The first element that draws people to the flute is almost always the beautiful sound we can create. Of all the fundamentals we study, cultivating and maintaining a compelling, focused tone is the largest and most important task we face. It does not have to be a chore; in fact, it can be a regular delight built into our practice routines.
Before digging into some practical exercises, I would like to introduce two essential concepts about music and tone study for older learners:
Number one: BE PATIENT. Producing a beautiful sound is a complex physical act that involves an intertwined set of highly refined fine motor skills that engage your body from your belly button to the top of your head. Developing these skills takes time. I always cringe a little when I see flute classes advertising, “thirty minutes to better tone!” when in reality, it might take thirty weeks – or years. Or, in many cases, people turn to social media, which is full of “experts” offering tips, tricks, or “hacks” as if there was some magical secret that will unlock amazing sound with little effort.
For older adult learners, seeking short cuts or magic wands is a singularly bad idea. Not only do we need to be patient with our bodies to learn the motor skills needed to produce good sound, it might take our brains a little bit longer for the neural pathways that encode the behaviors to become permanent. The human brain is amazing! It remains pliable and able to take in new things forever, so give yourself some grace and be persistent. The habit will catch on with time.
I compare it to learning a new language in middle age and beyond. One of the great joys I have in my summer gig is working with students from all over the world. Recently, I had a student from Ukraine. While they spoke nearly impeccable English, I wanted to learn some basic musical terms in their native language so I could help cement certain concepts with a little deeper engagement. It took me several attempts to remember words for “phrase” and “flow” and “breath” and the like. I was quite impatient with myself and I got some funny looks when I tried out words the first time, but after several weeks, the phrases began to stick.
Learning complex new skills is far easier when you are 15-25 years old. When you double or triple that number, it just takes a little more time, but it is possible. Give yourself grace, and give yourself patience. I have seen older adult learners grow frustrated when they know exactly what they want to achieve but it does not happen right away, but, with persistence, I have seen many of them gain deep satisfaction with reaching those goals. BE PATIENT.
Number two: REMEMBER YOUR JOY. There is a reason you picked up the instrument in the first place. In the depths of our practicing, we can all go too far with self-scrutiny and assessment. Yes, it is important to set goals and make progress, but there is nothing wrong with occasionally turning off that motivation and the attendant self-reflection and reminding yourself of the simple joy of making music.
This is something that I do on a regular basis; I will put a piece on the stand that I love to play, and I will just let go and plow through it—wrong notes and all. Is it too fast? Sure. Is it sloppy? Of course. Is the intonation great? Nope. Would I lose my job if I played like this in public? Likely. My neighbors have heard lots of messy Paganini and Prokofiev over the years. It’s a lot like singing in the shower or the car. It feels good, it helps you reconnect with the joy of music, and really, who cares if anyone listens—it is all for you.
It is certainly possible to do the same thing for tone study. Just pick up a song or lyrical piece that you like to play, turn off that part of your brain that says it needs to be fabulous and micromanages and criticizes every last thing, and just sing with your instrument. You might find that playing from your heart instead of your head unlocks a far more relaxed state of being where your voice really shines, and that gorgeous sound you have been chasing starts to emerge. Bonus: you will wash away some of your frustration. So, REMEMBER YOUR JOY.
Up Next: Three Practical Tone Studies for Adult Learners (Part Two)