The breathing tutorials and the one on harmonics transformed my playing. I never until now understood "air support". It was just a meaningless phrase and I couldn't understand why my middle register notes cracked and my intonation was wildly inconsistent. Practicing is fun now. Thank you a million times!
Thank YOU a million times for this lovely message! I’m SO delighted to read that my videos have helped you on your way to more enjoyable practice!! Great news!! 👍☺️
Thank you Emily for sharing this video. I am a beginner in playing the flute at the age of 56. This breathing thing is bothering me from the first lesson. I watched this tutorial once, joined your excerices and then started to practice this little, (simplified!) part from the "Bauernkantate BWV 212". I never came through without needing to take a random breath at the worst measure. NOW: I run through it! I'm so happy and I can't wait to see my teacher to show her that I get along with it now. A hugh thank you for using the right words to explain this important matter.
Love this. I never would have thought to practice breathing without the flute so I’m definitely going to give this a go and see if it helps me to play longer phrases in one breath
Thank you so much for this! The struggle of making my body just let air in instead of taking very active breaths has been long. I will use this video to get rid of tension and bad habits!
If it's your first time here, please do watch the whole thing, but if you are coming back for just doing the exercises with Emily's friendly face and voice, here they are: Number 1: 5:46 Number 2: 7:46 Number 3: 11:56
Hi Emily!! My teacher has suggested this video and it is amazing! You have helped me so much. You explain it very well. I am trying to do this breathing everyday, but for the extreme breathing, I might do it once every two days. Thank you for your help!!♡
Hey Emily, Your bellows analogy is great. But the action end of the bellows is the lower ribs which extend far around the side of the torso, as you know. Understand that displacing the belly forward has nothing at all to do with drawing the air in as you otherwise excellently describe. The diaphragm does not need the belly to be displaced forward to make room for it to draw downwards and crest that partial vacuum that is the inspiration. Indeed as one develops increasing speed and pressure of the expiration to blow the flute, the abdominals will activate. However it is the squeeze of the ribs, again the lower ribs that squeeze against the internal tissue that presses against the lungs to press the air out. The bellows analogy is great. It’s the intercostal muscles and the attendant ribs that are where the action is, not the abdominals. When you allow and encourage the lower ribs to move outwards and thereby take advantage of the partial vacuum to bring air in, you will find that the belly slightly draws inwards. Compare that to the action of allowing or pushing the belly forward and you’ll find that very much more air comes in either the expansion of the ribs than does when one ‘belly breathers’. Please consult F.M. Alexander’s technique of full chest breathing if this isn’t quite clear.
Hi Jack and thanks for your feedback and detailed comment 👍 Of course, the human breathing apparatus is far more sophisticated than a pair of bellows but both for my own playing and when I’m teaching, I find drawing the attention low down and towards the abdominals (which are easy to feel and control) very helpful!! It helps remind (me) to relax for the in breath and support ‘from the belly’ when blowing. Thanks again for your detailed description! 🙏
Fantastic video! You are terrific. Previously you had posted some excellent videos pertaining to embouchure/core support in the top register. I love those exercises and referred students to them many times, but cannot seem to find them any longer. Would you consider reposting them? You’re wonderful!
Thank you very much, David! Next week's video is on harmonics, so hopefully you'll find that helpful for the top register! (those previous films were made by ArtisMusic for Altus, who sadly then removed them when I switced to playing a Haynes flute!)
Emily Beynon-you are an amazing inspiration. Those earlier videos brought a new dawn to my understanding of flute playing. Particularly the high note fingerings while blowing gently for the lower two sounds first so that one could learn to effortlessly play soft on the top. I return to these all the time. And, happily this exercise works every time and does the trick. Please consider posting one like it. Your description was perfect. Do you do Zoom lessons? I am honored to correspond with you this way.
