Breathing

[beelady]

Hi all,

I'm working on my lung capacity and am wondering... Is it possible to be great at filling my lungs with air to their fullest without being a super athletic type person?

I do walk everyday a mile and a half some of it up a steep hill, and try to make it to my aerobics class twice a week. So I'm trying to do my best at staying fit.

Or, out of curiousity, are there great flutists out there that are not exercise gurus that manage to play with great lung capacity and breath control?

Thanks in advance for your comments/advice.

Melissa

[Zevang]

Hi Melissa

It's not enough just practicing outside to develop lung capacity. Of course it helps and in some cases it's mandatory. But the real thing is actually practicing flute playing. It takes time (months, years) and you'll need to be pacient. But as I said, anyway, sports help a lot.

[beelady]

Thank you.

I'm starting to see that. When you are playing the flute your breathing technique is part of playing the flute and must be practiced and engaged every time when playing so it becomes automatic. I do need to be patient. And yes, I would assume it certainly does help if you are healthy and fit.

I'm researching the skill of breathing as a flutist and the different techniques that are taught.

I really like Nina Perlove's active breathing video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Kyg0FXXD0

It seems to make the most sense to me.

After all we don't play the flute laying down, do we

[Zevang]

Any new exercise, technique or guidance that helps you in any way is worth trying.

I know flutists that if it would possible they would play only laying down, preferably with the company of a bottle of bier...

I think you're in the right path, but let me say something as important as developing your flute breathing.

Not only the capacity of your lungs determine how long you are able to play a phrase. It's also a function of the development of your particular tone. This is because when you work on your tone you learn how to save the air you have inside, how not to waste it is a work of art, believe me, and also takes time.

[lianeandflute]

Not only the capacity of your lungs determine how long you are able to play a phrase. It's also a function of the development of your particular tone. This is because when you work on your tone you learn how to save the air you have inside, how not to waste it is a work of art, believe me, and also takes time.

i think abdominal support plays a crucial role here and should be practiced with breathing. you can't play with air unless you are supporting and controlling it and this is done chiefly with abdominal support (also called diaphragm). i've always found that the more support you use, the less air you actually need...

[pamplemousse]

An excellent exercise for breathing is Yoga. I know that sounds kinda off kilter but it really helps me. Since I have to breathe with my diaphragm in Yoga, it forces me to exercise my lung capacity. I do Yoga every other day as soon as I wake up. It definitely helps with other things such as posture too. Highly recommended

[Bo]

I bought a yoga book only recently and am ashamed to confess I haven't started any exercises yet... Now I feel even more motivated. It is a pretty comprehensive book with many techniques.
Any particular exercises or techniques you would recommend?

[beelady]

Thank you for all of your comments.

Yoga does sound like a great idea.

I have pretty good breath support/control I just need to be able to fill my lungs up with more air, I feel. I want to balloon out!

One plus is that I can now feel cold air going down my throat when I inhale. All these years I've been literally keeping my throat constricted. So that is a huge start!

Just say Howl backwards. Then turn it into Lah backwards for the shorter deep breaths. If you can feel cold air, then your throat is relaxed and open.

Still researching and practicing. Hopefully it won't take years. Everything else about my playing, I'm pretty happy with.

Thanks again all, happy fluting...

Melissa

[Mindermast]

It is almost impossible to increase the total volume of your lungs. If you are a smoker, there is a chance to get rid of some tar and other debris, but the volume of an adult human is pretty much set and only decreases with age. So it is important to use the existing capacity effectively and "lighten" your chest with appropriate posture and thoughts (bad moods and breathing are often directly connected).

[flutego12]

One would be forgiven to think that with all that abdominal support being employed during flute playing, flutists should logically have trim flat tummies (ok so Bouriakov does) but I look at the best, Mons Rampal and he has a rather generous (pot)belly.

[Mathau6]

Try some breathing gym exercises. These have proved themselves in my ensemble's tone and intonation time and time again!

[aeflute]

I don't think it really matters how big belly you got. I am very thin, but I think I have enough air to play long phrase.
Anyway the secret is not to waste too many air unnecessary. That means a LOT of work of INspiration and sound producing. Good luck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUTPSaExrWM - these are 3 encore pieces from our concert in Italy. There are three pieces of Nino Rota, and the phrases are long.

[flutego12]

Look at Rampal's tum tum and be encouraged.

[evrmre]

Just a thought I'd like to throw out there... I swim quite a bit, and find that it is possible to actually over breathe, leaving me with too much air to expel before my next breath.
So with playing, sometimes when everything 'falls together', I find I'm playing with almost no effort, gentle breathing, and decent capacity. So I'm wondering if the same applies to flute? Can one actually over breathe with the flute?

[MissyHPhoenix]

My instructor had to get me to take smaller, more efficient breaths because I was so used to trying to fill my lungs but wasn't effectively using the air I took in. (Did that make sense?) Anyway, she emphasizes taking in just enough air with each breath to support the notes. It is an extremely efficient way to play but takes a lot of practice to get it right. Worth it tho!!! Made a big difference in my tone quality.