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Flute/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Sound and Tonguing Technique Disappeared | 2/9/2012 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: Hope you're well. I've been playing the flute for about 8 years and am working towards my ABRSM ... A: Sara. Thank you for your question. If your sound has very suddenly gone bad, it is probably not ... | ||
| Sound and Tonguing Technique Disappeared | 2/9/2012 | Holly |
| Q: Hope you're well. I've been playing the flute for about 8 years and am working towards my ABRSM ... A: Hey Sara, Congrats on passing your Grade 8! That's great news. :) Since this is a sudden change, ... | ||
| Positioning of fingers. | 2/4/2012 | Holly |
| Q: I've been playing for two years and I'm in an orchestra and band and approx. Grade 4 ABRSM. I'm ... A: Hey Jasmine, That's fantastic that you've been recording yourself - it's so important for flutists ... | ||
| flute technique | 2/3/2012 | Holly |
| Q: My name is Kayla. I have a honors band audition today and was hoping you could tell me some ... A: Hey Kayla, You're so sweet! :) Good luck on your honors band audition - it's a great sign that ... | ||
| Vibrato!! | 2/1/2012 | Holly |
| Q: I started playing the flute in the 6th grade (I'm currently in 10th grade) and I really want to ... A: Hey Lulu, It's great that you want to learn a good vibrato - this is so important for any flutist, ... | ||
| vibrato? and hue fantasies! | 1/26/2012 | Holly |
| Q: i was wondering if you could help me. ive been noticing that when i do vibrato on the flute, my ... A: Hey Willie, Vibrato is one of those things that has to be practiced just like your technique or ... | ||
| 32nd notes and 16th notes | 1/24/2012 | Nathan Muehl |
| Q: I'm learning how to play this new song for an audition I have and I need some advice on playing 32nd ... A: Good to hear you have found a challenging piece. Without knowing more specifics about your piece, I ... | ||
| New flute music | 1/24/2012 | Holly |
| Q: Holly. I recently checked out your web and found some interesting music you played in your past ... A: Hey Mike, Thanks for the kind words! It's great that you're exploring the newer side of flute ... | ||
| Auditions | 1/22/2012 | Holly |
| Q: I'm auditioning for the college band in a few weeks; I'm a senior in high school. I've been playing ... A: Hey Jessie, Since you only have a few weeks, my recommendation is that you brush up on two pieces ... | ||
| throat vibrato? | 1/22/2012 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: ive been starting to notice that when i do vibrato my throat starts shaking. im not really sure why ... A: Will. Ahhhh, vibrato. Done well, it can bring richness to your tone quality, and warmth and ... | ||
| trouble blowing | 1/15/2012 | Holly |
| Q: I've been playing the flute in a school band for almost a year but i still have trouble playing it. ... A: Hey Leanne, It's great that you want to get better at the flute, and I like how you've zeroed in on ... | ||
| Tuning | 1/14/2012 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: I'm in high school, a freshman. In middle school I had been first chair so everyone tuned to me. but ... A: Jennifer! Thanks for your very important question. (An incredible number of young musicians have the ... | ||
| Lip Plates | 1/12/2012 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: I am dizi player looking to begin learning the Western flute. Other than all the keys, what strikes ... A: You've got a good question here, and I'll be happy to help. In short, the lip plate is absolutely a ... | ||
| embouchure for Irish Flute | 1/12/2012 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: I asked another expert this embouchure question and was told it was not in their area-I hope you can ... A: Because all transverse flutes create sound in the same way (splitting the air stream on the edge of ... | ||
| Purchasing a Step Up Flute | 1/8/2012 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: I have been playing the flute for about 4 years. I getting ready to upgrade in the next year or so, ... A: It's great that you're being sure to test out all of the options available to you before making up ... | ||
| To Chaminade or not to Chaminade? | 1/6/2012 | Holly |
| Q: I am auditioning at colleges next month and was told on another website that doing Chaminade is a ... A: Hey Donavan, My advice is that you should go with whatever makes you more comfortable and showcases ... | ||
| New Flutes and Trilling | 12/29/2011 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: My name is Helen,and I'm an 8th grader who has been playing the flute for 1.5 years. This year I ... A: There are numerous flutes out there which have a solid silver lip plate and can produce some ... | ||
| Airy tonguing | 12/22/2011 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: So I have area auditions coming up, and one of the etudes is Karg Elert's Op. 107 No. 29 (in the key ... A: Kristina! Oh, the lovely, ever-popular key of F#! A multi-purpose, popular key, which you will see ... | ||
| Flute Upgrade! | 12/21/2011 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: my name's Holly. I'm currently a freshman in college and I'm going to be pursuing a minor in music ... A: First of all, let me apologize for my somewhat slow response! With the holidays upon us, things ... | ||
| Trill Help | 12/4/2011 | Holly |
| Q: Holly, I have looked through everything I have trying to find a trill for the 3rd octave A natural ... A: Hey Lyn, Try this fingering for the high A-B trill: Left hand: Thumb, index, middle, ring Right ... | ||
| Cleaning my flute | 12/2/2011 | Holly |
| Q: I'm Rachel and I'm 14. I've been playing the flute for about 5 years now. I still own and use the ... A: Hey Rachel, Kudos to you for being so careful with your flute! Too many other people act first and ... | ||
| Flute | 12/1/2011 | Nathan Muehl |
| Q: I am in band class and I play the Flute. My band teacher let me borrow her Flute because I did not ... A: and I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble with the new instrument. Flutes can be very finicky. ... | ||
