Search found 56 matches

by est
Sun May 07, 2023 8:27 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Beginner flute upgrade: Galeon or Copley?
Replies: 17
Views: 4097

Re: Beginner flute upgrade: Galeon or Copley?

I had a a Tony Dixon flute (replaceable head joint with a whistle, so probably same as yours). It was a good starter, IMHO, but it had very real limitations and after about 6 months I felt like I needed a bit more to keep moving forward. I ended up with one of Geoffrey Ellis' Ebonite flutes https://...
by est
Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:31 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Flute Playing and Health?
Replies: 20
Views: 4449

Flute Playing and Health?

I've read a couple of news stories about research discussing 2 different benefits from breath related activities: 4/7/8 is a technique that is supposed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system which is what the body uses to bring you down from stress. The technique involves drawing in breath f...
by est
Mon Aug 29, 2022 8:43 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Slow Key-Easy Fix?
Replies: 10
Views: 2881

Re: Slow Key-Easy Fix?

Final resolution of my slow F! So, the problem had come and gone. I could usually get it to behave with some agressive toggling before I started to play so it wasn't a huge concern. But...after a big swig of coffee, I decided to pull the key out and inspect it. Turns out, it was super goopy around t...
by est
Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:23 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: To Vent or Not To Vent....Eb
Replies: 7
Views: 1492

Re: To Vent or Not To Vent....Eb

Modern Irish flutes, unlike 19th century simple system flutes, do not need venting in the first two octaves. It's only needed for some notes in the 3rd octave. Check Tom Aebi's fingering charts on his new website: https://wooden-flute.com :) My use of the Eb isn't to correct pitch. For most of the ...
by est
Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:35 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: To Vent or Not To Vent....Eb
Replies: 7
Views: 1492

Re: To Vent or Not To Vent....Eb

So, when I say Vent the Eb, I mean letting my pinky rest with the Eb key down on notes that aren't affected, such as F# and above (E is affected on one register and less so in the other..so I may or may not leave the Eb key depressed for an E...obviously the D doesn't vent well on the Eb... :) The o...
by est
Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:04 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: To Vent or Not To Vent....Eb
Replies: 7
Views: 1492

To Vent or Not To Vent....Eb

So, I have a nice 6 key wooden flute that I've been playing for a bit more than a year, focussing largely on playing Irish Traditional. I'm still learning to play the flute and have no teacher, so this is entirely me stumbling around in the dark :) A few months back, I began putting serious effort i...
by est
Wed Jul 13, 2022 4:02 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Any Tips for Slurring Into 3rd Register?
Replies: 11
Views: 2027

Re: Any Tips for Slurring Into 3rd Register?

Thanks for these great replies! I guess I knew that the harmonics existed but that didn't really occur to me. That does sound like a good start. As for fingerings, I have been working on getting those cleaner, but I'd be OK with some blurred intermediary notes as long as they were legato....as it is...
by est
Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:58 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Any Tips for Slurring Into 3rd Register?
Replies: 11
Views: 2027

Re: Any Tips for Slurring Into 3rd Register?

Sorry, I should have said this is with a 6 key flute. With the C key, that 2rd register C is nice and clear. The normal cross-fingering for it results in a 3rd register D, so if you are used to using that for a passage and then decide to try it "up top", you'll find you have to retrain you...
by est
Fri Jul 08, 2022 5:51 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Any Tips for Slurring Into 3rd Register?
Replies: 11
Views: 2027

Any Tips for Slurring Into 3rd Register?

I've been working on learning to play a Bach Sonata on my wooden flute and I'm finally getting to the point where I can actually make some of it sound musical! However, there are a number of phrases where you slur up from C or Bb (both 2rd register) up to the 3rd register E. I have finally gotten to...
by est
Sun Jun 12, 2022 3:35 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: inserting pin into key
Replies: 9
Views: 2250

Re: inserting pin into key

If there's a woodwind repairer or a silversmith/jeweller in town, they could probably do it for you at very little cost. There is a tech that a classical flute player recommended for simple repairs (she goes to Atlanta for more involved repairs). I'll check to see if he's still doing work in the ar...
by est
Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:52 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: inserting pin into key
Replies: 9
Views: 2250

Re: inserting pin into key

OK, three thoughts. Let's take them in reverse order.... 1. Which way do you have the pin in the G# block? I insert the pin from the "top" side of the flute - so that the head of the pin is closest to the line of the fingerholes. I figure if the pin does come loose, it's unlikely to drop ...
by est
Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:31 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Poll: How do you describe your embouchure?
Replies: 2
Views: 1659

Re: Poll: How do you describe your embouchure?

I've tried a few different things from weird smile to just pulling the corners of my mouth apart. My issues with the smile was that I was probably overdoing it and my high notes suffered greatly, though, the low notes did get the right overtones. What I'm finding is most helpful is warming up with s...
by est
Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:26 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: inserting pin into key
Replies: 9
Views: 2250

Re: inserting pin into key

Sorry I'm too late to help, but well done on solving the problem! Not a problem. I should have paid more attention in the first place, I think. But thank you for the reply all the same! If the ends on the pins are cut square across (to be flush with the far side of the slot when fully home), it's a...
by est
Sat Jun 04, 2022 7:13 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: inserting pin into key
Replies: 9
Views: 2250

Re: inserting pin into key

Phew! I managed to get it in after paying a bit more attention to how far in the top of the key sits below to the top of the block. I wasn't lowering the key far enough to ever find the hole with the pin. I was really struggling with the G# this morning, so I wonder now if the pin had actually worke...
by est
Sat Jun 04, 2022 7:05 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: inserting pin into key
Replies: 9
Views: 2250

inserting pin into key

So, somehow, while trying to wipe some moisture from around the 3rd hole with my t-shirt this morning, I managed to catch the pin on the shirt and pulled it out, leaving my G# key floating inside it's little home, luckily kept in place by the long F key. I'm really struggling to get the pin inserted...