Are you a beginning flute player looking for some tips? Check out these 5 practice secrets that every beginning flute player should know. If you utilize these tips in every practice session, you’re well on your way to improvement!
1.Keep a practice journal. Detail your goals at the beginning of the week and what you would like to achieve by the end of the week. For example, if you are learning a difficult piece where the tempo is too fast for your fingers to play at this point, set a metronome marking that is much slower and make sure you can play it perfectly at this speed with the metronome before bumping it up 5 notches. Play it perfectly 3 times at each speed before you bump it up to the next speed. Detail in your journal what speeds you are up to as you go, so that after a break in practice you know what speed to go back to and you can also see your progression.
2. Be consistent. There is little point in practicing madly the night before your next flute lesson after a whole week has gone by with no flute practice. Just take 30 minutes every day, preferably at the same time each day (for example, in the morning before school). That way it gives your brain and muscles time to integrate over night what you are learning each day.
3. Sing the piece of music you are learning to play on the flute before you actually play it. If you have a CD with your tuition book, listen to the individual track first, then sing it back. Learn the notes by heart first, then when you go to play it on the flute it will be much easier.
4. Break your practice session up into three parts. If you are a complete beginner and are practicing for around 30 mins, spend the first 10 minutes practicing producing a good sound on the head joint alone. Look at your lips in the mirror and notice which lip positions are giving you the best sound. Keep trying to replicate those lip positions. In the next 10 minutes, spend some time going over the rhythms in the piece of music you are attempting to play. Put down your flute while you do this. Set a tempo and clap out the rhythm. Feel it in your body. The final 10 minutes can be spent with your flute put together, playing the music your teacher suggested you practice for the week.
5. If you get physically tired, try doing some light exercise and stretching before you play the flute. This will increase the blood flow to your joints and muscles and you will be able to withstand a static position for longer.
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