over-working your practising? Try Underwood....
The teachings of Keith Underwood. Wowza!!
Please check these brilliant methods out and trust me, they work instantly. You simply must try them!!
Watch the Keith Underwood (brilliant!) videos at these links:
Benefits of Buzzing:
Buzzing 101: "how to buzz"
Tongue controlled embouchure and support.
You will achieve so much more than you ever dreamed possible with these techniques. And there are even more "free classes with Underwood" in these interview videos.
Have you been over-working yourself when you practice?
Have you been on a flute hiatus and need to get your lip back?
Well face-fatigue be gone!! :>)
Ease of play becomes fabulouso!!
Try Underwood's ideas.
You can only learn something that makes your life a whole lot easier!
Hope this helps.
Best,
Jen
Please check these brilliant methods out and trust me, they work instantly. You simply must try them!!
Watch the Keith Underwood (brilliant!) videos at these links:
Benefits of Buzzing:
Buzzing 101: "how to buzz"
Tongue controlled embouchure and support.
You will achieve so much more than you ever dreamed possible with these techniques. And there are even more "free classes with Underwood" in these interview videos.
Have you been over-working yourself when you practice?
Have you been on a flute hiatus and need to get your lip back?
Well face-fatigue be gone!! :>)
Ease of play becomes fabulouso!!
Try Underwood's ideas.
You can only learn something that makes your life a whole lot easier!
Hope this helps.
Best,
Jen
posted by jen at 11:39 PM
permalink
Comments (6)
I am not certain if this is related, but I have just started playing publically at our church and I notice that, in practice, I can clearly hit a 4th C, whereas in public I can barely hit the E without a tenuous sound (at best) or a horrible screeling sound (at worst)......it is quite discouraging....will buzzing help that? If not, what will.....I attribute it to nerves and I try to practice at least 5 days a week, with long notes and high register studies, but this aspect continues to plague me....advice is most welcome.....
Dear David,
The first few times you play in public, your adrenalin is at its craziest, due to novelty. That means all sorts of weird things happen:
- mouth goes dry, lips go dry, hands tremble, fingers go cold etc. or
- flute gets turned inward (high notes can't come out if flute is dramatically rolled inward on the chin) or
- lips go numb (can't find their regular embouchure position) or
- hands clench which repositions the flute
- breathing gets noisy
- breath doesn't last as long (hard to breathe in deeply)
- sound quality of the new space gets confusing because new
- pitch goes funny
- tone hard to control (shaking lips)
- ears go deaf (closed ear canals due to nerves, clenching)
- jaw and back get tight
etc. etc.
All the above is normal.
If you can watch a video of your playing, or have your teacher listen to a recording, you may be able to pinpoint what exactly happened when your high register malfunctioned.
But in general:
We all just keep performing until the novelty wears off and most of the typical adrenalin problems will diminish.
Good luck, and let me know if you figure out what exactly happened.
Jen
In my case, the lips seem to become less controllable and, worse, seem to become less able to become sufficiently tight for the very high notes. Worse, they also tremble, which causes a very tenuous sounding 3rd E. The moment I get home and try the same note, I have no problems and the illness is magically cured. Admittedly, sometimes I consider that, perhaps, I am not meant to play the flute (publically at least). As I said it is very discouraging since those are probably the best notes to play on the instrument.......I have been playing publically now for a year and the problem does not seem to be resolving. I am going to try the buzzing in any case. I don't have a teacher anymore since I live out in a distant suburb from the city, and good teachers tend to be located quite a distance away. Still, I love the instrument and strive to continue to develop.....I am extremely appreciative of your site and your willingness to advise.......
Thanks for the explanation; yes, this is typical. Buzzing can be good for getting your upper lip more active. And distance-shmistance! Go for a lesson or two to get help. It could be that your embouchure has changed slightly over the year and is imbalanced, making it more likely to get thrown out of balance when adrenalin hits.
A good teacher can spot what the problem is, likely. Best, Jen
"Distance-shmistance" :-D That is way too funny. I am driving up to Canada now to get some lessons from the Maestro herself. (joking). I would if I could. On the other hand, I may indeed, sign up for internet lessons with you someday. Your advice on your blog is very very helpful. Much more so than the three last teachers I have had through the course of my life......which is another point that I cannot necessarily bandy about publically. Teacher quality is hit or miss. I have had three strikes in that regard and do not have money to throw at more bad teachers.......I suggest you do not post this but your call.......
Dear David,
I know that there are bad teachers.
Half the time I'm answering questions from people who aren't going for lessons (and should) and the other half I'm trying to turn around people who've had bad teaching.
My advice on finding the BEST teacher you can afford is here:
http://www.jennifercluff.com/finding.htm
It's unlikely the music dept. of the best University or Conservatory in your area has a bad flute teacher. But it's quite possible that the music stores (where they underpay inexperienced teachers) have less qualified teachers.
I no longer teach by Skype, sorry.
Good luck finding the best teacher! :>)
Jen