben Power, Steph Geremia, & Louise Mulcahy are others that come to mind.
Stray thoughts -- are you using "glottal stops" (i.e., your throat, like coughing) to start and stop your notes, or are you tounging? For Irish tunes on flute, glottal is the right technique to use -- which may not be the case for "classical" style flute playing. You're probably used to tounging on the whistle, right?
How is your posture? Are you sitting upright, square shoulders, chest & airway relaxed, flute level?
Perhaps your teacher is trying to teach you to use your breathing to articulate tunes, as all the great players do? It sounds like you may not be ready for that yet. Be sure you can walk before you try to run -- long, sustained notes are your ticket at this stage of your playing.
Put some info in your profile, like what hemisphere you live in. Perhaps some folks might be able to recommend some top-notch teachers? Brendan Dolan in NYC, Shannon Heaton in Boston, etc.
I wouldn't place too much emphasis on trying to economise on air yet. Concentrate on getting the tone and projection you need/want with whatever air it takes. Economy will come with practice and experience anyway. Trying to minimise air use at the start before your embouchure is developed will usually lead to a tiny pinched off tone that struggles to get out of the flute and certainly will lead to problems getting the high notes to sound.
Play the long notes, even play with just the headjoint sometimes. Stand in front of an acoustically reflective surface (a mirror is ok and you can see yourself too which can also help at the start) so you can hear yourself well. (Note, later you will need to stand further away, since this situation is already fairly flattering to your tone, i.e. you can begin to think you are projecting better than you really are.). LISTEN and change things (pretty much at random) until you get closer to the sound you are looking for. Remember what you were doing when it sounded best and next time, start from there and try to get it even better. Things that can be changed include:
1. Air pressure. And volume of air. Not to be confused with each other.
2. Size of embouchure hole.
3. Separation of upper and lower jaw.
4. Relative horizontal position of lower to upper jaw, i.e. pushed forward/back).
5. Amount of embouchure hole covered.
6. Angle at which air is being blown into/at the flute.
7. Target that the air stream is aiming at (usually the middle of the far side of the enbouchure hole.).
8. Position of tongue in mouth.
9. Degree of pursing of the lips.
10. Tension and position in the corners of the mouth.
...
You get the picture? Many ways can lead to you achieving the tone you want and without an experienced expert standing next to you, all we can suggest here is to try it all and listen to the results. Good advice at any time though.
Oh, and if your tone suddenly disappears during a practice session then check that you are still blowing into the enbouchure hole. Flutes tend to wander left/right while playing and one can easily end up blowing at the side of the hole without realising it.
TO: Crackpot, browndog, Hup, currach, plunk111, Ailin, ethical blend.
Just a brief word of thanks for your brilliant advice.
It has given me so much to work on.
Your feedback has given me a whole new enthusiasm and motivation.
I really appreciate the time that you took to reply. You probably do not realise how valuable it is to get such practical advice.
Your willingness to help is amazing, please keep it upI
With people like you, the future of ITM is in safe hands!!
Thanks again.
Learning the Flute - Advice Please
Learning the Flute - Advice Please
I have been taking lessons on the flute(ITM) for the past two months and progress has been very slow. I had been playing the whistle for a number of years before that.
My main difficulties include: gasping for breath, inconsistent tone and difficulty getting higher octave notes.
I would welcome advice on techniques or exercises that I could adopt in order to improve my embouchure, my blowing capacity, getting higher octave notes and general quality of play.
Also, any view on how long it might take me to reach a reasonable level of playing? I have the background in whistle and typically, I would spend 45 to 60 minutes practising each day?
I expect that many of you have taken this route, that you understand my difficulties and I hope to benefit from your experience.
Thanks
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Rickey
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
I'm nearly 3 years in, practice about an hour a day, sometimes more, and I'm only just now beginning to feel like I can play the odd tune or two at a session. It takes a while. My embouchure is still improving, and I'm constantly learning more about the instrument. I came from a background of fiddle.
So, I suppose I'm saying: have patience.
What sort of flute have you got?
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by ethical blend
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
Since you already play whistle, I suggest you start your practice this way: First, practice long sustained notes in the first octave. Start on G; it is the easiest note to get. Work down to D, then work your way back up. Srive to get the same quality of tone and volume on each note. Take your time.
Second, do the same process, but this time play the low note and then go up an octave on the same note. When you play the low note, drop your jaw a bit and exhale so that the air flow is warm. On the higher note, blow as you would blow out a candle, with the corners of your mouth tightened slightly. The air flow should be cool.
Finally, run through some of your favorite whistle tunes to keep the practice process fun and give yourself the chance to do something you are already adept at. This will help to keep you motivated.
Only after you have done this should you look at the clock to see how much time has passed. You see, the time you allot for practicing is not a concern,. Improvement and motivation is.
Cheers.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Ailin
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
You say you're taking lessons? Shouldn't your instructor be the best place to work out these difficulties? If he/she can't help, maybe you need a new teacher! It's obvious to me, from your description above, that your embouchure is much too large. The best way to fix this is to work with someone who knows what they're doing. It DOES take time, however - good luck!
