Chiff and Fipple Forums

I have that book...I can't really say I'd recommend it, for many reasons. One of the foremost is that the settings of tunes in this book are so off that you won't be able to play most of them in a session. If you want a tutorial, I think you'd be better off with something like the Vallelly book and ...

Oh, and while I'm contributing here.. an earlier post implied (if I read it correctly) that playing on Boehm keys are slower than, presumably, the same piece on a wooden flute, without keys; this is not true at all, as any number of exceedingly fast classical or jazz scores or performances will att...

Don't let the fourth-octave C scare ya...on a Boehm-system flute it's no big deal, I've known junior high school students that could hit it without much difficulty. As noted, the "gizmo" key makes it easier to hit, but it also improves the quality of tone and makes it a bit less piercing. ...

So sorry things have taken a turn in the wrong direction.

You'll be in my thoughts.

--James

This isn't exactly a clip, it's a video from one of our sessions this last weekend, but I thought I'd post it anyway. The other flutist is Alec Brown. Banjo is Ellen Stern, bodhran is Joe Ott, accordion is Scott Moye, and Len Holton on guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6kqK5f2h-M

--James

The following are two Generation D's, a blue top and a red top, which I ordered several years ago. Neither are tweaked. I don't think you'll have trouble telling which one is the "bad" whistle. http://flutesite.com/samples/badngood.mp3 About a third of the Gens that I have ordered have bee...

I play a Hamilton. I've had a chance to try a number of different flutes from various makers...I sound like me on all of 'em. :wink: That said, the subjective experience of playing them can be very different. Some make you work harder than others. Sometimes that's a bad thing--sometimes, depending o...

Doug, that's good advice.

I'm still around. I don't post as much as I once did, true, but I'm still here.

--James

Congratulations on the new flute!

One thing you might want to check if you're having odd intonation issues...make sure the cork in the headjoint hasn't moved out of place.

Rule of thumb: the cork should be one inner-diameter of the headjoint back from the center of the embouchure hole.

--James

I enjoyed the "beer karate," but I noted that they never actually show that beer being opened.

--James

Yes, strings are somewhat of an exception, violins in particular.

Winds are not as amenable to that, although some work better than others.

--James

I just tried breath vibrato on G while at the same time executing actual flattement (finger vibrato), not just the look of it. It's pretty nasty. Yep. Now imagine 8 flute players all using vibrato, all at the same time, but all using a slightly different speed. <<shudder>> There are two parts of pl...

It's wonderful to hear from you!

You've been in my thoughts.

It's chilly here, too--we are all looking forward to spring and to thawing out a bit.

Best to ya, now and always,

--James

Just to point it out--continual, uncontrolled vibrato is as out of place in art music (i.e. "classical") as it is in Irish dance music. I've heard flutists who would still be using vibrato, even if they are in the middle of extended passages of 16th-notes. There are times it can be a usefu...

Yep, what they said. :) In my own experience, the more you play, the less nervous you'll be. Avoid eating or drinking immediately before playing, at least until your nerves calm down a bit. There's nothing like a sudden stomach upheaval in the middle of a tune. If you normally practice sitting down,...