So You Have to Start On a High Note….

Starting high!

I recently performed a suite in which I had to enter, and repeatedly re-enter, on F, one of my instrument’s highest notes. I was also supposed to do this sweetly and softly.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know that the high F is not among the alto recorder’s most dulcet tones.

Under the best of circumstances the note is bright and clear. Under less optimal circumstances it cracks, bleats, and squawks. In short, the F is fussy and unpredictable, like a toddler on a sugar high.

At this point in my career, plucking a high F out of thin air is quite manageable. But I vividly remember a time when it was an enormous challenge. And so I have a lot of empathy for the struggles my students face when they’re trying to start high.

High notes are demanding. To start on a clean high note, you need accurate thumb positioning. You need a very particular volume and speed of air. You need a precise but soft tongue stroke. You need an unclogged airway. And you need a lot of practice.

In other words, there’s not really a single trick to it, a truth that is endlessly disappointing to my students. Instead, I offer them solid technical instruction and, as a finishing touch, a grab bag of smaller tricks and tips to use in the clutch.

If you’re struggling with high notes in general, these tricks probably won’t help. But if your high notes are pretty consistent except when you have to grab them out of the air, try one or two of these:

• Pretend you’ve got a blow dart. The kind of air you need for high notes is fast but narrow, like threading a needle or hitting a bullseye.

• Pull up your ears. This bizarre cue can work wonders for facilitating the right embouchure and oral placement.

• Hear the note before you play it. Audiating (the auditory analogue to visualizing) is a powerful tool. With high notes, imagining the sound you want goes a long way toward facilitating its production.

• Imagine you’ve played a higher note already. If, say, you have to enter on a high E, imagine you’re coming to it from an F. This will help you get your mouth and air set for the note in advance. It will also help the note to feel less effortful.

Did one or more of these help? Let me know!

If you want a more thorough and interactive approach to high notes, sign up for my upcoming short course!

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