Thank you so much for this video ! I loved it ! I enjoyed practicing your exercices and will incorporate them in my daily routine. Thanks once more :-)
Hi Emily! I have just subscribed to your channel, this video seems very interesting to me, I will show it to my teacher, if she gives me the approval, I will put it into practice. I am a beginner, but very mature, and breathing, besides the other difficulties concerning the instrument, is breathing! I have big lungs, but I don't use my breathing right. It is not clear to me when to do the exercises, how soon to study with the instrument? Usually in the morning I study arpeggios and in the afternoon, the songs that my teacher gave me, when I'm tired, I try to play songs that I like by ear! (I know it wouldn't do, but I relax ...) For the moment I thank you for the teachings you bring to your channel, simple and exhaustive in the explanations, foolproof! Thank you very much!
Thank you for making these videos. I shattered my left elbow three weeks ago. Ouch! Someone pointed out your videos so that I may practice other parts of fluting without my instrument. I plan to continue these even after I get back to playing my instrument. On to the next one!
Oh my goodness - poor you! Do keep practising.... breathing is the most important, of course, but you could also do some embouchure flexibility with just the headjoint perhaps? I wish you a speedy recovery!
What contributes to the sensation of breathlessness or shortness of breath during playing, in the absence of having exhausted your air supply? For example, I am playing a slow piece of music with multiple opportunities to breathe, not running out of air, but still feel short of breath. Is this the stacking of breaths and incomplete exhalation? Do you have any insights or tips on how to deal with this unpleasant sensation thank you very much. I’ve enjoyed many many of your videos.
Thanks for watching and for your question. It does sound as if you may not be using all your air (incomplete exhalation) Try blowing through the flute a bit more, or maybe even blowing out before breathing in (as oboists do) Let me know if that helps… Perhaps breathing deeper and more relaxed? Do you ever breathe in through your nose? That sometimes helps with getting a nice, relaxed (slow), low breath. Let me know how you get on.
Hi Mani, practice in the first instance with just the headjoint until you get a steady sound with a steady stream of air. Try and find a local teacher to help you with your progress. Good luck! 👍
Maestra: Incredibly generous of you, by not holding onto to your riches. By giving them away, it has been my experience that I am prepped to receive more, which, I suspect, is exactly what you have experienced in these UA-cam offerings. Certainly I appreciated the Vibrato vlog (I've been terribly automatic-pilot-ish in this regard.) Look forward to others. I hope you won't mind my boldness by mentioning something that my former voice teacher Madame Chiocchio of Montreal would use (I've flute-truant, ahem, for some time.) She would use the term "pre-baillement" (sorry for the missing accent) or the "pre-yawn". For me, this image is rather tactile, so to speak, getting me into the physical sensation as well as inhaling at the same time. One other thing: my instincts say that you have one wicked sense of humour. Am I wrong? If not, perhaps you will feel free to pepper future vlogs...Again thank you.
Thank you for your kind words, Tom! Yes, I love using the notion & sensation of (pre-) yawning in teaching - thanks for the reminder! Yes, I do indeed enjoy keeping things light-hearted as a counterbalance to the serious/focused work! 😜 (but I try not to be too silly...🤭)
Emily, may I ask what software did you use to create the animations? Just asking out of curiosity as I'm also making videos for my call for scores on my channel. Something like that could've been useful! As always, I'm rather enjoy these masterclasses!
I do not have the basis for breathing practice, so I am wondering if I can practice as if I could breathe out as if I was practicing vibrato with an instrument. If you practice vibrato, it definitely feels good in the abdomen below the navel.
@@EmilyBeynonflute Sorry for the inconvenience. In parallel with the practice using vibrato, I felt that I was unintentionally using the neck (sternocleidomastoid muscle) later as before for a pretty sound. This seems to have an adverse effect on practice, so I am practicing with the teacher, focusing on relaxation rather than putting my hands on my stomach and exhaling. However, I am not used to the breathing going to the stomach, so the breathing is too short. I wonder if I should exhale like a yawn when exhaling! I know you're busy, but I'm really desperate. please help me teacher...T.T
It sounds to me like having so live lessons where you live would be a good idea. The throat should be as relaxed as possible. Generally, we create the resistance when blowing out (support), and then letting the air in (breath!) should be the relaxed part of the equation. Good luck!
