 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Musical Mind
Date: 2003-11-02 22:56
Recently, I found out how to put my lower lip on the right position on the mouthpiece and my flute sounds fabulous. I'm not playing my flute as airy as I was. I am not used to it yet; it will take some time to master it. It feels like you don't cover a lot of the hole and you can feel the left and the right edges of the hole a little bit. I know it's hard to describe that in words, but that's all I can describe. I am saying this because I think many flutists don't really know how to put their lower lips on their flutes. And they still get confused with the adjustments because their flutes don't quite sound like their teachers' do. Flutists tend to put their lower lips toward right or left on the mouthpiece. I tended to put my lower lip toward left on the mouthpiece. And they are not quite sure if they are blowing straight or not. You know, practicing in front of a mirror really does help. I would strongly suggest everybody to practice in front of a mirror every day.
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Author: Steven King
Date: 2003-11-04 02:58
Well said Musical Mind, I agree 100% and so does the rest of the Professional Flute Players out there, Practice witha mirror!!!
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Author: Musical Mind
Date: 2003-11-07 01:10
One more thing. Practice opening your throat when you are playing the flute. This helps the air to go out more accurately from your lips and make your flute sound wonderful. It feels like the throat goes down and back a little (am I right, Steven?).
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Author: Amanda
Date: 2003-11-07 23:39
You can't actually "open" your throat. There are no muscles in your throat that open, only ones that close. The best you can do is keep your throat, neck and shoulders relaxed. I think what you are talking about is actually lifting your soft palate, which is definately a good idea to create more space and resonance.
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Author: Steven King
Date: 2003-11-09 00:12
Acctualy you can open your though, you can close it and open it.... Trust me on this one..... you are right Musical Mind!
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Author: Amanda
Date: 2003-11-09 15:20
Congratulations. . . but I still disagree. I'd always thought of the throat as open too, but I just learned in a master class with Alberto Almarza of Carnegie Mellon that it's impossible. Now I don't know about you, but I'd trust him.
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Author: Musical Mind
Date: 2003-11-09 16:16
Well, because I haven't learned anything about our throat's structure, I don't know who I should agree with. :P
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Author: Steven King
Date: 2003-11-10 01:29
lol, Im not saying that he is wrong Amanda, but I am going to stick with the old ways and say the throught CAN open. I will look into this somemore and post my findings ASAP. Also I may get ahold of this Alberto Almarza and see if he can explain it to me as well. Congrats Musical Mind...
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Author: Gordon Hanson
Date: 2004-10-26 19:51
Hi,
Being a trained singer, I agree with the person who said that the soft palate raises...and that is what is called an open throat. Singers call it the "dome." Having taught a lot of flute lessons as a 27-year band director at different levels, I like this idea. I have also found that many of the concepts that apply to singing also apply to an instrument. The instrument will sound much like the shape of that air that you "inhale." Any of the soft tissues in the mouth and throat that change shape when forming a a vowel will adjust if you think a vowel shape when you inhale. The sound that comes out typically matches the shape of the air that is inhaled. Good discussion.
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Author: Brianna Tawadros
Date: 2005-01-18 23:03
Once i learned How to play the flute it got easyer and easier everydeay
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