Playing in tune is one of the most important aspects of playing the flute. It is also the bane of our existence. Wouldn’t a perfectly in tune flute be a wonderful thing? However, until that beast is invented we must use every tool in our toolkit to play in tune.
One tool that can be used that not everyone knows about is air and not just any air mind you but air in your checks. Now I’m not talking about puffing out your cheeks like the trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie. No cheeks are puffed out. It’s a more subtle putting air in your cheeks.
Most of the time when I put air in my cheeks, no one would know. You have options to experiment with. You can either put air on one side, both sides or in the upper lip. This technique can help lower the pitch especially on 3rd octave notes. Pull out your tuner and begin to experiment with the air. I would suggest you ascend using arpeggios. Watch the tuner while putting air in either cheek or upper lip. I generally use air in the right cheek. It helps enough to bring down the pitch for those last few niggly cents.
There is no right or wrong. Use whatever helps.
You need to work with this technique in practice for a time to learn what can be done with your tone. When you get it worked out it is a blessing for that 3rd octave. Adding air to your cheeks loosens your embouchure slightly. So, make sure that you keep the air pressure the same so that you don’t crack.
So, the next time you are playing a ff in your upper octaves, experiment with adding air in your cheeks and see if that helps you bring the pitch down just enough.
Good luck!
DoctorFlute
Watch me demonstrate this: Putting Air in Your Cheeks to Lower Your Pitch – FluteTips 32
You Can’t Have a Good High Register Without Having a Really Good Low Register – FluteTips 172
Resonate to Improve Your Tone – FluteTips 178