The breathing tutorials and the one on harmonics transformed my playing. I never until now understood "air support". It was just a meaningless phrase and I couldn't understand why my middle register notes cracked and my intonation was wildly inconsistent. Practicing is fun now. Thank you a million times!
Thank YOU a million times for this lovely message! I’m SO delighted to read that my videos have helped you on your way to more enjoyable practice!! Great news!! 👍☺️
What a clear explanation of what to do (and why) along with some great practice support. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful, Jen! Thanks for watching!
Thank you Emily for sharing this video. I am a beginner in playing the flute at the age of 56. This breathing thing is bothering me from the first lesson. I watched this tutorial once, joined your excerices and then started to practice this little, (simplified!) part from the "Bauernkantate BWV 212". I never came through without needing to take a random breath at the worst measure. NOW: I run through it! I'm so happy and I can't wait to see my teacher to show her that I get along with it now.
A hugh thank you for using the right words to explain this important matter.
That's GREAT to hear - so happy the video helped you! Happy flute-ing!!
Thank you so much！😊❤
You are very welcome! ☺️
Love this. I never would have thought to practice breathing without the flute so I’m definitely going to give this a go and see if it helps me to play longer phrases in one breath
Glad it gave you some new ideas, Alice - let me know how you get on!
Wonderfully explained completely knowledge based tips seem to be useful. Thank you 🙏
Thank YOU for watching! Glad you found it helpful!
Thank you so much for this! The struggle of making my body just let air in instead of taking very active breaths has been long. I will use this video to get rid of tension and bad habits!
Glad it was helpful!
ありがとうございます。
Dōitashimashite!!
Thank you so much!! The 3 tips in the end were especially helpful..!
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching 🙏
If it's your first time here, please do watch the whole thing, but if you are coming back for just doing the exercises with Emily's friendly face and voice, here they are: Number 1: 5:46 Number 2: 7:46 Number 3: 11:56
Thank you MrsKlausen! 😜
Que generosa en compartir estos tips! Muchas gracias mtra!!! Saludos desde Chaco- Argentina💖💕
You are VERY welcome! Thank you for watching!!
Muito bom estes exercícios são ótimos para a saúde 👏👏❤️🪈
Yes, absolutely! 👍
Thank you
Thank YOU for watching, Jackson!
Hi Emily!!
My teacher has suggested this video and it is amazing! You have helped me so much. You explain it very well. I am trying to do this breathing everyday, but for the extreme breathing, I might do it once every two days.
Thank you for your help!!♡
Glad it was helpful Claire! 🌸
Hey Emily, Your bellows analogy is great. But the action end of the bellows is the lower ribs which extend far around the side of the torso, as you know. Understand that displacing the belly forward has nothing at all to do with drawing the air in as you otherwise excellently describe. The diaphragm does not need the belly to be displaced forward to make room for it to draw downwards and crest that partial vacuum that is the inspiration. Indeed as one develops increasing speed and pressure of the expiration to blow the flute, the abdominals will activate. However it is the squeeze of the ribs, again the lower ribs that squeeze against the internal tissue that presses against the lungs to press the air out. The bellows analogy is great. It’s the intercostal muscles and the attendant ribs that are where the action is, not the abdominals. When you allow and encourage the lower ribs to move outwards and thereby take advantage of the partial vacuum to bring air in, you will find that the belly slightly draws inwards. Compare that to the action of allowing or pushing the belly forward and you’ll find that very much more air comes in either the expansion of the ribs than does when one ‘belly breathers’. Please consult F.M. Alexander’s technique of full chest breathing if this isn’t quite clear.
