Incorrect right thumbs for students each year. Students participate by preparing a solo or ensemble musical piece that is performed for a
certified band adjudicator. This experience is important and can be replicated by practicing the performance of études throughout the year.
Our students perform an Étude of the
Week assignment each week. The Étude of the Week is chosen with student input
each Friday. Students have until the following Friday to submit a recording to
FIGURE 7
our shared Google Drive account. Each Friday, we listen to the recordings and
practice providing feedback. We also listen to reference recordings of each étude.
I hope these tips are helpful, but I know
there are many ways to teach the same
concept or idea. My way isn’t necessarily the right way, but it is one way that works
for me and my students. I am proud that
my flute players play with vibrato and that they are excited to talk about the flute. They are fluent in double tonguing,
in discussing flute literature, and in gossiping about the latest Instagram posts
from their favorite flute players. Flute
FIGURE 8
by Paul Taffanel and Philippe Gaubert
the front and the back of the tongue.
to practice scales in two octaves.
Tonguing Exercises Progressively Arranged
(1958) is an excellent collection of exercises
Double Tonguing
Double tonguing is an extremely useful
skill that will help high school flute students develop a better understanding of
physical articulation and will give them the ability to articulate faster. Double
Charlene Cannon is a band
2. Say it aloud again, taking the repeat
School in Orlando, Florida. She earned the MA in music
written in the exercise.
education from the University
3. Play it as written.
of South Florida and the BME from Florida State University. She teaches a full-year flute
By practicing the speech patterns of
choir class at Freedom High School.
apply this skill to music performance. Musicality
to approach this concept; using a legato
opportunities for our students to prac-
help demonstrate the difference between
director at Freedom High
1. Say the exercise aloud while fingering.
of your mouth when you say the word
doo-goo-doo-goo, for example, tends to
their fluency, in flute playing.
class played four different ways:
double tonguing, students will learn to
doo? How about goo? There are many ways
approach to develop their techniques, and
(1985). We use these exercises every day in
order to master. Try asking your stuWhere does your tongue touch the roof
you approach them with a well-rounded
for the Flute or Piccolo by Victor V. Salva
4. Play it up an octave if possible.
dents (and yourself) these questions:
Your flute players will flourish when
Check out the book 243 Double and Triple
tonguing is also a skill that requires practice in speaking, or speech patterns, in
isn’t difficult, but it is a little different.
References Debost, M. (2002). Vibrato. In The simple flute from A to Z. Oxford University Press.
We are fortunate to have many different
Kara, Z. E., & Bulut, S. (2015). Approaches and teaching methods in breathing and vibrato technique in flute education. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 186, 126-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.109
tice performance in the state of Florida.
Solo and ensemble is a huge opportunity
April 2021
17