Its really annoying in some tunes that there is no pause or long note where you can take a breath any idea ion how tio improve. The strange thing is that I can play it fine breathing wise on my classical its just the traditional one seems to be harder!
Suggestion please
minijackpot's suggestion is valid, too - learn to do that in the right places, and vary it for effect. There aren't rules about that except that if it doesn't sound good - i.e., it's wrong for the phrasing - don't do it.
Likely you need more focus in the airstream--a smaller (though still relaxed) embouchure. It's different for a metal flute with a lip plate than most wooden flutes.
But it's also (mostly) a matter of knowing where to leave out a note--on the weak beats--for an inhale. This is part of your sense of phrasing, and it should change as you repeat the tune so you're not always taking a breath in the same place.
Use your breathing as ornamentation or phrasing like stated above. Also listen to other players and when they breathe. It really helps out a lot. Or try blowing while you are listening to music and see where good breath places would be.
I think there is a difference. In classical flute playing the breathing follows the phrases, so that you breathe at the end. Trad playing involves dropping notes (not considered acceptable in Classical playing) in order to breathe, and using the breathing to play 'over' a phrase and into the next to create interest and variation.
Brenda - I think it depends a bit on the type of tune. I've heard the same advice/instruction that you cite - don't breathe at the end of a phrase ... in dance oriented tunes (such as jigs and reels) because it introduces awkward pauses in the music.
But if you're playing a march, breathing at the end seems more permissible (often preferred, in fact).
Markmoloney - my advice is to breathe wherever you can so that the breathe calls as little attention to itself as possible. That doesn't necessarily mean "sneaky" breaths - some players do a fantastic job of working very conspicuous breathing into their playing ... but it never feels out of place.
Personally, I try to listen to several flute players tackle the same tune and listen for where they stop for breath. I find it very instructive.
I bet you're learning from the dots. As Walt says,"... listen to several flute players tackle the same tune and listen for where they stop for breath."
Slow it down and try singing the tune. Then you'll phrase it naturally.
At a primitive stage of my interest in Irish music I asked a friend who can do circular breathing why he didn’t apply it to his flute playing. He answered matter-of-factly it was more interesting and sounded better with the breathing gaps in. Besides being a hallmark of trad Irish technique.
Done as it is, for the most part, on the notes as opposed to between the notes, the taking of breath helps provide elements of lift and surprise to the music; for the flute player it can even become an element of variation, ornamentation and personal style.
If you’re classically trained or need to ‘see’ what you‘re doing, you could use a score to mark out the notes that can be taken out to best effect: Play the same tune several times dropping different notes each time. For style, try 1) take more breaths than you strictly need 2) leave notes out without taking breaths...
Listening carefully to your favourite interpretations / musicians will give you as much help as the sound advice above (pun intended!).
This could help; http://www.firescribble.net/flute/players.html
See references to Conal O'Grada’s ‘breathy’ style at one end of the spectrum and, at the other end perhaps, to brilliant traditional maverick Cathal McConnell who, at least sometimes, never seems to breathe!
Some contemporary low whistle or flute players with a ‘sleek’ ‘modern’ or commercial style don’t seem to do the breathing thing so much!
Are they under the deleterious influence of the sterile synths? -Yes!
This could be an interesting ethnomusical phenomenon to investigate!
It probably already has since ‘breath’ with its connection to ‘life’ and human language is a major theme in anthropology…
Note also how the uilleann piping has influenced some players (directly or indirectly).
Note also that the Scottish pipe sound is by nature seamless since breathing doesn’t come into it. Yet, skilful performers like to mimic gaps and an increasing amount of tunes have inbuilt top & bottom notes ‘gaps’ in them -to great effect.
Amongst some of the worst I've heard coming from woodwinds was with 'circular-breathing' ~ lacking the interest possible from choosing where to catch a breath that gives the music added lift and kick.
The music is full of places where one can do this, and fiddlers and other musicians also take advantage of a bit of silence or pause now and then...
Well every flute player plays the flute differently to get their tone..
.-the two instruments are different yet it shouldn't take too much effort to change your embouchure if thats whats causing you difficulties with breathing...
-you could also have a sh*te flute
-as Hup said "there's nothing different about classical fluting. You have to be strategic about your breaths"
you could be struggling on the classical and out of your depth and struggling for air on your other flute....
Good point ~ are these two different flutes we're talking about or a matter of two traditions?
If it's flutes, assuming you've a Boehm system for classical, what is the make of the other flute you've been having problems with? Are you actually finding that you're running out of air more often on the one flute than the classical, or is it the music itself that is causing this for you?
Are there breathing exercises that can help? like in singing? As a very basic flute player,new to trad music and amazed at how trad flute players keep going for the night,I find i struggle with dexterity and breathing,but advantage of faster playing is I need less breath for a passage! I'm a dab hand at the phrasing,but the phrases tend to be rather short!
How do you improve breathing on flute?
How do you improve breathing on flute?
Its really annoying in some tunes that there is no pause or long note where you can take a breath any idea ion how tio improve. The strange thing is that I can play it fine breathing wise on my classical its just the traditional one seems to be harder!
Suggestion please
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by Markmoloney
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Those are the tunes written by fiddlers.......
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by minijackpot
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
So my answer is to miss out a note or two somewhere so I can breathe.
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by minijackpot
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Breathe through your ears!
Just kidding.
If you smoke, quit, and work on your lung capacity - running, cycling, and swimming may be helpful.
