[Brass]Producing a good tone.

Brass instruments uses a mouthpiece in order to produce a sound. Therefore. all brass instrument have the same concept in producing a good tone. What is a good tone for brass instruements ?Basically, a good tone is recognized by its fullness and solidness. When a person plays the instrument and the sound is airy and not solid, it isn't a good sound. When the sound tends to crack and go off pitch, its not a good sound either.

So, how do we solve these problems ?? There are several ways to solve this problems.

• Make sure you know what is a good sound. Listen to more recordings and experienced people playing the instrument. This would eventually help you to indentify the problem with your sound and thus it helps you to have a clear understanding of what is needed
• Do long tones exercise. This is one of the best way in getting a good tone. With long tones, you can indentify the problems in your sound. Is it too shaky ? Unconstant ? Or you simply can't hit the note. Then, start searching for solutions. The solutions are simple and I'll further explain down there
• Ensure a clear pathway of air from your diaphragm to the instruments. The common term 'opening your throat' is taken into consideration here. I've posted a section similar to the breathing part in singing here. The aim is to allow a clear pathway and prevent blockages. If you feel that your sound goes sharp and flat very often, you just have to play more long tones so that your mouth gets used to the note. Practice makes perfect
• Relax your lips. This is something very hard to master. You'll have to ensure that your lips are relaxed but at the same time sufficiently tight to hit the note. It must be 'right at the point' in order to do it good. Remember, playing high notes doesn't neccesary requires us to tighten your lips. It'll only spoil the sound produced.
• Use the air from your diaphram. Ensure that everytime you play, push the air from your diaphragm out and play the note with no doubts. This is the key to achieve a full and clear tone. This would require a lot of stamina but it'll produce a very loud,bright and clear tone. Remember, keep your lips, throat and body relaxed and push the air out without any blockages

Basically this is all that I can provide you in brass playing. I'm personally not a brass player but this is what I went through with my fellow band mates. In conclusion, to achieve a good tone. It's hardwork that would guarantee success. Therefore, I wish all of you luck.

Trumpet Fingering

There are a lot of fingerings for a flute. Despite all those, I'm uploading a basic fingering chart for flute and for those who are looking for alternative fingering. Do google it up and if u wish to add some, please do write it at the comment section

Click here to enlarge

Fingering Chart

There are a lot of fingerings for a flute. Despite all those, I'm uploading a basic fingering chart for flute and for those who are looking for alternative fingering. Do google it up and if u wish to add some, please do write it at the comment section

Click to enlarge picture

Trumpet

Trumpet is the smallest instruments in the brass family. It have a very wide range from a low C to 3 octaves above it. Being the smallest and having the highest pitch in the brass family, it is commonly used to play melodies and to bring out a strong and fiery sound especially for marching band. Trumpets can be used to play my kinds of music which includes jazz, classical, pop and many other more genres of music. There are many kind of trumpets but the most common used trumpets are the Bb-Trumpets. 

Photo creditted to Barbers03

Breathing

Many people wonder how can they sing well and produce a good intonation. They tried many ways and tried many types of concept so that they would be able to produce a projected,rich and solid tone. Unfortunately, most of them do not know the basics of all these. Breathing. There are several techniques in breathing before we sing. These are several tips which I can give when you are praciting breathing or when u are singing

1. Simplest way of all. Lie down on your bed and start breathing. Notice the diaphragm starts to expand like a balloon when u start to breathe in. Well, thats how you should be breathing when you sing. If u can do so, congratulations cause u succeeded.
2. Relax your throat. Your throat must be relaxed so that the air you breathe in can pass through. Try yawning. When you yawn, your throat would be relaxed at the maximum stat and allowing a good breathing way. When you sigh, the same concept is applied.
3. Be sure that you have the correct posture. When you are standing, ensure that you are standing up straight. Do not slouch or slant to the back. Chins should be parallel to the ground and do NOT lock your knees as it prevents blood flow

You can gain more information here if you wish to get to know more about it

Choir/Acapella

When it comes to music, most of the people would only focus on rock band, orchestra and a lot of other bands which uses mechanical instruments. Yet, they missed out one of the best and most potential instrument that God had given to us. The human voice. I do believe that most us loves to sing. We sing everywhere which includes our house, workplace, school or even the bathroom without realising its full potential. If our voice which is given by God is being used properly and is trained, we can simply do wonders. Do take a look at what simple man is able to do with only their voice in choirs and in a capella groups.

Producing a good tone

I'll make it simple with this part. Being a flutist myself, I do believe that the tone is the most important thing as a musician. No one wants to know how good is your technical skills if they turn off their ears right after the first note you play. Well, a picture's worth a thousand words, so I'll use pictures/diagrams to explain how does my point works

Alright, if you dont have any idea what I drew up there. Let me explain. As shown in the diagram. There red oval is your mouth, the blue is the flute's tone hole. The lines are the air you blow when u play the flute. Most ppl would blow to every single part. Thus fulfilling both part A and B. This would cause a hissing sound or an air sound when u play the flute. The point here is to blow only at point B(which includes only the dark green part). This would ensure that there wouldn't be excess air around the tone hole which causes the hissing sound. The term used here is 'focusing the air' towards the tone hole. Blow it INTO the hole with a very solid and fast air stream. This would provide a sound more 'solid' and 'full'

Flute

Flute is the smallest instrument in the woodwind family despite the piccolo. It have a range of notes from a middle C and about 3 octaves to another high C. Sound is produced from a flute by blowing onto a sharp edge, causing air in the tube to vibrate. Flutes are splendid in producing a high, harmonious pitch or even a solid, cold and dark sound with its low register. Usually, a flute is used to play harmonious and romantic pieces due to its bright and high pitch.