Tips on playing fast?

    
Tips on playing fast?    20:40 on Tuesday, April 9, 2013          

lindseyluvzflute
(9 points)

My fingers don't move together on the higher notes, how do I cahnge this? no matter what, there's always a couple of fingers that refuse to move with the others to the next note (and it's pretty fast so it messes up the runs altogether)


Re: Tips on playing fast?    23:26 on Tuesday, April 9, 2013          

jim22
(247 points)
Posted by jim22

Start very slowly and carefully, and use a metronome. As you get more dextrous, increase the metronome tempo.
Jim


Re: Tips on playing fast?    13:13 on Wednesday, April 10, 2013          

dianamarbles
(23 points)
Posted by dianamarbles

I agree with Jim, but also, practice your scales in all 3 octaves to the point that they become second nature to you. Most "fast parts" of flute music are just scales and arpeggios. It's extremely unlikely they will just be random notes with no musical relationship to each other. Everything fits into a certain scale or arpeggio somehow, and figuring it out can sometimes be tricky, but that's why music theory is so important to learn and know.


Re: Tips on playing fast?    03:06 on Tuesday, April 23, 2013          

Whatisseo
(1 point)
Posted by Whatisseo

I got the same problem, but i had some help learn to control my fingers right.
Some teachers specialize in this!


Re: Tips on playing fast?    08:28 on Tuesday, April 23, 2013          

Bilbo
(1340 points)
Posted by Bilbo

My fingers don't move together on the higher notes, how do I cahnge this?


1)Make sure that your hand position is correct. If not, your support of the flute gets in the way of your dexterity.

2)Always work slowly to fast. When playing slowly, practice moving your fingers quickly. This means to hold out until the last instant and then move to the next fingering.

3)Work in sections & small groupings ...even if it's only two, three or four notes. (for example F#3 > A3) Be creative in your practice and make up small exercises to zero in on your specific issues.

4)It does not hurt to exaggerate the lifting of the fingers to develop strength because that is where the weaknesses are generally is located.

5)Practice different articulations and rhythms. Slurred practicing is important to spot finger issues. Most quick passages generally have less complicated rhythms. -like all 16th notes. Try using dotted rhythms. Long>short>Long>Short. Reverse the dotted rhythms to play short notes before longer ones.

6)Practice these things above with intent to improve your playing in some aspect. It is a form of physical exercise. Pay attention to your product.

7)Do not practice your high notes loudly. It's damaging to the aural senses.


Re: Tips on playing fast?    12:33 on Tuesday, April 23, 2013          

lindseyluvzflute
(9 points)

Thanks for the detailed tips Bilbo. but i notice an annoying problem with my F1 to A1 and F2 to A2...my forth finger in my left hand cant seem to lift with the second finger on the right. i practiced this like you said, but when i put it into context in the piece, it bloops again.


Re: Tips on playing fast?    12:53 on Wednesday, April 24, 2013          

Watcher
(58 points)
Posted by Watcher

Congratulations! You've found one of your mental blind spots - an odd little area of your subconscious where, for whatever reason, your synapses don't want to bridge the gap and learn a particuar skill. I see this a lot in the martial arts, where a student can to either of two techniques easily, but can't string them together to save his life.

These blind spots are frustrating, as they don't respond to reasonable efforts to overcome them. The answer is to apply unreasonable effort.

Do everything Bilbo said to do. Then do it again. And again. Play it backwards. Play it standing on one foot. Make up your own variation how how to play it. Expand the section by one note. Then another. Keep at it until you are doing it in your sleep, and your fingers are drumming the pattern absent-mindedly while you read the paper.

Some people are naturally talented, and run into these issues rarely or never. But in my experience, its the persistent people who succeed more often than the talented ones.


Re: Tips on playing fast?    15:14 on Monday, July 29, 2013          

PhilOShite
(152 points)
Posted by PhilOShite

When the hour glass appears, put your hands down on the desk and try lifting the 2 fingers together repeatedly. I suppose if you can do it without looking stupid, try the excercise on an air flute etc.


Re: Tips on playing fast?    11:14 on Friday, August 16, 2013          

Bilbo
(1340 points)
Posted by Bilbo

".....cant seem to lift with the second finger on the right. i practiced this like you said, but when i put it into context in the piece, it bloops again."
Interesting. Maybe it may have to do with the notes before or after the F > A fingering location.
What are the notes before and after those two notes?


   




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