Flute Notes

Transcribed by Viktoriya Molchanova

Credit goes to Tara Helen O’Connor and other sources

High D
Drop Tongue + put air more air in cheeks (cheeks have to be lower).

Note-to-self #1

Do not play fast passages on a flute that is due for a check up and a clean up.

Note-to-self #2

Never play the flute with a full stomach. Always have a snack and then after playing
the flute have a meal. After a meal, wait 45 minutes to play the flute.

To Practice Without Mistakes

Practice at the magic tempo number. Play at a confortable tempo where you can
play the notes + rhythms perfectly.

Then slowly increase confortable tempo and use a chart to keep progress.

Note-to-self #3

Write everything that Tara says!

Note-to-self #4

Keep fingers close to the flute (almost touching the keys).

Double Tonguing

1
Tongue touches the straight part of the back of the front upper teeth. Keep the
airstream going.

Use the 6-column chart for practice:

Ta ka (Ta ka)2 Ka ta (Ka ta)2 Ka ka (Ka ka)2

Start the practice at the most confortable tempo.

Mistakes
When a mistake cannot be fixed, look at 1 measure before and start from there. Bad
transitions cause mistakes. Identify the problem and fix the mistake.

Holding The Flute

Keep the flute parallel. It is hard to play chromatics with a slanted flute because
fingers need to lift easily.

Put more weight on the chin when playing fast passages to help stabilize the flute.

Embouchure should be at the center of the headjoint hole. It improves the sound.

Note-to-self #5

Use a .25 or .5 pen to fix sheet music mistakes.

Tuning
To tune right, start with chromatics. For example, use low C and tune it with the
regular C

To lower the pitch of the note while playing the flute:

 Relax embouchure
 Put air in cheeks
 Open back of mouth

2
Analyzing Music
Look at the dissonances between the accompaniment and the solo (2nds, 7ths, and
augmented + raised intervals)

Right Hand Pain Remedies

Do not press the keys hard. Do not press R1 and thumb too hard. Do not have the
fingers hold the flute like a claw.

Pressure between index finger + thumb is super bad for pinkie.

Do not squeeze the flute when notes do not come out. Especially low notes: D, E flat,
C + B.

Push the thumb further behind.

Rotate the wrist and put more weight on the pinkie. Especially rotate hand away
from keys when reaching for low notes such as low C/B (doorknob).

Don’t over practice. Stop when it gets painful.

Relax wrist and elbows. Practice distributing weight between one hand and the
other.

Lift the pinkie when playing through fast passages between E-D-C

“Shake the hand off” after playing.

Note-to-self #6

If there is a fast passage with the high B and C#, do not use the pinkie!

Back Pain Remedies

Put 2 hands on door and stretch forward. Or use a yoga ball. Or do yoga.

Note-to-self #7

Practice on and off beats.

3
The Flattening Out Method
Sometimes play music down an octave. It’s more enjoyable to listen.

The B Flat
There are 3 ways to finger B flat:
1. B flat thumb + L1
2. Thumb + L1 +R1
3. Thumb + L1 + R1 (Lever Key)

Use the 3rd way when going through fast chromatic scales (But must practice both
the 2nd and 3rd way). Use 3rd way with G flat major and E flat minor scales especially.

Note-to-self #8

If practice becomes boring, use the reverse method. Just play the notes backwards
and the piece will sound completely different.

Switching Between Octaves

Both lips are forward. Top lip needs to come out.

Jaw does not move.

Good Places To Breathe

1. Where the line changes direction.
2. Before a leap.
3. After establishing a sequence. Or between sequences.
4. Do not breathe before the harmony resolves.

Short Breaths
During a sequence of short staccato notes. Do not move the embouchure.

4
Flute Alignment
Footjoint of the keys should be set up with the placement of the pinkie in mind.

The position of the footjoint should be slightly off center to the right if holding the
flute vertically.

If horizontal in playing position, the footjoint will be slightly away from body.

*Will need to be tailored depending on the length of pinkie.

Use nail polish to mark the flute for correct alignment.

Anti-Finger Buckling
Top joint finger collapses when pressing a key.

To Fix: put the tip of the finger closer to the hole of the key.

Fingers with buckling roll like a wave or peel like a banana.

Takes 4 motions to close + open key with buckling.

Without buckling, there are only 2 motions.

Use exercise #10 Berbegier measures 40-49

Practice in front of mirror slowly.

You eliminate extra notes between the notes + smoothens the high register.

Breathing Practice
Lie on the floor + put the knees up. Put a small book (couple inches) on the head for
proper body alignment (head needs to be in front of spine).

Then put a heavy book on the belly to watch for breathing motion between in + out.

With the book on the belly, turn head slightly to the left + shoulders should be on the
floor.

5
Analyzing Orchestra Scores
Check
1. Score to see how part is related to the piece.
2. Rhythm + Melody (who is with me?)
3. Am I alone playing this part?
4. Do I have a buddy playing with me?
5. What is my harmony?
6. Are there any rests so I do not play in them?

Note-to-self #9

Dovetailing: picking up a melody from another player. The pass has to be seemless
and smooth.

Tuning Explained
Every note vibrates at a certain speed. That’s called Hertz (cycle per second).

A = 440 or 441 or 442 depending on where you start your equal tempered scale.

Orchestra tunes to 440 – 444. It depends where you play.

Two notes played together produce a difference tone:

E= 659
A = - 440
A2 = 219

Practice octaves and fifths with Frank Morelli Tuning CD (A = 441).

Listen for reinforcement of root pitch + lack of buzzing in the lower difference tone.

Regrouping
Cleans up technique + exposes problems + will play more evenly

Each note gets its own down beat so it does not get rushed.

6
By changing practice you pay more attention.

Regrouping speeds up slow notes and slows down fast notes to make them more
even.