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by plunk111
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
i am learning as well, and found this essay helpful
check it out
http://www.woodenflute.com/playing/paul_mulvaney_essay
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by currach
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
Don't use very much air - don't make yourself dizzy by breathing
too much. Being out of breath should never be a problem and
you have to make your phrases short enough so that you're not
gasping at the end of them. but not so short that you're taking in
too *much* air.
I agree that it's like blowing out a candle, but it is more intense than that. It is nothing like the whistle, except for fingerings.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Hup
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
Some good advice already!
I'll add: Your embouchure must be tight, and "about the size of a grain or rice lying on its side". Tuck the soft fleshy parts of your lips in, and form your embouchure with the taught, muscular parts of your lips.
It doesn't look like anyone has suggested playing in front of a mirror yet, so I will. Play in front of a mirror.
As an exercise, challenge yourself to play one continuous note for as long as you can (ideally using the progression in Ailin's reply).
That can be kinda boring, tho', so in addition to that, also challenge yourself to play as long into a tune as you can -- in front of a mirror. Eventually you will be able to play an entire 'A' or 'B' part, with repeat, on only one big breath. By the time you achieve this you will likely have tightened your embouchure and begun playing with an ever-decreasing volume of air.
There are a few other tricks, but once you get the hang of these, you'll probably be able to make up a few new ones on your own.
Surf the web for videos of flute players that have great embouchure. There is one with Mike Rafferty playing the Lilting Banshee that shows his great embouchure. Ben Power, Steph Geremia, & Louise Mulcahy are others that come to mind.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by browndog
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
Stray thoughts -- are you using "glottal stops" (i.e., your throat, like coughing) to start and stop your notes, or are you tounging? For Irish tunes on flute, glottal is the right technique to use -- which may not be the case for "classical" style flute playing. You're probably used to tounging on the whistle, right?
How is your posture? Are you sitting upright, square shoulders, chest & airway relaxed, flute level?
Perhaps your teacher is trying to teach you to use your breathing to articulate tunes, as all the great players do? It sounds like you may not be ready for that yet. Be sure you can walk before you try to run -- long, sustained notes are your ticket at this stage of your playing.
Put some info in your profile, like what hemisphere you live in. Perhaps some folks might be able to recommend some top-notch teachers? Brendan Dolan in NYC, Shannon Heaton in Boston, etc.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by browndog
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
If you want some extra-credit on the "long, sustained notes" exercise: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/5259/comments#comment110930
You may need to be a few years into your playing to pull this one off, tho'...
Good luck, and happy fluting!
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by browndog
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
I wouldn't place too much emphasis on trying to economise on air yet. Concentrate on getting the tone and projection you need/want with whatever air it takes. Economy will come with practice and experience anyway. Trying to minimise air use at the start before your embouchure is developed will usually lead to a tiny pinched off tone that struggles to get out of the flute and certainly will lead to problems getting the high notes to sound.
Play the long notes, even play with just the headjoint sometimes. Stand in front of an acoustically reflective surface (a mirror is ok and you can see yourself too which can also help at the start) so you can hear yourself well. (Note, later you will need to stand further away, since this situation is already fairly flattering to your tone, i.e. you can begin to think you are projecting better than you really are.). LISTEN and change things (pretty much at random) until you get closer to the sound you are looking for. Remember what you were doing when it sounded best and next time, start from there and try to get it even better. Things that can be changed include:
1. Air pressure. And volume of air. Not to be confused with each other.
2. Size of embouchure hole.
3. Separation of upper and lower jaw.
4. Relative horizontal position of lower to upper jaw, i.e. pushed forward/back).
5. Amount of embouchure hole covered.
6. Angle at which air is being blown into/at the flute.
7. Target that the air stream is aiming at (usually the middle of the far side of the enbouchure hole.).
8. Position of tongue in mouth.
9. Degree of pursing of the lips.
10. Tension and position in the corners of the mouth.
...
You get the picture? Many ways can lead to you achieving the tone you want and without an experienced expert standing next to you, all we can suggest here is to try it all and listen to the results. Good advice at any time though.
Good luck.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Crackpot
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
Oh, and if your tone suddenly disappears during a practice session then check that you are still blowing into the enbouchure hole. Flutes tend to wander left/right while playing and one can easily end up blowing at the side of the hole without realising it.
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Crackpot
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
Good schtuff, Crackpot.. Rickey should be well-inundated by now!
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by browndog
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
If he gets enough advice, then he might give up reading here in disgust and just go off and try to make a nice sound....
# Posted on December 7th 2011 by Crackpot
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
TO: Crackpot, browndog, Hup, currach, plunk111, Ailin, ethical blend.
Just a brief word of thanks for your brilliant advice.
It has given me so much to work on.
Your feedback has given me a whole new enthusiasm and motivation.
I really appreciate the time that you took to reply. You probably do not realise how valuable it is to get such practical advice.
Your willingness to help is amazing, please keep it upI
With people like you, the future of ITM is in safe hands!!
Thanks again.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Rickey
Re: Learning the Flute - Advice Please
You're very welcome, Rickey. Not sure what we said to help ... yet. Still, do keep it up. It's a great instrument.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by ethical blend