TUTORIAL

You have learned how to go up the scale by blowing into the flute as you sound each succeeding note. Now, go up the scale but make a silent tah each time you sound a new note. Remember, the force of the breath comes from the solar plexus. One, two, three, four, five, six tah notes. Then, go back down the scale with the same articulation. Let’s change it a little by doing a double tah with each note as you go up and down the scale of your Native American style flute. You sound the note twice - tah, tah note one, note two, etc. And, back down the scale again.

Try the same double note with the breath only (no tah) as you did with the first exercise. Isn’t it interesting how a simple change in the way the note is articulated can make such a difference? Now, alternate the two different ways of sounding notes as you go up the scale. Start by sounding the fundamental note with a tah articulation and then sound the second note with a simple breath articulation. Continue up and then down the scale using the two different ways of sounding the note alternatively. Play with this for a while. Use some tah notes and blowing note in random combinations and listen to what you are creating. You are adding variety to the sounds the flute is making.

Remember in lesson two, when you held notes for different periods of time. Some long and some short. Now, play with elongating and shortening the length of time a note is held and the way the note is articulated. Let your fingers and breath play with the possibilities for a while. Throw in some short intervals of silence between some of the notes. The silent interval is called a rest. Hear how the notes start to find relationships between each other? Your playing is starting to become dynamic.

After this lesson you are equipped to really play some music with your flute.

Continue with lesson #4...