Long tones are great for your sound. They help you to learn how to focus the sound and to regulate vibrato. I find that you can get a lot more from your long tones if you have some things to concentrate on while you are playing.
It is so easy to lose concentration while you are playing long tones. They are by their very nature long. When they are played, the mind can wander to other issues that are not even flute related. But by understanding what you are listening for and what to work on while playing long tones they can do a whole lot more for your tone then you think.
Do You Lose Focus?
So how about you? How many times do you play your long tones and you’re not really thinking about what’s going on in your long tones? I, for one have thought about what I’m making for supper tonight, who must be picked up from which activity after school today, and where everybody needs to go tomorrow or over the weekend, just to name a few.
I’m a culprit of not always having a concentrated tone practice. If we can concentrate while practicing long tones, we can accomplish so much more in the same amount of time. When we think more carefully while practicing, we will make them much more successful.
Focus on Vibrato
One thing to think about when playing long tones is vibrato. When we perform solos we need to use a variety of vibratos. We don’t learn one vibrato and that is it. Now I do have a default vibrato. One that I use if I just pick my flute up and play. We all have one go-to vibrato. But we should not want to use that vibrato all the time.
Concentrating on a different vibrato while you practice long tones gives you something very tangible to work on. It will help you to listen to your tone, while you are listening to your vibrato. If I am working on a new vibrato speed and my mind begins to wander, I will resort back to my default vibrato. So, it is a good tool to keep me on track.
Focus on Tone Color
Another thing to concentrate on is tone color. While most of us have a default vibrato, many also have a default sound, or tone color. But in some pieces, I may want to play with a darker color or a baroque color or a light sound. These are all different from my default sound and would require me to concentrate on their production.
While you practice your long tones, practice different tone colors. Work on getting a different sound. This becomes yet another to tool to keep you focused during long tone practice.
Focus on Tapers
Do you work on tapers while you are working on your long tones? These are torturous little buggers that make a huge difference in solo performances. A beautiful taper can really make a piece. It can show the difference between an amateur and a professional.
Tapers do not come naturally for me. I need to work on them to make them sound beautiful. So, I have learned to work at making the most beautiful taper at the end of every long tone. It is the perfect time to work on tapers.
Give yourself something to concentrate on when practicing long tones. If you work on vibrato, tone color, and tapers this will keep your focus while you are practicing and performing. With more focus, you will then get more from your long tones. They will stop being drudgery and start becoming your favorite part of practicing!
Have fun!
DoctorFlute
Watch me demonstrate this idea:
Get More from Your Long Tones – FluteTips 150
5 Things That You Do That Can Ruin Your Flute Tone – FluteTips 136
Tone Color from Nina Assimakopoulos book The Virtuosic Flutist FluteTips 107
Getting Your Tone Back in Shape FluteTips 89
