Reply To: How to get flutes to play a decrescendo

[nafmeadmin]

Keep them rolling! The easy way to play a flute/pic in tune is to keep adjusting. It’s the air that has to change for dynamics and that same air controls pitch levels. Their ears need to be wide open and they need to learn to control their pitch by air and rolling. I’ve heard teachers warn against rolling because it alters hand position and whatnot but as a doubler, I need the quick fix. I (and probably your students) don’t have time to perfect controlling my air and especially not to extremes with ppp so my advice would be to roll in to make the pitch lower and roll out to make it higher. You can also think about dropping the jaw to make the pitch lower and raising it for higher. haha-also, in general my eyebrows do a lot to keep pitch consistent!