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Post by Misty on Mar 1, 2023 10:26:39 GMT
Low F is difficult. I find it needs some thought because the finger stretch is a slight challenge but it also needs the gentlest of breath. If you're coming from a high note to it, then it is particularly awkward. Some recorders are more loathe to play a reasonable bottom F than others, too.
It certainly is difficult! I always used to struggle with it on my flauto rondo, but then I got sufficiently used to it that I could almost always get a good strong F no matter where I was coming from. It's a tad frustrating that now I have a better alto, it's harder to get bottom F. I think it's the stretch between different fingers that is the sticking point, because the fault seems to lie with random fingers. Perhaps I am also using too strong a breath - I will experiment with that today.
It amazes me how recorders can be so different from each other. (I'm surprised I've just written that, because the same applies to violins.) Another thing I notice with my new Ehlert is that I need to be more precise with half-holing the thumb as it seems to be less forgiving that the flauto. But I don't regret my purchase - it does sound lovely - although more lovely in my teacher's hands than my own!
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Post by Zi on Mar 1, 2023 10:55:26 GMT
Misty - I wish I had a silver bullet for it but I don't. I can say that the more you play the Ehlert the more it will reward you. They change with playing and so do you. Plastic ones don't change - though the player does. I'll repeat bottom F is a beast! So when/if you feel exasperated remember everyone has issues with it at first and swapping between instruments makes it more difficult in the short term. I think in the long term it's great because you become more aware. I've always swapped and I think sometimes it slowed down progress but finally it means that I'm a lot more confident about other recorders than I was when I just had one... It's really nice seeing you here again!  I really enjoy hearing about people's progress!
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Post by pavane on Mar 1, 2023 16:13:28 GMT
Misty: did you try the top F#, and did it work?
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Post by Misty on Mar 4, 2023 16:55:15 GMT
No, I haven't tried it yet. I am getting more accustomed to the new alto, and trying not to swap instruments more than necessary. The bottom F happens sometimes, which is an improvement on it not happening at all, as I guess that must be progress! I should try the top F# though - but maybe when my teacher is around. Does it matter which knee one uses?
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Post by pavane on Mar 4, 2023 18:01:39 GMT
You don't need to use your knee at all! One of the bonuses of these recorders (there has to be some benefit for all that money) is that they will play the top F# with a normal straightforward fingering, which is great because it's as easy as any other note and gives you access to lots of Telemann etc. See Moeck's fingering chart - it will in principle play an extended upper register as well. |
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Post by Misty on Mar 5, 2023 12:57:25 GMT
Really???!!!!!! Oh that is seriously good news! |
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Post by Misty on Mar 14, 2023 18:14:16 GMT
A good, positive lesson today! I so much needed it. We oiled my flauto rondo alto, so hopefully I will dare to do it on my own next time one needs oiling. I needed a break from my G3 pieces, so we looked at Van Eyck (alto version) no 9, together with Modos 3 and 4. (I've just noticed that my book has a 1 on the cover; I wonder if that means there is a book 2?) My teacher has also set me two pieces from 150 Classical Studies, with a view to making my fingering crisper. I confessed to not having practised since my last lesson two or three weeks ago, and she was very understanding. I will carry on with Wolsey's Wilde because it is just such a joyful piece and makes me feel happy.
How goes it with other recorder players?
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Post by Zi on Mar 15, 2023 9:41:14 GMT
Misty - So glad to hear that it was uplifting! I have the 150 Classical Studies - it sounds like it will be all Magic Flute and Aida but instead it is something quite else and some of the pieces are horrific for beginners! I suspect it's one of those books that will follow you through your progress and always surprise you with something challenging and fun. Wolsey's Wilde is definitely music for the battered soul! We've been tree planting and gardening and picking up bits of the greenhouse which decided to go walkabout after the storms. I've also managed to get a nasty burn on my left hand which is a little sore and was awkward because of a large dressing - down to a smaller one now. Hurrah! So, the last few days I've been working on rhythm. It was going really well until I hit some more tricky rhythms and I'm now creeping along slowly and feeling just a bit stupid again. Anyway, winds have now died down and it's frosty which means I either try playing or I continue with rhythm. 
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Post by Zi on Mar 15, 2023 11:00:02 GMT
Misty - I can't find any signs of a vol 2 of the Van Eyck Alto/Treble book but maybe there were/are plans for a second volume so the called in vol1! I forgot to say that 9 is lovely! It's a favourite with me on both descant and treble.
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Post by Misty on Mar 15, 2023 14:37:00 GMT
Re 150 Classical Studies - it is a serious book! I didn't find the very early pieces in the book that I worked on last year difficult; what was VERY difficult is what each study says in the footnote, listing half a dozen other keys that you could play it in! My teacher insists on trying these, and - probably due to having autism - transposing at sight is not something I can do with ease. It really fries my brain! My teacher has set me no 32, concentrating on getting the legato really soft and light, and no 42, which is all slurs and will really show up where my fingering isn't clean and crisp. It will be good to have something different to play, and I need a bit of direction just now. Re the G3, I think it would probably be better for me not to take it (when I'm ready) as every time I play those pieces, I have back chatter going on in my brain, saying things like: "I wonder how I will manage this when I'm being recorded. Ah - and there's another place where I could screw up. The examiner will hear my imperfect fingering in X piece. I will be downgraded in Y piece because I'm not making enough of the dynamics. And that top A was out of tune. And that bottom F didn't come out properly." On and on it goes, making me feel inadequate and unworthy, so while I am being so hypercritical of myself I don't think it's going to be a beneficial endeavour. And then there's my paralysing performance anxiety...
