Helpful Tips to Boost Your Flute Lessons

Apr 30
09:43

2015

Jazz Tan

Jazz Tan

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Enjoy your flute lessons with these tips and tricks.

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How can breathing into a mouthpiece and pressing holes with your fingers produce such a lovely sound?  That is the magic behind the captivating sound of the flute.  That is what flute lessons can reveal to you. Such sweet mystery lies upon the power,Helpful Tips to Boost Your Flute Lessons Articles control, discipline, and passion of the flutist.  

Here are some pointers on how you can improve your playing and performance skills.

  1. THE POWER OF POSTURE

Good and proper posture will enable you to produce right tones with a full and strong sound. It will power-up your lungs and breathing techniques.  Correct posture will facilitate smooth and controlled airflow.

  • Straighten your back whether you’re sitting or standing.
  • Your head should be erect.
  • Place both feet flat on the floor.
  • Body weight should be evenly distributed between your feet.
  • Your body should be upright but relaxed. You should be able to flexibly move your hips, knees, and ankles.
  • Do not raise your shoulders while playing.  This produces tension in your upper body, thereby constricting airflow from your diaphragm.
  • Bring-up your flute all the way to your mouth. Do not bow your head to reach your flute’s mouthpiece.
  1. BREATHE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

One of the first things you learn in flute lessons is breathing. The air you breathe into the flute comes out as sound. With proper breathing, the sweet sound of playing success follows.

  • Breathe deeply from your diaphragm and control the pressure of air streaming out. Doing so would result in a fuller sound.
  • While blowing into the embouchure, the corners of your mouth should be firm.
  • Play with an ‘open throat’. When you do a big yawn, your throat expands, allowing more air to flow. Keep this ‘yawn’ while you play.
  • Keep your tongue relaxed. Direct the air above your tongue.
  • Don’t blow too hard.
  1. LET YOUR FINGERS SING

Mastering the different finger placements is one way to speed up your learning. Correct finger placements will produce those sweet and wonderful melodies.  A flautist should also observe the proper hand position to prevent pain and injury. Your wrists should be not bent. Your arms and hands must be relaxed.

  1. TAKE IT SLOW, THEN  TAKE IT HIGHER

For a beginner, learning new fingerings could be confusing.  Master the easiest notes first. This will give you the flexibility and enough muscle memory to move on to more complicated finger positions.  However, don’t be complacent and content.  Find an easy piece to master that would give you enough confidence to move-up and test your limits.

  1. PLAY WITH PASSION

You may have mastered all notes, finger positions, and various playing styles and

techniques.  But if you don’t express the mood, the character, or tell the story of the piece, it’s just all sound, not music.  Use your imagination.  Play from the heart. In doing so, you give your audience a moving experience.  

Your flute teachers will be your hands-on guide to teach you how to play the instrument.  Yet your progress relies on how much work and dedication you put into this craft.