Multiphonics by Robert Dick

The easiest multiphonic is made with the fingering of the third octave D natural. (Left hand Ckey up, B, A and G keys down. Right hand D# key on foot.) Under the normal D is a C natural a ninth lower. This C is not used in classical music because it has a tone somewhat like a bamboo flute. To play the C and D together

1) Play each note separately from as softly as you can to as loudly as it goes. You'll note that the C has a very small dynamic range, ppp -- mp. That's it. The D has a full dynamic range. So the multiphonic can only be played in the dynamic area that both notes can be sounded. This means that you need to blow at about mp and keep the air really steady at that speed. You will feel an instinct to blow less for the lower note and more for the higher -- and that is not the way to do it. Instead, keep in mind that the AIR is the "ground" for the multiphonic, the thing that stays constant. The multiphonic is made with the embouchure. How?

2) Tune your throat to the weaker note. In this case the C natural. What this means is that your voice is ready to sing a C. It does not have to be in the same octave as the C you are playing, but the better in tune your voice is, the better your sound will be. So actually sing a C to get the feeling. Now, without singing, feel the feeling of being ready to sing the C -- that's the feeling you'll need in your throat to play this multiphonic well.

3) Your jaw and lower lip will be placed as if you were going to play the C by itself. The upper lip is positioned for the D. With the opening between your lips larger than normal from top to bottom, go ahead and play both notes. The top of your airstream will be playing the D and the bottom will be playing the C. Try it! If there's a problem, its most likely that your lip opening is too small or that you're using the "blow less for the low note and more for the high note" approach.

The flute can play THOUSANDS of multiphonics and an almost infinite number of very cool sounds in addition to the classical ones. These new sounds are not there to replace the old ones but to be added to them. There are so many kinds of music the flute can make -- and young players should be prepared to play many types of music if they are going to be successful in music in the 21st century!

Please have a look at my books "Tone Development through Extended Techniques", "Circular Breathing for the Flutist" and "The Other Flute A Performance Manual of Contemporary Techniques". You can find out about these books, my etudes "Flying Lessons" and my music and recordings at www.robertdick.net

Info on ordering everything is there on the site. But for those who have to have the materials NOW, call MMB Music at 1(800) 543-3771, free in the US and Canada. e-mail mmbmusic@mmbmusic.com phone outside the US and Canada +1 314 531-9635.

Robert Dick