How to Play Staccato Notes on Flute
If you’ve read my Clean Articulation post, you probably learned a lot about light tonguing and air flow. Now, we take that to the next level with some practices for beautiful staccato notes.
Staccato vs. Legato
Legato is a smooth connected style of playing with little space between notes, typically achieved by a slight flit of the tongue to articulate. Staccato is defined by shorter, unconnected notes. This does not mean that staccato has to be harsh. Staccato can be light and dainty (think Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy). You don’t want to necessarily accent the notes that are written with staccato (unless written or stylistically relevant to do so).
Air Support
First and foremost, as I’ve echoed in many of my posts thus far, your air flow is your best friend. You need to make sure you’re supporting your tone all the way through your articulation so that you don’t lose it and go airy, or simply lose the ability to articulate well. If you’re using your tongue correctly and allowing the airflow to build up and then push your tongue out of the way, then lacking the air support will be devastating to this technique. So, before you get working on this, practice some long tones in preparation for your articulation practice.
The Role of the Tongue
In your practice, you want to make sure your tongue is hitting the correct spot in your mouth. I like for the tongue to touch the spot at the front of your pallet where the gum meets the teeth. There’s some debate on the syllable you should be using to create a beautiful articulation, but I find the “di” syllable works best for light tonguing, where the “ti” works best for more harsh sounds, such as staccato. Be sure when using the “ti” syllable that you’re not creeping your tongue back further on the roof of your mouth, otherwise you’ll fatigue during faster passages. Playing staccato notes ultimately means that not only are you letting the air push your tongue out of the way, but then you’re quickly (but not harshly) replacing it in order to achieve space between notes. Again, staccato does not mean harsh. I say this because we often feel like that’s what it means. Often, it’s just the opposite - it’s gentle and dainty, leaving space. Keep in mind that the movement of the tongue should not be large. It should be a small movement to both open the airstream and close it. You should not be feeling a ton of fatigue after playing staccato notes.
Embouchure
Many people find themselves squeezing their embouchure in order to play staccato notes. This could be a result of the movement of the tongue or just the stress from attempting clean articulation, but remember that your embouchure really shouldn’t change. If you feel yourself starting to squeeze or tighten, take a moment to relax before proceeding. While you’re at it, take a moment to do some deep, diaphragmatic breathing and relax your jaw, neck, and embouchure before continuing on.
What to Practice
First and foremost, practice these new articulations with scales. Start by completely slurring up and down, then move on to a legato (but not slurred) articulation. Then, move on to your staccato scales. Slowly increase the speed until you have a solid base for your staccato notes. I highly recommend using Taffanel and Gaubert Daily Exercise #4 for this exercise, and then rotating through other articulations such as 3-slur, 1-staccato, then 1-staccato, 3 slur. Remember, don’t be harsh. Be light, beautiful, and supported.
Key Takeaways
Staccato is a disconnected note, but it is not harsh.
Use the “ti” syllable and allow small tongue movements to create space between notes.
Support your articulation with air.
Don’t tighten your embouchure.
Practice with scales.
If you’re looking for a little more guidance, I’d love to help! Check out my Offerings page or Contact me and we can discuss all the flexible options I have available for flute lessons!