Hi Jack and thanks for your feedback and detailed comment 👍 Of course, the human breathing apparatus is far more sophisticated than a pair of bellows but both for my own playing and when I’m teaching, I find drawing the attention low down and towards the abdominals (which are easy to feel and control) very helpful!! It helps remind (me) to relax for the in breath and support ‘from the belly’ when blowing. Thanks again for your detailed description! 🙏
I am really enjoying and benefiting from your videos over my Christmas holidays. Thank you! 🙏
You are so welcome! Happy flute-ing holidays!! ♥️🎄🦌🕊️✨
Wonderful tips! Thank you!
Glad you like them!
Maestra you are amazing !!! Thank you so much !!!!!
Thank YOU Ailma - you’re very kind! 🙏🌷
Fantastic video! Thank you so much!
Thank YOU, Pamela! 🙏 So glad you liked it!
Excelente professora obrigado.
Thank you! ☺️
I love your video!! Very good !! Thank you so much
You are very welcome - thanks for watching and for your kind comment!! 🙏
Great lesson !
All should benefit from this helpful lesson
Thank you - I’m glad you found it helpful 🙏
@@EmilyBeynonflute I let all my students watch your lessons in utube ~ it is mandatory for my class from now on 😆👍🙏
Hi Emily ! It is Soyoung Lee from Korea ^^
Ha! Ha! 😂 That’s nice - thank you!! 🙏
Brilliant, love it! Thanks so much!
Glad you like it!
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it Rod!
Fantastic video! You are terrific. Previously you had posted some excellent videos pertaining to embouchure/core support in the top register. I love those exercises and referred students to them many times, but cannot seem to find them any longer. Would you consider reposting them? You’re wonderful!
Thank you very much, David! Next week's video is on harmonics, so hopefully you'll find that helpful for the top register! (those previous films were made by ArtisMusic for Altus, who sadly then removed them when I switced to playing a Haynes flute!)
Emily Beynon-you are an amazing inspiration. Those earlier videos brought a new dawn to my understanding of flute playing. Particularly the high note fingerings while blowing gently for the lower two sounds first so that one could learn to effortlessly play soft on the top. I return to these all the time. And, happily this exercise works every time and does the trick. Please consider posting one like it. Your description was perfect. Do you do Zoom lessons? I am honored to correspond with you this way.
Thank you so much for this video ! I loved it ! I enjoyed practicing your exercices and will incorporate them in my daily routine. Thanks once more :-)
Hi Ewa - thanks - I'm glad you like them!
Terrific, beautiful videos with a wealth of information. Thank you so much.
So nice of you, Diane - I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!
Hi Emily! I have just subscribed to your channel, this video seems very interesting to me, I will show it to my teacher, if she gives me the approval, I will put it into practice. I am a beginner, but very mature, and breathing, besides the other difficulties concerning the instrument, is breathing! I have big lungs, but I don't use my breathing right. It is not clear to me when to do the exercises, how soon to study with the instrument? Usually in the morning I study arpeggios and in the afternoon, the songs that my teacher gave me, when I'm tired, I try to play songs that I like by ear! (I know it wouldn't do, but I relax ...)
For the moment I thank you for the teachings you bring to your channel, simple and exhaustive in the explanations, foolproof!
Thank you very much!
Hi Mauro, thanks for your kind words. I hope you find the channel useful - welcome!
That was incredibly helpful! Especially the second tip "Air is free" was eye-opening for me. I greatly appreciate your efforts. Leona
Thanks Leona, glad it was helpful!
Thank you!!
You're welcome!
Thanks so much - really useful.
That's great to hear, Rachel!
Thanks was wonderful.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for making these videos. I shattered my left elbow three weeks ago. Ouch! Someone pointed out your videos so that I may practice other parts of fluting without my instrument. I plan to continue these even after I get back to playing my instrument. On to the next one!
Oh my goodness - poor you! Do keep practising.... breathing is the most important, of course, but you could also do some embouchure flexibility with just the headjoint perhaps? I wish you a speedy recovery!