I'm going to just concentrate on enjoying playing for now, and try not to think of end results. It doesn't do me any good.
Are you playing anything new?
So sorry to hear of your injuries and greenhouse. Is it in bits?
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Post by Zi on Mar 15, 2023 16:06:41 GMT
Re 150 Classical Studies - it's a serious serious book! Have you seen some of the pieces at the end? I think I've managed one or two pieces near the beginning! 32 and 42 look 'interesting' and will keep you out of mischief. Re grades, I decided against them after G1. It wasn't that I had a bad time but I just didn't want to echo sing any more. And you're right, it can be a bit scary having to perform. However, I love the grades for following a syllabus because I like a direction - especially one I haven't had to figure out for myself. I miss my teacher for that because she always had a direction for me. And I do like an outside challenge to pin a goal to. However, I agree with you that outside pressure is not a good thing and that's quite different from a 'challenge'. I've done way too many exams in my life time and now is meant to be fun. Totally agree with you over that. My hand is much much better thanks. The greenhouse is polycarbonate and 14 x 8 feet and 12 feet high. It's the height that's a problem. This time it popped a panel several times so eventually we taped it in using a waterproof tape while the winds gusted about us; it was very very exciting - probably too exciting. Last time it popped a panel, it also moved 8 inches in a straight line. It was impressive.  I've been working on rhythm very assiduously though but not much else has happened. I need also to relocate my harp!  |
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Post by Misty on Mar 16, 2023 11:47:46 GMT
Does "relocate my harp" mean resite it, or find it again?!
I suppose the grade thing is me wanting to pin a specific standard on my playing, although I know it shouldn't be important. I do like a challenge, though, and it helps to keep me focused.
Your greenhouse does indeed sound exciting - even more exciting than our conservatory when a door got torn off mid-storm and we spent the next day collecting shards of broken glass from the garden. Were you inside it when it moved, Zi?
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Post by Zi on Mar 16, 2023 12:26:41 GMT
re harp - That's a good question Misty - it probably means both. I definitely have to make friends with it again! And I bet I've forgotten every bit of the bass clef. Your conservatory was much much much more 'exciting' than our greenhouse. I wasn't in it when it moved but it took me a while to convince my husband that it had moved. It was only the fact that the raised bed inside was in a different relative position that convinced him. Our greenhouse is polycarbonate - we got that to avoid accidents with the strimmer and because I didn't fancy stretching to 12 feet to put in glass... it's very heavy and I'm clumsy. Glass is not fun to pick up nor to have it fall on you so that must have been very scary indeed. Our experience was exhilarating in comparison. I agree with you over grades but you don't actually have to 'sit' the exam to prove you're there. You could always get your teacher to give you a pretend exam if that was less scary and you could do pretend. I like pretend! It has all of the challenge and none of the angst. I also like looking at different boards so if I get fed up with one, I move on to another.  |
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Post by Misty on Mar 22, 2023 13:50:35 GMT
Oh, thank goodness! I have regained my mojo, and practised tenor today as well as alto. You are so right about not having to do exams to prove myself. I went into this whole venture because I didn't learn recorder at school, needed a new challenge for lockdown, and for sheer enjoyment. It's a very odd thing - my alto requires a larger right hand stretch then my keyed comfort tenor. But my bottom Fs on alto are improving, and that's definitely progress. I've added a chromatic scale starting on G and playing to a twelfth today, as there are one or two chromatic notes that I keep forgetting. Our conservatory was much more a lean-to before, and the storm tearing off the door prompted us to demolish the whole thing (in fact, a family came over and dismantled it and took it away to use as a greenhouse, so really we recycled it!  ) and build a sturdier, much more robust conservatory that is more like another room in the house than a chilly porch. And I can practise recorder / flute in there when OH is watching the Grand Prix. |
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Post by Zi on Mar 23, 2023 8:42:44 GMT
The personal challenge and enjoyment aspects are really really the best motivators possible - you sound happy! That's best too.
Re stretches - I think the shape of an individual recorder has a lot to do with how easy a recorder is to play. Some recorders just feel right - at least they do to me - I have the same feeling over cameras. Plonk one camera in my hand and it feels awkward and another feels just right. It's why it's always best to try first before disposing of the cash.
Our greenhouse has stayed in one bit - the tape is to stop the wind finding a way in but it really needs a better solution. I still think that long term it will take off and there will be a greenhouse far away but when/if that happens I have a contingency plan for a polytunnel to go there instead. We're certainly not giving in as growing our own veg has been a lot of fun - not successful fun as mostly we've been caterpillar hotel (we won't use sprays of any kind). I really like your idea of recycling the conservatory - brilliant! And I think that seeing the silver lining in the clouds is always the best route.
I'm hoping to round up some musical instruments today - we've been planting hedges and I've been potting up some rosa for the Autumn - perhaps. There are a lot of little shrublets that still need potting on so they might be done today as well. And this is retirement! How do working people cope?! It's blue sky sunny and windy today so the garden may be a siren call...
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I really enjoy hearing about people's progress!
) and build a sturdier, much more robust conservatory that is more like another room in the house than a chilly porch. And I can practise recorder / flute in there when OH is watching the Grand Prix.