| Flute | 12/1/2011 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: I play a Flute in my 6th grade band class. Well my band teacher, Mrs.Moon, let me borrow her Flute ... A: Amber. I am sorry it took so long to get back to you. I have been checking around and talking to ... | ||
| understanding the flute | 11/28/2011 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: My 8 year old daughter is wanting to start in the school band next year and she has chosen the flute ... A: Katherine! For a young beginner like your daughter, you will want to pick up a standard, ... | ||
| negative side effects by learning flute | 11/25/2011 | Nathan Muehl |
| Q: Your question was "hi i am actually training in singing vocals in indian classical music i am also ... A: Sorry for the delay in my response. I am not familiar with the vocal techniques specifically ... | ||
| negative effects | 11/22/2011 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: actually iam learning classical vocal music (indian),now i am interested in learning flute ,is any ... A: Kalyan. Although I am not a singer, I have spent some time asking those who are singers, about your ... | ||
| Music Ed. Major | 11/18/2011 | Nathan Muehl |
| Q: ! I am planning on majoring in music education in college. What all will I need for this? I ... A: A degree in Music Education prepares you to teach music in the public and private schools. All ... | ||
| Gemeinhardt Flute Headjoint | 11/16/2011 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: I played the flute for years as a young adult; am now retired and starting back again. Is there a ... A: Gemeinhardt makes a curved headjoint that would be a good option for you, as do Yamaha and Jupiter. ... | ||
| about playing with note | 11/15/2011 | Holly |
| Q: hey holly how r u ?? .. i have a question which may seem a bit strange .. i am playing flute and i ... A: Hey George, It's great that you've been learning to play by ear! That's an important part of ... | ||
| Flute scales | 11/15/2011 | Herbert Smith |
| Q: i was wondering if you could help me with my scales. my teacher has instructed me to write down 12 ... A: I'll be more than happy to explain the major scales and key signatures for you. Since I don't know ... | ||
| flute keys wont work | 11/14/2011 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: I got a flute a little while back for band classes and when I play the "G" note and all it does is ... A: Kiersten! Thanks for your question. You've done a good job in tracking down your problem so far. ... | ||
| Getting back into flute | 11/11/2011 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: I had played flute for 8 years before taking a hiatus during my first two years college. I haven't ... A: John! Welcome back to flute. You never really left, though. Let's just say that during your ... | ||
| tempo | 11/10/2011 | Holly |
| Q: for an audition for college what do you think I should aim at for the Faure Op79 . Its written at ... A: Hey Rikki, I'm not sure which portion of the Fantasy you're asking about, because it has two ... | ||
| Gemeinhardt | 11/6/2011 | Nathan Muehl |
| Q: I was considering trading my guitar, which I purchased new for $350, for a Geimenhardt model 3S ... A: If the flute plays well, then I would say that is a pretty fair trade. A used flute of that model ... | ||
| cheek puffed out when blowing air and single tonguing problem | 11/5/2011 | Holly |
| Q: I have been playing flute for about 6 years. Recently, I recognised a friend of mine, who is a flute ... A: Hey Samantha, Kudos to you for helping your friend out! It's always wonderful to have the help of ... | ||
| getting started (several questions) | 10/27/2011 | Holly |
| Q: ive picked up the flute about 5 months ago, learned the fingering and scales on the internet and ... A: Hey Shaarya, That's great that you're learning the flute so well! To be able to get even third ... | ||
| left hand placement | 10/20/2011 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: I have a quick question about hand placement. After playing, my left index finger usually gets ... A: Hannah! For the quick question, I didn't seem to have such a quick answer. Sorry for the delay. I ... | ||
| Community music program | 10/18/2011 | Denise J. Sipe |
| Q: As a community music expert,how would you actively engage the youths to ensure a successful program A: Bright. One of the best ways to motivate youths to work toward a successful program, is to be highly ... | ||
| careers for flutists | 10/14/2011 | Nathan Muehl |
| Q: I have been playing the flute for over 25 years. I have been playing mostly for church choirs as a ... A: It's good to hear from you, and thank you for your question. There are several different paths ... | ||
| grenaditte flute low notes | 10/12/2011 | Holly |
| Q: I have a grenaditte flute 2 years now: I am very glad with it. In reviews I read that it has ... A: Hey Henk, Since it's not an issue to play low notes on a Boehm flute, it sounds like this is a ... | ||
Flute
Answers by Expert:
Holly
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about learning to play the flute, reading music, problems encountered when playing, flute repertoire, practicing tips, and performing, as well as information about classical composers and their works. Please note that I am no longer accepting any questions about what kind of flute to buy, upgrading, flute brands, reselling, what a flute is worth, etc. I have answered many of these questions in the past, so please either view my answers in the the previously asked questions section or visit my website, which has a page about buying flutes: silentgalaxy.com/buyingflutes.html. Thanks!
Experience
I've played the flute since fourth grade, graduating with my master's degree in flute performance. I have taught at local music schools, given flute lessons for over ten years, have played in and soloed with several orchestras, chamber groups, and various other ensembles. For more information about me, visit my website at silentgalaxy.com. I love the flute, and I love helping people, so I welcome your questions!
Education/Credentials
Bachelor's and master's degrees in flute performance from Carnegie Mellon University.
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