Comments on Jennifer Cluff: Flute Scales Flute Scales Flute Scales Whoooeeee!

Thanks Thomas for your comment. It's so true. Trev...

2008-09-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks Thomas for your comment. It's so true. Trevor Wye counted up the average scale passage in all the 19th and 18th century flute music, and multiplied it by the number of catalogued works for flute in those centuries, and ended up with something like 85% of all pre-twentieth century music is scales and arpeggios. If you learn those in 12 keys, you have already learned how to produce that music. (or much to that effect.) I'll add that if you practise scales and arpeggios with the tuning CD, you will be perfctly in tune 95% of the time as well. Best, Jen

Andre Segovia was asked by one of his students, Wh...

2008-09-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Andre Segovia was asked by one of his students, What's so important about scales?"
Segovia's answer; "They will solve ALL of your problems."
(emphasis mine. Thomas.)

Thanks Sandy,Now you're at the "whoo-eee" part of ...

2008-09-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks Sandy,

Now you're at the "whoo-eee" part of the scale game where it feels as if they're easy and they're making your flute playing generally easier.
Yes, that's the "Whoo-eee!" factor at play! Best and thanks for your input,
Jen :>)

I took up the flute three years ago after a long h...

2008-09-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

I took up the flute three years ago after a long hiatus from playing music. I love to play scales. I printed the T&G flute scale "game" you provided some time ago, and I adore it.

If I don't feel like practicing anything else I'll just play scales going back and forth between major and minor, take them out of order, anything to mix up my practice sessions.

I have seen a definite improvement in my fingering, finger dexterity and breath control since I started practicing scales more.

Dear Kent,That's pretty funny, and yet pretty typi...

2008-08-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Kent,
That's pretty funny, and yet pretty typical, sometimes. Here in Canada when the flute kids take their exams, I always tell them that there's a chance that the examiner, rushed for time, might just ask one easy scale and one "hard" scale, just to see where the student is at. And about 40% of the time, that's indeed what happens. The student practises 48,000 scales, and then only gets asked G major and Eb minor, and can't believe it, after all that work. But if the Eb minor sounds AMAZING, the examiner/auditioner can imagine that the student is up to standard on ALL the other scales. It's that simple, and that typical. Thanks for your input.
Best,
Jen

I remember an audition I did to get intothe Kitche...

2008-08-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

I remember an audition I did to get into
the Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Orchestra.
I was nervous as all get out. The
conductor took me aside into a room,
and said. "Play a C major scale". I did
it. Then, "Play an F# major scale." I
did it. He said, "Okay, you're in".

Dear Alyce, Thanks for your comments. Yes, indeed....

2008-08-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Alyce, Thanks for your comments. Yes, indeed. I was one of those highschool band players who only learned scales because I *had* to (my teacher made me learn them for a series of exams.) Little did I know that they would be the single most useful component of musical freedom. D'oh!
What a doofus, me. :>)
Best and thanks again,
Jen

I am a thirty-something year old flute player and ...

2008-08-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am a thirty-something year old flute player and I have been reading your blog for a while now. Thank you so much for all of the helpful information that you share! I used to be one of those students who was only taught the B flat scale in public school.

I taught myself the other scales while in high school, but always put off learning those last few tough scales (the ones with all of the flats and sharps). :) This past year I have finally been working on those neglected scales. I definitely see an improvement in my playing the more I do my scales.

My goal for this next year is to master all of those pesky minor scales I have been avoiding for ages. Again, thanks for the great posts!