Mrs Sally Packer

by Sally Packer
(Norwich, UK)

Question: I am trying to help my granddaughter to play the flute. She is 10 years of age and gets a 15 minute lesson a week at school. She is struggling to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She is finding playing top D very difficult. She doesn't seem to have enough puff to get the note. Any suggestions?

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Answer: High notes can be a challenge for young students, but they don't need to be! Try these suggestions...

1) Without the flute, practice inhaling deeply for a count of 8. Do this 4 times. Now inhale deeply for a count of 10. Do this 4 times.

2) Inhale deeply for a count of 8, then inhale quickly for a count of 1. That is, one long inhale followed by a quick inhale.

3) While doing the above 2 exercises, get a mental image of having swallowed a hula hoop and it's sticking out around your waist. In short, you've got a lot of air inside ready to push out.

4) Again, without the flute, practice blowing air out very fast for a count of 12. Pretend there is a red dot on the far side of the room and your airstream is a laser beam. You want to drill a hole through that red dot with your airstream.

5) Keep the throat open. Pretend that you are holding a golf ball in your mouth. Feel the lower jaw relaxed like it's going to fall onto the floor.

6) Be sure to have a very relaxed embouchure. Feel the corners of the mouth turn down in a pout. Do not pull back on the corners of the mouth.

7) The stomach muscles (diaphragm) remain firm as the air is pushed up and out the mouth.

8) Aim the airstream higher for higher notes and lower for lower notes. Make an imaginary spot on the wall. High notes have a spot that is near the ceiling. Low notes have a spot that is near the floor.

You should feel the bottom lip/lower jaw push out for higher notes.

With diligent practice on these suggestions, I'm sure your granddaughter will be playing that high D in no time!