2002-11-18 - 7:05 p.m.
Today I had my 4th lesson. Notes are recorded below:
- Blow lower for low notes without dropping head.
- Blow higher for high notes (jaw and lips forward).
- No more "kiss and roll" - flute is too high on face.
- Breathing - make sure your abdomen expands not contracts.
- Hand position - fix R.H. thumb - get corn pad or masking tape.
- Try evening out embouchure - bottom lip and jaw forard so top lip doesn't hang over so much.
- Keep R.H. fingers above key.
- Practice C-D 25x everyday.
- GO SLOWER.
So now I understand that to play higher notes my lips have to make the air hole smaller. No need to blow harder. One important thing is to keep the flute in position and not to move my jaws too much so the relative position of flute changes. Also, different notes need (sometimes slightly) different ways of blowing, even just from high B to high G. Blowing is just as important as fingering in making the right sound.
And my breathing is very much in need of improvement. Watch out not to grip too tight on the flute.
Finally my flute book arrived. Cost $6.95 plus $3.95 shipping from Creative Music.
