Flute Breath Control, Is this normal??? Options

[clarinetgiggirl]

Hi

I am an adult and bought myself a flute just after Christmas.

I already play clarinet (grade 7), tenor and alto sax, so thought I could pick it up reasonably quickly.

However, I am unable to sustain a note for longer than about 6 seconds. Consequently, I can't even play through Grade 1 pieces satisfactorily because I simply do not have enough air. I am fit and healthy, walking and cycling most days with the occassional jog. Can anyone tell me what is going wrong.

My teacher has recommended (inevitably) long note practice and some breathing exercises but I am surprised that as a fully grown adult I can't play at a level one would normally expect a young child to manage.

Any clues?

[Alicia Ocean]

It could be just stamina development that's needed. Most children are really quite fit and active - they can certainly run faster and longer then I can. Swimming really helps me with my flute stamina and I really struggle when my general fitness is neglected. Though you already exercise - so it is a puzzle.

Long notes practice is one thing - but also try singing long notes - you can do this any where/time. Try singing along to the radio in long phrases and be conscious of when you take a breath.

The flute uses a vast amout of breath - after all you throw half of it away and it doesn't even make it into the instrument.

[AmandaL]

Lots of support from the diaphragm helps. I speak as someone who (when not playing the violin), tends to be playing the oboe - which has the opposite problems to the flute when it comes to breathing correctly. Occasionally I have the time to play my much neglected flute and the issue of breathing is something I have struggled with.

The advice I was given was to 'just play' and not think about the breathing issues. Playing from memory, or improvising helps, as you won't feel so inhibited looking at the music and thinking "where shall I breathe?...there, or there?".

All said and done, I will reiterate that supporting the air flow with the diaphragm does really help. Don't let your shoulders slump forward and together when playing - a habit many wind (and even some string) players are guilty of without realising it. As with playing any instrument, keep the back straight and the shoulders back, thus allowing the chest cavity maximum room to do its job properly.

Most children are really quite fit and active

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) There's a huge problem where I live then! They slob around the streets with even less pace than an elderly snail. I can't remember when I last saw children walking along properly, let alone running....

[Bagpuss]

Learning how to get the air in (in a very short space o f time) is one thing, but equal importance needs to be given to the control of letting it out. I've come across this problem with several older pupes who have no trouble with the sax or clarinet and wonder if it's partly to do with the flute being a non-contact instrument - ie there's no reed providing resistance as it were (sorry, not putting this into words well) so the temptation is to let the air out in an uncontrolled whoosh. I suspect your prob is letting the air out inefficiently. Without seeing you it is hard to advise but long notes are a must - start with holding for 4 beats, then 8 etc etc.

Good luck and keep us posted - you can do it!

Baggy x

[ffliwt]

Everyone has those problems when they start - i started on clarinet too and when i picked up flute i also found it hard. Just work on breath support - make sure you're breathing from the bottom of the diaphragm and releasing the air at a steady and even rate. I'm sure you already know it from clarinet, but it's hard to adapt it to such a different instrument.
Also make sure the hole in your lips you're releasing the air from is VERY very small, and that there's no air leaking out of the sides of your lips either. I have problems with my apperture being to large and wide too, so i'm wasting a lot of air, and running out of breath quickly. It takes time but it's definately worth working on it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Sianie9]

I must be in the minority then, switching from clarinet to flute I find the breathing on flute far easier! The nice thing about the flute is that as it is non-contact you don't need a flute in font of you to practise - I sit at my desk at work with a finger on my bottom lip practising embouchure, long (silent!) notes and tonguing. No-one's given me any wierd looks yet.......!

[Blackbird77]

Hi
Fully agree with AmandaL's excellent advice about the diaphragm. At first I couldn't hold a note for more than 2 seconds and had to keep taking a breath after every note but it does get easier with time and practice but a lot of it is to do with your diaphragm. When I do it, I have to hold my stomach in (also makes me look slimmer for about 10 nanoseconds) and then slowly release the air. An exercise my teacher gave me was to take a small piece of paper, place it up against the wall and then try and keep it fixed against the wall for as long as you can with your breath, gradually moving further away from the wall. At first, I had to be almost head butting the piece of paper to get it to stay against the wall but it does get easier.

Good luck and enjoying flute playing - it's a great instrument!

[phantasmagoriana]

I started teaching myself flute about 3 1/2 weeks ago and am also having trouble sustaining a note too and whilst I can play some simple pieces, I have to breathe far more often than is indicated...

Good to know I'm not the only one having this problem though - I think I will try some of the ideas in this thread along with my usual "long" (rather short!) note practice.

