Sometimes when I'm playing, I hear that I'm producing a vocal sound, almost like humming. It's as if when I blow, the air causes my vocal cords to vibrate.
In my younger days I played modern flute, and this never happened.
Has anybody else had this problem, and what did you do about it?
Thanks!
It happens to me off and on (I play Boehm-system flute), but I never hear it unless someone records me or brings my attention to it, so I tend to ignore it. I'll be watching this thread with interest to find out if there's a strategy for getting rid of it altogether.
I had a flute teacher once tell me that it was good, that it's a sign of great musicianship that you can't help "singing" along with your own playing. Mind, she did the vocalization thing as well, so it could have been her own rationalization of something she didn't know how to fix.
It can be very impressive - our flautist uses it as a voluntary effect, haven't asked her if she is in unison or harmony, but but controled and done strongly it adds a whole extra dimension. Probably not strict ITM though - don't do it in competition !
Do you feel tension in your throat while playing? I would guess the humming comes in on difficult passages, that it's an involuntary tightening when you're focusing on everything else that goes into playing the flute.
Aside from trying to keep an open and relaxed path for the air all the time, I'd suggest finding those particular places where it happens and playing them slowly and comfortably without the vocalizations.
I get it sometimes in a sess when I'm playing with gusto, or too gustily.... just the odd brief burst on a note with lots of attack . I don't think it's a problem if it happens just now and again. If it's maintained all through a tune, that would not be good.
This could be how pipe regulators were invented...
I second the last post - I too sometimes grunt involuntarily when pushing a diaphragm driven rhythmic emphasis on a note - but pretty much only when playing trad. I've never noticed myself doing it when playing classical pieces, not that I'm classically trained or competemt - just do it for pleasure sometimes. I try not to do it when I notice myself doing so in ITM etc.
I have also seen a discussion somewhere in the past (Woodenflute or C&F?) about an advanced classical tone production/improvement technique that involves making the physical structures of the windway and torso kinda mime singing the note you are playing. I've had a go at it and it does seem to improve ones sonority, though doing it consistently and at speed demands more practice than I have time for! It does seem to support the whole keeping your air-column open and relaxed right down to yur guts thing that certainly does improve tone production. You start off by actually singing the notes you are playing (in slow pieces!) at pitch or an octave below and mentally noting how your body feels, then do it without vocalising but using the same structures.
involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
Sometimes when I'm playing, I hear that I'm producing a vocal sound, almost like humming. It's as if when I blow, the air causes my vocal cords to vibrate.
In my younger days I played modern flute, and this never happened.
Has anybody else had this problem, and what did you do about it?
Thanks!
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by Sally_R
Re: involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
Gave up the flute.
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by gooseinthenettles
Re: involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
It happens to me off and on (I play Boehm-system flute), but I never hear it unless someone records me or brings my attention to it, so I tend to ignore it. I'll be watching this thread with interest to find out if there's a strategy for getting rid of it altogether.
I had a flute teacher once tell me that it was good, that it's a sign of great musicianship that you can't help "singing" along with your own playing. Mind, she did the vocalization thing as well, so it could have been her own rationalization of something she didn't know how to fix.
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by fliedermaus
Re: involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
Make it tune with the flute - it never did Ian Anderson any harm !!
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by SeanMc
Re: involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
It can be very impressive - our flautist uses it as a voluntary effect, haven't asked her if she is in unison or harmony, but but controled and done strongly it adds a whole extra dimension. Probably not strict ITM though - don't do it in competition !
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
Do you feel tension in your throat while playing? I would guess the humming comes in on difficult passages, that it's an involuntary tightening when you're focusing on everything else that goes into playing the flute.
Aside from trying to keep an open and relaxed path for the air all the time, I'd suggest finding those particular places where it happens and playing them slowly and comfortably without the vocalizations.
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by George Grasso
Re: involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
I get it sometimes in a sess when I'm playing with gusto, or too gustily.... just the odd brief burst on a note with lots of attack . I don't think it's a problem if it happens just now and again. If it's maintained all through a tune, that would not be good.
This could be how pipe regulators were invented...
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by de Selby
Re: involuntary vocalization on flute and whistle
I second the last post - I too sometimes grunt involuntarily when pushing a diaphragm driven rhythmic emphasis on a note - but pretty much only when playing trad. I've never noticed myself doing it when playing classical pieces, not that I'm classically trained or competemt - just do it for pleasure sometimes. I try not to do it when I notice myself doing so in ITM etc.
However, I do sometimes do THIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNdtGUsgQjM for special effect! That's totally voluntary, though!
I have also seen a discussion somewhere in the past (Woodenflute or C&F?) about an advanced classical tone production/improvement technique that involves making the physical structures of the windway and torso kinda mime singing the note you are playing. I've had a go at it and it does seem to improve ones sonority, though doing it consistently and at speed demands more practice than I have time for! It does seem to support the whole keeping your air-column open and relaxed right down to yur guts thing that certainly does improve tone production. You start off by actually singing the notes you are playing (in slow pieces!) at pitch or an octave below and mentally noting how your body feels, then do it without vocalising but using the same structures.
# Posted on May 4th 2008 by Jemtheflute