It is your first try on flute, and the music is a bit fuzzy, weak, and airy? It is quite normal because playing any musical instrument in the early stage is tough. Even the best of the Indian classical flutists has some weak points, and you should not worry about it. Instead, you can find your flute voice with different methods by the top Indian flutist.
Although you can do well by routine practicing, there are some tips and tricks which will help you get the best out of your tone. Your motto should not just incline towards playing a bansuri, but you should play it beautifully with no troubleshooting.
Steps to discover your flute voice:
Learn Flute Tones: The first stage to becoming a bansuri player is to learn about flute tone. Every musical instrument has a distinct sound. Your flute tone should be vocal enough to communicate mood and emotion at the same time. Learn to play the same note on two or more flutes to learn consistency.
Understand High tones and low tones: The sound waves produced on flute depends on how you blow. Each number of waves produced is called frequencies. While taking flute lessons, try to play these different notes at regular intervals. Always be confident in whatever tone you are choosing. While practicing, let your volume reach new heights and be more resonant.
Listen to top Indian classical musicians: To learn Indian classical flute, it is necessary to listen to professionals because they have a whole different quality of sound. Apart from Indian musicians, American born, Nash Naubert is a famous flautist who is well versed in playing the flute. He is also the founder of the ‘MUSIC OF NOW’ organization. He has mastered the technique of playing bansuri and is residing in India for the past 20 years. The journey of Nash and his dedication towards his passion is incredible. He not only popularized the Indian classical music to his hometown, but he even spread it globally.
Work on Embouchure : The difference in the flute tone depends on two main factors- the embouchure shape and its cut.
The shape and size of the aperture, when placed the flute in vertical and horizontal arrangement against the chin, makes up the embouchure. It is important to work wisely on building it. The angle and distance of bansuri influence a lot while learning flute lessons.
For good tone production, you should even work on your speed of air striking. If you want a dark and fuller sound, then go for slow airspeed. And, if you want a brighter tone, then the fast airspeed will work effectively.
Have a firm hold on resonators: The hollow cavity in the flute is called a resonator. Resonators play a significant role in amplifying sound waves. You can enhance your volume and overtone them quickly.
The tongue, jaw, and cheeks are important factors to consider while placing the flute tube. Hence, the resonator size will influence your work by producing intense sound. You should constantly adjust the size of the resonators while holding a flute.
Experiment while practicing: At the initial stage, always experiment with your tones. Keep a watch at the embouchure, and try placing the flute at different angles. Make a note of the changes you notice while experimenting. Record yourself or ask one of your mates to listen to you.
Do you know Flute materials also play an important role in tones?
Flute materials Influence the tone a lot. A bansuri is made of wood, but some are made in the combination of metals and alloys. Metallic flutes are costlier, but the quality is impeccable. Many Indian classical flutists describe the tone of a silver flute as bright and the gold one as warm and deep.
High-quality flute materials often give rich sound, but it depends on the flutist as well. Craftsmanship plays an essential role in this part. There are a lot of stereotypes regarding this question, but it’s no doubt that breath and embouchure are vital among everything!
Learning the basics is very important at the early stages. There are many complex terms like airy, dark, bright, vibrant, which are a bit subjective.
If you are good at producing dark and mellow sounds, then you are an excellent lower tone flute player. Whereas, if you create bright, edgy, and hard sounds, then you are excellent at a higher tone flute player. Just go with the idea of resonance, and you will surely find your flute voice in a quick span!