water dripping out of the flute

monika · Post by **monika** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 5:35 pm

Whenever I practice water starts
dripping out of the flute after about half an hour. Is this normal and does it
affect the tone? I assume that flute players don''t have the luxury to
clean/dry the flute half way trough a performance...

Monika

AG950Flute · Post by **AG950Flute** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 8:36 pm

nah....the condensation does not affect
the tone. however, if there starts to be a great amount of condensation after
playing for a really long time, sometimes you'll get "spit bubbles" around the
keys, kinda common on the G# key, trill keys or C# key. if this happens you can
general blow out the water around the tone hole. i hope that makes sense.
generally though, if there's a lot of condensation, you sometimes may have time
to clean out your instrument in between a piece. other than that, no big
deal!

monika · Post by **monika** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 11:23 pm

Thanks, Courtney. That puts my mind to
rest

Monika

angel_of_music · Post by **angel_of_music** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:53 pm

my flute spits on me all the time.
especially via the keys. its kinda unpleasant, but no biggy

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 8:07 pm

Maybe you should invent a flute with a
spit valve like brass instruments. lol Some people just have more moisture in
their mouth than others

Bubs_23452 · Post by **Bubs_23452** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 8:17 pm

Its kinda gross, but my friends and I
at school call that "My flute pee'd on me!" Ah its wonderfull being in high
school.[;)]

flutietootie4lyfe · Post by **flutietootie4lyfe** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 3:18 pm

yeah we say that too haha if you put it
upright on your leg you get that little ring hahahaha

dancingflutist3000 · Post by **dancingflutist3000** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:33 pm

[quote] ---------------- On 10/7/2003
5:35:31 PM Whenever I practice water starts dripping out of the flute after
about half an hour. Is this normal and does it affect the tone? I assume that
flute players don't have the luxury to clean/dry the flute half way trough a
performance...

Monika ---------------- [/quote] Do you mean spit is coming
out of your flute? That's what happened to me when I had nonstop 45 min
marching band practice. I never get that at home but only when I march for a
long time. I don't think anything of it...and I probably wouldn't have the
problem if flutes had spit valves lol. To answer your question... I'll guess
that maybe you produce a lot of saliva or maybe somethings wrong with your flute
pads. To help until you can find out/solve the problem use your cleaning cloth
at 15 minute intervals (when practicing at home) and clean you flute VERY
thoroughly when your done playing for a while.

AmastaJ943 · Post by **AmastaJ943** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 6:30 pm

I have that happen to me all the time.
If you can, take the cleaning rod with the cloth on in, and just sab the end of
your flute, without taking it apart, and just slip it on you stand on in your
pocket. We have those stands with the 2 pockets on them, so thats where I store
mine whenever. I sometimes do it after a piece is played, including in concerts.
~AJ

johnbegud · Post by **johnbegud** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:46 pm

there is nothing wrong in the
instrument. it happens on other wind instruments also. when warm breath mixes
with the cold air inside the tube, condensation occurs and you have moisture,
much like getting rain when hot air on the ground rises and mixes with cold air
in the sky.

woof · Post by **woof** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 12:58 pm

[quote] ---------------- On 10/7/2003
5:35:31 PM Whenever I practice water starts dripping out of the flute after
about half an hour. Is this normal and does it affect the tone? I assume that
flute players don't have the luxury to clean/dry the flute half way trough a
performance...

Monika ---------------- [/quote] As johnbegud said it is only
condensation from the water you breath out with each breathe you take--not
spit-- if that makes you feel any better. You compress the air in your lungs to
blow across the hole, as you blow the air expands/ cools off and some moisture
condenses out. It is probably at least as pure as the water that comes from your
faucet- unless you have a diseased lung.

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 4:11 pm

Gee now I have to sound like the bad
guy, it is not condensation it is spit. Well let us sound sophisticated, it is
saliva from your mouth predominantely. Now you dont have to call the moisture
from your mouth spit if that sound gross to you. But you know whatever you call
it, its spit. The more moisture you have in your mouth the more will drip out of
your flute. Some people have almost none some, well it can be embarassing.

woof · Post by **woof** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:50 am

Actually there is a difference between
saliva- which is produced in salivary glands and is full of enzymes etc and the
moisture that comes from your lungs and evaporation from your mouth. On a cold
day when you exhale a "cloud" you see that "lung" moisture not saliva. No doubt
some people may salavate into their flute but at leastwith my flute it is
condensation.

krichards · Post by **krichards** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:31 am

Let's not feed FluteDiddy's obsession
with spit anymore. This is not the first thread on the topic on this forum.
Let's just let this thread end, shall we?

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:45 pm

Let's not feed FluteDiddy's obsession
with spit anymore Other than an attempt at starting an argumen why would you
make crap like that? Call it what you like if the words spit and saliva offend
you call it condensation. Its still spit and full of whatever you have eaten
lately unless you thoroughly have cleaned your mouth. That is why we are told
and tell people to brush teeth, rinse their mouth and not eat or drink before
playing. I don't know why it bothers that you blow spit into your flute? Maybe
you should switch to violin, that doesn't require spitting into the instrument.
You dont have to believe me go over to the Galway site and read what Galway says
about the spit you put into the flute. And how you must thoroughly. I could give
you a dozen refrences that it is spit, but it is so absurd to think you would
need to be convinced that when you blow out your mouth the air contains spit I
wont bother. But for the beginners be careful not eat or drink especially sugary
foods before you play and spit in your flute and make your pads sticky. No gum
either.