What is Eskin doing in this tune?

[fearfeasog]

Hi all, I'm a noob, and a bit puzzled by what I'm seeing in this here vid by Mr. Eskin:



http://youtu.be/hwZJTGE6v0c

in the A part, the tune begins |DGG GAG | FDE =F2E| etc...

at about 1:13 in the video above, (or any other time he plays the A part probably) Michael plays the first F of the A part, but it looks as though he's double tapping it. is this right? in other words, instead of just coming down on the F once, he looks to be coming down twice. I suppose it's possible that he's tapping the E below and I'm seeing it wrong. Anyone have a clue?

thanks, ff

[MTGuru]

Michael plays the first F of the A part, but it looks as though he's double tapping it. is this right?

Yes, sort of. It's a bounce, and a pretty common ornament on the F# in particular. Instead of just coming down on the note, you let your finger rebound upwards once from the force of the downstroke before settling back onto the hole. The effect is of a slight flutter as you descend to the note.

Think of dropping a marble onto a hard surface from a short height - say, half the diameter. The marble will bounce a few times, faster and faster, until it settles onto the surface. That's the effect you're going for, but only one bounce. Come down with a fairly high, firm stoke, with your entire finger quite rigid. Then let the finger bounce up a tiny distance, very quickly, and back down.

Yes, it's a double tap. But that's not how to think of it. You're not pushing your finger down twice. You're striking it down once and letting it bounce once at the very beginning of the note.

Hope that helps.

[fearfeasog]

Absolutely. I'll have to give that a go! Thanks.

[eskin]

Yep, double bounce on the descending F#. MTGuru has it exactly right.

[Feadoggie]

You might hear some players refer to this as "tipping".

I have had particular difficulty with this action since experiencing a neurological disease some years back. A couple players on the flute forum gave me some good insights on how to approach it. MTGuru's marble analogy is quite good. Here's another good one.

I think the common mistake that beginners to this decoration make is that they leave their finger on the flute too long. Finger bounce is a good description of what's going on. The technique that I always teach in workshops is to imagine that the surface of the flute is hot and that you are trying with your finger just to see how hot it is, so you are trying to touch it for as short a time as possible. You should not be able to hear a pitch for the cut or tip, just a distinct interruption of the note so decorated.

Hammy

You'll always find that the whistle is not too hot and let the finger settle down on the hole.

Hope that helps.

Feadoggie

[fearfeasog]

Yep, double bounce on the descending F#. MTGuru has it exactly right.

wondered if you'd answer yourself. thanks, mr. Sir. It's a lovely thing you did, putting scads of my favorite tunes on youtube for me! thanks!

[fearfeasog]

You might hear some players refer to this as "tipping".

I have had particular difficulty with this action since experiencing a neurological disease some years back. A couple players on the flute forum gave me some good insights on how to approach it. MTGuru's marble analogy is quite good. Here's another good one.

I think the common mistake that beginners to this decoration make is that they leave their finger on the flute too long. Finger bounce is a good description of what's going on. The technique that I always teach in workshops is to imagine that the surface of the flute is hot and that you are trying with your finger just to see how hot it is, so you are trying to touch it for as short a time as possible. You should not be able to hear a pitch for the cut or tip, just a distinct interruption of the note so decorated.

Hammy

You'll always find that the whistle is not too hot and let the finger settle down on the hole.

Hope that helps.

Feadoggie

a good analogy always helps, thanks!

[rhulsey]

fearfeasog -

In case you haven't seen this little jewel, please have a look!

http://tinyurl.com/d48r7rp

Reg

[MTGuru]

I should add that there's no need to restrict the ornament to F# - as a mentor of mine once chided me. You can bounce when descending stepwise onto any open hole. The F# is common, perhaps because the B1 finger tends to be the strongest playing finger. Just don't overdo it, or you'll sound like you've downed waaay too many espressos.

[DrPhill]

fearfeasog -

In case you haven't seen this little jewel, please have a look!

http://tinyurl.com/d48r7rp

Reg

And just in case y'all missed the reference..........

[ytliek]

fearfeasog -

In case you haven't seen this little jewel, please have a look!

http://tinyurl.com/d48r7rp

Reg

And just in case y'all missed the reference..........

Well that makes everything easy... the left hand does have to know what the right hand is doing.

[fearfeasog]

[Jan >^..^<]

fearfeasog -

In case you haven't seen this little jewel, please have a look!

http://tinyurl.com/d48r7rp

Reg

That was cool! Liked the tune, too!