Flute Playing Tips

As air moves slower a low note will result.
Don't tune by using dynamics.
Don't push lips foreword for high notes unless they are soft.
Don't advertise a breath.
Practice with no vibrato to hear true sound.
Don't cover up a problem - expose it & fix.
Look like you are sharing with the audience.
Soft is short.
Don't confuse endings with diminuendos.
Keep head up to slacken the jaw.
Forte = longer note length. Piano = shorter note length.
Forte & Piano are different tone colors.
After a long faded ending due to long phrase begin again at the same strength you left off.
Vocalize before playing.
Don't accentuate the obvious.
Don't edit on the basis of poor technique.
Sound must stay the same when using the tongue.
Every note has a life of it's own.
A short note is always preceded by a shortened note.
Players duty is to present what the composer has written - not what you think he has written.
Intonation is 90% knowledge of instrument.
Look for tension in fingers.
Rules of music are independent of the instrument.
Practice by eliminating that which you don't do well.
Fix one little thing each day.
Anything that you can't do is important.

Posture

· Put the head joint over the shoulder and turn you head.
· Try not to look at the stand. Have the stand turned slightly.
· Keep your shoulders down
· Get in the Habit of looking down at the music so sound doesn't get blocked.
· "[You] must not move the flute with your hands...you can with your jaw.

Warm Up
· Warm up should be done without music.
· Start with a good tone
· Do Taffanel and Gaubert Scales
· Sequences
· Finger Exercises - No Slow fingers
o If you have slow fingers, raise them really high and slap down on the key.
o Use the Bb shake key because it is harder.

Stage Presentation & Deportment

On-stage behavior is something that even non-musicians seem to think they know something about. Teachers often forget to discuss this issue because it is assumed that students know a bit about it already, having been audience goers and television watchers. However, after some very goofy incidents, I realize that stage deportment should really be discussed! Here are ten tips to great stage presence for your recital or "How to become paranoid on Stage."

1. Smile as you come onto the stage.

2. Bow. Bow at the same time as your pianist, or chamber music partners.
• Be sure to bow at a tempo moderato - not too fast or you‘ll give yourself whiplash. One of my friends suggests saying a really long dinosaur name to your feet at the bottom of your bow, to keep your head down long enough. “Stegosaurus!”
• Avoid curtseys and hand flourishes, even if you are really into bowing practices from previous centuries. Keep your hands at your sides and let them trace the seam on your pants/skirt.

3. When you are ready to play, take a breath in the tempo of your piece if you start, or nod to the pianist/instrumentalist if someone else starts.

4. Check your posture while you play—sometimes when we are nervous we do strange things with our stance, limbs, or hands.
• Have a friend or family member attend your dress rehearsal, or use a video tape, so you can get feedback on how you look while playing.

5. If there is a piano interlude, be sure to hold focus and posture—pick a place to look: above the audience, the back of the hall, an exit sign, your teacher’s smiling face, your music, or perhaps you will look towards your pianist and enjoy the music!
• If you slump, seem distracted or unhappy, the audience may not pay attention to the beautiful performance of your chamber partners, or even clap prematurely! Holding your flute close to your face may help the audience realize the piece is not over.
• If you look towards the audience, look towards the foreheads and hairstyles of your audience. Making eye contact can be unnerving for both you and the audience members.

6. Even if you do make a mistake (which does happen, even if you are very well-prepared and rehearsed) keep going as if NOTHING has happened and don’t make any faces! Most audience members are thinking about the beautiful music, tomorrow’s grocery list, napping, etc, so they will have totally missed whatever small mistake you may consider HUGE.

7. After you have finished the piece, SMILE!

8. Acknowledge your pianist/chamber partners and BOW together.

9. If you are the soloist, leave the stage first, and everyone else will follow. If you are part of a chamber group, leave the stage in the same order as you entered.

10. HAVE FUN, or at least make sure you LOOK like you’re having fun!

That's "As I See it!"