In my school it is getting to be concert time. Not only am I playing the first movement of the Poulenc Sonata but I am helping out the choir in there songs, I also have several solos in our pieces of music. Usually I am complemented on my tone, but now, like magic when I play my flute it is super airy. I was never airy before, do I need to get my flute looked at, change my embouchure, what? I can play the exact same type of flute I have and it is lovely but mine is BLEH! Please tell me what I can do.
Yes, I agree with Brandy, definitely go get your flute looked at. It could be something very simple as just one of the adjustment screws could have backed out. One of the most common leaks of when this happens is between the A and B flat. Press your A down and make sure the key next to it is closing in unison and also look to see if there might be a leak. If there is, that is an easy fix and requires just a slight turn of the adjustment screw. If you can't see a leak anywhere then have someone stand behind you and press one by one the axillary keys while you play a low D. If it clears up when one is pressed, then you most likely will find your leak. If that doesn't work, then take it in, but it is helpful to learn in the process in case it happens again.
For some reason, I've always had problems with the last key on the body of the flute (I'm not sure if there is a specific term for it. It's the key that makes the F#) It always leaked. I've seen it on some other flutes too...so I think that one may be pretty common too.
Brandy, that problem can be with the adjustment between the true F# key(to the left of the Rh 1st finger) and the Rh 3rd finger. If the adj. screw is mis adjusted, one of the keys may not be closing so well. If the screw is too loose, it's the key to the left of the Rh 1st finger (F key) and then it will easily only show up as airy, sharp or generally bad when you play the t123 / 006 D# fingering for F#.
For some reason (I don't know why) I was always under the impression that the RH 3rd finger was for F#, and the RH 2nd finger was for G-flat. I know that, in essence, they're the same note. I know that one plays flatter than the other one...ugh...I dunno. I get it confused.
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When I was in HS, one of the older flute players in the section showed me an easier way to play F# with the 2nd finger, because I was having problems with a passage )because I think my RH 3rd finger is retarded.) So I used it for F#...and I think someone corrected me...it may have been Kate....but I'm not for sure.
No, it wasn't me, but you can use the alternative finger for that F# on tricky passages, but don't use it as your standard fingering as the tone quality is not as good.
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