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
minijackpot's suggestion is valid, too - learn to do that in the right places, and vary it for effect. There aren't rules about that except that if it doesn't sound good - i.e., it's wrong for the phrasing - don't do it.
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Likely you need more focus in the airstream--a smaller (though still relaxed) embouchure. It's different for a metal flute with a lip plate than most wooden flutes.
But it's also (mostly) a matter of knowing where to leave out a note--on the weak beats--for an inhale. This is part of your sense of phrasing, and it should change as you repeat the tune so you're not always taking a breath in the same place.
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Wait, I thought the player had to do the breathing, not the flute?
This could be easier than I thought. I'm going to go check out one of those self breathing flutes!
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Use your breathing as ornamentation or phrasing like stated above. Also listen to other players and when they breathe. It really helps out a lot. Or try blowing while you are listening to music and see where good breath places would be.
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by pipersgrip
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Irish flute would sound really weird without the dropped notes and interesting phrasing. Classical vs. trad flute has nothing to do with it as you work the breaths in as you need them. There's nothing wrong with short phrases.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE1Z_Wog8eg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jzl4i0MEDQ
# Posted on August 2nd 2010 by ElaineT
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Yes, there's nothing different about classical fluting. You have
to strategic about your breaths.
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by Hup
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
I think there is a difference. In classical flute playing the breathing follows the phrases, so that you breathe at the end. Trad playing involves dropping notes (not considered acceptable in Classical playing) in order to breathe, and using the breathing to play 'over' a phrase and into the next to create interest and variation.
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by Bredna
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Brenda - I think it depends a bit on the type of tune. I've heard the same advice/instruction that you cite - don't breathe at the end of a phrase ... in dance oriented tunes (such as jigs and reels) because it introduces awkward pauses in the music.
But if you're playing a march, breathing at the end seems more permissible (often preferred, in fact).
Markmoloney - my advice is to breathe wherever you can so that the breathe calls as little attention to itself as possible. That doesn't necessarily mean "sneaky" breaths - some players do a fantastic job of working very conspicuous breathing into their playing ... but it never feels out of place.
Personally, I try to listen to several flute players tackle the same tune and listen for where they stop for breath. I find it very instructive.
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by waltcamp45
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
I bet you're learning from the dots. As Walt says,"... listen to several flute players tackle the same tune and listen for where they stop for breath."
Slow it down and try singing the tune. Then you'll phrase it naturally.
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by David Levine
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
At a primitive stage of my interest in Irish music I asked a friend who can do circular breathing why he didn’t apply it to his flute playing. He answered matter-of-factly it was more interesting and sounded better with the breathing gaps in. Besides being a hallmark of trad Irish technique.
Done as it is, for the most part, on the notes as opposed to between the notes, the taking of breath helps provide elements of lift and surprise to the music; for the flute player it can even become an element of variation, ornamentation and personal style.
If you’re classically trained or need to ‘see’ what you‘re doing, you could use a score to mark out the notes that can be taken out to best effect: Play the same tune several times dropping different notes each time. For style, try 1) take more breaths than you strictly need 2) leave notes out without taking breaths...
Listening carefully to your favourite interpretations / musicians will give you as much help as the sound advice above (pun intended!).
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by birlibirdie
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
This could help; http://www.firescribble.net/flute/players.html
See references to Conal O'Grada’s ‘breathy’ style at one end of the spectrum and, at the other end perhaps, to brilliant traditional maverick Cathal McConnell who, at least sometimes, never seems to breathe!
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by birlibirdie
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Some contemporary low whistle or flute players with a ‘sleek’ ‘modern’ or commercial style don’t seem to do the breathing thing so much!
Are they under the deleterious influence of the sterile synths? -Yes!
This could be an interesting ethnomusical phenomenon to investigate!
It probably already has since ‘breath’ with its connection to ‘life’ and human language is a major theme in anthropology…
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by birlibirdie
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Note also how the uilleann piping has influenced some players (directly or indirectly).
Note also that the Scottish pipe sound is by nature seamless since breathing doesn’t come into it. Yet, skilful performers like to mimic gaps and an increasing amount of tunes have inbuilt top & bottom notes ‘gaps’ in them -to great effect.
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by birlibirdie
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Amongst some of the worst I've heard coming from woodwinds was with 'circular-breathing' ~ lacking the interest possible from choosing where to catch a breath that gives the music added lift and kick.
The music is full of places where one can do this, and fiddlers and other musicians also take advantage of a bit of silence or pause now and then...
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by ceolachan
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Well every flute player plays the flute differently to get their tone..
.-the two instruments are different yet it shouldn't take too much effort to change your embouchure if thats whats causing you difficulties with breathing...
-you could also have a sh*te flute
-as Hup said "there's nothing different about classical fluting. You have to be strategic about your breaths"
you could be struggling on the classical and out of your depth and struggling for air on your other flute....
# Posted on August 3rd 2010 by premier
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Good point ~ are these two different flutes we're talking about or a matter of two traditions?
If it's flutes, assuming you've a Boehm system for classical, what is the make of the other flute you've been having problems with? Are you actually finding that you're running out of air more often on the one flute than the classical, or is it the music itself that is causing this for you?
# Posted on August 4th 2010 by ceolachan
Re: How do you improve breathing on flute?
Are there breathing exercises that can help? like in singing? As a very basic flute player,new to trad music and amazed at how trad flute players keep going for the night,I find i struggle with dexterity and breathing,but advantage of faster playing is I need less breath for a passage! I'm a dab hand at the phrasing,but the phrases tend to be rather short!
# Posted on August 7th 2010 by lucy farr