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Thursday, April 15, 2010
Quick warm-upA great way to warm-up quickly and start each lesson
(no matter the age level) are the left hand harmonics exercises on page 3.02 in The Scale Book: A Path to Artistry. This exercise
requires fast air and reminds the students to keep their lower lip flexible. Holding the barrel with the right hand increases
the benefit by placing the headjoint firmly in the chin.
3:43 pm pdt
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Flute Scale BookSince the whole note scales are presented beginning
in the key of F (to balance the hand), I often start this exercises on C2 and on each repetition of the 8 or 12 times, I ascend
up a half step chromatically. By the time I get to the top---C, C#, D, Eb, it is a great workout. Even air and a smaller aperture
are winning ideas.
9:39 pm pdt
The Flute Scale BookI love playing the whole note scales up and down
in one beat, repeating the scale 8 to 12 times on one long stream of air. Try it.
9:38 pm pdt
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Flute Scale BookFor those of you with The Flute Scale Book---have
you tried choosing only one key and then doing everything in the book in that key? It only takes about an hour to do it and
you have a complete workout.
11:21 pm pdt
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Flute Scale BookThe first chapter features one octave scales
in whole notes. Not only is this great material for the young player, but can be used for tone and tuning material for the
advanced player. One of my favorite things to practice is one octave scales, slurred, up and down at least 8 times, 12 times
or more. It is a more advanced idea than the five note repetitions we have all been doing
for so long.
10:23 pm pdt
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Flute Scale BookCheck out the feet on page iii. Dr. Susan
Fain generously allowed us to use this illustration (from her dissertation). Don't you love the splayed toes? Left foot
at 12:00 and right at 3:00 and then adjust to make it comfortable. Body will be 45 degrees to the right and the head will
turn to the left (facing the stand) so
that the flute will be parallel to the stand. Patricia George
9:54 pm pdt
The Flute Scale BookNext in The Flute Scale Book is a terrific circle
of fifths designed by Phyllis Louke. Not only does it show the key pairings but it also indicates by the position on the circle
(think clock) how many flats or sharps are in the key signature and then how the key signature is set up on the staff. There
are also clever mnemonic devices to help remember the key pairings. Patricia George
9:53 pm pdt
The Flute Scale BookOne of the features of the book is on page
iv--Introduction to Scales. So many students today do not have a piano background so we inserted a one octave keyboard. This
keyboard should help you show the student what 1/2 and whole steps are. Also there are drills to help you teach major, minor,
whole tone and gapped scales. I think it is a winner. It is good for enharmonic study too.
Patricia George
9:52 pm pdt
The Flute Scale BookAs you begin to practice through the book, notice
that most exercises start in the key of F. The key of F is a much better key in which to balance the hand. By the time you
get to C, C will be a breeze because your hand is balanced. Patricia George
9:51 pm pdt
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Nadia Boulanger: Master TeacherMy favorite book:
Nadia Boulanger: Master Teacher by Don G. Campbell. Published by The Pastoral Press. 1984 It is out of print, so you will have to keep an eye out
for it. It is worth every penny no matter what you pay.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Better trillsTo make your trills sound better, play
a "nano" second of the written note before you begin the trill. Patricia George
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Left hand thumbWhen removing the left hand thumb,
do not let the flute roll back. If it does, you will be flat. Patricia
George
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
MelodyMelody should be played louder than
the accompaniment. Patricia George
Monday, January 4, 2010
Inner LipPlay today thinking about the inner
lip. Patricia George
Friday, January 1, 2010
VibratoVibrato cycles are influenced
by the style period, genre of the composition, individual composer, timber and texture. A good piece of
advice: when playing in an orchestra, watch the concert master and imitate his vibrato speed.
Also: there
are two kinds of vibrato: tutti and solo. If you are playing with a section and you
are playing the same music, tone the vibrato down. It you are a soloist, then you can let it out more.
Patricia George
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
VibratoVibrato cycles are influenced
by the style period, genre of the composition, individual composer, timber and texture. A good piece of
advice: when playing in an orchestra, watch the concert master and imitate his vibrato speed.
Also: there
are two kinds of vibrato: tutti and solo. If you are playing with a section and you
are playing the same music, tone the vibrato down. It you are a soloist, then you can let it out more.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Shaping the middle of each noteThe middle of the note offers
the chance for four shapes: even diminuendo cresc loop (start strong, get softer and then cresc.) All these choices must be mastered.
Patricia George
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Breath attacksSome note beginnings are best
done with the breath attack....hah.
Patricia George
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Three parts to every noteThere are three parts to every
note: the beginning, the middle and the end.
The beginning is concerned with the attack. Do not chip the beginning of the
note. Remember the tongue releases the air.
The success of the middle of the note will have to do
with even air. Use a tuner and keep the needle still.
The end of the note either stops with the air or is tapered.
Mariano used to talk a lot about the end of one note may be the beginning of the next note.
Patricia George
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Practicing difficult passagesPractice difficult passages
on a broom handle with the hands reversed and the broom on the left. It will take a few tries to do it,
but the results are amazing. (The right hand thumb and 1 will produce a B) Patricia George
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