4.4 The range problem, honestly

The same thing, four instruments

The exercise is the same whichever one you play. What changes is how you make it.

Singing

The voice is the one instrument here that can be damaged by practising. Strain does not build range, and a sa set two notes too high is the usual cause. Changing your sruti is a reasonable decision, not an admission of anything.

On the veena

The range is fixed by the instrument, so a note that is missing is missing because it is off the end of the frets or on a string you have not used. Nothing here rewards effort; work out which string the note lives on.

On the violin

Almost every note is physically available, so a missing note on the violin is really a note you cannot yet play in tune. Treat it as an intonation problem and slow it down rather than avoiding it.

On the flute

Your flute's range is decided by its length, and the extremes at both ends are breath problems rather than finger problems. A note that will not speak on a well-sealed instrument needs a different air stream, not more force.

Work through these

• Move a whole exercise down or up so that it fits your range for now.

• Practise the two notes at the edge of your range on their own, briefly and daily.

• Write down which notes are not there yet, and check again in a month.

• Stop at the first sign of strain rather than at the end of the line.