diff --git a/content/blog/2025/01-03-flute-breakthrough/index.md b/content/blog/2025/01-03-flute-breakthrough/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..71cb53e --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2025/01-03-flute-breakthrough/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +title: "Flute breakthrough" +date: 2025-01-03 +tags: + - flute + - music +--- + +Today I made a major breakthrough on my flute. +This 3D printed flute is actually a lovely instrument, +with a nice tone, and a robust low D. +I just wasn't playing it correctly. + +The thing I was missing was placing the flute under my lower teeth. +I had been cramming it up into my lower teeth instead of resting it against my chin. +Somehow this meant that the low D was very weak: +I was overblowing it into the next octave every time I tried to play it. +Now that I've sorted this out, +I can nail the D every time. + +Curiously, what I did immediately before this +was to rotate the flute head a full quarter-circle toward me, +so that the embouchure was about even with my left thumb. +This allowed me to blow straight forward into the flute, +using the side-of-mouth muscles I used to play oboe. +Once I was convinced it was possible to make a nice low D this way, +I was able to rotate it back and get it the traditional way. + +Maybe there was more to figuring this out than I realized. +But in any case, I can play two full octaves reliably now, +which should help quite a bit in my progress. +Thank heavens! +