The 7 Causes of SLOW FINGERS on the Flute! (Instant Fix #4)

[@jimmymurphy7789]

Thanks so much Jane ! How about a video on how to improve multi-finger synchronisation when pressing down/sealing several or more keys at the same time in order to get those certain notes to sound at the right time (without them "Slurring" together) ?

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Jimmy, That's a great suggestion! 😀 If you haven't done so yet, feel free to ask your question via the link so I'll be able to get to it in the near future. www.flute.school/ask

[@exceptionaltalentspc4954]

Very practical advice and on point. Thank you!!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Thank you! If you're interested in learning more from me, I have a free three day tiny course. Here's the link if you're keen! www.flute.school/free 😊

[@mycophenolatmophetil]

This was very helpful! Thank you!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Glad to hear it was helpful Daphne! 😊

[@karenmoyer361]

Thank you so much. I am an older learner and trying to learn on my own.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

That's great Karen that you're learning the flute - best of luck :) Jane

[@shantybarry8821]

Wonderful course Jane, as a retired teacher/academic can I first congratulate you on your teaching style which is entertaining as well as informative. I’m teaching myself Irish flute having started with the low whistle. Can I encourage you to present a course on the Irish or keyless flute, although there are courses on youtube they are dull as ditchwater compared with your course. Having said that there are many points in your lessons which are immediately transferable. Many thanks

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Shanty - I just saw I missed your comment. So sorry! Thank you for your wonderful comments. It's so great to get feedback like this! Yes, lots of things of flute, especially embouchure related, are transferable to all types of flutes. I am really no expert on Irish and keyless flutes (except for the embouchure!), so I don't think I would do much good at offering a course on them! I hope you've found some good lessons since you made this comment - and I'll continue to help you with the embouchure and breathing part of playing!

[@slipperyskylar1848]

Thank so so so much for telling me! New sub

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Welcome SS! Thanks for your comment :)

[@deathedell215]

touching on this a bit, if you are having problems learning fingerings, id start with a 3 note chromatic scale like B-->Bb-->A and back down and go progressively faster, then add another note when you are comfortable with that scale at any speed

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Great tips! 😀

[@Daijakake]

Excellent video! I haven't played my flute since 2007, but all the tips are so useful, they even work on other instruments like piano. I personally use the 5 in a row too and perfecting each bar. I never knew others used these techniques as well!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Great minds think alike Daijakake! Glad the technique works for you too :)

[@Learnbhagwadgita]

I love your teaching, can you please tell me how I can get access to lightening fast finger course?

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi again, I just replied about Lightning Fast Fingers on your other comment :)

[@robertthompson148]

I missed (or forgot, or spaced out!) that advice about the Bb, not using the thumb fingering going from B to Bb to B... I will try incorporating the other fingerings (I always keep using RH2, pointer) but remember that! Every time I listen to one of your vids, a lesson or like this w advice, I learn something, thank you. My tone and octave jumps are improving consistently...exponentially! I need to apply your advice on increasing speed...I know I’ll get faster, your teaching is always just what is needed!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

I like "consistently" and I LOVE "exponentially"! Well done!

[@mularaikar]

Can you kindly give some tips on how to make the aperture hole smaller..🙏🙏🙏💐💐

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Mula! Hopefully you saw my reply to you yesterday on the other post about exercises for a smaller embouchure hole 🙂

[@robertzantay5923]

As a life long professional studio flute player I would suggest using a metronome to increase your speed by playing scales at a tempo that you can play the scales perfectly five times. Then increase the tempo by five (if you played the scales perfectly at 120 go to 125. Keep increasing the tempo until you are playing the scales at 160-200 bpm. Repetition is the way to learn muscle memory . That way when you just think C major scale your fingers will play it without you having to think of each note separately. You will be able to read a bar ahead of the bar you are playing, just by looking at the next bar your fingers will play the music correctly. You will have made note of any accidentals, dynamic marking, and articulations in the up coming bar, no surprises!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Yep, great suggestion Robert! 😀 I talk about exactly what you've mentioned inside The 45 Day Flute Transformation course under the module faster fingers. Here's the link to The Flute Academy if you're interested. www.flute.school/academy

[@mikoparsonius]

Thanks for all your advice Jane - my playing is improving over the months and your tips give good boosters to the main thing - which is of course lots of 'practice' - but you're dead right - learning mistakes is a real hazard, and you have to stop them getting 'hard-wired' by slowing down and perfecting. I do have trouble with gripping hard on the 'lower' hand though. I discovered that this is partly because of problems with the keys themselves. Especially that pesky low C which doesn't close evenly. It's difficult enough as it is, but to have to press hard to close the hole just exacerbates the tension in my hand. Also E becomes problematic sometimes. A tutorial on basic key maintenance would be helpful, I know it gets a bit specialist in terms of servicing, but even so, if one is careful it's possible to make small adjustments, and it's so easy to knock things out of alignment just through general use. I managed to re-seat my low C key with some gentle finger manipulation and a cigarette paper to check it was closing evenly. I'd like to hear a bit more on this subject though - what do you reckon?

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Mik - thanks for your great comment! That's a great idea for a video - basic flute maintenance. For flute players, not for repairers! I've written in on my list of videos to create. Sounds like you're already on top of a few things which is great. Good luck with your playing!

[@faiora]

Something you can do (carefully) is take a piece of cardboard and place it under the edge of the pad where it doesn’t seat, then press the key down, which twists it very slightly to seat better. You just need to be very careful not to slide the cardboard around while pressing the key down, because it could damage the pad.

[@Emzzzzzzy]

I don't even want to learn the flute, i jsut enjoy your content lol

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Well thanks Emzzy!

[@lorrieprothero2175]

The hard part for me is i lost my professional flute due to hard financial times and had to replace it with an intermediate flute. The keys on my pearl had a lot more snap in the springs than my intermediate gemeinhardt. Now with less resistance it's harder to play as fast.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Lorrie, Sorry to hear about your difficult times. I hope you're doing okay now. 🙏 Yes, I know what you mean by the student and intermediate flutes are harder to play quicker on just due to the mechanisms of the instrument. Hopefully one day in the future you might be able to upgrade again. 😊

[@faiora]

I’d add #8 - keeping your fingers closer to the keys. I think some beginners have a tendency to stretch their fingers outwards/open that aren’t pressing on keys, and it prevents the fingers from being as flexible and nimble as they would be if kept closer. Mind you, I think sometimes this comes from tension (especially when it’s a more intermediate player doing it) which you addressed right at the beginning. :)

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Faiora - your thinking is exactly right! And if I were to do an 8th cause of slow fingers it would be what I call "flying fingers" which is exactly as you described. You sound like a great teacher!

[@rinkuislam5000]

Bangladesh , l love you

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Thank you! 💕

[@SwissCreamCheese]

I’m so used to useing a flute a Sertian way that if I try to use a different way I can’t even play a song

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Bee Pog - if you try a new way of playing and it hurts or makes your playing worse, then definitely don't do it, because it won't be good for you. I hope this video helped you find a way to speed up your fingers comfortably though!