Tension is the antithesis of a good sound. It brings with it impurities and blemishes, causes problems with intonation, makes you sound like your squeezing your tone out like the last bit of toothpaste from a tube and impedes moving freely between registers.
Finger Busters
Here’s an exercise I use with younger players to challenge and extend them with their scales. It’s more interesting and beneficial than just going up and down a scale. Of course it can be altered as required; various keys, ranges and articulation.
Desert Island Tone Exercise
This is a fabulous tone exercise requiring great embouchure control, from my friend and mentor Elizabeth Koch. Start very softly, make a huge crescendo, slur up the octave seamlessly, glide across the semitone and diminuendo beautifully!
Simply Breathe
Here’s an article I wrote about how we breathe. Hopefully you’ll find it useful.
My Favourite Quote
Taffanel once said the breath is the soul of the flute. Worthwhile keeping at the forefront of your mind.
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