When I was a beginner , I skipped harmonic excercises because I hadn't a clue, but thanks to this video, I can see this is actually a hack to improve air flow, breathing, and improving embouchure.
Tatiana! Wow!! Thank you so much :) I am working on a song for an ensemble that frequents the high F and it's been an uncomfortable struggle. I did this harmonics exercise several times and now reaching that high F is a breeze and it sounds amazing. I can't thank you enough!🥰
I like that you demonstrate playing them without effort; that is, there's no punching at each pitch when going from one harmonic to the next. So interesting!
Harmonics is a topic I just started really learning about after playing for 17 years. It's weird to think about how when we play a note we are actually playing a chord. And the combination of notes and their intensities is endless, so many different tone colours to play with and learn.
Totally! My flute teacher @ the Cleveland Institute of Music taught me that when 2 flutists are perfectly in tune, and then play in harmony, such as with major or minor sixths or thirds, that an “undertone” may be heard. Sure enough, I can hear a low, low pitch rumbling below what the flute can play, from which both players’ notes can be derived “harmonically.” I’ve long wondered what that note - defined by a fundamental below what I and another flutists are playing, might be determined. It’s there so fleetingly… Now I determined to figure this out…lol. But this all comes around to why an ensemble sounds SO much richer when it is tune. Additional notes are rumbling around between everyone’s pitches. BTW, I am a former elementary band director. Each year I’d check that the bass drum was pitched to a low Bb because everything was in B flat something. Tuning the bass drum (something supposedly not possible - not possible) so helped my students sound much better!🎉
Yes! Those are so called difference tones. From what I understand they are supposed to be a psychoacoustic phenomenon which means our brains are actually constructing that that sound for the two frequencies. It’s really cool and you can spend time tuning that note as well. We should have some more fun with this on the channel!
@@TheFlutePractice Thank you! I guess I’ll put the bit of knowledge I retained from taking Acoustics of Music @ Case Tech in 1976 and that I applied to a course, “Harry Partch: Life and Times,” at Montclair State University, 2011- obviously developing a tiny comprehension of his music world that swirls all around harmonics, truly, to figuring out the undertones/difference tones.
Great suggestions! I had been looking into harmonics, but you've offered more exciting possibilities for exploration! One thing I had learned from a flute maker/orchestral player is that the flute, being a C instrument, will play C from middle C in harmonics and should be in tune on every level and is a good test of the flutes mechanics and pads.
The top harmonic is easiest to get, the lower your starting point. For example the top possible harmonic is easier to get if you start on low C than if you start on D. It never occurred to me to play a set of harmonics on A or Bb I assumed a full range of harmonics up to the 5th harmonic, as can be achieved on lower notes, would be impossible starting as high as A. Is this true? I have never taken the time to learn anything higher than a D over top C and I hardly ever play anything that goes higher than 3rd octave C.
Also, I have to say-this is really helping me with my 3rd register! I have a tendency to tighten and overblow my high notes, so they sort of scream. This enabled me to play my high notes for the first time without screaming, which is totally exciting! Now I actually see a path to playing high notes softly!
While "overblowing" is the commonly used term, its not very descriptive of what's going on. Although it's a mouthful, I find "over-relying on increasing the amount of air, in order to increase the pitch". "Overblowing" has this kind of negativity whereas sometimes, we do want your "screaming" overblown high notes, but not every time.
@Meatiecheeksboy Yes, I think overblowing can also be a specific technique that, we sometimes do actually need (Looking at you G to A trill in the 3rd octave 👀) hehehe…this is where the Germans are great. They would find a way to turn that sentence into one word 😅
When I was a beginner , I skipped harmonic excercises because I hadn't a clue, but thanks to this video, I can see this is actually a hack to improve air flow, breathing, and improving embouchure.
Yay!They are so great 😃
Tatiana! Wow!! Thank you so much :) I am working on a song for an ensemble that frequents the high F and it's been an uncomfortable struggle. I did this harmonics exercise several times and now reaching that high F is a breeze and it sounds amazing. I can't thank you enough!🥰
Thank you for the video and practice sheet. The purpose of practicing harmonics has so far been a mystery but now I believe I understand the value.
Wonderful!!! Enjoy it 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I like that you demonstrate playing them without effort; that is, there's no punching at each pitch when going from one harmonic to the next. So interesting!
