The lowest note on a piano is A, four octaves below the A.?

Question

The highest note on a piano is C, four octaves above the middle C. Find the frequencies and wavelengths (in air) of these notes.

Major Spinka DVM · Accepted Answer

We need to know the speed of sound in air, which varies slightly with temperatureand density, but at sea level is about 331 meters per second. Using this value: The frequency of the A above middle C is 440 cycles per second (or Hertz). Eachoctave down reduces the frequency of the corresponding A by half, so the lowestA on a piano has a frequency of 27.5 cycles per second. The wavelength is foundby dividing the speed of sound (331 m/sec) by the frequency, so the lowest A hasa wavelength of 331 / 27.5, or 12.036 meters. The highest C on the piano has a frequency of 4096 cps (Hertz), so its wavelengthis 331 / 4096, or 0.08081 meter, which is the same as 8.081 centimeters.

Major Spinka DVM · Answer

First - make sure you have no cumulative leaks in the entire flute. The smallest leaks anywhere on the body are all combined together to prevent good low notes. Your foot joint is notorious for leaking. PRESSING HARD is terrible technique -and often does not help, anyway. So - let's address your embouchure. Keep you head up - looking slightly above eye level. Use the center of your upper lip to direct the airstream - always - and point the AIR down, without lowering your head. This will take some experimentation. Lowering your head causes *covering*, and you will *eat* the note. Work down chromatically in robust long tones, from A or G - keeping that center, and using the slightest bit of the side/cheek muscles to reinforce the direction of the airstream - center, center, center. Gonna be 100 miles north of NYC? Drive on over here - or find a good professional flutist/teacher in your area. This is what we do - we fix your problems in a fraction of the time that you would spend beating yourself up. I don't paint my own house - and HE does not teach his daughter flute - I do.

Prof. Cristobal Welch

The lowest note on a piano is A, four octaves below the A.?

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