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.

Clarinet Tips

I was asked if I could write something for clarinets - Here it is!

It is not easy to become a great clarinet player. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and tons of practice. Some of the key things to work on are your breathing, dexterity, sound quality and rhythm. The following tips will help you improve your skills:

1. Breathing Exercises
It is always best to begin by doing some breathing exercises. Breathe in and out slowly, and see how long you can breathe out. Form your embouchure as you breathe in and out to simulate playing the clarinet. Always breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your tummy should rise as you breathe in, to allow more space for your lungs to expand, therefore holding more air and allowing you to breathe out longer. Beginners usually take a breath after every four measures in a musical piece, advanced players can usually wait longer. If your shoulders rise when you breathe in then you are not blowing from your diaphragm.
2. Holding Your Clarinet Correctly
Curve your hands slightly and place the soft pads of your fingers over the holes. Keep your left thumb close to the register key as it covers the hole underneath it completely. Most of the weight of your clarinet should be supported by your right thumb. It is important that your right thumb supports most of the weight otherwise you will not be able to place the pads of your fingers into the holes correctly. Keep your body relaxed, don't tighten up your shoulders, and keep your elbows to the sides.
3. Your Embouchure
Fold your bottom lip over your bottom teeth, with the reed downwards inside your mouth. Gently place your top teeth on the top of your mouthpiece. Keep your lips firmly around the mouthpiece. Do not bite on the mouthpiece. Keep the corners of your mouth tight. Practice this until you can obtain a steady sound. Try to find a comfortable position as you play. Try out different lip pressures, teeth positions until you obtain a clear steady tone. Always moisten the reed before you begin to play.
4. Troubleshooting
a) If you are having problems with your sound, check to make sure your reed is not damaged. If so, replace it.
b) If you are having trouble placing your fingers on the clarinet, make sure all the parts of your clarinet are positioned correctly.
c) If the sound is muffled or air doesn't seem to flow through your clarinet, make sure there is nothing trapped inside your clarinet such as your cleaning rod.
d) If it becomes difficult to assemble your clarinet, then apply some cork and neck grease to the clarinet.
5. Take Care Of Your Clarinet
Clean your clarinet after each use, inside and out. Beginners may have to clean the inside of their clarinet several times during a practice session. Check to make sure all the keys are functioning properly and that none are loose. keep the screws on the keys tight, but not so tight that they won't work. When assembling your mouthpiece, avoid touching the tip of the reed as it is very delicate.
6. Miscellaneous Tips
Keep working on your skills even if it seems difficult. You will eventually notice a difference even if you sound like a bus at first.
Listen to recordings of clarinet music to give you inspiration and an idea of what it should sound like.
Work on difficult passages until you can play them with ease. If you become too frustrated, take a break and play something easier. Remember to always go back to the difficult passages.
Practice every day if possible. The longer you leave between playing the less muscle memory will be attained.
Record yourself playing your clarinet and play it back to check your sound quality, and your rhythm.
Have a fellow clarinet player practice with you. This way you can offer encouragement to and receive feedback from him/her.
If you can afford to, take some private lessons. It often helps to have some guidance, feedback and encouragement from an experienced teacher.
The above will help in giving you years of musical fun and trauma! That is "As I See it!"

Always the Soloist!

Piccolo Tips:
Just like in the higher octave of the flute, piccolo requires that you blow the air through your instrument faster. As you play higher and higher pitches, less air is pushed through the hole of the headjoint, and instead travels across the opening to produce the sound. Practice with just the headjoint of the piccolo. Try to achieve a warm sound - Now try to blow the pitch you hear up an octave without becoming tight in the throat or pushing the headjoint against your face.
1. Intonation.Practicing with a tuner is very important, but also use and trust your ears. Always know your pitch tendencies on problem notes, and more importantly how to make it in tune. Don't be afraid to use special fingerings for intonation purposes. They will only make your job easier.
2. Embouchure.The piccolo is smaller than the flute, so the aperture is as well - but it should not be tighter. Tightening up will lead to a pinched tone, which is a direct root of most intonation problems.
3. Air Stream Control.The piccolo needs a faster air stream than the flute. This does not mean that you have to blow harder or more forcefully. Always have a good reserve and use it wisely, remembering that the piccolo carries well on its own without your extra help. A full and relaxed tone will always project better than a forced one.
4. Air Direction.Air direction plays a crucial role in piccolo playing. Be aware that small changes in air direction can make a huge difference. Keep in mind that when you are playing softly, it helps to aim the air higher to keep the pitch up. And when you are at full volume, you may have to blow more downward and into the piccolo to keep from being too sharp. Also pay attention to large intervals. Proper air placement is crucial for correct intonation.
5. Vibrato.Because the piccolo is smaller, a big flute vibrato is too intrusive. Work toward a vibrato that is not too wide, but rather in the tone. You must vibrate and make it beautiful; however it shouldn't be overly noticeable or obstructive.
6. Think of the benefits.You always get to play solo, your lips will have more flexibility (which will help your flute playing) and your ears will be more fine tuned and ready to detect intonation issues. Don't forget - increased employment opportunities!!Name that tune.Practice a familiar flute piece on piccolo, for example, the slow movement of a Bach Sonata, or the opening of the Fauré Fantasie. Playing something that you are familiar with and know well will definitely help. You are going to want to make it beautiful and you will know when it's not. Pretend like you are playing it on the flute, keeping all of these piccoloisms in mind.
"You cannot prepare enough for anything".

Coming Soon: Performing Mozart!