What contributes to the sensation of breathlessness or shortness of breath during playing, in the absence of having exhausted your air supply? For example, I am playing a slow piece of music with multiple opportunities to breathe, not running out of air, but still feel short of breath. Is this the stacking of breaths and incomplete exhalation? Do you have any insights or tips on how to deal with this unpleasant sensation thank you very much. I’ve enjoyed many many of your videos.
Thanks for watching and for your question. It does sound as if you may not be using all your air (incomplete exhalation) Try blowing through the flute a bit more, or maybe even blowing out before breathing in (as oboists do) Let me know if that helps… Perhaps breathing deeper and more relaxed? Do you ever breathe in through your nose? That sometimes helps with getting a nice, relaxed (slow), low breath. Let me know how you get on.
Bravo!
Thanks Carlos!
Hallo Emily, van harte proficiat met de tienduizendste abonnee, ik voel me blij dat ik van jouw fans ben.
Heel hartelijk dank! 🙏☺️
very useful! looking forward to the next one! :)
Thanks Blaž - glad you found it useful!
TQ mam It's Very useful ♥️♥️
Thank you too
hello emily ...i like to play flute so i buy one flute but i don't how to blow also can you teach me? ..
Hi Mani, practice in the first instance with just the headjoint until you get a steady sound with a steady stream of air. Try and find a local teacher to help you with your progress. Good luck! 👍
Thank you emily...
Maestra: Incredibly generous of you, by not holding onto to your riches. By giving them away, it has been my experience that I am prepped to receive more, which, I suspect, is exactly what you have experienced in these UA-cam offerings. Certainly I appreciated the Vibrato vlog (I've been terribly automatic-pilot-ish in this regard.) Look forward to others. I hope you won't mind my boldness by mentioning something that my former voice teacher Madame Chiocchio of Montreal would use (I've flute-truant, ahem, for some time.) She would use the term "pre-baillement" (sorry for the missing accent) or the "pre-yawn". For me, this image is rather tactile, so to speak, getting me into the physical sensation as well as inhaling at the same time. One other thing: my instincts say that you have one wicked sense of humour. Am I wrong? If not, perhaps you will feel free to pepper future vlogs...Again thank you.
Thank you for your kind words, Tom! Yes, I love using the notion & sensation of (pre-) yawning in teaching - thanks for the reminder! Yes, I do indeed enjoy keeping things light-hearted as a counterbalance to the serious/focused work! 😜 (but I try not to be too silly...🤭)
Emily, may I ask what software did you use to create the animations? Just asking out of curiosity as I'm also making videos for my call for scores on my channel. Something like that could've been useful!
As always, I'm rather enjoy these masterclasses!
Thanks Angus - I'm glad you're enjoying them! I used FlipaClip to make the drawings - maybe I should add that in the info! 👏
@@EmilyBeynonflute thanks! And nice drawings!
I do not have the basis for breathing practice, so I am wondering if I can practice as if I could breathe out as if I was practicing vibrato with an instrument. If you practice vibrato, it definitely feels good in the abdomen below the navel.
If it feels good and it sounds good, you must be on the right path! Happy, healthy breathing!
@@EmilyBeynonflute Thank you so much!!!
@@EmilyBeynonflute Sorry for the inconvenience. In parallel with the practice using vibrato, I felt that I was unintentionally using the neck (sternocleidomastoid muscle) later as before for a pretty sound. This seems to have an adverse effect on practice, so I am practicing with the teacher, focusing on relaxation rather than putting my hands on my stomach and exhaling. However, I am not used to the breathing going to the stomach, so the breathing is too short. I wonder if I should exhale like a yawn when exhaling! I know you're busy, but I'm really desperate. please help me teacher...T.T
It sounds to me like having so live lessons where you live would be a good idea. The throat should be as relaxed as possible. Generally, we create the resistance when blowing out (support), and then letting the air in (breath!) should be the relaxed part of the equation. Good luck!
@@EmilyBeynonflute Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to reply.
have a nice and happy day...!
Wonderfully explained completely knowledge based tips seem to be useful. Thank you 🙏
Thanks!