Finger Gym - by Paul Edmund-Davies
For intermediate and advanced flutists, Paul Edmund-Davies has put free "Finger Gym" exercises with explanations on how to play them, all on his site called "Simply Flute".
Here is a pdf of the Finger Gym for printing.
If you're a novice or intermediate player or are just re-commencing, after a break, see these super fun practice pages with trill chart and all the best hints. Go to: "How to get faster fingers."
If you use both these printable pdf resources, and play absolutely
S-L-O-W-L-Y and loosely, just sensitive and slow enough to truly focus on finger facility for just a few minutes a day, you'll be one fleet-fingered duderoo. :>) Don't do too much in a day. 15 minutes is fine for finger focus. Stay loose. :>)
Best, Jen
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Finger Gym Exercises by Paul Edmund-Davies at his blog (more dots per inch in jpg).
No. 1 No. 2 No.3 No.4
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Good terminology question from comments below:
What is "long" B-flat?
Answer:
Thumb, LH1, RH1, D#lever or:
1 | 1 4
T
posted by jen at 1:54 PM
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Comments (4)
Evil, evil, evil, and probably very helpful. I'll give them a try. Thank you for providing them. One question: what is "long B-flat" fingering?
Dear Moana,
Excellent question.
The British use "long" when they are referring to adding flute keys from the right hand.
More fingers down the scale to the right seems to equal "longer". :>)
Long B-flat is Thumb, 1 and 1.
Long B-flat is fingered:
1 |1 4
T
This is of course, our standard Bb that is usually the first one learned.
Here's all the info. on B-flat fingerings with pictures and hand-outs for any students out there looking for them:
Using all three B-flat fingerings:
Part 1
http://jennifercluff.blogspot.ca/2012/08/why-work-on-standard-b-flat-fingering.html
Part 2
http://jennifercluff.blogspot.ca/2013/06/dear-flute-lovers-discussion-has-come.html
Of interest:
The British also say "Long G#3" or "Long high Ab fingering" which means:
Add ring and middle fingers of the right hand to the standard fingering for high Ab to flatten and darken the pitch and tone.
This is how I'm guessing "long" is used: More fingers to the right.
ie:
Long Ab3: to flatten and darken high Ab
234| 234
Thanks, Jen! I didn't know he had a regular blog. Has he posted any other helpful flutey articles/exercises? Best wishes, Susan Maclagan, author "A Dictionary for the Modern Flutist"
Hi Susan! Nice to see you here! :>)
I'm not sure; just search through, I guess. I do have his book "The 28 Day Warm Up Book". Do you have that? Fabulouso. Very musical! Jen