[Carl]

Hi

I am an adult and bought myself a flute just after Christmas.

I already play clarinet (grade 7), tenor and alto sax, so thought I could pick it up reasonably quickly.

However, I am unable to sustain a note for longer than about 6 seconds. Consequently, I can't even play through Grade 1 pieces satisfactorily because I simply do not have enough air. I am fit and healthy, walking and cycling most days with the occassional jog. Can anyone tell me what is going wrong.

My teacher has recommended (inevitably) long note practice and some breathing exercises but I am surprised that as a fully grown adult I can't play at a level one would normally expect a young child to manage.

Any clues?

Hi I am also an adult, clarinet G8 and play alto sax. I also bought a flute after Xmas, took some lessons and took G 1 on Friday. I had the same breath control problems as you. I think it's because we are used to a reed to blow against where as with the flute the air goes straight through. I was persuaded not to do Greensleeves which was my first choice, because of this and to select something with more breathing places.

[Jon S]

I have also just started experimenting with a flute (swapped mine for a TV set!), having come from a clarinet. Compared to a clarinet a flute does seem to use a huge amount of air, even more than a recorder. You seem to need lungs like a compressor! And I don’t think it’s just a support issue - you just don’t seem to be able to get enough air into your lungs to maintain the demand the instrument has. I’m beginning to think blowing air against the edge of a hole must be the most inefficient method of creating a sound ever devised.

[harmony2]

When I do it, I have to hold my stomach in (also makes me look slimmer for about 10 nanoseconds) and then slowly release the air.

If you are using your diaphragm correctly your stomach should go out with the in breath, and pull in gradually with the out breath, not the other way around. Over the years I have taught quite a few reed players and the vast majority have problems with breathing as they have no physical thing in their mouths when playing the flute. The answer is lots of work on focussing the air stream with plenty of diaphragm support. Lie on the floor with knees bent and a heavy book over the tummy muscle area - breathe in deeply and make the book rise, then let it steadily fall with the out breath. Another good exercise is to stand with the small of your back pressed against a wall/knees bent and blow long notes on the flute really feeling you tummy muscles working to control the out breath. Also try blowing continuous bubbles with a straw and glass of water while focussing on diaphragm/tummy muscles.

[clarinetgiggirl]

Another good exercise is to stand with the small of your back pressed against a wall/knees bent and blow long notes on the flute really feeling you tummy muscles working to control the out breath.


That sounds more exhausing than a 5 mile run! At least I'll have tummy muscles when I've finished!

Seriously, thanks for everyone's advice and I am also glad I'm not the only one. though I'm really impressed that anyone could take grade 1 on any instrument after just a few weeks of learning.

[Flutlet]

Hi

I am an adult and bought myself a flute just after Christmas.

I already play clarinet (grade 7), tenor and alto sax, so thought I could pick it up reasonably quickly.

However, I am unable to sustain a note for longer than about 6 seconds. Consequently, I can't even play through Grade 1 pieces satisfactorily because I simply do not have enough air. I am fit and healthy, walking and cycling most days with the occassional jog. Can anyone tell me what is going wrong.

My teacher has recommended (inevitably) long note practice and some breathing exercises but I am surprised that as a fully grown adult I can't play at a level one would normally expect a young child to manage.

Any clues?

As a musician who started as a flautist and then learnt the clarinet and saxophone I can tell you that I have found neither require as much air as the flute so I would imagine that it is normal for you to be struggling as I struggle to get rid of the extra air I have when I play the clarinet and saxophone.

Don't worry about you being rubbish because it's not your fault you just need to practice building it up.

good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flute.gif)

[Blackbird77]

When I do it, I have to hold my stomach in (also makes me look slimmer for about 10 nanoseconds) and then slowly release the air.

If you are using your diaphragm correctly your stomach should go out with the in breath, and pull in gradually with the out breath, not the other way around. Over the years I have taught quite a few reed players and the vast majority have problems with breathing as they have no physical thing in their mouths when playing the flute. The answer is lots of work on focussing the air stream with plenty of diaphragm support. Lie on the floor with knees bent and a heavy book over the tummy muscle area - breathe in deeply and make the book rise, then let it steadily fall with the out breath. Another good exercise is to stand with the small of your back pressed against a wall/knees bent and blow long notes on the flute really feeling you tummy muscles working to control the out breath. Also try blowing continuous bubbles with a straw and glass of water while focussing on diaphragm/tummy muscles.

Sorry, my earlier reply didn't make this clear - thesis write up is making me lose all sense of reality. When I release the air, my stomach is pulled in and I have to let the air out gradually in a smooth continuous flow, my explanation is nowhere near as eloquent though.