Doctor Flute Blog
Musings on the Flute
Improve Your Tone By Practicing Technique
Did you know that practicing technique isn't just about the fingers? I talk to my students with frequency about their practice time. I suggest that their technique practice should be tone practice at the same time. It's what I do too. But I came to this realization...
How to Get Good Tone From Low to High Leaps
How many of you have trouble in a solo when you have to play a low to high note leap really fast? I can think of etudes, Mozart Concerto in G, Prokofiev Sonata, to name just a few that have this issue in the solo. When moving fast, the easy part is playing the high...
How to Practice Etudes
It's time to talk about etudes. More specifically how to practice etudes. Practicing etudes can be tricky and dare I say mundane when you are trying to get them to that perfect level. Sometimes there is a tempo marking, sometimes you have a metronomic marking. I'm a...
What is a Flute Bubble & How Do You Fix It?
Sometimes when you've been practicing a lot or even when you're in a performance you'll notice that something isn't quite right and you realize that a bubble has formed sealing they key and the pad together. When a bubble forms, it closes a key that you want open...
Improve Your Tone with Long Tones by Listening
You can improve your tone by practicing long tones if you know what to listen for! When you're doing any tonal practice, you need to concentrate on what your tone sounds like. However, that's easier said then done. Because, well, what are you listening for? Are You...
Why Can’t I Get My Low C?
What do you do when you just can’t get your Low C to come out? Sometimes you're going for that Low C, and nothing comes out! You just can't get it no matter how hard you try, that Low C won't come out - Ugh! Here are the 2 most common reasons that I’ve found as to why...
Bad Tone Day? What to Do!
We as flute players go through a journey that takes our tone up and down. I remember going through periods of time where one day my tone was good and I started riding high but the very next day it was bad. Then the next day it was good again and so on. I really...
Practice Articulation
Do you practice articulation? I mean all sorts of different kinds of articulation? If not you should. Articulation is done by using the tongue, which is a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to work properly when called upon. If you are needing a fast tongue no...
Practice Harmonics to Improve Your Tone
Practice harmonics! They're a fantastic addition to your tonal practice. They’ll add resonance to your tone, and open up your sound, adding the colors and the resonance that a tone needs. What are Harmonics? If you haven't practiced harmonics before here is what they...