Thus demonstrating that overblowing is not necessary! 😁
Yes! I think harmonics can be used in an unhelpful way too. It’s again about ‘how’ you practice them, not what
Excellent, very useful
Harmonics is a topic I just started really learning about after playing for 17 years. It's weird to think about how when we play a note we are actually playing a chord. And the combination of notes and their intensities is endless, so many different tone colours to play with and learn.
Totally! My flute teacher @ the Cleveland Institute of Music taught me that when 2 flutists are perfectly in tune, and then play in harmony, such as with major or minor sixths or thirds, that an “undertone” may be heard. Sure enough, I can hear a low, low pitch rumbling below what the flute can play, from which both players’ notes can be derived “harmonically.” I’ve long wondered what that note - defined by a fundamental below what I and another flutists are playing, might be determined. It’s there so fleetingly…
Now I determined to figure this out…lol.
But this all comes around to why an ensemble sounds SO much richer when it is tune. Additional notes are rumbling around between everyone’s pitches.
BTW, I am a former elementary band director. Each year I’d check that the bass drum was pitched to a low Bb because everything was in B flat something. Tuning the bass drum (something supposedly not possible - not possible) so helped my students sound much better!🎉
Absolutely! It’s amazing how all our harmony is right there in just a single note.
Yes! Those are so called difference tones. From what I understand they are supposed to be a psychoacoustic phenomenon which means our brains are actually constructing that that sound for the two frequencies. It’s really cool and you can spend time tuning that note as well. We should have some more fun with this on the channel!
@@TheFlutePractice Thank you! I guess I’ll put the bit of knowledge I retained from taking Acoustics of Music @ Case Tech in 1976 and that I applied to a course, “Harry Partch: Life and Times,” at Montclair State University, 2011- obviously developing a tiny comprehension of his music world that swirls all around harmonics, truly, to figuring out the undertones/difference tones.
Great instruction! Thanks!
Excellent. Merci beaucoup. Ludique. Bon échauffement.. Donne envie de prendre sa flute et de travailler. Merci pour ce travail que vous nous offrir.
Can’t wait for your air speed video I need help with this!!
Wonderful video - thank you!!🎉🎉🎉🎉
Pleasure!
Amazing! This is opening up a whole new room of learning - thank you so much!
Pleasure!
"how to" videos like these are very helpful! 😊
Will do more!!!
Great suggestions! I had been looking into harmonics, but you've offered more exciting possibilities for exploration! One thing I had learned from a flute maker/orchestral player is that the flute, being a C instrument, will play C from middle C in harmonics and should be in tune on every level and is a good test of the flutes mechanics and pads.
Absolutely! Can be used to help find the optimal tuning for an instrument. It’s very cool!
@annham4136 That's so interesting!! Apparently my flute needs a tune-up... 🤔
The top harmonic is easiest to get, the lower your starting point. For example the top possible harmonic is easier to get if you start on low C than if you start on D. It never occurred to me to play a set of harmonics on A or Bb I assumed a full range of harmonics up to the 5th harmonic, as can be achieved on lower notes, would be impossible starting as high as A. Is this true? I have never taken the time to learn anything higher than a D over top C and I hardly ever play anything that goes higher than 3rd octave C.
I think the term you want instead of "blow harder" is "overblowing." 😁
Also, I have to say-this is really helping me with my 3rd register! I have a tendency to tighten and overblow my high notes, so they sort of scream. This enabled me to play my high notes for the first time without screaming, which is totally exciting! Now I actually see a path to playing high notes softly!
While "overblowing" is the commonly used term, its not very descriptive of what's going on.
Although it's a mouthful, I find "over-relying on increasing the amount of air, in order to increase the pitch".
"Overblowing" has this kind of negativity whereas sometimes, we do want your "screaming" overblown high notes, but not every time.
@@Meatiecheeksboy "Overblowing" works for me. 😁
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 glad it’s helping your high notes!
@Meatiecheeksboy
Yes, I think overblowing can also be a specific technique that, we sometimes do actually need (Looking at you G to A trill in the 3rd octave 👀) hehehe…this is where the Germans are great. They would find a way to turn that sentence into one word 😅
I could barely hear the differences.