by Dr. Angela McBrearty | Oct 10, 2019 | Embouchure, FluteTips, Performing, Tone
There’s a lot of discussion out in the world today in the flute world about the sound that you should have and the style of which you should play Baroque music. I am not the world’s best expert at stylistic performance. Although I think I’ve got it...
by Dr. Angela McBrearty | May 28, 2019 | Embouchure, FluteTips, Piccolo, Support
If you’ve ever played piccolo, and sometimes in the high register on the flute, you know what I’m talking about. When you’re playing in that upper octave, the third octave of the flute and the third octave on the piccolo and your lips buzz. It is a...
by Dr. Angela McBrearty | May 23, 2019 | Daily Routine, Embouchure, FluteTips, Practice, Tone
We all want beautiful phrase endings. It is really what separates the professional from the amateur. When I hear flutists play with a beautiful ending to a phrase, whether in the middle of a piece or at the end, I know I need to take a second listen. How does this...
by Dr. Angela McBrearty | May 16, 2019 | Embouchure, FluteTips, High Register, Piccolo
When we choose to play piccolo it’s often because we enjoy the high tessitura. Let’s face it, we all like playing that 3rd octave. It’s pretty cool. But those high notes come with a price tag. That price tag is learning to get those notes without...
by Dr. Angela McBrearty | Apr 25, 2019 | Daily Routine, Embouchure, FluteTips, Harmonics, Tone
In a previous blog/video I’ve talked about practicing harmonics by playing Reveille and the very positive effect this can have on tone. Now, I’m revisiting harmonics with a new exercise that will help to increase resonance in your tone. Match Pitch to the...
by Dr. Angela McBrearty | Apr 11, 2019 | Daily Routine, Embouchure, FluteTips, High Register, Practice, Support
We all want our third octave notes to be easier to play. But much of the time of those notes are difficult to get. You feel like you are blowing against a wall or there’s just a hiss that’s coming out or you are so tight that the tone barely squeaks out...